Stories from Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Country Singer Luke Bryan landed in Poplar Bluff while on tour ... briefly. It’s the type of leisure flying airport staff say could be impacted by climbing aviation fuel costs. A gallon that was $2 last week could soon be as high as $6. The chart-topping and award-winning country artist’s helicopter landed Tuesday at Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport morning to refuel. ...

The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce brainstormed ways to boost a shrinking workforce with help from Ronald Cox, director for Industrial Extension at Iowa State University. Cox contributed via Zoom to the Friday meeting. He finds the biggest pressures on businesses right now are lower workforce participation due to pandemic job loss, the mass retirement of baby boomers, a general population plateau and the exodus from rural areas to cities. ...

“I have employed three pharmacists and a doctor in my 40 years here,” said Keith Shelton, owner of The Medicine Shoppe pharmacy in Poplar Bluff. After decades of business, Shelton is set to retire at the end of the month. For 30 of the 40 years, Shelton has run his successful business in its current location...

Doughlan Lee Jones, Sr., 90, of Qulin, Missouri, passed away June 20, 2022 while surrounded by family. Doughlan was born in Qulin to James Jones and Flora (Wood) Jones Nov. 27, 1931. He graduated from Qulin High School in 1949. After serving four years in the U.S. ...

Jerry Lee Hill, Jr., 59, of Naylor, Missouri, passed away Sunday, June 19, 2022, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He was born Dec. 7, 1962, to Jerry Lee Hill Sr. and Evelyn Louise (Davis) Hill. His father preceded him in death...

Virgie Ellen Clayton, 81, was born Sept. 22, 1940, to Floyd and Gladys Hicks. On June 19, 2022, she decided it was time to reunite with them. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by friends and loved ones in her own bed. Virgie had many accomplishments in her life, but her favorite was earning the title of Mom to her four children, and Maw Maw to all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. ...

Carol Lavern Hardin, 67, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, died Monday, June 20, 2022 at her residence in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Hardin was born Dec. 31, 1954 at Charleston, Missouri, daughter of the late Earl Clifton and Velma Jane Stokes. She was a CNA and had formerly worked for VNA...

Michael Alan Wells, 65, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, died Monday, June 20, 2022, at his residence.

Christina Vega, owner of Graffiti Bridge Studios, a new salon in Poplar Bluff, celebrated the new business’s grand opening with a ribbon-cutting Thursday. Friends, family, colleagues and customers alike filled the salon to congratulate Vega and her co-workers on the opening of the new business...

Kennedy Thayer’s personality and patience sparked Poplar Bluff Park and Recreation education and activities to expand to include families with young children and pets. Youth with tiny spyglasses or paint brushes seemed to invade the parks. They learned park and recreation programs are fun before they were old enough to join in sports teams thanks to Thayer...

Three Rivers College recently received a school bus as part of a potential new, four-week-long driver training program. The training program is still being planned, but if approved, those interested in becoming a school bus driver can sign up by contacting the TRC Workforce Development Department or any school they hope to drive for. ...