Stories from Wednesday, March 7, 2012

By PATRICK T. SULLIVAN and ERIN RAGAN SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- As police cars whizzed by her home on Whitener Street on Tuesday afternoon, Carroll Powell had no idea what was happening. Curious, she walked a street over to Dan's Key and Lock Shop to see if the business had picked up any radio traffic on its police scanner. ...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer The Larry Hillis Dodge Pro Touring Division PBR comes to the Black River Coliseum Friday and Saturday, bringing some of the top names in bull riding. The event begins at 7:30 nightly. The tour is one of two traveling the country. Professional bull riders enter the contests to earn cash winnings. In October, the top earners compete in the World Finals in Las Vegas, Nev...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor The investigations into the recent armed robberies of two Taco Bell restaurants resulted in four Poplar Bluff, Mo., residents being charged in Stoddard County. Stephanie Nicole Parkison, 26, Brittany May Cannon, 20, were charged Tuesday with the Class A felonies of first-degree robbery and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action by Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver, who filed the same charges today against Milton Roy Taylor III, 22, and Tori Marie Taylor Flanigan, 18.. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor After hearing emotional testimony from both of the families effected by the death of a 4-year-old Poplar Bluff, Mo., girl Tuesday morning, a judge sentenced the man responsible for her death to 25 years in prison...

By PATRICK T. SULLIVAN and ERIN RAGAN SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- As police cars whizzed by her home on Whitener Street on Tuesday afternoon, Carroll Powell had no idea what was happening. Curious, she walked a street over to Dan's Key and Lock Shop to see if the business had picked up any radio traffic on its police scanner. ...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer The Larry Hillis Dodge Pro Touring Division PBR comes to the Black River Coliseum Friday and Saturday, bringing some of the top names in bull riding. The event begins at 7:30 nightly. The tour is one of two traveling the country. Professional bull riders enter the contests to earn cash winnings. In October, the top earners compete in the World Finals in Las Vegas, Nev...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor The investigations into the recent armed robberies of two Taco Bell restaurants resulted in four Poplar Bluff, Mo., residents being charged in Stoddard County. Stephanie Nicole Parkison, 26, Brittany May Cannon, 20, were charged Tuesday with the Class A felonies of first-degree robbery and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action by Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver, who filed the same charges today against Milton Roy Taylor III, 22, and Tori Marie Taylor Flanigan, 18.. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor After hearing emotional testimony from both of the families effected by the death of a 4-year-old Poplar Bluff, Mo., girl Tuesday morning, a judge sentenced the man responsible for her death to 25 years in prison...

While clearly the new $173 million hospital will transform the delivery of health care for our community, Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center continues to invest millions of dollars in the current hospital facility and in delivery of healthcare today...

By JOHN WILLEY Staff Writer "There's no better investment than property," said Vicki Henderson, broker/owner of RE/MAX Real Estate Group in Poplar Bluff. The national or big metro areas are no reflection of the real estate market in Poplar Bluff. Real Estate is cyclical, she said...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Operation JumpStart, a program to help entrepreneurs create and expand their businesses, is returning to Poplar Bluff July 10. The class will also be available starting March 13 in Piedmont at the Clearwater Middle School library...

Suckered by fuel companies Having recently purchased a new import to replace my 32-year-old car, I did some unscientific fuel testing in the area here. And, just putting in the regular grade of fuel in this little vehicle I averaged 30 miles to the gallon on just regular pump gas. ...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer In 2012, Arcille Cunningham celebrated her 80th birthday and her 46th year as a First Missouri State Bank employee. Cunningham was born Jan. 19, 1932, in Faulkner County, Ark. In 1948 she married Ray Cunningham, and graduated high school in Pine Bluff, Ark., in 1949...

Rodney K. "Champ" Matthews, son of Bettye Matthews (formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo.) of Justice, Ill., brother of Corey Matthews and grandson of Dorothy Hunt, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo., will achieve the prestigious 33rd Masonic Degree in Detroit, Mich., in May. ...

By MIKE McCOY SEMO News Service BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A second candidate filed for Missouri House District 151 last Friday, and is the only new candidate to file since opening day. Dennis Fowler, an Advance Republican, officially filed for the seat. Dexter Republican Bob Thrower filed for the position on opening day. Incumbent Republican Billy Pat Wright has filed for Senate District 25...

Regina Jones Regina J. (Fox) Jones, 91, of Flint, Mich., formerly of Fredericktown, Mo., died Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, at The Maple Place in Flint. Mrs. Jones was born March 19, 1921, in Chicago, Ill. She was a special education teacher for many years and had retired in Alton, Ill. Mrs. Jones was a lifelong member of the Methodist faith, and had been active in the Methodist Church while living in Fredericktown, Mo...

By SCOTT MOYERS SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Cape Girardeau officials should allow bow hunting within the city's boundaries to help reduce the rapidly expanding number of deer, according to a committee charged with studying the issue. The Deer Management Committee voted 4-1 in favor Tuesday night and will make a formal recommendation at the March 19 meeting of the Cape Girardeau City Council, which will have final say...

Robert Holcomb VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Robert Lee "Robbie" Holcomb, 44, of Hunter, Mo., died Monday, March 5, 2012, at Benchmark Healthcare of Greenville, Mo. The son of the late Michael J. and Violet Ann (Webb) Holcomb, he was born March 31, 1967, in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

John Bostic MALDEN, MO. -- John Mart Bostic, 85, of Malden, Mo., died Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Bostic was born Jan. 27, 1927, in Malden. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Malden, a charter member of Rotary in 1953 and was a past president. He also was Boy Scout Leader of Troop 175 since 1965; and a Lions Club member in Malden...

