Stories from Friday, July 22, 2022

Dennis William Young, 68, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Tuesday, July 19, 2022. He was born on Jan. 18, 1954, to Delores Matlock, who survives. Dennis was a lifetime resident of Poplar Bluff, a member of Brown Chapel Church, and retired from Poplar Bluff City Cemetery. He loved watching Westerns, playing with his dog and was good at working on cars. Most of all, he dearly loved raising his children...

**This story has been updated with new information Poplar Bluff firefighters were called to an early morning structure fire at 405 N. Second St.

Local law enforcement agencies are asking for the public’s help in locating an alleged kidnapping suspect. Keaton Rexroad, 18, of Poplar Bluff, is wanted for questioning in an incident involving two juvenile females ages 14 and 16. He is a boyfriend to one of the juveniles. Both victims were found unharmed a short time later, according to officials...

Joseph E. Wheetley, 41, of Harviell, Missouri, passed away July 20, 2022, at Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He was born Jan. 23, 1981, at Poplar Bluff, to Earl Lavell Wheetley and Pamela Tubb. He is survived by his mother, Pamela Wheetley of Harviell; Brother: Earl Wheetley and Nikki of Harviell and one sister Amanda “Amy” Wheetley and Chris of Harviell; as well as nieces and nephews; Matthew, Makayla, Jalynn, Madison, Mason, Maci, and great-niece, Emersyn...

KENNETT — A Poplar Bluff man will spend 32 years in prison after he was sentenced Thursday for a 2019 murder in rural Butler County. Michael J. Choate, 46, of Poplar Bluff, was sentenced to 32 years for the Class A felony of second-degree murder and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action. He was sentenced in the Circuit Court of Dunklin...

A technician brought the historic Rodgers Theatre marquee into the modern age Friday by installing LED lighting. This latest phase of the building’s restoration was announced last November, and Carl Grobe of Bootheel Signs in Poplar Bluff has stated he and his team plan to fix and update the marquee while retaining its mid-century aesthetic. ...