Stories from Thursday, October 29, 2015

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor NEW MADRID, Mo. -- A New Madrid County judge followed the state's recommendation in sentencing a Poplar Bluff, Mo., man Tuesday afternoon to 20 years in prison for causing the 2013 death of his father by repeatedly striking him with a baseball bat...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Naylor, Mo., man is heading back to federal prison after being sentenced this week to more than three years in jail on Social Security fraud and witness tampering charges. Rodger Seratt, 65, was sentenced to 41 months in prison on charges of falsifying documents to receive Social Security benefits and a separate charge of tampering with a witness during the investigation by U.S. ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff elementary schools saw high scores in most areas on the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) annual performance report. DESE use the APR to determine accreditation of the district as a whole. While not used for accreditation, each building also receives a report based on many of the same criteria as the district to serve as a guide to pinpoint problem areas...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The little girl was barely crawling and so adorable when she was brought to Cora Johnson's foster home, but the child already had learned to flinch from adult hands, even for something as simple as a change of clothes. "That was just her reaction. She had been strangled," Johnson, 68, recalled Tuesday, during the 13th Annual Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Conference held at First United Methodist Church...

Pray for the rude Dear Speakout, I would like to get my point across about rude people in Poplar Bluff. Sometimes we have to consider the source, because we don't know what they are going through in life. We as Christians need to pray for people like that, but should point out that their behavior is not appropriate. You know who you are....God Bless You...

WASHINGTON -- A supremely important presidential issue is being generally neglected because Democrats have nothing interesting to say about it and Republicans differ among themselves about it. Four Supreme Court justices are into the fourth quarters of their potential centuries -- Stephen Breyer (77), Antonin Scalia (79), Anthony Kennedy (79), and Ruth Bader Ginsburg (82). So, presidential candidates should explain the criteria by which they would select judicial nominees...

To the Editor, Tuesday October 6, 2015 the "Friends of the Bread Shed" were able to bring "Big Daddy Weave, Jason Gray and Citizen Way" to the Black River Coliseum for a fundraiser to benefit the Bread Shed feeding programs. The concert was well received, with close to 1000 in attendance and they were blessed by the music and lyrics of these artists...

Hillary Clinton told a mixed audience, "I mean, if we're honest, for a lot of well-meaning, open-minded white people, the sight of a young black man in a hoodie still evokes a twinge of fear" (http://tinyurl.com/ojxsrhm). Before we get into the nuts and bolts of that observation, I'd like to ask a question. Would well-meaning, open-minded white people have a similar fear at the sight of an elderly black man using a walker and wearing a hoodie?...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Elk will be the focus of the November Nature Center at Night event at the Missouri Department of Conservation's (MDC) Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center Nov. 12, from 5 to 8 p.m. Elk were restored to the Missouri Ozarks in 2011, so it's important for Missourians to learn how biologists are managing the herd, according to MDC naturalist Angela Pierce...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor When fall colors are nearing their peak, and the weather is gorgeous, yet you see practically nobody fishing on Wappapello Lake, it makes you think something is wrong. At the same time, when the fisheries biologist who's in charge of managing the lake's crappie population starts his morning on the water by saying "it's gonna be a long day," you also get the same impression...

The Bernie Mules volleyball program begins its quest for its sixth state title in school history Friday at the Class 1 final four at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. Bernie is slated to play Winona at 10 a.m. Friday, Santa Fe at noon and New Haven Friday at 2 p.m. in pool play...

Edward Hendrickson Edward Hendrickson, 85, formerly of Poplar Bluff, died Friday, Oct. 23, 2015 at Cori Manor Nursing Facility in Fenton, Mo. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m., Thursday, at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. The funeral will begin at noon, Friday, in the funeral home chapel with Ron Fowler officiating...

Oleta Hicks DEXTER, Mo.- Oleta Hicks, 80, of Essex, died Monday, Oct. 26, 2015, at her residence. A graveside service will be conducted at 1 p.m., Friday at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with Rev. James Malloy and Rev. Ronnie Ledbetter officiating. Burial will in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery...

By CALEB PRYOR Mo. Dept. of Conservation It's hard to believe that it is already the last week of October. The leaves are changing, geese and ducks are flying and the deer are moving. Things are starting to feel like fall. The early youth firearms deer portion is just around the corner...

Cynthia S. Milner Cynthia S. Milner, 61, of Poplar Bluff passed away Monday, Oct. 26, 2015 at her residence. Mrs. Milner, the daughter of the late Patrick and Charlene (Baughman) Donnellan, was born Jan. 18, 1954 at Manhattan, Kans. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and was a Ward Secretary for Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She enjoyed spending time with her family and her beloved dogs Rudy, Lulu, Lizzy, and Sissy. Mrs. Milner also enjoyed home decorating and exercising...

Charles Frances Blinne Services for Charles Frances Blinne, 73, of Tyler, Texas, formerly of Poplar Bluff, were to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015, at 11 a.m. at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception with Father Timothy Kelly officiating. Mr. Blinne passed away Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015 at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler...

Helen Walker Brooks CHESTERFIELD, Mo. - Helen Coleen Walker Brooks, 91 of Chesterfield, Mo., formerly of Poplar Bluff, departed from this life on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015 at her home lovingly surrounded by family. Mrs. Brooks, the daughter of James and Edith (Bush) Helvey was born on March 18, 1924 in Poplar Bluff. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Linda and Jerry Richardson have covered many miles following the horse trails that wrap around the Current and Jacks Fork rivers within the nearly 81,000 acres of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Weaving through the forests of Shannon and Carter County with Star, a Missouri foxtrotter, Linda feels closer to God, and closer to nature...

Linda Mae Wright DEXTER, Mo. - Linda Mae Wright, 75, of Dexter passed away on Monday, October 26th at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, MO following a courageous battle with multiple myeloma cancer. Linda was born on August 8th, 1940, in Kennett, MO to Archie Douglas and Elizabeth Lochial Milburn. She married Billy Pat Wright on June 16, 1961 at the Hayti Church of Christ. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother and enjoyed spending time with her family...