Stories from Thursday, August 20, 2015

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Twin Rivers high school teachers faced some technological headaches last week following a complete crash of computer servers that caused the loss of lesson plans with the start of school only days away. The issue was only mentioned in the superintendent reports at the Tuesday board of education meeting, but Superintendent Jeremy Siebert says a temporary server is in place and no sensitive information was jeopardized...

By KATIE LAMB SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A 7-year-old girl testified against a man known to many area children as Santa Claus during his preliminary hearing Tuesday on sexual-abuse charges. Jeffrey Moffat, 55, of Jackson initially faced charges of first-degree statutory sodomy and first-degree statutory rape. Cape Girardeau County Associate Circuit Judge Gary Kamp dropped the statutory rape charge but found probable cause to go forward with the sodomy charge...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The identity and motives of an alleged gun-toting man in black that caused a Poplar Bluff High School lockdown Tuesday remain unknown. Police say surveillance footage failed to produce clear images of the individual. The campus was placed in lockdown at 8:08 a.m. after a teacher saw a man walking near campus, at the intersection of Westwood and Harper, with what appeared to be a rifle...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor In April 2005, Poplar Bluff voters approved a half-cent sales tax to four-lane 50 miles of U.S. 67 north of Poplar Bluff. Support for the project was generated by Highway 67 Corporation board members, who wanted the project moved up on the Missouri Department of Transportation priority list. They cited the economic and safety benefits...

The following individuals have made donations to the Stoddard County Children's Home, Inc. in Memory or in Honor of a loved one for April through July 2015. Bruce and Karen Dawson in Memory of Mary Tanner Bruce and Karen Dawson in Memory of June Hester...

In the 35th Circuit Children's Division which entails Stoddard and Dunklin counties in Missouri there are currently 252 children who are not able to be in their own family because it is an unsafe home. Foster families provide a safe, comfortable and caring haven for these children during this traumatic time. ...

Jesus said, "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." Matthew 13:9. Empty pews have a message. Their message is clear and distinct, but their language is understood better by the Lord and the world than by church members. Like Abel's blood that cried out from the ground to God of Cain's sin, so also the empty pews cry out to God of the indifference of His people toward the worship of Him. ...

Joyce Burgess Joyce A. Burgess, 79, of Wappapello died Aug. 10, 2015 at the Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Services were held Aug. 12, 2015 at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Wappapello. Rev. Tim Schultz officiated. Burial followed in Little Brushy Cemetery...

Kevin Wayne Brown Sr. Kevin Wayne Brown Sr., 61, formerly of Wyatt died Aug. 9, 2015 at his home in Wappapello. A graveside service was held Aug. 11, 2015 at I.O.O.F. Cemetery near Charleston. Kerry Stokes officiated. Online condolences: www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com...

Paul Raymond Board Paul Raymond Board, 90, of Poplar Bluff died Aug. 8, 2015 at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Services were held Aug. 15, 2015 at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. Jearl Griffin officiated. Burial Followed in the Ash Hill cemetery in Fisk...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer When you're looking for an auctioneer and come across a fellow actually named "Speedy" - that might just be the man for the job. Since June 1978, Speedy Ketcherside Auction and Realty has had the "final word" on Butler County auction services. Based in Wappapello, Mo., the long standing business offers complete auctioneering and real estate services for all of Missouri and Arkansas...

The City of Puxico Board of Alderman postponed its tax rate hearing that had been set for Aug. 20 to Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. The purpose of this tax rate hearing is to give citizens a chance to speak to the Board concerning the City 2009 proposed property tax rates...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL It was a night of recounting the good ole' days Aug. 14 when the Puxico Alumni Association held their annual meeting and honored retired Puxico R-8 teacher Harlan Lamb and members of the Puxico High School class of 1965. Michelle Varvil, president, called the meeting to order and welcomed those in attendance before asking Barbara Smith to give the invocation...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL It was a commemoration of the past and a celebration of the future when the Harty Family Annex to the Puxico Public Library was dedicated and the ribbon cutting ceremony was held Aug. 14. Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder was the special guest speaker and commented on Norman Harty's motivation behind donating the new annex...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL Raylee Layton and Makayla Harty were crowned Little Miss Puxico and Miss Puxico, respectively, on the opening night of the 69th Annual Puxico VFW Homecoming. Patti McLean, president of the Ladies Auxiliary to Puxico Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7822, opened the pageant and introduced Mayor Rick McLean and Bill Hemby, commander of the Puxico VFW. ...

Bryan and Alexandria West of Poplar Bluff have chosen the name Delaney Marie West for their 9-pound, 9-ounce daughter born at 2:47 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Delaney was 21 inches long. Grandparents are Raymond and Lori West of Poplar Bluff and Rawland and Denise Thompson of Ellsinore, Mo. ...

It might have been, as Shakespeare said, much ado about nothing. But Tuesday's lockdown of Poplar Bluff High School was easily the correct thing to do. That morning a teacher reported someone walking near the school carrying what appeared to be a gun. Law enforcement was called and swarmed on the scene. Superintendant Chris Hon ordered PBHS immediately locked down...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "Trump's immigration proposals are as dangerous as they are stunning," railed amnesty activist Frank Sharry. "Trump ... promises to rescind protections for Dreamers and deport them. He wants to redefine the constitutional definition of U.S. citizenship as codified by the 14th Amendment. He plans to impose a moratorium on legal immigration."...

