Stories from Wednesday, March 23, 2016

By LINDSAY JONES SEMO News Service It might have taken 71 years and a lifetime of joys and sorrows to realize, but one local World War II veteran finally got his due during a medal bestowment program Monday at Alma Schrader Elementary School in Cape Girardeau...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man accused of fatally shooting another man who had given him a ride now faces additional weapon and assault charges. Joseph Wade Wisdom, 33, initially was charged with the Class A felony of second-degree murder in connection with the March 8 death of Stahl Lee Sturgeon, who was found dead inside his Toyota Camry on the parking lot of the Wal-Mart Supercenter...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A competing ambulance company may be shut out of Poplar Bluff, Mo., following a 4-1 decision Monday by the city council. Council members have tabled a request by Medic One of Jonesboro, Ark., for permission to open a location within the city limits to provide EMS services and a Missouri base for vehicle repairs for all other sites in the state...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man was ordered to stand trial Monday morning for his alleged role in connection with a December hit-and-run accident that killed a Poplar Bluff, Mo., teenager. Accompanied by his attorney, Steve Lynxwiler with the Public Defender's Office, Randel Craig Sparks was supposed to appear before Associate Circuit Judge Thomas Swindle for a preliminary hearing on the Class D felonies of leaving the scene of an accident and tampering with physical evidence.. ...

Larry Rodgers has been appointed chief executive officer of Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center effective April 11, Previously, he served as CEO of 167-bed College Station Medical Center in College Station, Texas. "Coming home to Missouri to lead Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center is an opportunity I've hoped for," said Rodgers, who is a Missouri native. ...

By MARK BLISS SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said he plans to support Donald Trump or whoever is the Republican nominee in the November presidential election. Some conservatives have raised the possibility of a third-party candidate if Trump wins the GOP nomination. But Blunt argued against such a move...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Mules baseball took pause prior to Monday's home opener to re-dedicate the new high school field to the late Bobby Strenfel. Work on the new field was completed in February, part of district-wide construction that includes a new $5.8 million athletic complex. The new field replaces what was Bobby Strenfel Memorial Field, on the eve of the high school moving to its new Oak Grove Road location...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Smoke from a controlled burn near Winona, Mo., may have caused smokey conditions in St. Louis Monday according to the U.S. Forest Service. The Associated Press reported Monday that St. Louis fire departments were investigating widespread reports of smoke and haze in the greater city area...

Mary Ann Parker FISK, Mo. - Mary Ann Parker, age 68, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, March 20, 2016 at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Parker was born August 27, 1948 at Poplar Bluff, the daughter of the late Jim and Anna (Clark) Baughn. ...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The Republican Party's incoherent response to the Supreme Court vacancy is a partisan reflex in search of a justifying principle. The multiplicity of Republican rationalizations for their refusal to even consider Merrick Garland radiates insincerity...

With the close of session Thursday, the House of Representatives has entered spring break. Every year, the legislative session seems to go by faster and faster. This year is no exception. Before spring break though, the House made some state history this week and passed a few more pieces of impactful legislation. Check out some of the things we completed this week as well as an overview of the accomplishments we have already achieved this year...

Louise Crisp CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Louise Crisp, 83, of Campbell, died Saturday, March 19, 2016, at Golden Living Center in Malden. Visitation will be from noon - 2 p.m., Tuesday, at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m., Tuesday, at Landess Funeral Chapel in Campbell with Rev. Darren Baker officiating...

By STEPHEN MOORE In a supremely weird election season the latest weird twist is the consensus emerging on Wall Street that Hillary Clinton would be better for financial markets than Donald Trump. The usually sensible Barrons magazine concluded in its cover story last week that Hillary-onomics are better for investors than Trump. Warren Buffett and other stock gurus have made the same case...

Shirley Stroud FISK, Mo. - Shirley Jean Stroud, age 74, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, March 20, 2016, at Cedargate in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Stroud was born August 26, 1941 at Broseley, Mo. She was of the Baptist Faith. She enjoyed reading. On September 10, 1960 she married Bill Stroud. ...

James William "Bill" McCarthy LOWNDES, Mo. - James William "Bill" McCarthy, son of the late James Roosevelt McCarthy and Vernie L. Holmes, was born on March 18, 1953 in Missouri. He departed this life at his residence in Lowndes, Mo. on March 21, 2016 at the age of 63 years...

Eugene Pinkard CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Eugene Pinkard, 80, of Matthews, died Sunday, March 20, 2016, at Close to Home, Inc. in Matthews. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Thursday at Landess Funeral Home in Campell. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m., Friday at Landess Funeral Chapel in Campbell. Burial will be at Elder Cemetery in Campbell...

