Stories from Thursday, June 30, 2016

By RON SMITH SEMO News Service Over the past four decades, 21 officers with the Missouri State Highway Patrol have given their lives in the line of duty. While the stories temporarily captured headlines of the day, often forgotten as the years have passed were the families left behind - many times a spouse and young children...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer The Southeast Missouri Civic and Social Club will be celebrating it's 50th anniversary over the Fourth of July weekend. Registration begins at Wheatley School from noon until 5 p.m. Friday and continues at Holiday Inn from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., with activities scheduled Saturday and Sunday, highlighted by an anniversary memorial luncheon. Guest speaker Edward R. Coursey will talk about the history of Wheatley school and founding of the civic and social club...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer It appears unlikely a grand jury will be called to review charges against the second of two drivers accused of hitting 13-year-old Heavenly Hafford in December and fleeing the scene of the accident. Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour continues this week to decline comment both on a request to call a grand jury to consider charges against Poplar Bluff businessman Ben Ressel or on new revelations that could call into question which of the two vehicles was responsible for Hafford's death.. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Local communities are coming together to celebrate the July 4th holiday with fireworks and other family-friendly events throughout the weekend. Celebrations will begin in Poplar Bluff on Saturday, with the 38th annual Downtown 5K Race, which starts at 7 a.m. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Authorities responding to a burglary Tuesday night at a local convenience store followed a blood trail to a nearby house where the alleged suspect was found. At about 9:45 p.m., officers were sent to J.D.'s Quick Stop in the 1500 block of North Main Street in reference to a possible burglary having just occurred, according to Patrolman Robert Reed's report...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- A former secretary-treasurer of a local postal union recently pleaded guilty in federal court to embezzling more than $30,000 from the organization. John McCain pleaded guilty as charged to the felony of embezzlement, according to the plea agreement filed with the U.S. District Court, Eastern District...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer Twin Rivers R-X Board of Education on Tuesday approved district-wide salary increases and a fiscal 2017 budget reflecting a $170,000 surplus. Salary increases for certified staff will add 2 percent or $601 to base pay, while increases for non-certified staff will add $301...

Glenn Johnson Glenn Johnson, 73, of Wappapello died Friday, June 24, 2016 at his residence. Services were held Monday, June 27, 2016 at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Qulin. Rev. Allen Leutert officiated. Burial followed in the Qulin Cemetery. Online condolences: www.whitesandersfuneralhome.com...

Gerald Moore First Sgt. (Ret.) Gerald Keith Moore, 67, of Poplar Bluff died surrounded by his loved ones, Monday, June 20, 2016, at SoutheastHEALTH Care in Cape Girardeau. Services were held Friday, June 24, 2016, at Morgan Funeral Chapel in Advance. Rev. Dale Wiseman officiated. Burial followed in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with full military rites...

Jackson Winters of Poplar Bluff High School is among the approximately 150 of Missouri's brightest sophomores attending four-day, hands-on leadership program sponsored by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It began Tuesday at Westminster College in Fulton and concludes Friday...

By AMY HAYES Fitness Connection, the 24-hour fitness center located in Dexter, is announcing their move to a new location. The expanded fitness center will be housed in the Chamber of Commerce building, which is conveniently located off of One Mile Road on West Market Street. The new building will be approximately 9,000 sq. feet with recent remodels provided by owners, Nick and Caitlin Roe...

Teens from across Missouri gathered on the University of Missouri campus June 1-3 for the 71st annual State 4-H Congress. In all, 233 teens ages 14-18 participated in a variety of hands-on workshops that fit their interests. Choices included topics such as marketing, agriculture education, electricity, leadership, line dancing, and a food challenge...

Thelma Jean Marler FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- Thelma Jean Marler, 70, of Williamsville, Mo. died Monday, June 27, 2016, at her brother's home near Silva, Mo. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, June 30, at the Highway Missionary Baptist Church near Greenville, Mo., followed by the funeral service at the church with Bro. Robert Randolph officiating. Burial will be at the Center Ridge Cemetery in Greenville...

By SARAH DENKLER Horticulture Specialist University Extension As much as I wish I could say the beetles that have arrived in the area were from Britain and sing well together, the beetles that are invading our area are really unwanted insects. From the beginning of June, the populations of Japanese Beetle have begun to move upward and we are now beginning the peak infestation...

'Words have meaning' and 'actions have consequences,' those are two sayings or quips that many of us have heard before. However, I can tell you when it comes to the U.S. Constitution and the expected conduct of elected Representatives, I believe these two phrases are absolutely essential to characterizing our form of democracy. ...

Tabitha Jones of Bloomfield, Mo., has received the University Scholarship to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 2016-2017 academic year. Jones is the daughter of Jolene and Byron Bolin of Bloomfield and is a 2016 graduate of Bloomfield R-14 High School...

Dr. Russell Deidiker threw a monkey wrench into the Heavenly Hafford hit-and-run. With all the publicity about the case, we're sure everyone knows by now that the 13-year-old Poplar Bluff girl was hit and killed while attempting to cross Kanell Boulevard to Maud Street at about 7:15 p.m. Dec. 9...

Emma D. Lewis Emma D. Lewis, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, June 29, 2016, at Westwood Hills Care Center. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

Terry Gene Gilmore NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Terry Gene Gilmore, 55, of Corning, Ark., passed away Sunday, June 26, 2016 in Paragould, Ark. He was born Aug. 5, 1960, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., to Don Gilmore and Norma Rowland. He is survived by one son, Tim Gilmore and wife Kelly, and one daughter, Elizabeth Diane Gilmore Bishop, both of Doniphan, Mo. ...

Bill Paul Bennett GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Bill Paul Bennett, 84, was born Feb. 14, 1932. He was the son of Coleman Bradford Bennett and Viola Louisa Kirkpatrick of Patterson. Bill was a proud veteran who served in Korea from 1952 to 1954. He was united in marriage to Wanda May Hopkins Nov. ...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that multiculturalism has "utterly failed," adding that it was an illusion to think Germans and foreign workers could "live happily side by side." The failure of multiculturalism is also seen in Denmark, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium and other European countries. Immigrants coming from Africa and the Middle East refuse to assimilate and instead seek to import the failed cultures they fled...

Isaac W. Nesler Isaac W. Nesler, 91, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Monday, June 27, 2016 at his residence. Mr. Nesler, the son of the late Robert and Martha Moore Nesler, was born July 4, 1924 in Arkansas. He was known as the "lawnmower" man and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends...

In his first week at Three Rivers, Chad Allen's future was literally drilled into him by a pair of sophomore big men and a disciplinarian coach who were all coming off a national championship. The Raiders won it all in 1992. Allen, a freshman forward the following season out of Little Rock, Arkansas, was in the middle of a pad drill with fellow big men Brian Price and Belvis Noland...

Kaylee JaneMarie Murray of Doniphan has chosen the name Zenlaylah LeeAnn Marie Murray for her 7-pound, 5-ounce daughter born at 9:13 p.m., Monday, June 20, 2016, at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Zenlaylah was 20 1/4" long...

Desirae Renea Collins and Zackery Stewart Collins of Doniphan chose the name Cassius Leon Collins for their 2-pound, 2-ounce son born at 5:27 a.m., Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Cassius was 13" long...

William "Bill" Edward Church NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- William "Bill" Edward Church, 54, of Fisk, passed away Saturday, June 25, 2016 at his home. Mr. Church was born Nov. 14, 1961 in Rome, N.Y. He was a member of the Elm Grove Baptist Church and was a Free Mason in Columbus, Miss...