Thomas Luecke Thomas (Tommy) Lee Luecke, 59, died Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015, at his residence in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Tommy was born March 25, 1956, in St. Louis, Mo., to Clarence J. Luecke and Henrietta M. (Rehagen) Luecke. Tommy was preceded in death by his father, Clarence and his brother Mark S. Luecke...

We want to commend Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs and the other 113 sheriffs in Missouri for having the courage the put "In God We Trust" decals on their patrol cars. It is sad to say it takes courage for our public figures to openly express their belief in God. But in today's "politically correct" climate such expressions are frowned upon by certain vocal segments of our society...

By MICHELLE MALKIN My Instagram and Facebook feeds have been filled with unwitting apologists for racism against Korean-American small-business owners. Heckuva job, Hollywood! Here's how the poison is spreading. A savvy marketing team at Universal/Comcast Corp. ...

Barbara A. Reel-Tinsley Barbara A. Reel-Tinsley, 73, of Harviell, Mo., passed away Monday, Aug. 17, 2015 at her home. She was born July 18, 1942 in Butler County to the late Robert Christopher Reel and Mary Dorthy (Hayes) Reel. She previously had lived in Cahokia/Dupo, Ill. Mrs. Tinsley was of the Pentecostal faith. She worked as the kitchen manager at the Poplar Bluff School system. She enjoyed cooking, deep sea fishing, camping, church, family and flowers...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Nearly 450 people attended Saturday's 23rd annual SEMO Friends of NRA banquet in Poplar Bluff, and while it wasn't the 750 seen in recent years, organizers still were happy. "I think we had a great night," said Committee Chairman Andrew Heuiser. "Everything ran smoothly, and we made a lot of people happy."...

Starla Kay Mairs VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Starla Kay Mairs, 53, of Bloomfield, Mo. died Friday, Aug. 14, 2015 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. A celebration of life service is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. for Friday, Aug, 21, at the Sweet Prospect in Dexter, Mo. Rev. Ray Rowland will officiate. McSpadden Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Fishing in Wappapello and Clearwater lakes is improving, with some good catches of crappies being reported. "They're still catching them on the edge of the river channel," said Charlie Brotherton at Sundowner Marina on Wappapello...

By JOHN PRATT Mo. Dept. of Conservation September is just around the corner, and the dove season opens on Sept. 1. This is an eagerly-awaited event for a lot of hunters. Dove season is viewed as the start of the fall hunting season. Today, I'm going to talk about some simple suggestions hunters can employ to avoid violating the laws pertaining to dove hunting...

Rozella Audrey Howe FISK, Mo. -- Rozella Audrey Howe, 94, of Broseley, passed away Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015 at Pittsburg, Texas. She was born April 19, 1921 at LaPlata, Mo. Mrs. Howe was a member of Pleasant Hill General Baptist Church, was a teacher in the Fisk-Rombauer/Twin Rivers School District for many years and also taught for Agape in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

If the Raiders play some pick-up football this fall, Cameron Scales would be a good choice for quarterback. Scales, a 6-foot-5 wing, has signed with Three Rivers for basketball after excelling in multiple sports at Lafayette High School in St. Louis...

One of the Raider options to play off returning sophomore guards Jemeereo Spain and Lane Below will be 6-foot-3 combo guard Camron Reedus. Reedus was a three-year starter for Austin High School in Decatur, Alabama and was named the All-Area Player of the Year by the Decatur Daily...

Johnny E. Rains FISK, Mo. -- Johnny E. Rains, 68, of Poplar Bluff, died Monday, Aug. 17, 2015 at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born June 9, 1947. He was a farmer and formerly had pastored Lighthouse Baptist Church in Monmouth, Ill. After moving to Fisk, he pastored the former Southern Baptist Church and he was also town marshal...

Ross MacDonald was only two years removed from the completion of a successful first season as a collegiate cross country runner when he encountered perhaps the biggest obstacle of his career. A junior at the time with Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, MacDonald sustained a severe stress fracture to his left shin that got progressively worse over time. The injury ended his competitive cross country career...

Diana Gail Elsworth DEXTER, Mo. -- Diana Gail Elsworth, 57, of Dexter, died Monday, Aug. 17, 2015 at her residence. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Thursday Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel on Friday. Burial will follow in the Harper Cemetery in Aid, Mo...

Jack Prince Jack Prince, 87, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015 at his residence. He was born on Aug. 7, 1928 to Samuel Prince and Myrtle (McCaslamb) Grissom in Mountain View, Ark. He enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington State...

Charlie Harper has been Poplar Bluff's tennis coach for a dozen years, but this fall will be his first coaching the girls. "He said he wishes he would have started coaching girls earlier because we're so much better than guys," senior Nikkia Hickman said...

Charles Chatman Charles Chatman, 42, of the Hamtown community of Butler County died Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015 at his residence. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

John L. Helton John L. Helton, 77, of Poplar Bluff died Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Three Rivers' new point guard once scored a school record 54 points as a junior. Ronnie Carson, a 6-foot-1 guard out of Bryan Station High School in Lexington Kentucky, has signed and should be a boost to the Raider offense, which averaged 78.8 points season...