Stories from Saturday, January 7, 2017

By MARK BLISS SEMO News Service Missouri Gov.-elect Eric Greitens opposes a tax increase to fund the state's roads and bridges. "I am opposed to raising taxes on working families in the state of Missouri," Greitens said during a Thursday visit to Cape Girardeau that was billed as part of his travels around the state to thank voters for their support...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Despite a number of media reports to the contrary, state prosecuting attorneys and civil liberties groups say changes in Missouri assault laws will not result in lengthy criminal records for fights on school property. Third-degree assault, previously a class A misdemeanor, will be a class E felony effective Jan. ...

By MARK BLISS SEMO News Service Americans no longer would be required to buy health insurance under Republican plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, U.S. Rep. Jason Smith said Thursday. "People should not be forced to buy insurance of any kind. It should be your choice," Smith, a Republican from Salem, Mo., said during a phone interview from the nation's capitol...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer Candidate filings for public office are in full swing this week, leading up to the 5 p.m. Jan. 17 deadline. The terms of at-large council member David Johnson and Ward 5 representative Peter Tinsley are expiring. A second at-large position, vacated last month by Jerrica Fox, is also up for election. Voters will elect council members for 3-year terms on April 4...

By MARK BLISS SEMO News Service U.S. Rep. Jason Smith said he joined House leadership in opposing a plan by some Republicans to bring an ethics board under lawmakers' control. Smith said GOP lawmakers met privately Monday to discuss the idea of reforming the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE)...

By GREG ALLEN Ask yourself what Barack Obama has accomplished in eight years? Would Obamacare come to mind? Is it a divided country? How about an economy that needs an IV? Then there's the thought of a weakened military of course. Our enemies love us and our allies can't understand why...

Talk tough to your allies and ignore your enemies. That has become the foreign policy doctrine which will define our current President. President Obama's decision to abstain from voting on an anti-Israel United Nations (UN) resolution this week is a clear betrayal of our strong alliance and our enduring commitment to support Israel. ...

Poplar Bluff girls basketball coach John David Pattillo was worried his team might "hit a wall" after the first two days of practice with school back from Christmas break. The Mules did, but only after building a 20-point halftime lead Thursday night...

The Region XVI schedule is starting with a bang this season. The Raiders and Lady Raiders host Mineral Area on Saturday, with the women playing first at 5 p.m. and the men to follow. The Cardinals (16-0) are currently undefeated and ranked sixth in the nation. They've picked up 10 wins by at least 20 points, including wins against Southwestern Illinois and Southeastern Illinois...

NEELYVILLE -- As the missed shots and turnovers started piling up for Naylor, the Neelyville Lady Tigers kept getting further and further ahead. Neelyville allowed only one bucket in the opening quarter and it came with 10 seconds left in a 63-31 win Thursday night against the Lady Eagles...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff set a pair of meet records as the Mules won the Student Recreation Center Relays at the SEMO Aquatics Center by six points. Taylor Norwood, Morgan McAtee, Raegan McAtee and Paige Bradley cut nearly 13 seconds off the meet record in the 400-yard medley relay. Their time of 4 minutes, 21.81 seconds broke a standard set in 2011 by Jackson...

Betty Jane Wallace VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Betty Jane Wallace, 72, of Ellsinore, departed this life Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, at her residence with her family by her side. She was the daughter of the late Vollie "Blue Eye" and Helen (Black) Million was born Jan. 8, 1944 in Ellsinore...

Robert "Bob" W. Neel Robert "Bob" W. Neel Sr., 60, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. He was born May 9, 1956 in Chicago, Illinois. He served with the U. S. Marines and earned a degree in surveying from Three Rivers College. Bob enjoyed watching the Cubs, Bears and the Blackhawks. He also loved golf...

Ersel Maynard Morris PIGGOTT, ARK. -- Ersel Maynard Morris, 88, of Rector, Ark., passed away Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark. He was born on April 10, 1928, in Fagus, Mo., and was the son of the late Ersel Clarence and Bertie Watson Morris...

William G. Brunelle William G. Brunelle, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 6, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service.

Helen Holden Helen Berniece Holden, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Holden was born Feb. 7, 1931 in Sikeston, Mo. She was a member of Bible Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff and had worked and retired from Florshiem Shoe Co. and as a cook at the Poplar Bluff High School before retirement. She enjoyed family dinners, playing with her grandchildren and watching the Andy Griffith Show...

Julia L. Parshall Julia L. Parshall, 84 of Poplar Bluff, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Parshall, the daughter of the late Henry and Annie (Grissic) Tanner, was born Nov. 24, 1932 in El Paso Texas. She was a member of New Home General Baptist Church. Mrs. Parshall worked for the Poplar Bluff City maintenance department at the City Hall...