Stories from Wednesday, March 18, 2015

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A Black River levee break around 3:30 p.m. Saturday caused flooding on Butler County Roads 202 and 2021. "The break occurred at a weak spot in the levee on the west side of the river," said Gary McDonald, superintendent of the Butler County Highway Department...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Authorities say a Poplar Bluff mother and one of her sons are in hospital burn units today after they apparent suffered smoke inhalation when their North Street home caught fire. Tesson Turbe, who also suffered "light burns" around her face, was taken to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis for treatment, while her 25-year-old son, Uriah Nelson, is in the burn unit at The Med in Memphis, Tenn., according to Poplar Bluff Fire Chief Ralph Stucker...

By Pat Pratt Staff Writer The widow of a local veteran received a ceremonial flag on Friday, nearly two years after her husband's death. Patsy Blunk of Winona was presented the flag at a surprise ceremony at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. The flag honors her late husband Joe Blunk, who died April 27, 2013 at the age of 74...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor A cancer diagnosis creates panic in not only the patient, but family and friends. Battling the disease often requires the united efforts of the patient, family, the medical team and the community. Patients, families and friends will gather Saturday, May 23, to show support at the annual United Cancer Assistance Network (UCAN) Walk in Poplar Bluff...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Authorities say a local motorcyclist may lose his foot after it apparently became stuck in a car bumper during an accident Monday afternoon. Sean Michael Willis, 27, of the 2300 block of Arkansas Avenue is being treated at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, where he was flown after a crash occurred at 12:15 p.m. at the intersection of Fifth and Cherry streets...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS "But the debate is settled. Climate change is a fact," said President Barack Obama in his 2014 State of the Union address. Saying the debate is settled is nonsense, but the president is right about climate change. GlobalChange.gov gives the definition of climate change: "Changes in average weather conditions that persist over multiple decades or longer. ...

Water should be city's No. 1 It's been said for years that we need a new water system in Poplar Bluff. I would think this would have been number one on the city's list to take care of. I've paid $35 for water and sewer. I have a very bad water. Water should be more important than anything else. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Eric Holder's Justice Department has completed its investigation into whether Ferguson cop Darren Wilson killed Michael Brown in cold blood for racist reasons when he shot the black teenager last August. What did the massive six-month FBI investigation discover?...

When I talk to my colleagues in Washington, D.C., they do not always understand the burdens rural America faces from unnecessary regulations. During my first week in Congress, an "expert witness" told me it was pure fiction that government regulations affect private industry. ...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Business owners and managers in rural communities often struggle to stay relevant in topics such as diversity and sexual harassment prevention. While diversity and inclusion are currently hot topic across the country, they should be part of everyday business practices, said Steve Halter, president of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce...

Roy Capps Jr. GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Roy Capps Jr., 67, of Greenville, died Saturday, March 14, 2015, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Greenville. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. also at the chapel. Burial will follow at Camp Eight Cemetery near Greenville...

June Cox June Cox, 78, of Jefferson City, Mo., formerly of Poplar Bluff, died Saturday, March 14, 2015, at Ashland Healthcare Center in Ashland, Mo. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff with the funeral service following at 11 a.m...

The Poplar Bluff Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution welcomes new member Rachel Glenn. She is the granddaughter of Betty Jo Berry Glenn and the late John Glenn of Puxico, Mo. Rachel is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and is currently attending the United States Naval Academy at Valley Forge, Pa. Her grandmother Betty and her sister Sarah are also members of the NSDAR...

Charlene Davidson Charlene Davidson, 84, of Poplar Bluff, died Friday, March 13, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born Sept. 13, 1930, to the late Marvin Newman and Linda Sheppard Newman. She was a long time resident of Poplar Bluff. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church...

Dr. Larry Stovall MALDEN, Mo. -- Dr. Larry Stovall, 72, of Malden, died Friday, March 13, 2015, at his residence. Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home chapel with Ken Johnson officiating. Burial will be in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield...

Jesse Anderson Jesse O. Anderson, 85, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, March 15, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born July 9, 1929, to the late Perry Anderson and Harley Inman Anderson. He was a long time resident of Poplar Bluff...

Leroy Williams BERNIE, Mo. -- Leroy Wellington Williams, 87, of Bernie, departed this life on Saturday, March 14, 2015, at his residence. He was the son of the late Abednego Williams and Lora Moore Williams and was born on Feb. 12, 1928 in Ojibway, Mo. ...

