Stories from Wednesday, April 22, 2015

From Staff Reports Grammy winner Suzy Bogguss and her trio will perform at the historic Rodgers Theatre Saturday. An American country music singer and songwriter, Bogguss began her career in the early 1980s as a solo singer. In the 1990s, she released one platinum and three gold albums and charted six top ten singles, winning the Academy of Country Music's award for Top New Female Vocalist and the Country Music Association's Horizon Award...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A Poplar Bluff City Council member was asked to voluntarily step down today following claims of nepotism. Mayor pro tem Jack Rushin violated state law when he voted with other council members to include his first cousin in the appointments to the city hall feasibility committee, according to attorney John Scott...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Jury selection is to begin this afternoon in the trial of a Catron father who is accused of fatally shooting his son while apparently high on bath salts. Court officials say about 100 Stoddard County residents were expected to report to the courthouse to begin the selection process at 2 p.m. in the trial of Charles C. Goforth, 40...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CLEARWATER LAKE -- An autopsy was performed this morning on a Piedmont man, who authorities believe may have died when he suffered a heart attack while cleaning his fish near the Clearwater Dam. The Wayne County Sheriff's Department received a call at about 4:30 p.m. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Poplar Bluff Police Department said today that only $92,500 in radio equipment will be requested from city council members for expansion of the 911 center, not $154,000. Three quotes were included in packets released to city council members Friday. Council members are expected to discuss and vote on the matter at tonight's council meeting...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A special meeting of the Poplar Bluff City Council will be held later this week after members failed Monday to elect a mayor and mayor pro tem. The meeting must be held within five days of the reorganizational meeting, City Clerk Pam Kearbey said...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff Police Department is expected to relocate to a temporary building during May. City council members voted Monday to approve the lease of property at 1111 Poplar St. The council also voted to purchase $92,500 in additional radio equipment to allow 911 operations to expand from two operators to four...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff City Council is expected to take further action May 18 regarding the issuance of $4.9 million in bonds to assist with the expansion of Mid-Continent Nail. The matter was a workshop issue Monday, when the council also tabled contracts for a new city website design and aerial application of chemicals for mosquito abatement...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Council member Jack Rushin said Monday evening he does feel he acted inappropriately by voting to name a relative to a city committee. The matter could now go before the county prosecuting attorney or the state attorney general's office...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor VAN BUREN -- A coroner's jury ruled Monday afternoon that a son acted in defense of his mother when he fatally shot his father following a domestic dispute at their home near Eastwood in February. The four-man, two-woman jury heard more than an hour of testimony from six witnesses before beginning its deliberations at about 2:25 p.m...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN At the Summit of the Americas where he met with Raul Castro, the 83-year-old younger brother of Fidel, President Obama provided an insight into where he is taking us, and why: "The United States will not be imprisoned by the past -- we're looking to the future. I'm not interested in having battles that frankly started before I was born."...

To the Editor, The recent article that was in the D. A. R. about making maple syrup in Vermont caused me to think about making maple syrup here on this farm during World War II. I do no think maple syrup had ever been made here in Butler County before, or since. I do not know if all of the readers of this paper know that sugar was rationed like many other things. That is why Dad made maple syrup. Coffee being rationed upset more people than sugar, I think...

I had the pleasure of speaking at the National Action Network's (NAN) 17th annual national convention in New York City. NAN is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the United States. It was founded in 1991 by the Rev. Al Sharpton to "promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality or gender."...

Bob Hisaw Bob Hisaw, 80, of Puxico, died Friday, April 17, 2015, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. today at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Ray Placher of Puxico officiating...

More than $10.1 million in prizes of $1,000 or more were awarded to Missouri Lottery players during February. Thousands of other prizes of less than $1,000 also were awarded during the month. Winners of $1,000 or more in February include the following from this area:...

Long before Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, there was Mark Russell, daring to joke and sing about America's often absurd political process. Russell will perform his unique blend of political humor and witty satiric songs at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center as the last show in the Patrons of the Arts 2014-15 season. The performance will be held April 23 at 7 p.m...

Alice Simmons Alice E. Richter Simmons, 89, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, April 19, 2015, at The Cedargate Care Center, in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Simmons, the daughter of the late Frank and Hetwig (Germer) Richter, was born Sept. 24, 1925, in Chicago, Ill. She was a member of Township Line Landmark Missionary Baptist Church, and was a homemaker. Mrs. Simmons was a member of The Extension Club. She enjoyed volunteering at Twin Towers, reading, ceramics and gardening...

John Taylor MALDEN, Mo. -- John Ralph Taylor, 81, of Malden, died Saturday, April 18, 2015, at his residence. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Tuesday at the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden. Burial will follow with Military Rites...

Donald Reinert Donald Dean Reinert, 76, of Puxico, died Saturday, April 18, 2015, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born on Nov. 5, 1938, to Frank and Flora Reinert. On June 4, 1960, he married Janice Wright. He is survived by his wife and three children, Linda (Kevin) Miller, Brenda (Jeff) Foster, and Don (Jessica) Reinert, all of Puxico; seven grandchildren, Amanda (Joe) Miller Hodges, Clay (Lindsay) Miller, Matthew (Miranda) Foster, Mark (Melissa) Foster, Hannah Foster, Colton Reinert and Maggie Reinert, all of Puxico; four great-grandchildren, Raegan Hodges, Lucas Foster, Meyer Foster, and Jacob Hodges; siblings, James (Anne) Reinert and Sharon Criss.. ...

"Confluence," the annual literary journal of Three Rivers College, has received three awards from the American Scholastic Press Association for its 2014 issue. The journal, which is put together by the college's Languages department, contains poetry, short fiction, and essays written by Three Rivers' students, faculty, and staff...

