A future forensic pathologist and elementary school teacher are the top-ranked grads in the Naylor High School Class of 2021. Kaylynn Johnson will deliver the valedictorian speech on graduation night Friday at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff. Presenting the salutatorian address will be Abigail Dillon...

In the past five years, the Doniphan Summer Park Program has survived a historic flood and a worldwide pandemic. Monday, May 17, it will be time to play ball again at Riverfront Park. From t-ball to junior girls softball, about 400 youngsters have signed up to play this season...

Amy Baugus, representing the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission, met with the commissioners and county clerk Becky York at the beginning of their May 5 meeting. The purpose was to close out the Community Development Block Grant applied for on behalf of the Doniphan Nutrition Center...

Graduation is when your future begins, this very moment.” With those words of introduction from principal Pam Smith, the 22 members of the Class of 2021 at Couch High School began their journey into their adult lives on Monday night, May 3. Leading the class academically was valedictorian Trinity Rebecca Wilson and salutatorian Payton Brooks...

The Missouri FFA Association recognized Danielle Shepard of the Naylor FFA Chapter as the Area 16 Star Farmer at the 93rd Missouri FFA Convention. Her parents are Tim Shepard and Cheyenne Hollowell of Doniphan. Her advisor is Roger Smith. Area Star Farmers are chosen based upon outstanding production agriculture in the student’s supervised agricultural experience program and active participation in FFA. Area 16 includes 20 chapters in the Southeast District...

David Bollinger, president of the Wayne County Historical Society, will speak on early Missouri History, harking back to the territorial days of 1804. Program to be presented Wednesday, May 19, at 1:30 p.m. at the West Side Church of God, corner of Channon Drive and Barron Rd. in Poplar Bluff. The public is invited to attend...

Ripley County’s 2021 turkey harvest was down from the past 16 years average of 247 turkeys telechecked per year. The telechecking system began in 2005. During the regular season hunters harvested 130 turkeys in 2021. The types of turkeys harvested this spring were 102 adult males, 28 juvenile males and 0 bearded hens. The harvest for the entire state this year for the regular season was 31,798 in contrast to 38,734 turkeys harvested of 2020...

Naylor Elementary School announces their students of the month for March. Mason Wheetley is in kindergarten. He is the son of Earl and Amanda Wheetley. When Mason grows up, he wants to be a dad. Reese Buxton is in first grade. She is the daughter of David and Kimberly Buxton...

Naylor Elementary School announces their students of the month for February. Paxton Dunkin is in kindergarten. He is the son of Brooks and Misty Dunkin. When Paxton grows up, he wants to be a doctor. John Luke McGrew is in the first grade. He is the son of Cody and Magen McGrew...

While grocery shopping several years ago I noticed a cute four-year-old twirling like a ballerina in a store aisle. The child was so engrossed in her play she was completely unaware of others. Though she was not far from her mother, her mom urgently demanded, “Emily, get back here!”...

The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center and the Mark Twain National Forest will host a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Saturday, May 8, at the Eleven Point Ranger District office, located at #66 Confederate Ridge Road in Doniphan.  The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be open to all Veterans, their spouses, and their caregivers. ...

Fourteen-year-old Isaac West is a strong young man and an inspiration to the community. Even so, there are times when a youthful cancer survivor has a down day or just isn’t feeling well. During those times, Isaac turned to Casper, a faithful dog who was always there for him. Sadly, Casper died in early April, leaving Isaac and his whole family upset over the loss of a special buddy...

The ‘Hearts For The Arts’ experience is coming back home and bringing some very special guests. Missouri Governor Mike Parson and his wife, Teresa, are scheduled to be in the audience for Billy Yates’ Hit Songwriters In The Round show. The benefit for Doniphan High School scholarships will be held Friday, May 28, at the high school gym...

From its roots in 1949 as a horse show for the county fair, the Ripley County Saddle Club has brought together families and friends. That tradition was never more evident than in 2020, when the mother, son and daughter team from the Allen family dominated the high point competition in all three of the club’s skill divisions...

Speak Out: A huge shout out to Andy and the (Doniphan) Special Road District. After last week’s heavy rain, our road sustained heavy erosion around a concrete bridge. A massive hole was created making the road impassible. Andy ordered large stone to fill the hole and worked hard to insure proper drainage. That size rock will not wash away.  Thank you for all your hard work. -Residents of 142 E-8...

Jenniet Galvan of Doniphan, was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Galvan was initiated at Arkansas State University. Galvan is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter...

Doniphan Intermediate School announces their students of the month for April. Austin Arnold is in Anna Young’s third grade class. He is the son of Brian Arnold and Trisha and John Gargac. When Austin grows up, he wants to be a Nascar driver. “I love cars! Watching Nascar is entertaining and exciting. I could get a top rank and make a lot of money!”, Austin said...

Doniphan Elementary School announces their students of the month for April. Weston Smith is in Mrs. Ross’ kindergarten class. He is the son of Wade and Jennifer Smith. When Weston grows up, he wants to be a cowboy and a great sheriff that runs a horse farm...

A 34-year-old Doniphan man suffered serious injuries in a two-vehicle accident at 6:15 a.m. Friday, April 30, on Highway 21, 10 miles north of Doniphan. According to the report, Daniel S. Reynolds, 34, of Doniphan was operating a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado northbound on Highway 21 in the southbound lane and struck a 2021 Freightliner operated by Carl C. Benson, 39, of Cordova, Tenn., nearly head-on...

A quick trip to the convenience store for Scratchers resulted in a Doniphan couple winning a $100,000 prize in the Missouri Lottery’s “Show Me $100,000” game. Cara Sweaney said she had asked her husband to purchase some $5 Scratchers tickets at random from Casey’s General Store, 403 Washington St., in Doniphan. Among the tickets he brought home was a $100,000 winner...