Stories from Wednesday, March 2, 2022

VAN BUREN — A longtime ranger at the Ozark National Scenic Riverways was recognized recently as the National Park Service’s 2021 Law Enforcement Instructor of the Year. Chris Figge, the district ranger in the Jacks Fork and middle Current River region of the Riverways, was selected from a large pool of instructors across the country...

James Hobbs Phyllis Hobbs 2 photos flag FISK, Mo. — James “Gene” Hobbs, 78, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, was born Sept. 12, 1943 in Puxico, Missouri to the late William and Audra Hobbs. He died Monday, January 17, 2022 at Piedmont Newnan Hospital, in Newnan, Georgia. Phyllis “Marie” Hobbs, 72, of Poplar Bluff, was born Oct. 19, 1949 in Ash Hill, Missouri to the late Malcolm and Evelyn Jones. She died Friday, Feb. 25, 2022 at Piedmont Newnan Hospital, in Newnan...

James Hobbs Phyllis Hobbs 2 photos flag FISK, Mo. — James “Gene” Hobbs, 78, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, was born Sept. 12, 1943 in Puxico, Missouri to the late William and Audra Hobbs. He died Monday, January 17, 2022 at Piedmont Newnan Hospital, in Newnan, Georgia. Phyllis “Marie” Hobbs, 72, of Poplar Bluff, was born Oct. 19, 1949 in Ash Hill, Missouri to the late Malcolm and Evelyn Jones. She died Friday, Feb. 25, 2022 at Piedmont Newnan Hospital, in Newnan...

FISK, Mo. — Linda Gail Crafford, 74, of Fisk, Missouri, died Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at St. Francis Medical Center, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Mrs. Crafford was born Dec. 7, 1947 in Brilliant, Alabama, to the late Grady and Velma Humphres. On June 4, 1966, she married Huey M. Crafford. He preceded her in death Aug. 19, 1998...

Donald Eugene Ivie, Sr., 85, of Zalma, Missouri, passed away Feb. 28, 2022 at his home surrounded by family. He was born Oct. 19, 1936 in Cairo, Illinois, the son of Paul H. Ivie Sr. and Alice Marie Mattox Ivie Courtney. Donald was a veteran of the USAF from July 7, 1954 to July 7, 1958...

The Indian Creek Bowhunters will host its first 3-D archery shoot of the year Saturday at the Missouri Department of Conservation range off County Road 546, just northeast of Poplar Bluff. For those who aren’t familiar with the sport, it puts archers in various situations with targets at variable distances to simulate real-world hunting scenarios, designed to keep shooting and range estimation skills sharp...

Every week, friends DaRonda Robinson, Bonnie Connelly, Joyce McDonald and Ruther Anderson meet in the basement of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church to sew, chat and leave life outside the door for awhile. “Each of us felt we needed to get out of the house, away from housework, for a few hours a week,” said Robinson...

Chili To Go will be held from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday to benefit the Northside Community Center, located at 1450 Garfield. Tickets are $8 each and will include chili, crackers, peanut butter or pimento sandwiches and dessert. A drink will be $1. The drive-thru luncheon at the community center is being co-sponsored by the Brown Chapel AME Church’s Sunday School and the Northside Community Center...