Stories from Thursday, January 31, 2019

The Three Rivers campus will be abuzz for Region XVI action Saturday as usual, but in a different location for the first time in three and a half decades. The Libla Family Sports Complex will be the site of the Three Rivers Alumni Reunion on Saturday, and after the ribbon cutting ceremony at 3 p.m., both the men’s and women’s basketball teams will face State Fair at 7 p.m. and 5 p.m. respectively...

PIEDMONT, Mo. — Norman C. Barks, 99, of Piedmont, died Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019 at the Clark’s Mountain Nursing Center in Piedmont. Arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel, Piedmont.

A Poplar Bluff Junior High group of seventh graders has donated about 100 hand-sewn pillowcases that double as laundry bags to FosterAdopt Connect SEMO. The midyear service project was the brainchild of Team One (House Mǎ Luó), according to Principal Candace Warren. The sacks were filled with small blankets, fidget spinners, and personal hygiene items such as wet wipes, deodorant and toothbrushes donated by Jared Beaird Family Dentistry...

With all of Missouri’s duck seasons now closed, waterfowlers have only one option - geese - and the regular season is in its final days. Hunters can take snow, white-fronted and Canada geese through Feb. 6, with daily limits specific to each species...

City firefighters responded at 5:25 p.m. Wednesday to a report of gas smell at the intersection of Sixth Street and Park Avenue. According to the report, firefighters detected a gas odor upon their arrival and contacted gas company personnel. Firefighters reportedly assisted in the search for the leak, which was found to be coming from a valve in a low-pressure line...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. — James Norman Walker, 91, formerly of Advance, died Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019 at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31 at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield. The funeral will be at noon, Friday, Feb. 1 at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield...

John William ‘Bill’ Stovall passed away on Wednesday, January 29, 2019, at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He reached the age of 100 years. Bill was born December 16, 1918 in Poplar Bluff to John F. Stovall and Marie (Rose) Stovall...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Gale ‘Bubba’ Belew, 72, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on January 30, 2019 on the farm doing what he loved....

Melinda Dell Bellah, 59, of the 2300 block of Grand was booked at Butler County jail Jan. 25 on suspicion of third degree assault. She was later released. ———— Claudia Anita Blackman, 55, of the 2000 block of Tennessee was booked at Butler County jail Jan. 25 for failure to appear on the original charges of no insurance and delivery of 35 grams or less of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoid...

Cassie R. Strohmeyer of Naylor reported a window was broken out of her 2016 Chevrolet Traverse while it was parked at a location in the 2400 block of Lucy Lee Parkway between 8 a.m. and noon Wednesday. According to the report, Strohmeyer’s wallet was stolen. Debit and medical cards, as well as her driver’s license and other identification, were among the items in her wallet at the time of its theft...