Stories from Wednesday, December 15, 2021

KENNETT, Mo. – Judge Joe Satterfield sentenced Benny Lynn Johnson, 59, of Milan, Tennessee to the maximum sentence available by law for causing the drunk driving crash that killed three people and then left the scene. ...

A Poplar Bluff man was sentenced Tuesday to 60 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after he was found guilty of first-degree statutory rape, first-degree statutory sodomy and incest in October. Thomas Woodham, 38, will serve 30 years on the rape charge and 30 years on the sodomy charge, with those sentences to run consecutively...

CORNING, Ark. — Pauline Milburn Pierce, 97, of Corning passed away Dec. 14, 2021 at Corning Therapy and Living Center. Mrs. Pierce was a homemaker after she retired from Woods Department Store and Thomas Brother Hardware. She enjoyed traveling, working, singing, and attending Grace Missionary Baptist Church in Corning...

FISK, Mo. — James “Junior” Calvin Patterson, 92, of Gideon, Missouri, formerly of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021 at Gideon Care Center, in Gideon. Mr. Patterson was born May 21, 1929 in Fisk, son of the late Jesse Ernest and Bertie Mae Patterson. James loved flower gardening and spending time outdoors enjoying the fruits of his labor. He could often be found sitting outside on his deck eating tomatoes off his tomato plants and reading the newspaper...

FISK, MO. — Nicky Lee Nesbitt, 53, of Fisk, Missouri, died Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Nesbitt was born Jan. 10, 1968 in Los Angeles, California, son of the late Nicky Lee Nesbitt and Paula Von Hoff...

FISK, Mo. — George Daniel “Danny” McBroom, 66, of Fisk, Missouri, died Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021 at his residence in Fisk. Mr. McBroom was born Sept. 29, 1955 in Poplar Bluff. He is survived by his mother and stepfather: Shirley and Bill Sanders; one stepson: Paul Earls; one brother: Gary (Tammy) McBroom of Qulin, Missouri; three stepsisters: Vickey Frank, Julie Jones, and Pam Arnold; one stepbrother: Mark Sanders; several nieces and nephews, and his best friend: Shanna Hathaway...

Mrs. Lois Kathryn “Kathy” (Heath) Williams, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, departed this life Nov. 26, 2021. She was born Sept. 21, 1935 at Ash Flat, Arkansas, the daughter of Fibren Wilson and Norma (Byrd) Heath. On Jan. 24, 1961, Miss Kathy Heath married Mr. Jimmy Gray Williams, and together they spend 41 years...

Duck numbers have dropped across Southeast Missouri over the last week, and overall, numbers are below average for this time of year. There still are a lot of pintails, gadwalls, green-winged teal, northern shovelers and other early migrants hanging around, according to MDC Migratory Game Bird Coordinator Andy Raedeke...

Peggy Firebaugh, 69, of Ellsinore, Missouri, died Sunday, Dec. 12, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation is at 1 p.m., Friday, Dec. 17, at Beulah Cemetery, Brunot. Graveside service is at 2 p.m. with burial immediately following, also at Beulah Cemetery, Brunot...

The Classroom Teachers’ Association at Neelyville school wants to have a role in hiring the new superintendent. CTA President Lisa French spoke for the 17 members when they approached the Neelyville R-IV school board at the Monday night meeting. Superintendent Debra Parish’s resignation, which was accepted during a November meeting, will be effective July 1...

BLOOMFIELD — Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver has announced that on Wednesday, David Ryan Troyer was sentenced to 22 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections by Circuit Judge Robert Mayer. Due to the manner in which Oliver charged Troyer, the defendant is statutorily ineligible for parole, meaning he will be required to serve every day of the 22-year sentence...

BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT Deputies responded at 3:11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 6, to an ATM machine located in the 3900 block of Highway PP, where an alarm was sounding. Upon arrival, it was determined someone had pried open a door to the ATM building; however, nothing was taken from inside...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL Caleb D. Wood, 32, of Clubb was arrested at 1:33 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, in Wayne County on a Wayne County failure to appear warrant for no insurance. He was booked at the Wayne County jail. Ashley E. Johnson, 33, of Fisk was arrested at 9:57 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, in Butler County on suspicion of DWI, no insurance and no seat belt. She was released...