Stories from Wednesday, March 2, 2016

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The SEMO Kennel Club currently is working toward American Kennel Club (AKC) accreditation, saying the move could bring a wealth of benefits to the community. Amy Braschler, one of the SEMO Kennel Club members spearheading the effort says the demand is there, as there has not been a kennel club in the area for more than a decade...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff Technical Career students already have saved the district thousands in HVAC repairs and maintenance this year. Now they are fixing R-I's fender benders. Following a vehicular "mishap" with one of the district's security vehicles - an employee backed into the car on the high school parking lot - PBTCC recently completed body and graphics work to make the "totaled" sedan roadworthy again...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Residents of Ward 4 asked Monday for action and answers from city leaders, following a year when many decisions were delayed due to upheaval among the council and city management. Citizens spoke about Municipal Utilities, city hall and street paving during a meeting at O'Neal Elementary. This was the last of five ward meetings to gather input from the public...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The use of drones is not allowed at Wappapello Lake or any of the surrounding public lands that fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the project reminded residents this week. Drones are a relative new problem and enforcement of these regulations has become an issue in recent weeks, according to park ranger Dan Camden...

Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center's Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center is now open and accepting new patients at the hospital's Oak Grove campus. The clinic features three hyperbaric chambers and six treatment rooms, with improved parking accessibility...

House Approves Bill to Aid Elderly and Disabled Missourians With strong bipartisan support, the House gave approval to House Bill 1565 to raise the asset limit for elderly and disabled Missourians hoping to qualify for Medicaid. An individual is currently allowed to have no more than $1,000 in assets to qualify for Medicaid assistance. ...

Thelma LaRue Williams EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Thelma LaRue Williams, 84, of Poplar Bluff died Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016 at Westwood Hills Nursing Home in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be at noon, Thursday, at the Shelby Funeral Home in East Praire, with funeral following at 1 p.m. Brother Ray Sowell or a member of Green Forest Church of Christ will officiate. Burial will be in East Prairie City Cemetery...

Jimmy Livingston PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Jimmy Livingston, 76, of Piedmont died Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements will be announced by Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel, Piedmont.

Eva Paralee Tipton BERNIE, Mo. -- Eva Paralee Tipton, 82, of Dexter, departed this life at Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing in Dexter. She was born Jan. 2, 1934, in Bernie, to the late Larence Eugene Mason and Edith Opal Fields Mason...

By MONA CHAREN As the results of New Hampshire's primary were coming in Tuesday night, some commentators on Twitter were jubilant about the "disruption": that is, the victories of an inane socialist demagogue and a foul-mouthed nationalist demagogue and what they represented to the "establishment." Yes, mobs are disruptive. Madame Defarge enjoyed a good shakeup herself...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Donald Trump's distinctive rhetorical style -- think of a drunk with a bullhorn reading aloud James Joyce's "Finnegans Wake" under water -- poses an almost insuperable challenge to people whose painful duty is to try to extract clarity from his effusions. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Human resources managers from four area industries with nearly 3,000 workers informed 32 school counselors and administrators about available manufacturing jobs during a Counseling System of Support Workshop on Feb. 25 at the Briggs & Stratton plant...

By MARK BLISS SEMO News Service Southeast Missouri State University wants to become a school for drones. The university's Board of Regents has approved plans for a new bachelor of science in unmanned aircraft systems. If approved by the Missouri Coordinating Board of Education in June, school officials expect to begin offering the new major to students in the 2017 fall semester...

CEDAR HILL, Mo. -- The Lady Mules relived their season in a single night Monday in the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 semifinal. A rough start, a comeback, losing a player and a chance to win in the end only to slip away. Fox scored six straight points just after the midway point of the fourth quarter then sank 6 of 8 free throws over the final two minutes to hold off the Mules 55-51...

By MARK BLISS SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Southeast Missouri State University students will pay more to live on campus next school year, but will find it easier to stay in its residence halls during school breaks. The board of regents Friday voted unanimously to raise room-and-board rates by 2.3 percent for the 2016-2017 school year, raising average charges to $8,353 for the year...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Dexter guard Ethan Flowers already established himself as one of the elite 3-point shooters in the region, breaking the school record for most 3s earlier this season. The 5-foot-9 senior turned to a different shot to help the Bearcats secure their first playoff victory since 2010 Monday night...

Toni Barnes WEST PLAINS, Mo. - Mrs. Toni Barnes, 69, of West Plains, Mo. passed away at 11:05 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, at Cox South in Springfield, Mo. She was born Nov. 28, 1946, at Holcomb, Mo., to Harry Lee Brannan and Eva Provance Brannan. ...

Sherman J. Cambron DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Sherman J. Cambron, 81, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. departed this life Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, at his residence. Mr. Cambron, son of Sherman and Karlene Cambron, was born Aug. 12, 1934, in Morehouse, Mo. He had worked in steel and aluminum for 50 years and he enjoyed hunting and fishing...

Richard Dean Taylor Richard Dean Taylor, 83, formerly of Coldwater, died Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, at Stockhoff Memorial Nursing Home, Fredericktown. Visitation for the public will be held at 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Greenville. Services will follow at 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 2, 2016, also at the chapel. Burial will follow at Linville-Barrett Cemetery near Coldwater with full military honors. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Cape County Cowboy Church...

Wanda J. Staton DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Wanda J. Staton, 76, of Doniphan, Mo., passed away Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, at her residence in rural Ripley County. Mrs. Staton, daughter of the late Charlie and Pearl Lee (Dillon) Jones, was born Nov. 18, 1939, in Kennett, Mo. She was a homemaker. Mrs. Staton enjoyed working with flowers, collecting dolls, crocheting and especially being with her family. She was a member of the Oak Grove Church of God...

E. L. "Buddy" Hupp E. L. "Buddy" Hupp, 84, of Fairdealing, Mo. passed away Friday, Feb. 26, 2016 at his residence. Mr. Hupp, the son of the late Lewis A. and Elizabeth Smith Hupp, was born Jan. 14, 1932 in Essex, Mo. He was of the Protestant faith and had retired from the US Navy. ...

Four Raiders were selected to both the All-Region and All-Conference teams this year. Freshman Gabe Grant, freshman Camron Reedus, sophomore Justas Furmanavicius, and sophomore Jemeereo Spain were each selected to the All-Region XVI first team after Three Rivers (23-6, 6-2 Region XVI) earned the top seed in the region tournament before losing in the semifinals to eventual champion Moberly Area...

Gertrude Marie Blaise VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Gertrude Marie Blaise, 89, of Van Buren, died Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in the Ozark Medical Center in West Plains, Mo. Visitation for the public will begin at 10 a.m., Wednesday, in the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren with her funeral following at 11 a.m. John Hoskins will officiate. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield...

Peggy Elizabeth Woodward NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Peggy Elizabeth Woodard, 89, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Mrs. Woodard was born Feb. 16, 1927 in Saint Louis. She worked as a homemaker and attended Naylor Methodist Church where she had served as secretary-treasurer. ...

JONESBORO, Ark. -- Even on Sunday, Destiny Bolen was a busy Lady Raider. She pitched 9 1/3 innings in Three Rivers' doubleheader with Arkansas State and also scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh in the nightcap. With her help and a big offensive performance by Wiley Lowry, the Lady Raiders came from four runs down to win their first game of the season, 8-6, after Three Rivers lost the opener 6-1...