The Iron Mules placed in the top 25 percent of schools in the Midwest during the Missouri FIRST Tech Challenge championship March 7 at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla. The milestone marked the first time the Poplar Bluff High School Robotics Club was eligible to vie in a state competition within just three years of its founding...

Howard Lemand Hayes, Jr. FISK, Mo. -- Howard Lemand Hayes Jr., 67, of Poplar Bluff, died Friday, March 18, 2016 at Truman VA Hospital in Columbia. Mr. Hayes was born May, 8, 1948 in Poplar Bluff, the son of the late Howard L. Sr. and Josiephine (Trout) Hayes. He attended Recycling Grace Ministries. He had served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Mr. Hayes enjoyed hunting arrow heads, playing the guitar, fishing, spending time with his friends and family...

Greenville High School announces its Students of the Month for February and March. Students of the Month for February are Cora Walk and Collten Alwes. Walk, daughter of Nancy Walk, is active in cheerleading, Art Club, Pep Club, FBLA, choir, softball, drama, CTS, FCCLA, and Beta. She was president of Art Club...

DEXTER -- The state-ranked Greenville Bears highlighted the Dexter Bearcats on their 2016 spring baseball schedule after suffering their only regular-season loss last spring. "This was a game we had marked on our schedule," Greenville coach Jeff Null said. "Dexter got us last year, which was one of our two losses in the spring season. They beat Trey (McDaniel) last year, and I think he was fired up to get the ball for today's game."...

TRENTON, Mo. -- A pair of timely home runs put Three Rivers on solid footing in its first region series of the season. The Raiders swept North Central 8-5 and 7-5 Sunday at North Central and, in doing so, won their first region series of the season and extended a recent hot streak...

Della Yvonne Iler Della Yvonne Iler, 51, of Oxly, passed away Thursday, March 17, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born on May 23, 1964 to David and Shirley (Wilson) Iler in St. Louis. She worked as a housekeeper. Della was a devoted mother and her favorite joy in life was spending time with her grandchildren. She also loved animals of all kinds and spending time outdoors...

Bennie Watkins Bennie "Ben" Olen Watkins, 69, of Bell City, Mo. passed away Saturday, March 12, 2016 in Midland, Texas. Ben was born May 24, 1946 at Batesville, Ark. to the late Bernell and Edith Porter Watkins. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He enjoyed the outdoors and playing and singing along with his guitar. He loved his family, but most of all he loved the Lord. He will be missed...

Joyce L. Absheer Joyce L. Absheer, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, March 20, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born July 3, 1930 at Broseley, Mo. to the late Leslie Presson and Flossie May Presson. She was a life time resident of Butler County, Mo. Joyce was a member of the First Church of God in Poplar Bluff...

The Poplar Bluff tennis team is feeling the squeeze from the construction around them. With one less court than past years and 22 players on the team this spring, the Mules are doing the best they can with the court time they have. "It works out alright," Mules coach Charlie Harper said. "Some of the guys get out here during their eighth hour PE before practice even starts."...

Jack Jennings VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Jackie "Jack" Don Jennings Sr., 77, died Sunday, March 20, 2016, in Garwood. No visition will be held. Funeral Service will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday. Rev. James Gore will officiate. Arrangements of McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren...

Nothing about the first game at the new Bobby Strenfel Field was routine. From the first pitch -- Poplar Bluff senior Kirby Coleman threw a strike on his second attempt -- or any fly ball hit Monday, the Mules and North County made it interesting for the large crowd...

Thomas reunion is Saturday The children of Elmer and Gladys Thomas will meet Saturday at the Qulin Lions' Club in Qulin for their annual family reunion. Dinner will be served at noon. Attendees are asked to bring covered dishes. Beverages will be provided...

SHANNON, Mo. -- Freshman Kaylee Davis only allowed three hits, walked two and struck out four as the Doniphan Donettes opened the season with a 16-1 road victory in four innings over Eminence on Monday. Davis also added a hit and two RBIs. Timberly Masching went 2 for 4 with a RBI, Paige Eddington added a hit and three runs scored and Haley Beale and Jakelyn Friend had a hit and scored twice as Doniphan (1-0) cruised to a run-rule victory...

Through 36 holes, Carr Vernon (Poplar Bluff HS) is three shots back of teammate Robby Salomon in the South California Intercollegiate Tournament at Carlton Oaks Golf Club. After shooting a 77 in the first round, Vernon shot a 1-over 73 to climb the leaderboard...