Stories from Sunday, December 7, 2014

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The city of Poplar Bluff has paid nearly $50,000 in just under three months to a man City Manager Heath Kaplan used as a reference when applying for his current position. Certified public accountant Neil Conway arrived Aug. 19 in Poplar Bluff, the day after Kaplan officially began work, according to a request made under Missouri's open records law...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A seventh grader at T. S. Hill Middle School in Dexter, Mo. was elected state president during the Missouri Junior Beta Club Convention in the Black River Coliseum Friday. "I am very happy and kind of surprised," Irene Huang said...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The president of the National Junior Beta Club was among the keynote speakers during the state convention in the Black River Coliseum Friday. Taylor Harlow of Bunker, Mo., in Reynolds County was elected president in June at the national convention in Richmond, Va...

Keep PB from getting hurt I'm shocked to hear our new city management wants to raise electric rates for our businesses in town, and shut down the Coliseum. This will run off the manufacturing businesses we have and prevent any new ones from coming to Poplar Bluff. Shutting down the Coliseum instead of trying to find ways to make it succeed will be a big black eye for Poplar Bluff. Is the current city management too incompetent to realize this?...

By MICHELLE MALKIN If real estate mogul and deep-pocketed White House donor Terry Bean were a Republican, he'd be a household name by now. Bean's face would be splashed all over the covers of grocery-stand newsweeklies. The garrulous hostesses of ABC's "The View" would be haranguing the GOP to return his campaign contributions. Child-welfare advocates would be demanding his resignation from top political advocacy and civic groups...

By MICHELLE BROOKS Jefferson City News-Tribune COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Once a SWAT team commander, Mark Brummit returned to civilian life with a VA 100-percent disability, but a dedicated desire to continue serving others. He turned his familiarity with dog training into the not-for-profit Who Saved Who?, giving disabled veterans a canine companion, saved from area shelters. ...

Charlotte Avery BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Charlotte K. Avery, 67, of Dudley, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014, at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter, Mo. Memorial graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, with Buddy Heaton of Bloomfield officiating...

William T. Lott, 35, of New Madrid, was arrested on a warrant for non-support. He was booked at the Stoddard County Jail. _ Taylor D. Moore, 18, of Puxico, was arrested on a probation violation warrant. He was booked at the Stoddard County Jail and bonded out...

Tyler C. Harvey, 19, of Poplar Bluff, was arrested at 12:14 p.m. Thursday in the 700 block of South E Street, on Poplar Bluff warrants for suspicion of shoplifting and hit and run. He was booked at the Butler County jail. _ Steven C. Board, 49, of the 400 block of Midland, was arrested at 5:31 p.m. Thursday at the police station on a Poplar Bluff failure to appear warrant for traffic violations. He was booked at the Butler County jail...

Alberta Correll OTTAWA, Kan. -- Alberta Louise (York) Correll, 82, of Ottawa, Kan., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 3 2014, at Olathe Medical Center's Hospice House in Olathe, Kan. Cremation is planned. Memorial services were held Saturday at Dengel & Son Mortuary in Ottawa...

Glen Medler DEXTER, Mo. -- Glen Medler, 97, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born to the late Raymond William and Mayme Lucus Medler, Nov. 28, 1917, in Frisco, Mo. Mr. Medler had lived in lived in Dexter where he owned and operated Medler's Cleaners. ...

PUXICO, Mo. -- Brandy Evans, 35, of Puxico, Mo., died Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014, in Puxico. Visitation will begin at noon Monday at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home, with funeral services following at 2 p.m. The Rev. Scott Sifford will officiate. Burial will be in Walker Cemetery in Bloomfield...

Nova Montgomery Nova Montgomery, 105, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 5, 2014. Funeral arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

PUXICO, Mo. -- Joyce Stafford, 60, of Dexter, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Monday at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Buck Cruz and Glen Epps officiating. Burial will be in Puxico Cemetery...

Norman Metevia DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Norman A. Metevia, 71, of Doniphan died Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014, at his residence. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Lone Star Cemetery. Edwards Funeral Home of Doniphan is in charge of arrangements...

