Stories from Saturday, May 2, 2015

By KATHERINE WEBSTER SEMO News Service STEELE, Mo. -- The widow of a Southeast Missouri businessman killed in a collision with a train in 2012 was awarded $20 million in court this week. After deliberating for just over two hours, a jury returned a wrongful-death verdict Tuesday in favor of Sherry Spence against Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. Spence is the wife of the late Scott Spence, a well-known businessman in the area who owned lumber mills in Steele and Portageville, Missouri...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Butler County collector's office has temporarily stopped taking partial tax payments as it resolves some issues raised in a recently released audit. All of the issues raised in the audit were relatively minor and are being addressed, said Collector Emily Parks. The items of concern took place during her predecessor's terms, according to the audit...

The works of well-known Columbia, Mo., artist Jo Stealey will be featured in a new exhibition, "Off the Wall," opening from 6 - 8 p.m. Saturday at the Margaret Harwell Art Museum. Stealey is a professor of art and head of the fiber arts program at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She teaches workshops, lectures on contemporary fiber and exhibits her work nationally and internationally...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Boys and Girls Club of Poplar Bluff will host its 9th Annual Taste of the Town beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at the Black River Coliseum. The "come as you are" event will see more than 30 local food and beverage vendors and offer live music in an effort to raise funds for the local club's summer programs. The price of admission, $45 in advance, $50 at the door, covers all of the food, drinks and entertainment for the evening...

Greenville High School administration has announced its Students of the Month for April. Bridgette Burkett is the daughter of Rick and Tracy Dobbs. Burkett has been involved in Pep Club, Art Club, Band and Choir, FCCLA, FBLA, Senior Beta Club, Spanish Club and Volleyball...

Sounds a lot like P. Bluff Well folks, it's Monday night and I just finished watching the Channel 3 television news. You know I guess crooked bureaucrats and politicians are the same all over. I just got through spending quite a bit of air time talking about the crooked council over in Mt. ...

By MONA CHAREN In January, Robert F. McDonnell, 71st governor of Virginia, was sentenced to two years in prison followed by two years of supervised release after his conviction on 11 counts of public corruption. He, and especially his wife, behaved badly. But it's worth taking a closer look at what was considered criminal in McDonnell's case, because, at least so far, some in the press are suggesting that Hillary Clinton's conduct must meet a much higher threshold to be considered problematic...

Tiebreakers have been thorns in the side of the Poplar Bluff tennis team this spring. After losing three matches in tiebreakers in a loss to district-rival Farmington earlier in the week, Mules got stuck again Thursday in a 5-4 loss to visiting Notre Dame...

By PAT BUCHANAN Almost all of the declared and undeclared Republican candidates for 2016 could be found this weekend at one of two events, or both. The first was organized by the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, and held in Point of Grace Church in Waukee...

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Standard Democrat The Environmental Protection Agency strikes fear in the hearts of most Americans because of the substantial regulatory power they wield. The current administration has used the EPA as a tool to make an end run around Congress and implement much of the liberal utopian dream of a green society regardless of the cost or impact of those regulations...

Welcome back Adam Pennington. And goodbye Adam Pennington. The Three Rivers sophomore pitcher stepped onto a mound for the first time in 14 months and earned a save on sophomore night Thursday. The Raiders won the nightcap 6-5 after losing the opener 21-11 in six innings...

PARK HILLS -- Tied with West County 2-2 going into extra innings, the Clearwater Tigers went off in the eighth. The Tigers scored 10 runs, the Bulldogs responded back with just runs in the bottom of the inning which wasn't enough as the Tigers moved on with a 12-4 victory Thursday afternoon...

Alfred Pogue VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Alfred "Paul" Pogue, 85, of Lebanon died Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at the Mercy Hospital in Lebanon. A visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren with the funeral to start at noon. Rev. John Gipson will officiate. Burial to follow in the Huda-Chitwood Cemetery with Missouri Military Honors. Donations may be made to St. Jude's Children Hospital...

Delbert Hanks DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Delbert Hanks, 79, of Grandin died Thursday, April 30, 2015, at his residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan and will be announced upon completion.

Kitty Dockins Kitty Dockins, 70, of Poplar Bluff died on Thursday, April 30, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be held from 10 until 11 a.m. Monday at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Funeral services will be held at 1 a.m. Monday at the Moore Funeral Service Chapel. Burial will take place at 3 p.m. at the Thayer Cemetery in Thayer...

Luzell Grubbs DEXTER, Mo.--Luzell Matney Grubbs, 89. of Dexter, died Thursday, April 30. 2015, at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Visitation and funeral were held today at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Rev. Ken McAnulty officiated. Burial followed in the Dexter Cemetery...

Thursday, April 1 Lucky For Life: 09-12-27-34-38 Lucky Ball: 18 Pick 3 Evening: 7-2-9 Pick 3 Midday: 0-0-1 Pick 4 Evening: 5-1-7-6 Pick 4 Midday: 3-2-4-0 Show Me Cash: 16-19-26-32-36 Next jackpot: $127,000

Ben White CAMPBELL, MO. -- Ben White, 89, of Campbell died Wednesday, April 29, 2015, at his residence. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Teresa Catholic Church in Campbell with Father David Dohogne officiating...

The Wappapello Lake Area Association (WLAA) Board met recently at the Bill Emerson Memorial Visitor Center at Wappapello Lake. Those in attendance were: Cynthia Crabb, Eldon Wright, Jayne Allison, Reid Brotherton, John Daves and Andrew Jefferson. The meeting was called to order at 2:10 p.m. ...

Luzell Grubbs DEXTER, Mo.--Luzell Matney Grubbs, 89. of Dexter, died Thursday, April 30. 2015, at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Visitation and funeral were held today at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Rev. Ken McAnulty officiated. Burial followed in the Dexter Cemetery...

Alfred Pogue VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Alfred "Paul" Pogue, 85, of Lebanon died Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at the Mercy Hospital in Lebanon. A visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren with the funeral to start at noon. Rev. John Gipson will officiate. Burial to follow in the Huda-Chitwood Cemetery with Missouri Military Honors. Donations may be made to St. Jude's Children Hospital...

Ben White flag CAMPBELL, Mo.--Ben White, 89, of Campbell died Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at his residence. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Teresa Catholic Church in Campbell with Father David Dohogne officiating...

Delbert Hanks DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Delbert Hanks, 79, of Grandin died Thursday, April 30, 2015, at his residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan and will be announced upon completion.

Kitty Dockins Kitty Dockins, 70, of Poplar Bluff died on Thursday, April 30, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be held from 10 until 11 a.m. Monday at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Funeral services will be held at 1 a.m. Monday at the Moore Funeral Service Chapel. Burial will take place at 3 p.m. at the Thayer Cemetery in Thayer...