Stories from Thursday, June 2, 2022

PIEDMONT, Mo. — Mary Gowen, 88, of Piedmont, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at Clark’s Mountain Nursing Center. Visitation is at noon, Saturday, June 4, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont Chapel. Funeral service will follow at 1 p.m., also in the Piedmont Chapel. Burial is in Little Lake Cemetery, Patterson. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

The Margaret Harwell Art Museum is excited to welcome steel sculptor Jessie Cargas, starting with a reception from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, June 4. Cargas is a St. Louis-based welder known for her bright, abstract metal sculptures. Visitors to MHAM will already be familiar with her work — her piece “Galaxy” came to Poplar Bluff through the Art on the Move program in 2019 and the gallery decided to buy it...

Ed DeGaris, who spent 45 years in service for his hometown as a police officer, city representative and volunteer, died Wednesday night at his residence. He was 68. “I just love the people. I love my community,” DeGaris said in 2018 when he was named Citizen of the Year by the Butler County Community Resource Council...

POPLAR BLUFF FIRE DEPARTMENT Firefighters from three stations responded to a reported structure fire at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, at 1303 N. 10th St. The call bad been by a child reportedly outside the building. The address was not good. The firefighters spoke to area residents...