Stories from Wednesday, October 7, 2015

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Missouri House Speaker Todd Richardson of Poplar Bluff will lead U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's campaign in Missouri for the Republican nomination for president. Richardson, issued a statement today, endorsing the senator from Florida and praising him for policy plans "built around ideas for tomorrow."...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Poplar Bluff City Council members declined Monday to proceed with a Valley Street drainage project, but moved forward with a lighting project at the airport and discussion concerning a revamp of the city's website. City council member Peter Tinsley found no support for the Valley Street project among fellow council members. His motion to move the project to the Oct. 19 action agenda failed for lack of a second...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Residential and commercial city electric customers could see an additional charge on their monthly bills after Jan. 1. Poplar Bluff City Council members discussed Monday a proposed purchase power adjustment rate, which could be reinstated with council approval. The council is expected to vote on the matter at the Oct. 19 meeting...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Expenses for the city of Poplar Bluff's general fund were more than $10 million beyond the original 2014 budget, according to an audit presented Monday to city council members. The majority of the spending, nearly $9.2 million, is attributed to capital outlay...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff eighth grade science students are fixing their eyes on the stars, with some inspiration from an award winning author and legendary NASA engineer. The students are currently studying rocket science and their project is to build a working model, fire it and collect the data. The lesson is inspired by the 1999 movie "October Sky," a portrayal of the early life of Homer Hickam, who rose from the Virginia coal mines to become a NASA engineer...

Howard Hopkins Howard Newton Hopkins, 83, of Dexter died Sept. 26, 2015 at the Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Visitation and funeral services were held Oct. 1, 2015 in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter. Rev. Ron Dunivan officiated. Burial followed in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield...

Jennifer Carver Jennifer Dawn Carver, 34, of McGee, Mo., passed away Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, at her home Services were held Oct. 2, 2015 at the Morgan Funeral Chapel in Advance. Rev. Scott Payne officiated and Rev. LeeRoy Hefner assisted. Burial followed in the McGee New Hope Cemetery...

Linda Webster Linda M. Webster, 71, of Puxico, formerly of Wappapello, died Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Services were held Friday, Oct. 2, 2015 at Morgan Sifford-Funeral Home in Puxico. Burial followed in the Shiloh Cemetery in Shook, Mo...

By MONA CHAREN Dear Republican Members of Congress: Consider this an intervention. You guys do not understand how to hold a decent hearing. Hillary Clinton danced away from your Benghazi questions like Muhammad Ali. Your threats to hold more hearings on Planned Parenthood and Benghazi are about as frightening as President Obama's warnings to Vladimir Putin that "doubling down on Assad would be a mistake." Within hours of Obama's feeble bleat, Russian planes were dropping bombs on the Syrian resistance (not, it should be noted, on ISIS). ...

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Standard Democrat With just over a year before the all-important presidential election, who could have imagined that the top two contenders in many polls are Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders? Seriously. Think about that for just a moment. Donald Trump, a boisterous businessman sadly short on specifics, and Bernie Sanders, a card-carrying Socialist who believes our national problems stem from the lack of a larger federal government...

WASHINGTON -- The Navy's operations, on which the sun never sets, are the nation's nerve endings, connecting it with the turbulent world. Although the next president may be elected without addressing the Navy's proper size and configuration, for four years he or she will be acutely aware of where the carriers are. Today they are at the center of a debate about their continuing centrality, even viability, in the Navy's projection of force...

Brenda Earline Bowling DEXTER, MO.--Brenda Earline Bowling, 63, of Bloomfield, Mo., died Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015 at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Visitation will be from 1:30-3 p.m., Tuesday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. David Looney officiating...

Charles Glenn Reynolds ELLSINORE, MO.--Charles Glenn Reynolds, 76, of Ellsinore, died Monday, Oct. 5, 2015 at his residence. Visitation for the public will begin at 6 p.m., Tuesday in the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday also in the McSpadden Funeral home. Burial will be in the Walton Chapel Cemetery. Rev. Scott Reynolds will officiate...

Kenneth Lavern Holderfield Kenneth Lavern Holderfield, 97, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015 at his residence. Mr. Holderfield, son of the late Fred and Amanda Purdy Holderfield, was born Aug. 20, 1918 in Herrin, Ill. He was of the Methodist faith and had retired after many years as a Neon Glass Bender. ...

