Stories from Wednesday, December 23, 2015

SEMO News Service SIKESTON, Mo. -- Police found a man mortally wounded after a shooting in front of a liquor store Saturday, and a Sikeston man charged with murder remained at large Sunday. Antoine A. Harris-Applewhite, 33, of Sikeston was charged Sunday with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and felon in possession of a firearm in connection with the Saturday killing of Samuel L. ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The mysterious disappearance of a wooden cross that for more than two years graced the intersection of Kanell and Westwood in Poplar Bluff has been linked to one of the largest atheist groups in the country. The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), a non-profit who states its mission is separation of church and state and public education on matters relating to non-theism, in a July 10 letter to the Missouri Department of Transportation demanded removal of the cross from the intersection.. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A 49-year-old Poplar Bluff insurance adjustor and high school basketball official drives an estimated 48,000 miles annually in his 2004 Chevrolet Malibu. "After 400,000 miles, my goal was a half million miles," Ken Hosler said...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Poplar Bluff, Mo., officials voted Monday to correct a $1.75 million mistake in the contract that sold the city cable division to the owners of NewWave Communications. City council members unanimously approved a post reconciliation agreement, returning 10 percent of the cable division's $17.5 million purchase price to Telecommunications Management LLC, the parent company of NewWave...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor An autopsy was being performed this morning on a Poplar Bluff, Mo., infant who authorities believe died after choking on formula in his crib. Terrance R. Rodgers III, 3 1/2 months, was pronounced dead at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center Monday afternoon, according to Butler County Coroner Jim Akers...

Approved budget (figures approximate) City budget General fund Expenses: $12,989,800 Revenues: $12,565,000 Decrease in cash reserve: $424,800 Raises: 2 percent Total salary and benefits cost: $9,609,000 Support to Black River Coliseum, city airport and art museum:...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A local teenager is in critical condition in a St. Louis, Mo., hospital after her father accidentally shot her with a black-powder gun Monday morning inside their home. Kaitlyn Elise Pullam, 17, was "critical, but as stable as they could get her," in the intensive-care unit at St. Louis Children's Hospital Monday night, according to Butler County Investigator Randle Huddleston...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer United Gospel Rescue Mission is preparing to dish up more than 700 pounds of turkey and 300 pounds of ham Friday as it opens its doors to the community for Christmas dinner. Anyone can attend the meal, said Pastor Greg Kirk, who expects to serve at least 1,000 people...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The city of Poplar Bluff will cover about 3 percent of its expenses in the next year from its cash reserve, according to an approximately $13 million budget approved Monday by city council members. The budget includes a 2 percent raise for employees, while decisions on a possible transfer of $3 million to Municipal Utilities will wait until January...

Hire a negotiator After reading about the Eight Points debacle and now the New Wave cluster, maybe the Poplar Bluff City Council consider hiring some one to negotiate their contracts. Who in the world would agree to guarantee a company 12000 customers with a population of 18000. ...

WASHINGTON -- History, on the "right side" of which Barack Obama endeavors to keep us, has a sense of whimsy. Proof of which is something happening this week: Britain's last deep-pit coal mine is closing, a small event pertinent to an enormous event, the Industrial Revolution, which was ignited by British coal...

JEFFERSON, CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri State Highway Patrol commissioned 25 new troopers during a ceremony Friday morning in Jefferson City. Members of the patrol 101st Recruit Class, the troopers reported to the patrol's 25-week Law Enforcement Academy on July 1 and will report to their assigned troops on Jan. 4...

The Quad County Medical Society of Butler, Carter, Ripley and Wayne counties meet Thursday, Dec. 10, at the Westwood Center. Dr. Amit Chakrabarty was the guest speaker. Those attending: Dr. Charles Lawson, Dr. Austin Tinsley, Dr. Dorothy Munch, Dr. Matt Riffle, Dr. ...

