Stories from Friday, August 20, 2021

Jerry Lee Sitzes 81, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, died Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, at Cox South Hospital, in Springfield, Missouri. Mr. Sitzes was born March 31, 1940, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, son of the late Wylie and Edna Sitzes. He was a truck driver for many years, and worked as long as he was physically able. Jerry was a fun-loving guy who will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved him...

Arlen “Dewel” Hillis, 88, of Fisk, Missouri, died Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, at his residence in Fisk. Mr. Hillis was born Oct. 17, 1932, in Cash, Arkansas, son of the late Vade and Ella Hillis. On Jan. 23, 1953, he enlisted in the US Army at St. Louis, Missouri. ...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. — Roy Harold Eakins, 81, of Piedmont, Missouri, passed away at his residence, Aug.18, 2021. He was born Nov.30, 1939 to the late Leslie James Eakins and Etta Mae Gray at Bulter County, Missouri. On Nov. 30, 1974 He was married to Debbra Lee Wagner at Oxly, Missouri. She survives...

David James Stockbauer, 74, of Williamsville, died Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021 at Ruegg Funeral Home, Williamsville Chapel. Funeral service will follow at 10 a.m. also in the Williamsville Chapel...

Michael Anthony McCaig, 56, of Annapolis, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, at Mercy Hospital, Festus, Missouri. Visitation will be held at 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont Chapel. Funeral service will be private...

After a year break, the Patron of the Arts will be back with a new season. The organization took a break last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and while the Tinnin Fine Arts Center theater underwent renovations. The 2021-22 season will not only include the new theater but also several acts that haven’t been part of the line-up before...

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted Women Aware Inc. to take a hiatus in 2020, but this year, the committee has been busy working to make the 2021 conference meet everyone’s expectations, along with taking precautions to keep those attending safe. The event, “Born to Stand Out,” will be held Thursday, Sept. 16, at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, with featured keynote speaker Chantelle Becking of Cape Girardeau. Becking is an author, speaker, adoptive mom and business owner...

A Poplar Bluff man sits in the Butler County jail facing several charges in relation to a pair of alleged burglaries Tuesday night. Jacob C. Wethington, 23, of the 1300 block of Nooney Street is charged with one count of first-degree burglary, one count of second-degree attempted burglary, five counts of first-degree property damage and one count of first- degree trespassing. ...

Some middle school and junior high students with the Poplar Bluff R-I district won’t be met with a bus for the first day of school Monday morning. The district is facing a shortage of bus drivers. While there’s been a shortage of drivers for years, this time it’s different...