A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA) will arrive Sunday to examine all aspects of the Poplar Bluff Police Department's policy and procedures, management, operations and support services, Chief Danny Whiteley announced today...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed great leadership when delivering his speech to a joint session of Congress regarding America's potential nuclear deal with Iran. History and our past relations with Netanyahu indicate that the prime minister has earned some trust, and no matter what side of the aisle we stand on, we must stand with Israel...

Betty Holland MALDEN, Mo. -- Betty Sue Holland, 74, of Paragould, Ark., formerly of Malden, died Saturday, March 14, 2015, at her residence. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Bradshaw Chapel with Burial following in the Mt. Gilead Cemetery in Clarkton...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Michael Froman received from a Harvard Law School classmate, Barack Obama, a job that validates the axiom that the unlikelihood of any negotiation reaching agreement grows by the square of the number of parties involved. In trade negotiations, even one's own country is troublesome, as the catfish conundrum illustrates. And the degree of difficulty in achieving a free trade pact is proportional to the number of Democrats in Congress...

Imogene Cash Imogene Cash, 90, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, March 16, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

By TOM UHLENBROCK Missouri State Parks California has the PCT. Missouri has the OT. The Pacific Crest Trail, which spans 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington, was featured in the movie "Wild," which earned actress Reese Witherspoon an Oscar nomination...

Neelyville school bd. meets Thurs. NEELYVILLE -- The Neelyville School Board will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 19. Agenda items include lease purchase options (roofs), bond issue update, community meetings, financial report, architect contract agreement, bus bids, special meeting date in April to reorganize the board, 2015-16 calendar, Missouri School Board Association board policies and administrator report...

Ruby Miller DEXTER, Mo. -- Ruby E. Miller, 96, of Dexter, formerly of Bloomfield, died March 15, 2015, at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter, after being a resident for eight years. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Ronnie Stevens officiating. Burial will follow in the Dexter Cemetery...

Ann Kearbey Ann Kearbey, 58, of Poplar Bluff, died Monday, March 16, 2015, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.  Arrangements are pending with Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

George Henry Harkness DEXTER, Mo. -- George Henry Harkness, 84, of Dexter died Sunday, March 15, 2015, at the John J. Pershing V. A. Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the chapel. Burial will be in the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter with full military honors...

Phillip Coats COLLINSVILLE, Texas - Phillip Earl Coats, 78, of Collinsville, died Saturday, March 14, 2015, at his residence. Phil was born on Jan. 1, 1937, in Santa Ana, Calif. to Earl Melvin Taft Coats and Icy Irene Pierce Coats. He married Lee Ann Stone on Oct. 4, 1969, in Weatherford, Texas...

Aristeo Soriano Aristeo "Tottee" B. Soriano, 67, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Monday, March 16, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Hospital. Mr. Soriano was born on April 11, 1947 in Manila, Philippines, to the late Carlos and Librada Biluan Soriano. In September 1972, he and Leticia P. Katindig were married. She survives...

It took some time, but a month after the Lady Raiders opened their season on the road, they finally played their first home game. Three Rivers swept a Monday doubleheader against Arkansas State at Rains Field. A late addition to the schedule, Three Rivers won the opener 4-2 and the nightcap 7-1...

Bill Adamson FISK, Mo. - Bill Adamson, 76, of Fisk, died Sunday, March 15, 2015, at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard Co. in Dexter. He was born Jan. 14, 1939, at Black Rock, Ark. He was a member of Star Community Church, a self-employed mechanic, an avid dirt track racing fan and a driver for several years. He helped his son Keith establish the Poplar Bluff Racetrack in 2004...

Dexter High School alum Alan Flannigan and the Lafayette Leopards won the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 1999 to the NCAA Tournament. Lafayette (20-12) will face will play No. 1 seed Villanova (32-2) in the first round at 6:50 p.m. Thursday on TBS. Flannigan is averaging 0.7 points off the bench this season and has appeared in 17 games...

Can you smell the duplicity yet? As a citizen of Butler County I have been both amused, amazed and agitated by the politics of the Poplar Bluff city government. I am now beginning to see the light, reading between the lines, concerning the present and previous discussions related to Municipal Utilities...