Sonny Miller PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Marvin L. "Sonny" Miller, 74, of Piedmont, died Saturday, April 18, 2015, near Piedmont. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in the funeral home chapel with Bro. Bobby Brown officiating. Burial with Military Honors will be in the Meadows Cemetery near Annapolis...

Sen. Blunt's staff to be here Thurs. U.S. Senator Roy Blunt's staff will host a Mobile Office from 3 - 4 p.m. Thursday at the Butler County Courthouse. Mobile Offices are opportunities for Missourians to discuss their questions or concerns with the federal government one-on-one with members of Senator Blunt's staff...

To the Editor: Have you ever had a strong urge to revisit a place you had enjoyed visiting in your youth? The lure of the south keeps drawing me back. I remember the moss draped, live oak trees, the mystery of the swamp, the spicy southern food and music, I had never heard before. As the winter snow was melting and their was a hint of spring, we headed for warmer temperatures in south Louisiana...

By MICHELLE MALKIN Gwynnie P is down with the struggle, comrades. She may make $19 million a year, own mansions in London, New York, Brentwood, Malibu and the Hamptons, charge $550 for her Goop.com "travel backgammon set," and fly by private jet, but she feels your pain...

What's the true test of one's commitment to free speech? It does not come when he permits people to be free to say or publish ideas with which he agrees. Not by a long shot. The true test of one's commitment to free speech comes when he permits others to say and publish ideas he deems offensive...

The Agee Community Club met April 9 at The Bread Company. This month's hostess was Nadine Johnson. Vice President Nickey Orton opened the meeting with the members repeating the club motto. "When the heart is full of love the world is full of beauty." Invocation was given by Jeanie Figgins. ...

Rose is second in competition Malaika Rose, a freshman at Three Rivers College, placed second in the Job Interview category in the annual SkillsUSA Stage Competition in Linn, MO. Rose, a Kennett native, is majoring in nursing, and also serves as a student ambassador for Three Rivers...

Alzheimer's, dementia workshop Alzheimer's/Dementia Mini Workshop will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, at the Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce. The workshop will be presented by The Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center--Washington University School of Medicine and John J. Pershing VAMC--Women's Health Program...

JACKSON -- Poplar Bluff's golf team took home two titles Monday. The Mules won the Jackson Invitational at Kimbeland Country Club by seven shots over Notre Dame as all five players finished in the top 11. Meanwhile at St. Albans Country Club, the junior varsity Mules beat a field of varsity players at The Fulton School Invitational...

A patchwork defense finally got settled in Monday evening against St. Vincent. But it was too late to get back in the game. Dealing with some injuries, Poplar Bluff coach Nick Toniazzo went with a different look on his back line. The Lady Indians scored three first-half goals and moved on to the 4-1 win at Whiteley Park...

Kirby Coleman broke out of a slump in a big way and Tyson Cox followed with a big hit of his own as Poplar Bluff made good on a second chance with the bases loaded Monday. Coleman and Cox -- Poplar Bluff's eighth and ninth hitters -- had consecutive 2-run hits during a 6-run third inning as the Mules beat Dexter 11-1 in six innings at Strenfel Memorial Field...

NEOSHO -- The Lady Raiders won the nightcap against Crowder to clinch the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Region XVI Tournament. After giving up six unearned runs and losing the opener 8-6, Three Rivers bounced back behind pitcher Destiny Bolen in the late game to win 12-3 in five innings...

Nora Marshall Nora L. Marshall, 94, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Broseley, died Sunday, April 19, 2015, at Oakdale Care Center. She was born Feb. 22, 1921 in Kentucky to the late Thomas Crowell and Ellen Hooten Crowell. She was a longtime resident of Broseley. Nora was a member of the Heritage Freewill Baptist Church...

William Hailey PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- William Wesley Hailey, 57, of Poplar Bluff died Saturday, April 18, 2015, at St. Louis University Hospital. Mr. Hailey was born Oct. 8, 1957, in Quanitico, Va., to the late Patsy Gammons Hailey and Jimmy Hailey. He loved to ride and work on motorcycles and was a veteran of the United States Marine Corp...

Mary Cooley NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Mary Christine Cooley, 89, of Doniphan departed this life on Friday, April 18, 2015, at Southeast Health Center of Ripley County in Doniphan. She was born Dec. 20, 1925, in Caruthersville. Mrs. Cooley is preceded in death by her parents, Edgar and Sally Smith; three brothers; four sisters; and two grandsons, Gary (Tony) Kerperien and Wesley Jay Meadors...

Callie Stanhouse is one more weekend from booking a summer road trip to Big Sky Country. Stanhouse took third in the goat tying competition at this past weekend's Arkansas-Monticello rodeo, maintaining her third-place spot in the Ozark Region goat tying standings...

Deborah Whitt Deborah Jean Whitt, 59, of Neelyville, passed away Saturday, April 18, 2015. Mrs. Whitt was born June 15, 1955, in Pocahontas, Ark. She worked as a homemaker and was a 1973 Naylor High School graduate. She enjoyed embroidering and was of the Baptist Faith. She was also a member of the Rebekah Lodge in Poplar Bluff...

CHAFFEE -- Jake Legrand busted open a tie game in the 10th inning as his 2-run single helped Twin Rivers to a 4-1 win at Chaffee on Monday afternoon. The Royals snapped a five-game winning streak with the win. David Deken and Nathan Watson each singled and Baylen Teague was intentionally walked ahead of Legrand. Cody Rose then knocked home Legrand on groundout to the pitcher...

T.J. "Bud" Stephens Jr. T.J. "Bud" Stephens Jr., 78, of Dexter, died Saturday, April 18, 2015, at his residence. Visitation will begin at noon Saturday at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home chapel. Missouri Military Honors will follow in the Bloomfield Cemetery with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements...