Stories from Monday, May 31, 2021

Memorial Day services in Downtown Poplar Bluff brought out more than 100 veterans, families and residents to pay tribute to American military personnel who died in service to their country. Picture-perfect weather at the Veterans Memorial Wall outside the Black River Coliseum contributed to what ceremony host Larry Kimbrow called “the biggest crowd in recent memory” for this event...

BLOOMFIELD – A new $2.7 million columbarium wall was dedicated Monday during Missouri Veterans Cemetery – Bloomfield’s annual Memorial Day ceremony. The first columbarium wall at Bloomfield reached capacity in January 2020, according to the Missouri Veterans Commission. Construction on the new wall began in September 2020. Principal construction on the project was completed three months ahead of schedule...

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake will host its annual Jack Miller Memorial Kids Fun Day event Saturday, June 5. “The kids enjoy it tremendously,” said Wappapello Lake Park Ranger Andrew Jefferson, who noted the event has been held for more than 20 years...

After taking place in northern and central Missouri for the first five races of its existence, Bicycle Across Missouri is bringing its Big BAM Ride to Southeast Missouri soon. This year’s Big BAM Ride will kick off Sunday, June 13, in Poplar Bluff and will continue across Southeast Missouri before concluding Friday, June 18, in Ste. Genevieve...

The Scorpions Midwest 8U Victus baseball team went undefeated and won the “Midwest Showdown Tournament” recently in Sikeston, Mo. The team is comprised of players from Neelyville, Greenville, Puxico, Campbell, Corning (Ark.), East Prairie and Poplar Bluff. ...

HERCULANEUM, Mo. — The SEMO Cleats of Fire AAU track and field team competed in its first event in over a year to open its season. The Dick Cook/Team Missouri Invitational meet was held May 16 at Herculaneum High School. Zionah Johnson won the 11-12 age group high jump by clearing 4-feet, 2-inches and won the long jump at 13-5 while finishing ninth in the 200-meters at 31.78 seconds, the fourth-fastest time in her heat...

The Mules Booster Club named Emilee Cheek, right, and JaDarius Pigg, left, the April Athletes of the Month. Pigg, a senior runner, is ranked No. 1 in Missouri for the 110-meter hurdle event, and seventh in the state for the 300-meter hurdle, winning the district title in both events. ...