Stories from Friday, November 12, 2021

The Poplar Bluff High School SHO-ME Band will march in the 50th Anniversary Disney Parade in March and the local community is asked to help students create memories during the Florida trip. “We are looking for people to sponsor kids,” said SHO-ME Band booster and fundraising chairman Anna Robertson. “Whether it’s a full donation or sponsorship of the $1,000 fee that it’s going to cost each of the kids to go to Disney, or even a partial donation, that would be wonderful.”...

Each of Poplar Bluff’s lower elementary buildings have been named ‘Best Elementary Schools’ by U.S. News & World Report, with three R-I campuses placing among the top 15 schools in Missouri. Out of over 1,000 schools in the publication’s inaugural elementary rankings released on Oct. 20, Eugene Field was listed at No. 8, followed by Oak Grove at No. 9 and Lake Road Elementary at 14. The top 30% of schools statewide qualified for the award...

MILLIE, Inc. held its first-ever community celebration, MILLIE Fest, Saturday, Nov. 6. “I think it went over very well. All of our vendors, food trucks were really happy. We had a lot of people come out. The bands did well. So overall, for our first year, I think it was a big success,” said the charity’s founder, Tawana Ashcraft...

First responders were called prior to 1 p.m. to a multivehicle accident on Highway 160, about half a mile east of Route M. Staff from The Prospect-News were on site at 1:30 p.m. and found traffic backed up as crews worked on a concrete truck, which was turned over and partially blocking a lane. A passengered car, which appeared to have damage to the rear, was in the ditch on the opposite side of the road...

Poplar Bluff Municipal Library reopens on Monday, Nov. 15, at the Main Street branch, and will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Ridgel branch, which remained open, will keep its hours of 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. “I appreciate everyone’s patience,” said Sue Crites Szostak, director. ...

Turkey Trot is a fun, free event sponsored by the Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation on Saturday, Nov. 20, at McLane Park. “This is the first year of the Poplar Bluff Turkey Trot, and I am excited to bring about a new and healthy holiday tradition that brings families together in our parks,” said program director Kennedy Thayer...

Geneva Maxine Speer, 96, of Gipsy, passed away Nov. 10, 2021 at the Puxico Nursing Center in Puxico, Missouri. She was born June 26, 1925 in McGee, Missouri, the daughter of Silas and Melvina Hefner Whitener. Geneva had worked at Blackburn Electrical in St. Louis. She was a member of Bright Prospect Church near McGee. She lived her life as a faithful Christian woman...

John Paul Kelley, 87, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. John was born on Oct. 3, 1934, to the late Paul and Madge Kelley in Annapolis, Missouri. He married Joetta King on May 22, 1953, in Poplar Bluff and recently celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary...

FISK, Mo. — Phillip Cannaday , 78, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, formerly of Fisk, died Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021 at The Springs of Jonesboro Health and Rehabilitation, in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Mr. Cannaday was born Jan. 21, 1943 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, son of the late Columbus Franklin and Verna Cannaday...

Steven R. Whittaker, 35, of the 300 block of S. Eighth Street was booked Thursday, Nov. 11, at the Butler County jail on suspicion of driving without a proper driver’s license. He later was released. Firefighters responded at 5:35 a.m. Friday, Nov. 12, to a call of a motor vehicle accident at 111 S. Fifth Street. It was investigation only...