Stories from Thursday, May 21, 2015

The annual Memorial Day Ceremony, hosted by the Poplar Bluff Veterans Council, will take place at 11 a.m. Monday at the Veterans Wall in front of the Black River Coliseum. Poplar Bluff Veterans Council membership is comprised of local veterans service organizations...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BENTON, Mo. -- A former Stoddard County bail bondsman was sentenced to 12 years in prison Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine. Stanley Leon Clark Sr. of Dexter pleaded guilty as charged Monday to the Class A felony of second-degree drug trafficking before Presiding Circuit Judge David Dolan in Scott County, according to a press release from Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Twin Rivers R-X will grant steps for experience but not raise teacher salaries in 2015, citing the need for approximately $500,000 in building repairs. Lowering the insurance cap and giving certified employees a 2 percent raise was previously discussed, but not agreed upon. While an increase was not approved during Tuesday's monthly meeting, the board will revisit the issue in December...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Southeast Missouri Transportation Service (SMTS) is planning on adding 11 more stops and another bus to the Bluff Area Transit Route in the coming months. Currently SMTS handles all of public transportation for Butler County, the only county in its service area that has a fixed route service. Known as the Bluff Area Transit Route - the service previously was managed by the city, which does provide some funding...

By PATRICK BUCHANAN As Middle America rises in rage against "fast track" and the mammoth Obamatrade deal known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, The Wall Street Journal has located the source of the malady. Last Monday's lead editorial began: "Here we go again. ...

House members crossed the legislative finish line Friday evening with a long list of accomplishments meant to move Missouri toward a brighter tomorrow. However, the immensely productive session came to a grinding halt during what is normally a frantic final week as the Senate became bogged down in a filibuster. ...

The grand opening of the new Marshalls store at 737 N. Westwood Blvd. in the Valley Plaza Shopping Center will be from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday. Marshalls, one of the nation's largest off-price retailers with more than 960 stores in 48 states and Puerto Rico, offers high-quality, on-trend brand name and designer merchandise in ladies, men, juniors, kids, shoes, accessories, home, pet, beauty and more...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff optometrist, who has examined the eyes of his patients for 42 years, has retired, but he will remain active in the Lions Club program to secure used eyeglasses for people throughout the world. "It has been fun to interact with all my patients and help them to see better," Dr. Jerry Long said...

God bless an honest person I'd like to thank the man that found the black and white purse in the Walmart parking lot on Saturday, May 2nd. The gentleman turned it in to the service desk and didn't leave his name. I had $600 in cash, credit cards, driver's license and phone in it and they were all untouched. God bless you so much. Thank you...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Persistent wet weather Saturday morning wasn't enough to dampen the smiles on the 68 children and their parents who fished during the annual Fish and Fun Day event at Don Jones' pond. The rain certainly kept the number of participants down, but this event never has been rained out, so the show went on...

By FRANK CAMPA Mo. Dept. of Conservation Well, you might think because the water is up from a lot of rain lately that fishing isn't so good. But, that is not necessarily true, particularly if you are a catfish fisherman Fishing has been quite good at Wappapello Lake for catfish, specifically flatheads. I have heard of several from 20 to 40 pounds being taken. And, I even got to see one that went over 50 pounds...

The R-W. Huntington swimming pool on Second street will open for the summer at 1 p.m. Saturday. Open swimming is from 1-5 p.m. daily and the fees are youth (17 and under), $2, and adults (18 and over), $3. Lap swimming is from noon until 1 p.m. every Monday through Saturday. The fitness-minded may swim their laps during this time without interruption from recreational swimmers. This program is strictly for lap swimmers. The fees are youth (17 and under) $1 and Adults (18 and over) $2...

Legion 630 memorial service A Memorial Service will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at American Legion 630, 309 S. Broadway, to remember our lost but not forgotten. There will be food after the service as well as a raffle and 50/50.

Brenda Smith PARMA, Mo. -- Brenda Smith, 59, of Parma died Monday, May 18, 2015, at the Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church in Parma. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church in Parma, with the Rev. Nicholas Robertson of Risco officiating. Burial with be in the Rosewood Cemetery in Malden with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Parma in charge of arrangements...

FARMINGTON -- Given a second chance, Zach Lawrence delivered the game-winning hit to put Poplar Bluff back in the district final. Lawrence lifted the Mules to a 1-0 win Tuesday with his two-out, walk-off hit in the ninth inning to beat Cape Central in the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 semifinal...

Brenda L. Morgan Brenda L. Morgan, 71, of Poplar Bluff died Saturday, May 16, 2015 at her residence. Mrs. Morgan was born Sept. 27, 1943, in Corning, Ark., to the late George C. and Beatrice (Duncan) Norwood. She was of the Church of Christ faith and had retired as owner and operator of Morgan's Jewelry and Furs, in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Morgan enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, flower gardening and collectables...

Terry Massingham Terry Massingham, 67, of Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday, May 20, 2015, at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

CAMPBELL -- With the game-winning run on third base in the bottom of the seventh, Bernie coach Darrin Shipman asked senior leadoff hitter Austin Beck, "What do you want to do?" Beck said he wanted to take one swing, then he'd try to get the squeeze bunt down...

Irene "Sally" Lemings Irene "Sally" Lemings, 75, of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, May 19, 2015, at her residence. Mrs. Lemings was born July 18, 1939, in Alabama to the late Carl Doyle and Fennie Irene (Oakes) Heaton. She was married to Clyde Wade Lemings. He preceded her in death...

SEDALIA -- The Mules went lower Tuesday in the final round of the MSHSAA Class 4 state golf championships, but still finished empty-handed. Poplar Bluff was five shots better the second time through Sedalia Country Club, but the Mules didn't move up the leaderboard and finished sixth...

It was business as usual for the top-seeded East Carter Redbirds in their MSHSAA Class 2 District 2 semifinal Tuesday. East Carter, the No. 10 ranked team in the state, exploded for 10 hits in an 11-1 mercy-rule victory over No. 4 Thayer at Pattillo Field...

FESTUS -- Clearwater got four hits to West County's seven, but weren't able to put any numbers on the scoreboard and lost 7-0 in the MSHSAA Class 3 District 3 semifinals Tuesday. Bryce Alcorn pitched in the loss for Clearwater (16-7). He threw four innings with four strikeouts. Hayden Clark threw the final two innings and had one strikeout...