Bobby Bilbrey Bobby Bilbrey, 72, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014 at his residence. He was born to the late Clarence Bilbrey and Kathryn Vavak Bilbrey, March 6, 1942 in Poplar Bluff. Bobby attended the Thousand Hills Cowboy Church. He married Geneva Barks on Sept. 16, 1972 in Poplar Bluff. She survives...

Thomas Joyner Thomas William Joyner, 84, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Joyner was born June 9, 1930, in Holcomb, Mo., to the late William Luther and Dema (Wilburn) Joyner. He was of the Baptist faith. He was a retired truck driver for John Deere and enjoyed square dancing, watching westerns and loved music...

Cecil Cochran Cecil Clinton Cochran, 90, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, at The Manor in Poplar Bluff. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Edward Penrod CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Edward Penrod, 87, of Florissant, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, at his residence. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. Funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Landess Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Marty Carlisle officiating. Burial will be at Elder Cemetery in Campbell...

City firefighters responded at 4:52 p.m. Thursday to a report of a kitchen fire at 2012 Arkansas Drive. Upon arrival the resident had already extinguished the fire. _ City firefighters responded at 3:10 p.m. Thursday to 3100 Oak Grove Road for a false alarm. Maintenance workers were working on the smoke detector...

Markell O. McCottrell, 31, of Poplar Bluff, was arrested at 2:23 p.m. Thursday on a Butler County warrant for dangerous drugs, suspicion of driving while suspended, suspicion of failing to display valid plates and suspicion of failing to wear a seatbelt...

Dawn Michelle White and Christopher Dean Clark of Puxico, Mo., have chosen the name Katie Michelle Clark for their 7-pound, 10-ounce daughter born at 9:31 p.m., Friday, Nov. 14, 2014 at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Katie was 20 inches long...

Project Christmas Promise which is organized by AmeriCorps, works to ensure every child in Butler County has a Merry Christmas. The following is a list of families and needs this holiday season. Every gift and donation is appreciated, according to organizers, and volunteers can choose to provide all or just one or two items for a child...

Coty G. Bowman, 22, of the 100 block of Rover, was booked a the Butler County jail Thursday on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and a failure to appear warrant for possession of a controlled substance. _ Leonard E. Browning, 56, of the 1400 block of Highway 53, was booked at the Butler County jail Thursday on suspicion of driving while suspended...

SPRINGFIELD -- Poplar Bluff opened the swim season with some history Saturday. In their very first race, the Mules qualified a relay for the MSHSAA state championships for the first time ever. It was the first of five state cuts by the Mules and one of four team records to fall on a day when Poplar Bluff took home a team title...

DeSOTO -- Poplar Bluff saved its best defensive effort for the end of the Fountain City Classic. The Mules didn't give up a field goal over the final 18 minutes, 35 seconds and allowed just two second-half points to beat Construction Careers Charter of St. Louis 83-10 Friday to clinch the title...

Shortly after entering the game for the first time, Three Rivers sophomore Jeff Smith set a pick precisely on the 3R logo at halfcourt. It sent Arkansas Baptist's John Washington sprawling across the black-and-yellow floor during garbage time and informed the large crowd that they could now safely make their way to the parking lot...

HOLCOMB -- It didn't finish out like the rout it was last year. But it started out like one. A year after Bernie beat Twin Rivers by 28 points in the Holcomb Invitational championship, the top-seeded Mules took a double-digit lead in the first quarter Friday night...

ORAN -- In it's 59-year history the Oran Invitational Tournament has been more or less owned by the Scott County Central Braves. Thanks to a strong third quarter in an otherwise tight contest, Scott Central claimed their 22nd tournament championship and seventh in a row with a 71-67 win over the Green Wave...

CALEDONIA -- The top-seeded Greenville Bears torched No. 6 Marquand Tigers as it claimed the Valley Caledonia Tournament championship title Saturday night, 72-33. "I'm extremely proud of them," Greenville coach Marc Crane said. "They've come together and played team this year."...

BRANSON -- Poplar Bluff left Branson with a few souvenirs but no wins for the second straight year. Logan-Rogersville scored nine straight points in the fourth quarter to beat the Lady Mules 41-34 Friday night before a 76-39 loss Saturday afternoon to Bolivar...