January 2016, during National Blood Donor Month, the American Red Cross encourages people to roll up their sleeves to give blood to help maintain a sufficient blood supply for patients. Eligible donors are encouraged to give blood regularly. Donors with all blood types are needed, especially those with types AB, O, B negative and A negative...

The Tinnin Fine Arts Center at Three Rivers College will open 2016 with the first children's show of the 2015-16 Patrons of the Arts season, as well as a special two-man production from Center Stage. "We're kicking off the new year with two really powerful shows at the Tinnin Center," said Tim Thompson, director of the Tinnin Fine Arts Center. ...

Mary Ann Vaultin Ide Mary Ann Vaultin Ide, 71, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, at her residence. Arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. Complete obituary will run in the Thursday, Dec. 24 edition of the Daily American Republic...

Lori Ann Mathews Castaneda MALDEN, Mo. - Lori Ann Mathews Castaneda, 52, of Wappapello, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 18, 2015, at Aurora Zilber Family Hospice in Milwaukee, Wis. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., Wed., Dec. 23 at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden with the funeral following at 11 a.m., in the Bradshaw Chapel - Malden with Rev. Jack Allen officiating. Entombment will be in the Pemiscot Memorial Gardens in Caruthersville, Mo...

Three Rivers College has received a glowing review of its external locations at both Dexter and Sikeston, a multi-location visit by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The visit, which included stops at the college's locations in Sikeston and Dexter, served as a preliminary to the college-wide accreditation examination that the college faces in 2018...

Wayne Edward Ernest Wayne Edward Ernest, 89, of Poplar Bluff, died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2015, in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Ernest was born on Jan. 28, 1926, in LaCross, Wis. He was a longtime resident of the Poplar Bluff area. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and also worked as an electrician. ...

Freeman L. O'Neal PUXICO, Mo. - Freeman L. O'Neal, son of the late Lestie and Minnie Mossman O'Neal, was born in Puxico, Mo., on November 26,1931 and passed away at the Puxico Nursing Center in Puxico Missouri on December 20, 2015, at theage 84 years. ...

Willard Northcutt CAMPBELL, Mo. - Willard Northcutt, 99, of Campbell, died, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 22, at Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton, Mo. Burial will be in the Stanfield Cemetery. Landess Funeral Home of Campbell is in charge of arrangements...

Joseph Greenlee Jr. Joseph Lawrence Greenlee Jr., more commonly known as Larry, 80, departed this life Saturday, December 19th at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Missouri. Larry was born in Naylor, Missouri on July 14th, 1935, to the late Joseph Lawrence Greenlee Sr. ...

Hazel Vert Hazel Blanche (Kirkley) Vert, 99, a life-long resident of Poplar Bluff, departed this life on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015 at her residence with her family lovingly around her when God said "Hazel, job well done" and called her home. Mrs. Vert, the daughter of the late Harrison Franklin and Louisanna (Kinsey) Kirkley, was born Sept. 12, 1916 in Harviell. She was of the Pentecostal faith and was a homemaker. Mrs. Vert enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and cooking...

Bernardo Ray Ilion-Clopton Our beloved Bernardo Ray Ilion was born December 12, 1953 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri to Bernardo Ray Ilion I and Joyce T. Clopton. He was proceeded in death by his first wife, Lillie Ann Clopton and his second wife, Ruth Catherine Ilion...

Police patrol is needed Yes, I'm callin' because I take people up to the train station sometimes at a 11:30 p.m., 12 o'clock at night and pick up around 3 in the morning and I never see a police officer around them and it's really scary if you're a female and you are up there by yourself. I just think it wouldn't hurt 'em if they would drive by, even stop, and look in the waitin' area or something to make females feel safe...

American immorality and contempt for liberty lie at the root of most of the political economic problems our nation faces. They explain the fiscal problems we face, such as growing national debt and budget deficits at the federal, state and local levels of government. Our immorality and contempt for liberty are reflected most in our widespread belief that government ought to forcibly use one American to serve the purposes of another American. Let's examine it...