Alma Jean Gulledge Alma Jean Gulledge, 89, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015 at The Manor in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Gulledge, daughter of the late George and Beulah Sanders Wooden, was born June 3, 1926 in Butler County. She was of the Baptist faith and was a homemaker. Mrs. Gulledge had formerly worked at the Holiday Inn as a housekeeper. She enjoyed spending time with her family, helping others and baking pies...

Hurcle Eugene Kinder DEXTER, MO.--Hurcle Eugene Kinder, 77, of Dexter, died Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. . Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m., Thursday, in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Tommy Green officiating...

Martha A. Pogue Martha A. Pogue, 98, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at Oakdale Care Center. A graveside service will be Tuesday, at 1 p.m. at Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Online condolences: www.fitchhillisfh.com

Marjorie May Ray DONIPHAN, MO.--Marjorie May Ray, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, at her residence. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday at the Center Hill Cemetery near Doniphan with Brother Ron Payne officiating...

Vema Street PIEDMONT, Mo., -- Vema Street, 98, of St. Louis, Mo., formerly of Piedmont and Des Arc, Mo., died Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, at St. Anthony's Medical Center, St. Louis, Mo. Visitation services will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. Funeral Services will follow at 3 p.m., also at the Piedmont Chapel...

James Vaughn Sparks MALDEN, MO.--James Vaughn Sparks, 86, of Malden, died Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, at his residence. Visitation was held from 10 a.m. - noon Tuesday at the Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden. Funeral service was held at noon, Tuesday, at the Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden with Rev. Ernest Puckett and Dr. Jeff Krupinski officiating...

Wiley Dewayne Fitzpatrick PIEDMONT, MO.--Wiley Dewayne Fitzpatrick, 78, formerly of Piedmont, died Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, at Missouri Baptist Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. Visitation services will be held at 5 p.m., Tuesday, at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, also at the Piedmont Chapel...

Joseph Edward Hicks ADVANCE, Mo. - Joseph Edward Hicks, 92, died, Oct. 3, 2015 at his residence in Advance. Visitation was at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6 at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services began at 11:00 a.m. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rusty McMillon and Larry Hinman officiating. ...

Sibel Bennett Sibel Juanita Bennett was born July 3, 1926 in Dexter, Mo. to Robert E. Bass and Vivian Mallette Bass and died Sept. 26. 26, 2015 at Crowley Ridge Nursing Center at Dexter at the age of 89 years, 2 months, 23 days. On July 13, 1946, she and Billy Bennett were untied in marriage at the Assembly of God Church in Puxico. To this union four children were born: Cynthia, Stephen, Vivian and Effie...

With one swing Shelby Sievers tied two team records and gave Poplar Bluff the lead for good Monday. The sophomore hit her fourth home run of the season, doubled twice to drive in four runs and struck out 10 as the Mules beat East Carter 9-3 at Bacon Park...

East Carter senior Trey Hampton threw a no-hitter against Naylor and only allowed four batters to reach in a 10-0 six-inning win in the Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament. "I never really even thought about getting one in this tournament. It feels great," Hampton said. "My team's helping me and I'm just out there busting my butt for them."...

VAN BUREN -- In extra innings, Sydnee Sanders drew a leadoff walk and was subbed out for pinch runner JayLynne Morgan. Lauren Dothage laid down a bunt single and Hannah Truncone hit a walk-off grounder to bring in Morgan and give Van Buren a 2-1 win to finish its regular season...

The first meeting with Twin Rivers had not been a memorable one for the Clearwater Tigers. After winning five straight to begin the season, a 5-2 loss in which they let a late lead slip away to the Royals, stayed with the Tigers during a five-game skid...

Harper Leigh Moore Harper Leigh Moore, infant daughter of Justin and Ashley Moore, of Harviell, Mo., passed away on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Harper is survived by her loving parents and twin sister, Charleigh Dawn Moore of the home; her grandparents, Chuck and Sheila Loury and Thomas Moore, all of Poplar Bluff, and Teresa Moore of Springfield, Mo.; two aunts, Charmayne Edington of Poplar Bluff, Amy Moore of Springfield; and one uncle, Jonathan Moore of Poplar Bluff.. ...

Carr Vernon walked off the University Golf Course in Las Cruces, New Mexico, feeling good about his round. He had shot a career low 6-under 136, after all, and was in first place when he turned in his scorecard. He didn't have time to wait around and scoreboard watch, though. The Otters had to catch a plane...

JEFFERSON CITY - Registration is open for the annual Great Central U. S. "ShakeOut" earthquake drill, which teaches how people should protect themselves if an earthquake strikes. More than 2.5 million people in 14 states, including more than 400,000 Missourians, are already signed up for this brief exercise that takes place at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15...