Stories from Tuesday, November 2, 2021

A Williamsville man has been named president of a statewide association representing more than 575,000 rural electric cooperative members. Darrell Atchison, director for Ozark Border Electric Cooperative in Poplar Bluff, was recently appointed to the Executive Committee as well as to the office of president for the board of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Jefferson City...

Divorces recently finalized in Butler County Circuit Court include: Shaina R. Thiart v. Juan Thiart; Tomalee McFairen v. Donald McFairen; Hillary MacDonald v. Thomas Myatt; Alex Burfield v. Chelsea Burfield; Darren Spencer v. Alexis Spencer; Sharrie Hill v. Trent Hill;...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. — Eric Ward Abernathy of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away Oct. 29, 2021. He was born Sept. 6, 1977 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He spent most of his formative years in Jonesboro, Arkansas, but also lived in Clemson, South Carolina, Cincinnati, Ohio, Costa Mesa,...

Michael Ray Lemons, 79, formerly of Poplar Bluff, Missouri and Hornersville, Missouri, passed away Sept. 14, 2021 at his home in Orange, California. Michael married Connie Sue Branum March 9, 1963 at First Baptist Church of Hornersville. He was in the Air Force at the time, serving during the Vietnam War, stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base, working in the Titan Two Missile Silo. ...

Butler County residents will see a use tax measure on the November ballot once again, something county commissioners said is vital to continued operations. The proposed use tax would equal 1-1/4% on out-of-state internet purchases, officials have said, and would generate up to a half million dollars annually...

Harry E. Taylor passed away peacefully Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, at Cypress Point in Dexter. He was 107 years old. Harry was born at home, on the banks of the St. Francis River in Fisk, Missouri, on Nov. 12, 1913, to Alice (Lee) and Zachary Taylor. He was one of nine children...

Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Absheer, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, went to be with her Lord, family and friends Saturday, Oct. 30 after a short illness. She was born to the late Charles Robert and Cassie (Meador) Absheer Oct. 19, 1936, at home in Old Greenville, Missouri...

A Qulin man is facing assault charges for allegedly attacking a basketball official Thursday night after an eighth grade game between the Puxico and Twin Rivers teams. Joshua Lilly of Qulin was arrested by the Butler County Sheriff’s Department Monday on suspicion of assaulting the official, said Puxico Police Chief Rick Sheren at a press conference Tuesday afternoon...

Butler County’s use tax, on the ballot before voters for the third time, failed in Tuesday’s election by a margin of 2,004 ‘no’ votes to 794 ‘yes’ votes. The measure, if passed, would have place a sales tax of 1.25% on certain out-of-state purchases, such as those made over the internet...

A resident of the 3700 block of County Road 654 reported at 10:14 a.m. Friday, Oct. 15, that he returned home to find his home had been broken into and several items were missing. _ Arnold L. Felton, 55, of the 1000 block of Nooney was booked Monday, Nov. 1, at the Butler County jail on suspicion of first-degree assault...

Alessa Louise Payne, 55, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. She was born Aug. 8, 1966, in Dexter. She was of the Pentecostal faith. She worked in the mailroom of the Daily American Republic for several years and more recently, as a housekeeper at Oakdale Care Center. Alessa was an avid reader and enjoyed coloring books. Cats were her passion and family her love...

Floyd Alfred Ray, 84, died Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Floyd was born March 24, 1937, in Poplar Bluff, to the late Alfred Ray and Cyless Wheelis. He was a life time resident of Poplar Bluff. He was a member of West Side Church of God...