Kyle E. and Rechell R. Alcorn of St. Genevieve, have chosen the name Kyle Edward Alcorn, Jr., for their 6-pound, 14-ounce son born Saturday, Dec. 19, at 8:20 a.m. at the Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital. Kyle, Jr. was 20 1/2 inches long. Grandparents are Andrew and Katherine Nored of Cuba, Mo., and Joe and Patricia Alcorn of Wappapello...

SEMO News Service SIKESTON, Mo. -- A suspect in a fatal shooting Saturday in Sikeston, Missouri, turned himself in to authorities Monday. Antoine A. Harris-Applewhite, 33, of Sikeston turned himself in to the Scott County Jail about 5:30 p.m. Monday, according to Sikeston Department of Public Safety Capt. James McMillen...

To the Editor: I was in no way involved in the disappearance of her son, Edward Goodwin. I have no knowledge of what happened to him and would appreciate threats to my family and loved ones to cease. Hershel Deaton Poplar Bluff, Mo. (Editor's Note: Deaton is responding to testimony made by Mrs. ...

BROSELEY -- Dexter Bearcats coach Chad Allen is not accustomed to watching his traditionally spot-on shooters miss shots from the perimeter. Monday night turned out to be an exception. The Bearcats shot just 1 of 19 from 3-point range, and made 40 percent of their shots overall...

BROSELEY -- A nip-and-tuck quarterfinal at the Lady Royals Christmas Classic quickly turned in favor of the host Monday night. Twin Rivers scored on five straight possessions early in the fourth quarter to pull away from Doniphan 56-42. "These girls have done it a couple of different times this year, picked up the intensity in the fourth quarter and made runs," Twin Rivers coach Kelly Westerfield said...

Leon Moore CORNING, ARK.--Mr. Leon Moore, 75, of Neelyville, passed away Sun., Dec. 20, 2015 at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark. Mr. Moore was born in Corning, April 7, 1940. He was a retired farmer. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a member of the First Apostolic Church in Corning...

Edgar C. Dykes CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.--Edgar C. Dykes, Jr., 76 of Poplar Bluff, passed away Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015 at Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born Nov. 29, 1939 in St. Louis to Edgar C., Sr. and Mildred (Slattery) Dykes. Edgar served two years in the Army National Guard. ...

BROSELEY -- In a game where baskets were at a premium, Callee Pickrell and Kabrien Rogers were hardly dismayed. The Naylor forwards shook off a sluggish first few minutes and went a combined 12 for 18 from the field the rest of the way. Pickrell finished with a game-high 16 points and Rogers added 12, leading third-seeded Naylor to a 42-27 win over Greenville in a Lady Royals Christmas Classic quarterfinal Monday night...

Ramona Lynn Stockton PIGGOTT, Ark. - Ramona Lynn Stockton, 51, of Pollard, Ark. passed away Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, at her home. She was born June 13, 1964, in Ukiah, Calif., and was the daughter of the late Cleo and Norma "Cookie" (Baxter) Rickman...

Deborah Ruth Powell NEELYVILLE, Mo.--Deborah Ruth Powell, 57, of Dudley, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015 at her residence. She was born Jan. 4, 1959 in Poplar Bluff. She was a housekeeper at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, and had been a long time resident of Stoddard County...

Three Rivers College registration for the spring semester will continue through Jan. 15 at its full-service locations across Southeast Missouri, and at several registration events. Full-service locations include the Poplar Bluff campus and the locations in Sikeston, Dexter, Kennett, Malden, Willow Springs, Piedmont and Cape Girardeau. ...

BROSELEY -- The Clearwater girls basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak and advanced to the consolation semifinals of the Lady Royals Christmas Classic with a 67-29 victory over East Carter on Monday. Konnor Johnston scored 25 points and Halle Gooch added 19 for the ninth-seeded Lady Tigers (5-5), who led 16-1 after one quarter before extending it to 34-6 at halftime...