Stories from Friday, August 13, 2021

Velma M. (Hast) Norman, 93, departed this life July 28, 2021. She was born July 6, 1928 in Qulin, Missouri to the Albert and Berthal Hast. On August 9, 1946, Velma was united in marriage to James Z. Norman in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He preceded her in death on May 22, 2017...

Jesse Ray Morgan was born Feb. 2, 1939 to Jeter Morgan and Lily Morgan.  Mr. Morgan departed this life on Aug. 9, 2021 at the age of 82.  Jesse was the father of four daughters:  Ms. Vivian Marzetta Walker of Ellsinore, Mrs. Marilynn (Jimmie) Ellsworth of Broseley, Mrs. Marcene (Alan) Wolfe of Belton, Misouri and Mrs. VeeVee (Todd) McLaughlin of Augusta, Maine. Mr. Morgan is survived by one son, Darrell Ray Morgan (Kim) of Poplar Bluff...

Dianna Marie “Whitmer” Vass, 73, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Dianna was born on March 30, 1948, to Norman and Mary Whitmer in Poplar Bluff. She and Warren Angus Vass Jr. were married in Phoenix, Arizona in the mid 1960s. He preceded her in death...

The location of the main portion of a dedication ceremony Sunday for the Dr. Gus T. Ridgel Branch Library will be moved to New Covenant Fellowship Church, 3396 Kanell Blvd. Weather on Friday morning created problems with a planned outdoor area, said Sue Crites Szostak, library director...

A line of strong storms Thursday night caused damage to at least one Butler County home. Lightning struck a tree outside around 11 p.m., causing extensive damage to the tree, which fell on the nearby home, vehicle and carport, said Jesse Foster who lives on Douglas Lane in the Harviell area...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. — Donna Denise Brooks, 59, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away Aug. 11, 2021, at her residence. She was born Dec. 5, 1961, at Poplar Bluff to Jimmie Bishop and Patsy Cole. On Sept. 15, 1978, she was married to David Brooks. He preceded her in death on Dec. 18, 2010...

Rev. Gene P. House, 86, of Poplar Bluff died Aug. 11, 2021. He was born March 6, 1935 to Benjamin Allen House and Mary Lorene (Parker) House in Mason Hall, Tennessee. He was united in marriage to June Farley on Oct. 24, 1957. He is survived by his wife of 63 years; daughter, Dorla House; son, Daron (Amanda) House; three sisters, Sonia Davidson of Dyer, Tennessee, Louise Reber of Anderson, California, and Brucilla Wright of Humboldt, Tennessee; one brother, Kerry House of Trimble, Tennessee; three grandchildren, Brandon (Brooklyn Chappell) Cook, Joshua Terrell, and Sarah (Jacob Hankins) House; and two great-grandchildren, Braxton Cook and Berkley Cook.. ...

Teresa Ann Lewis, 63, of Fisk, Missouri passed into the loving arms of Jesus on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. She was surrounded by her husband and daughters when she entered Heaven’s gates. Teresa was born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on March 20, 1958, to Jerry and Shirley Harwell. Teresa was preceded in death by her mom, Shirley Harwell; her dad, Jerry Harwell; and her brother, Bobby Harwell...

Missouri Eighth District Congressman Jason Smith visited Gamblin Lumber in Poplar Bluff Friday to hear concerns from business owners and those in agriculture-related fields, while he provided information about recent legislation at the federal level...

A Poplar Bluff man will spend the next 18 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after his guilty plea Monday in the Circuit Court of Wayne County. Ricky Hurt pleaded guilty to second-degree murder charges in the death of Edward Goodwin, who was reported missing in July 2015 and later was found in a Butler County pond...

A Poplar Bluff veteran recently completed a project to honor those on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. Joseph Shane, who recently returned from overseas on military leave, made a rubbing of every Butler County veteran on the wall. The 27 rubbings were presented to the Vietnam Veterans of America Post 1056...

FISK, Mo. — Dustin Dale Ramsey, 37, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, died Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Ramsey was born March 20, 1984, in Sikeston, Missouri, son of the late Kenneth and Cynthia Ramsey...

Father and grandfather Alex Clinton, 64, of Poplar Bluff will be remembered as a big guy with a big heart and a hero by his coworkers at the Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston, who have nominated him for an award of valor. Family members reported Friday that Clinton had lost his battle with injuries sustained Wednesday in a fire at his home...

We want to thank Rep. Hardy Billington, Rep. Darrell Atchison and Sen. Jason Bean for saying this week they will work with law enforcement to correct issues with the Second Amendment Preservation Act. This new law was created to preserve Second Amendment rights, but has had consequences that were not intended, as the Butler County sheriff and prosecuting attorney and Poplar Bluff police chief pointed out in a recent Daily American Republic article...

Three Rivers College will host the sixth annual “Run 4 The Arts” four-mile run/walk at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at its Poplar Bluff campus. The event is being held to raise funds toward an endowed scholarship for music and art students at Three Rivers College...

DONIPHAN — Never in her wildest dreams did Marj Hedstrom imagine she would have her own solo art show. After a career in nursing with Veteran’s Administration hospitals, Hedstrom has discovered in retirement previously unknown skills in eco dyeing and eco printing...

The Pry-Gambill Family will have a double celebration Saturday, Aug. 21. The family reunion will begin 10 a.m. and a 90th birthday celebration for Dorothy Pry Collard will be from 1-3 p.m. The double observance will be at the Broseley Community Center in Broseley. Doors will open for the reunion at 10 a.m. and there will be a potluck at noon. Several old family portraits will be on display. Family and friends are invited...

A Poplar Bluff man sits in the Butler County jail after allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old girl. James W. Ellington, 24, of the 300 block of Davis Street is charged with the Class D felony of second-degree statutory rape after the girl’s mother informed authorities that her daughter had allegedly been having sex with Ellington...