Stories from Thursday, December 29, 2016

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The city of Poplar Bluff will eliminate only one of two police officer salaries that were included under proposed 2017 budget cuts. The city council voted Tuesday to increase deficit rather than trim other expenses. Nearly 2 percent of all general fund expenses will not be covered by revenues in the next budget year, putting the city almost $238,000 in the red...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff City Council has promised two acres of city property for a dog park, provided there is no expense to the general fund. The council discussed the proposal Tuesday during the city manager's report, following a meeting to approve the 2017 budget...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor PIEDMONT, Mo. -- An Ellsinore, Mo., area man escaped injury Tuesday evening when his single-engine aircraft crashed near Piedmont. The crash damaged electrical lines and poles, resulting in nearly 350 of Black River Electric Cooperative members in the Clearwater Lake area being without power for more than eight hours...

Budget 2017 General fund Proposed deficit: $173,800 Approved deficit: $237,800 Positions eliminated: Police: 1 officer salary, position is currently not filled City court: 1 staff member laid off Planning department: 1 salary, position is currently not filled...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- The fall of Aleppo just weeks before Barack Obama leaves office is a fitting stamp on his Middle East policy of retreat and withdrawal. The pitiable pictures from the devastated city showed the true cost of Obama's abdication. For which he seems to have few regrets, however. In his end-of-year news conference, Obama defended U.S. inaction with his familiar false choice: it was either stand aside or order a massive Iraq-style ground invasion...

The federal regulatory state has just surpassed a dubious milestone. Since 2005, the total net cost of the 4,432 regulations finalized has now topped $1 trillion, according to the American Action Forum, a center-right think tank with a focus on limited government and free markets. That translates to a long-term total cost of $3,080 per person, or an annual per capita cost of $540...

By GEORGE F. WILL "The thing that is in Room 101 is the worst thing in the world. ... The worst thing in the world varies from individual to individual." -- George Orwell, "1984" PHILADELPHIA -- For Christos and Markela Sourovelis, for whom the worst thing was losing their home, "Room 101" was Courtroom 478 in City Hall. ...

As the New Year quickly approaches, many people are making a list of New Year's resolutions and goals for 2017. While those lists often include getting in better shape, eating healthier or spending more time with loved ones - the incoming Trump Administration is working on a different kind of list. Theirs is a list of priorities, changes, repeals and policies to help move our economy forward, enhance the security of Americans and truly once again make our country great...

To The Editor: Earlier this month, John J. Pershing VA Medical Center staff and volunteers distributed Care and Share baskets for the 2016 season. The Care and Share Program began several years ago and was designed to provide the ingredients for a complete holiday meal to Veterans in need. This year we distributed the food to 200 Veterans and their families; our largest total, yet...

Krystale Lynn Graham-Tidwell and Jason Leroy Tidwell of Poplar Bluff have chosen the name Jaylynn Sueann Tidwell for their 4-pound, 7-ounce daughter born at 7:11 p.m., Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Jaylynn was 16 inches long...

By MARGARET SHACKLEFORD "As part of the partnership with the Vietnam War Commemoration for the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, the Poplar Bluff Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution announces Doug Siler as Vietnam Veteran of the Month for December...

BLOOMFIELD -- Like most of Bloomfield's offensive possessions Tuesday night, the Wildcats turned to 3-point range for their most important shot against Malden. And an unlikely shooter. Dalton Phillips has been the Wildcats' sixth or seventh man off the bench all season, and in a game with a lot on the line, Bloomfield coach Brandon Crook turned to the junior for a spark late...

Nik Rowland threw down a dunk Tuesday night but everyone who left a packed Senior High Gym will remember the Poplar Bluff sophomore's defensive play in the final seconds. Rowland blocked a potential game-tying shot to secure an 84-82 win over Humboldt (Tenn.), putting the host Mules in the semifinals of the 30th annual Poplar Bluff Showdown...

Three of the four teams to reach the semifinals last year are back after winning on the opening day of the 30th annual Poplar Bluff Showdown. Defending champion Kenwood of Chicago held off Cordova (Tenn.) 63-60, Vashon beat Memphis Central 60-53 while Jonesboro (Ark.) won a semifinal rematch with Liberty Tech (Tenn.), 80-59...

BLOOMFIELD -- The first quarter couldn't have been any better for Kennett or worse for Doniphan. The sixth-seeded Indians opened their 60th annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament quarterfinal scoring the first 19 points and led wire-to-wire on their way to a 68-40 victory over No. 3 Doniphan...

BLOOMFIELD -- Dexter spotted Portageville the first 13 points and was still down by that much with 5 minutes left in the first half. A quarter's worth of time later, it was Dexter that was up by double digits. The No. 7 Bulldogs couldn't mount a matching run and Dexter advanced to the semifinals of the 60th annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament with a 65-59 win Tuesday...

HOXIE, Ark. -- Poplar Bluff's offense surged early and the defense clamped down after that. The Lady Mules scored 29 points in the first quarter and held Hillcrest to five points in both the second and fourth quarters to win 72-40 in the Mustang Classic on Tuesday...

BLOOMFIELD -- Still reeling from their upset loss against East Prairie in the first round of the 60th annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament, the No. 8 Twin Rivers Royals came out slow against the No. 16 Richland Rebels. At the end of the first quarter of their consolation quarterfinal game Tuesday, the Royals found themselves in 12-9 hole against the Rebels...

Mary Alice Francis Mary Alice Francis, 53, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Ms. Francis, the daughter of the late Edward and Judy (Autry) Francis, was born Nov. 2, 1963 in Butler County. She was of the Baptist faith and was a homemaker. Ms. Francis loved her dogs, coloring books and crossword puzzles...