Ora King Ora N. King, 93, of Forney, Texas, formerly of Missouri, died Sunday, March 4, 2012, at her daughter's residence in Forney. Mrs. King was born Oct. 3, 1918 in Wayne County, Mo. She was a homemaker. Before moving to Texas in 1987, Mrs. King had resided in Farmington as well as St. Louis, Mo. She enjoyed spending time with her family, attending church, reading her Bible and gardening...

A 23-year-old Farmington, Mo., man was killed in a one-vehicle crash at 5:10 a.m. Tuesday on U.S. 67, eight miles south of Greenville, Mo. According to the report, Dylan J. Woods was operating a 1999 Chevrolet southbound when it ran off the left side of the road, then returned to the road. Woods' vehicle also overturned and ran off the right side of the road...

DEXTER -- So much for being rusty. Having not played in 12 days, the Naylor Lady Eagles looked like a well-oiled machine Tuesday night in the MSHSAA Class 1 playoffs. Andrea Sullivan connected from long range six times, freshman Shayna Tharp added three more off the bench as Naylor ended Delta's season for a third straight year 48-23 at the Bearcat Event Center...

The Poplar Bluff Junior High volleyball teams swept Sikeston on Tuesday night. The Lady Mules won the eighth grade game 25-16, 25-18 to improve to 3-1-1 after losing in the semifinals of the Scott City Tournament on Saturday. The seventh grade Lady Mules won 25-14, 25-22 for their first win...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 2011 manufacturing output grew by 11 percent, to nearly $5 trillion. Were our manufacturing sector considered a nation with its own gross domestic product, it would be the world's fourth-richest economy. ...

While clearly the new $173 million hospital will transform the delivery of health care for our community, Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center continues to invest millions of dollars in the current hospital facility and in delivery of healthcare today...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Operation JumpStart, a program to help entrepreneurs create and expand their businesses, is returning to Poplar Bluff July 10. The class will also be available starting March 13 in Piedmont at the Clearwater Middle School library...

Regina Jones Regina J. (Fox) Jones, 91, of Flint, Mich., formerly of Fredericktown, Mo., died Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, at The Maple Place in Flint. Mrs. Jones was born March 19, 1921, in Chicago, Ill. She was a special education teacher for many years and had retired in Alton, Ill. Mrs. Jones was a lifelong member of the Methodist faith, and had been active in the Methodist Church while living in Fredericktown, Mo...

By MIKE McCOY SEMO News Service BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A second candidate filed for Missouri House District 151 last Friday, and is the only new candidate to file since opening day. Dennis Fowler, an Advance Republican, officially filed for the seat. Dexter Republican Bob Thrower filed for the position on opening day. Incumbent Republican Billy Pat Wright has filed for Senate District 25...

Suckered by fuel companies Having recently purchased a new import to replace my 32-year-old car, I did some unscientific fuel testing in the area here. And, just putting in the regular grade of fuel in this little vehicle I averaged 30 miles to the gallon on just regular pump gas. ...

Rodney K. "Champ" Matthews, son of Bettye Matthews (formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo.) of Justice, Ill., brother of Corey Matthews and grandson of Dorothy Hunt, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo., will achieve the prestigious 33rd Masonic Degree in Detroit, Mich., in May. ...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer In 2012, Arcille Cunningham celebrated her 80th birthday and her 46th year as a First Missouri State Bank employee. Cunningham was born Jan. 19, 1932, in Faulkner County, Ark. In 1948 she married Ray Cunningham, and graduated high school in Pine Bluff, Ark., in 1949...

Robert Holcomb VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Robert Lee "Robbie" Holcomb, 44, of Hunter, Mo., died Monday, March 5, 2012, at Benchmark Healthcare of Greenville, Mo. The son of the late Michael J. and Violet Ann (Webb) Holcomb, he was born March 31, 1967, in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

Ora King Ora N. King, 93, of Forney, Texas, formerly of Missouri, died Sunday, March 4, 2012, at her daughter's residence in Forney. Mrs. King was born Oct. 3, 1918 in Wayne County, Mo. She was a homemaker. Before moving to Texas in 1987, Mrs. King had resided in Farmington as well as St. Louis, Mo. She enjoyed spending time with her family, attending church, reading her Bible and gardening...

John Bostic MALDEN, MO. -- John Mart Bostic, 85, of Malden, Mo., died Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Bostic was born Jan. 27, 1927, in Malden. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Malden, a charter member of Rotary in 1953 and was a past president. He also was Boy Scout Leader of Troop 175 since 1965; and a Lions Club member in Malden...

A 23-year-old Farmington, Mo., man was killed in a one-vehicle crash at 5:10 a.m. Tuesday on U.S. 67, eight miles south of Greenville, Mo. According to the report, Dylan J. Woods was operating a 1999 Chevrolet southbound when it ran off the left side of the road, then returned to the road. Woods' vehicle also overturned and ran off the right side of the road...

DEXTER -- So much for being rusty. Having not played in 12 days, the Naylor Lady Eagles looked like a well-oiled machine Tuesday night in the MSHSAA Class 1 playoffs. Andrea Sullivan connected from long range six times, freshman Shayna Tharp added three more off the bench as Naylor ended Delta's season for a third straight year 48-23 at the Bearcat Event Center...

The Poplar Bluff Junior High volleyball teams swept Sikeston on Tuesday night. The Lady Mules won the eighth grade game 25-16, 25-18 to improve to 3-1-1 after losing in the semifinals of the Scott City Tournament on Saturday. The seventh grade Lady Mules won 25-14, 25-22 for their first win...