Stories from Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Two individuals from Butler County will help represent Missouri at the Republican National Convention. Speaker of the House Todd Richardson and Hardy Billington, both of Poplar Bluff, have been selected as delegates at large for the July event. Richardson and Billington were among 25 delegates selected last weekend during a state convention held in Branson. The Missouri Democratic Party State Convention will be held June 17-18 at Sedalia...

TRC, SEMO renew pact By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Three Rivers College will continue to provide classes at Cape College Center, following a recent contract renewal by institutional partners in the consortium. The college center, previously known as the Cape Girardeau Partnership for Higher Education, offers open enrollment for students in the Cape Girardeau County service region. The agreement signed earlier in the month extends the original three-year contract...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center's Teacher of the Year 2016 Jody Cochran has only been an educator for two years, but is quickly turning his class into one of the most valuable in the community. Cochran was a local construction worker most of his life before embarking on a career change to teach building trades. He spent nearly 10 years with George Wilson Construction before opening Cochran Construction in 2005, which he still operates in addition to teaching...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer VAN BUREN, Mo. -- A Van Buren mayor's tax woes may never be heard in court, as efforts to oust the newly elected official faced an attempt Monday to have the case dismissed. Judge David Paul Evans is expected to rule within the next two weeks on whether or not the state has standing to bring the case against Michael Hoerner to court...

Alice Mae Poteet Alice Mae Poteet, age 74, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Sunday, May 22, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Ms. Poteet, the daughter of G.B. "Pops" and Dorothy "Moms" Helen Coulson Ray, was born Feb. 10, 1942 in Canalou, Mo. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN In his coquettish refusal to accept the Donald, Paul Ryan says he cannot betray the conservative "principles" of the party of Abraham Lincoln, high among which is a devotion to free trade. But when did free trade become dogma in the Party of Lincoln?...

Last year, I declared myself a springbok trapped in a human body. A springbok is a highly agile individual who is among the "least concern" species and resides in the southeastern part of the African continent. With such a declaration, some people will suggest that I am suffering from a condition known as species dysphoria, in which one thinks he is a wild animal trapped in a human body. ...

Carolyn Polk PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Carolyn Polk, 81, of Piedmont, Mo., died Sunday, May 22, 2016, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center in Piedmont. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 26, at Trinity United Methodist Church near Piedmont. Ruegg Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

Last week thousands of law enforcement officers from around the country came to Washington, D.C., to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. As part of the memorial ceremonies, 252 names will be added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Wall and among them three officers from Missouri killed in the line of duty last year...

Kathryn L. Brewer PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Kathryn L. Brewer, 76, died Monday, May 23, 2016 at her home near Annapolis. Arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel, Piedmont.

Jean Green DEXTER, Mo. - Jean Green, 77, of Dexter, died Sunday, May 22, 2016 at her residence. Visitation will be 5 p.m., Wednesday, May 25 at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. The funeral will be at 10 a.m., Thurs., May 26 in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter. Burial will be in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield...

Carry Janine Hasting NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Carry Janine Hasting, 47, of Neelyville, died Friday, May 20, 2016 at her residence. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 25 at the Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville with the funeral following at 11 a.m. in the chapel. Burial will be at Neelyville Cemetery...

Norma Evalyn Boyer FISK, Mo. -- Norma Evalyn Boyer, 83, of Lake Wales, Fla., died Saturday, May 21, 2016 at her residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. Condolences; www.whitesandersfuneralhome.com...

BRENTWOOD, Mo. -- Bryce Alcorn was perfect in more ways than one Monday night. In a MSHSAA Class 3 playoff against Brentwood, the Clearwater senior's arm and bat were flawless as the Tigers' offense fell in line behind him for a 12-2 victory at Brentwood Park...

Raymond James Travis ELLSINORE, Mo. - Raymond James Travis, 90, of Doniphan, died Thursday May 19, 2016 at his residence. A visitation was held at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 21 at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. The funeral was held at 11 a.m., Sunday, May 22 in the Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Pete Joplin officiating. Burial took place in the Good Hope Cemetery...

Lola Ruth Scott Haynes FISK, Mo. - Lola Ruth Scott Haynes was born in a log cabin on the St. Francis River Bank near Powe, Mo., on July 28, 1923. She left the earth to rejoin her husband, Charlie, and explore the swamps in Heaven with him on Saturday, May 21, 2016...

Paul R. Jenkins Paul R. Jenkins, 92, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Sunday, May 22, 2016 at Swift Creek Residential Center in Poplar Bluff . Mr. Jenkins, the son of the late Roy J. and Minnie C. Freeman Jenkins, was born Sept. 29, 1923 in Harviell, Mo. He was a member of Twin Springs Baptist Church and had retired in 1985 from Porter DeWitt Construction Company. Mr. Jenkins enjoyed woodworking, building dog houses and planting flowers...

Wilma Jean Ward Wilma Jean Ward (nee Sheehy), 74, passed away peacefully Sunday, May 22, 2016 at her home, in Poplar Bluff, surrounded by her family. She was born Feb. 4, 1942, in Poplar Bluff, to Frank and Alice Sheehy. She is preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Robert Ward...

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- The Bootheel dreams of a baseball championship keep dying on the Catholic field next to a cemetery. Two years ago, Valle Catholic beat Bernie in the first round and then East Carter in the quarterfinals before winning state. Last year, Valle Catholic handed Greenville its second loss of the spring, beat Bernie in the quarterfinals and won state again...

Raymond James Travis -- Doniphan, Mo. Jean Green -- Dexter, Mo. Alice Mae Poteet -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Carry Janine Hasting -- Neelyville, Mo. Paul R. Jenkins -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Kathryn L. Brewer -- Annapolis, Mo. Carolyn Polk -- Piedmont, Mo. Norma Evalyn Boyer -- Lake Wales, Fla...