John Odis Hobbs John Odis Hobbs, 79, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., departed this earth Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016 at Saint Louis University Hospital in Saint Louis. John, the son of the late Fred and Beulah Ray Hobbs, was born Nov. 4, 1937 in Qulin. He graduated from Poplar Bluff High School and served in the United States Air Force from 1959 to 1963 as a paramedic. ...

Joe Gulledge, Sr. Joe Gulledge, Sr., 54, of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, at Mark Twain Caring Center. Arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

Iva Pauline Ross Jackson VAN BUREN, Mo.. -- Iva Pauline Ross Jackson, 94, of Van Buren, died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, at The Riverways Manor in Van Buren. Visitation will begin for the public at 6 p.m., Tuesday, at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren with funeral service being held at 11 a.m., Wednesday in the funeral home chapel...

Elizabeth Ruth "Beedee" Allen Elizabeth Ruth "Beedee" Allen, 88, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016 at her residence. Mrs. Allen was born July 20, 1928 in Detroit, Mich. She was of the Protestant faith and had retired as an office administrator. ...

David Hamlyn, Jr. PUXICO, Mo. -- David Hamlyn, Jr., 37, of McGee, died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, at his residence. Visitation will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday at the Stoddard County Cowboy Church. Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. at the church with Scott Sifford officiating...

Bob Abernathy DEXTER, Mo. -- Bob Abernathy, 81, of Dexter, died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016, at his son's home in Dexter. Visitation will be from 5 - 8 p.m., Thursday at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, with the Rev. "?" officiating...

Bob Abernathy DEXTER, Mo. -- Bob Abernathy, 81, of Dexter, died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016, at his son's home in Dexter. Visitation will be from 5 - 8 p.m., Thursday at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter...

Violet "Tooter" Dowdy BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Violet Jean Robey Caldwell Dowdy, 74, of Bloomfield, daughter of Curtis and Jane Diana Hammonds Robey, was born in Avert, Mo., July 28, 1944, and passed away Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, at her son's residence in St. Charles...

Sylvia Jean "Jeanie" Boatner Sylvia Jean "Jeanie" Boatner, 56, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016 at her residence. Jeanie, the daughter of the late Thomas Norman and Lillie Jean Fulton Edington, was born Sept. 3, 1960 in Poplar Bluff. ...

Ray Willard PUXICO, Mo. -- Ray Willard, 64, of Harviell, Mo. died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, at his residence. Vistation will be at 6 p.m., Wednesday with a Masonic service following at 7 p.m., at the Morgan Sifford Funeral Chapel in Puxico. Funeral service at 11 a.m., Thursday, at the chapel...

Allen Rudolph McIver QULIN, Mo. -- Allen Rudolph McIver, 80, of Qulin, Mo., died Monday, Dec. 26, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. McIver was born Jan. 24, 1936 in Qulin, Mo., the son of the late Raymond and Velma McIver. He was a farmer and had lived at Qulin all of his life. He enjoyed rabbit hunting and raising beagles and was a member of Peach Country Beagle Club and Semo Beagle Club...

O.L. (Doc) Isbell CAMPBELL, Mo. -- O.L. (Doc) Isbell, 87, of Springfield, formerly of Campbell, passed away Monday, Dec. 26, 2016 at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon where he had resided for one year. He was surrounded by his family and friends. He had endured Parkinson's disease for 17 years...

I. L. Rogers I. L. Rogers, 84-year-old resident of Fairdealing, Mo., departed this life, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016 at his residence. Mr. Rogers was born July 19, 1932 in Keiser, Ark. to the late Robert Lee and Grace Beatrice Black Rogers. I. L. spent his early years growing up in Osceola, Ark. ...

Harold Clifton Wilson MALDEN, Mo. -- Harold Clifton Wilson, 72, of Malden, died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016 at Malden Nursing & Rehab. Visitation will be from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 30, at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 30 at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with Military Rites. Online condolences: www.bradshawfh.com...

Gay Thacker CAMPBELL, Mo. - Mrs. Gay Thacker, 70, of Campbell, died Friday, Dec. 23, 2016 at Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott, Ark. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 30 at Woodlawn Cemetery in Campbell with Rev. Jamie Jones officiating. Landess Funeral Home of Campbell is in charge of arrangements...

Gary F. Brown DONIPHAN, Mo. - Gary F. Brown, 66, of Doniphan, died Thurs., Dec. 22, 2016 at the Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. No services are scheduled at this time. Arrangements are entrusted to Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville, Mo...

David Roberson VAN BUREN, Mo. - David Roberson, 54, of Van Buren, died Mon., Dec. 26, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be at noon, Thurs., Dec. 29 at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Jim Cooper officiating. Burial will be in Houses Creek Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.mcspaddenfh.com...

Ted McComb NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Ted McComb, 77, of Neelyville, died Tues., Dec. 27, 2016 at his home in Neelyville. Arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville.

Ernestine Stilwell DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Ernestine Stilwell, 83-year-old resident of Doniphan, departed this life Friday, Dec. 23, 2016 at Southeast Health of Ripley County. Mrs. Stilwell was born July 23, 1933 in Roswell, N.M. to the late Joe and Lucinda Montoya Garcia. She was the former owner of H & R Block in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

Louise McPheeters Wright DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Louise McPheeters Wright, 100, a loving wife, mother and grandmother passed away on Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016. Mrs. Wright was a former long-time resident of Poplar Bluff and Doniphan, Mo. She moved over 10 years ago to Laurens, S. C. to be with her daughter and son-in-law and currently was residing at Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Community in Laurens...