Stories from Thursday, July 10, 2014

SEMO News Service CHARLESTON, Mo. -- A fourth person is in custody in connection with the murder of a Poplar Bluff man in Mississippi County. The Mississippi County Sheriff's Department reported the arrest of a Danny Lee Naile, 60, of Bertrand, Mo., in connection with the murder of Derell Davis. Davis' body was discovered Saturday evening in the Drinkwater Sewer in northern Mississippi County by fishermen...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor COLUMBIA, Mo. -- With the definition of farm-raised deer in question, Gov. Jay Nixon declared Tuesday that they are "wildlife," not "livestock," and vetoed legislation that would have shifted their regulation to state agriculture officials instead of the agency that oversees hunting...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor City Attorney Robert Smith filed a new motion for a summary judgment against former City Manager Doug Bagby in Butler County Circuit Court Monday. Smith alleges the contract agreement Bagby had with the city "was at all times illegal and void as a matter of law from its inception."...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The issuance of $1,050,000 in industrial development revenue bonds to benefit SCS Investments, which owns three warehouses on Cravens Road, was approved by the Poplar Bluff City Council Monday night. Steve Halter, president of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce, explained how SCS Investments will receive a tax abatement under Chapter 100 of Missouri laws as the Briggs & Stratton and StartingUSA manufacturing plants in the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park have received.. ...

By BEN CARSON House Speaker John Boehner recently shocked many of us when he announced that he is planning a lawsuit against the president for abuse of power. Many Americans feel that a harmonious working relationship between the branches of government has been seriously compromised in recent years. ...

Carrie Van Brooks MALDEN, Mo. - Carrie Van Brooks, 79, of Malden, Mo., died Saturday, July 5, 2014, at Southeast Health Center in Dexter, Mo. Visitation will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday at the Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden. Funeral services will follow with the Rev. L. Akins and Evangelist Vanessa Howard officiating...

Kent Nichols Kent Hamby Nichols, 60, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at his residence. A memorial service for family and friends will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Temple Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff.

James Hicks PIEDMONT, Mo. - James Lee Hicks, 72, of Williamsville, Mo., died Friday, July 4, 2014, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. James was born on Jan. 6, 1942, in Poplar Bluff. He owned Holmes' Store in Williamsville from 1981-2006. He served his community with his loving wife, Joann, married 53 years, and his children. He was proceeded in death by his father, Estel (Pete) Hicks; his mother, Wilma (Duckett) Hicks; and one son, James Estel Hicks...

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Standard Democrat To keep a conspiracy, a lie or an illegal act in check, you must first have a code of silence. Participants in a conspiracy must abide by a spoken or unspoken understanding that the wayward deed will unravel if anyone breaks that bond of silence...

Flora Mae Currie Flora Mae Currie, 98, of Broseley, Mo., died Sunday, July 6, 2014, at her residence. Mrs. Currie was born June 6, 1916 in Houston, Miss. She was a homemaker and a member of the New Home Missionary Baptist Church. She was married to William Louis Currie, who preceded her in death...

Dianne Curtis BERNIE, Mo. -- Dianne Curtis, 69, of Malden, Mo., died Sunday, July 6, 2014, at Cedargate Skilled Nursing Facility in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be 5-6:15 p.m. Thursday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home. Graveside services will follow at 6:30 p.m. at the Bernie Cemetery with Bro. Stan Dauk officiating...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Rob Schwartz always has owned beagle hounds, chasing rabbits with them when he can. Only for the last nine years, however, has the SEMO Beagle Club member and Poplar Bluff, Mo., resident been running his dogs competitively, traveling all around the Midwest to show off his dogs' skills...

By FRANK CAMPA Mo. Dept. of Conservation Is it too soon or hot to think about deer hunting? I don't think so. If you do not want to miss out on one of 97-plus managed deer hunts in Missouri this upcoming fall and winter, now is the time to think about the managed deer hunt for which you want to apply...

The Poplar Bluff Mules tuned up for the Senior Babe Ruth state tournament Tuesday by beating their first-round opponent in a doubleheader sweep. The Mules rallied with a three-run fifth inning to take the first game 6-4 then beat the SEMO Strokers 11-1 in the nightcap...

To the Editor: Most people don't realize just how much of their rights have already been taken from them. Police "Roadblocks" that are being employed by law enforcement all too often these days is yet another assault on our freedom. After reviewing several court decisions involving roadblocks and related search and seizure cases the trends are fairly obvious--and ominous. ...

Tpr. Ayers promoted to corporal Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Richard L. Ayers was promoted to the rank of corporal, effective July 1, and designated the assistant zone supervisor of Zone 3, which serves the citizens of Wayne County. A 1987 graduate of Doniphan High School, Ayers holds an associate's degree general studies from Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

SMITHVILLE, Mo. -- Brian Whitson of Advance placed tied for 11th and Poplar Bluff's Nick Woolard tied for 16th at the Missouri Junior Amateur Championship. In the 12-13 age division, Poplar Bluff's Nathan Woolard tied for second with two others. He followed an opening-round 74 with an 80 that featured one birdie and 12 pars...

Jordan McGowan and his closet are having a color scheme problem right now. The former sharpshooting Bernie and Three Rivers College guard has, in fact, counted all 26 of his shirts in Bernie Mules blue. They've been grouped together and scooted to one end...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor News coming from the northern plains this week is sure to be music to the ears of area duck hunters, and if the weather cooperates this fall, waterfowlers could be in store for a really good season. After the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its Canadian counterpart agency completed their breeding duck surveys in May and June, the number of birds reported is up 8 percent overall from a year ago...

PB Electrical Bd. meeting canceled The Poplar Bluff Electrical Board meeting scheduled for Thursday has been canceled. The next meeting will be Aug. 7.