Stories from Friday, October 16, 2020

Dear pastors, With all your heart and soul, you had to make tough decisions this year to keep your church doors open or close them to your congregation. For those who kept the doors open – minutes, hours and days of prayer, fasting, tears and consideration for the elderly and those at risk took place to make this tough decision...

Much of the news is anything but encouraging. There is a lot of political tension. The Republicans claim the Democrats are taking the country off the political rails to the left, and the Democrats say the Republicans are taking America off a right-wing cliff...

Well, I made it through. As of the time of this writing, I am out of quarantine and show no signs of COVID or any other germ that is floating around. But, I must say, as much as I tried to be still, a lot happened while I was in quarantine. I am blessed that all I had to do was wait out the time. I am blessed that I am not sick nor is anyone in my family right now. I am blessed with friends and family who kept checking up on me and making sure everyone was okay. But…...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL Two area residents were injured in a two-vehicle crash at 7:17 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, on Highway 60, one-quarter mile east of Morehouse. According to the report, Regina L. Riggins, 57, of East Prairie was operating a southbound 2011 Ford Edge, which was crossing the road when it was struck in the passenger side by a 2013 Chrysler 300 being drive eastbound by Jasime M. Dering, 20, of Wappapello...

City firefighters responded at 6:10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16, to a vehicle fire at 317 Relief St. According to the report, firefighters found heavy fire coming from the passenger area of a 2003 Chrysler PT Crusier and used 250 gallons of water to put out the fire...

The application deadline has been extended to Oct. 30 for the one-year Practical Nurse (PN) certificate program at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff and Sikeston, with classes beginning in January.

Kati Ray (right) of P.E.O. Chapter MF presents Keri Jameson of Poplar Bluff Junior High with a local scholarship to assist Jameson in her pursuit of a doctoral level degree. Jameson has developed an extensive program for professional development of educators currently used in the school system...

Children participating in Butler County’s 4-H program through the University of Missouri Extension had a chance to see a real working cattle ranch up close this week, part of a series of tours designed to explore different career paths. “We are getting kids involved with different activities, and this month, we have an agriculture tour. ...

ORAN, Mo. — Wilma Gosche Metz, 101, of Oran, Missouri, went to be with her Lord Oct. 16, 2020. She passed away at her home surrounded by family and friends. She was born Nov. 27, 1918, in Bleda (Caney), Missouri, daughter of Tony and Ida Dannenmueller Gosche. She and Jerome Metz were married May 27, 1941, at Guardian Angel Church in Oran. He passed away March 14, 1990...

PIEDMONT, Mo. — Joyce F. Smith, 76 of Piedmont, passed away Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. She was born June 24, 1944 in Tucson, Arizona, the daughter of Cyrus and Violet Henry. Joyce was married to Jerry Smith Oct. 10, 1964 in Lordsburg, New Mexico and was a long time resident of Piedmont. She retired as the manager of the Sheltered Workshop in Piedmont and was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church...

Archie Johnson Archie Dee Johnson, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri passed away Oct. 14, 2020 at his home in Poplar Bluff. Archie was born Oct. 3, 1937 to the late Samuel and Lucy (Boggs) Johnson in Crandon, Wisconsin. He married Bonnie Marvlee Johnson Aug. 30, 1975 in Poplar Bluff. She preceded him in death July 27, 2016...

David Merile Bollinger, 68, of Poplar Bluff died Oct. 15, 2020 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis Mo. He was born on Sept. 13, 1952 in Anchorage, Alaska to the late James Bollinger and Bettie Attom. He was a retired truck driver and of the Christian Faith. He was very honored and proud to serve his country in the United States Navy...

A Poplar Bluff man accused of shooting at officers attempting to arrest him on a federal warrant in July 2018 has been ordered to stand trial on multiple felonies. Accompanied by his attorney, James Odell Johnson Jr. appeared Thursday before Associate Circuit Judge C. Wade Pierce for a preliminary hearing in his case...

When asked to describe the 2020 marching band season, Poplar Bluff High School band director, Stephen Winters smiled wryly and said, “It’s been weird.”

After the Neelyville R-IV school district experienced a sharp increase in the number of people affected by COVID-19, the district will shut down for a week.