Stories from Saturday, January 28, 2017

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor SALEM, Mo. -- A judge is supposed to hear additional testimony today in Dent County in the hearing of a Van Buren, Mo., man who is seeking to set aside his 2009 conviction and death sentence for gunning down a Missouri State Highway Patrol sergeant...

By MARK BLISS SEMO News Service Talk of repealing the Affordable Care Act scares Lester Conway. "There are nights I can't sleep," the retired Cape Girardeau man said. Conway retired from a job at an auto dealership in January 2016 at the age of 62. His wife, Donna, also is retired...

One wonders just how far spineless college administrators will go when it comes to caving in to the demands of campus snowflakes. For those unfamiliar with the term "snowflakes," it is increasingly being used to characterize college students easily traumatized by criticism and politically incorrect phrases. ...

We've been instructed not to take our new president literally but instead seriously (in the felicitous phrasing of Salena Zito). As I write, there are hints that the inaugural address will focus on the theme of "America First." President-elect Trump may or may not be familiar with the historical taint of that phrase, but in any case the meaning he attaches to it has been clear enough...

By STEPHEN MOORE All of Washington seems to be in cardiac arrest over news reports late last week that Donald Trump is planning a budget featuring $10 trillion in cuts over the next decade. We can only hope and pray that the reports are accurate. This is an enterprise that has been borrowing $1 trillion a year for the past decade and is expected to continue to do so for years and decades to come. ...

Two Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers are being promoted to the rank of corporal on Wednesday. With his promotion, Shayne K. Talburt will be designated the assistant zone commander of Zone 2, Butler and Ripley counties. Talburt was appointed to the patrol on Jan. 6, 2008. After graduating from the patrol's academy, he was assigned to Troop F...

Sunday, Jan. 15, the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Main and Davis streets, hosted city, county, and state police, firefighters, and emergency medical service technicians to a "Thank You Lunch." More than 60 were served. The Outreach Committee of the church and volunteers hosted what was called, "A Day of Mission and Service."...

The Women's Citizenship Club met Wednesday, Jan. 4, at Twin Towers with eight members present. President Lavern Matthews called the meeting to order. Gloria Hoover read a short poem and led the club collect. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Sheron Myers. ...

The Lady Mules are getting defensive to make a run at the SEMO Conference title. Poplar Bluff didn't allow a field goal over the first 10 1/2 minutes Thursday night to beat Kennett 45-14 at the Senior High Gym. "We're getting better at what we're doing and that's the thing," Mules coach John David Pattillo said. "We're getting better defensively, we're getting better offensively and the execution is getting better all in all."...

NEELYVILLE -- A strong all-around performance allowed the Neelyville Tigers to capture a convincing 64-27 Ozark Foothills Conference victory over East Carter on Thursday night. Wyatt Moon finished with 20 points to lead Neelyville (11-8, 4-1 OFC). Peyton Hobbs added 15 points and Tyler Low scored 13...

BLOOMFIELD -- There was all of one legitimate run in the entire game. And it happened to be at the very end. Dexter defeated Bloomfield 55-42 in the semifinals of the Stoddard County Activities Association Tournament on Thursday, and with the win, the higher seed has won each of the six games with one game to play...

BROSELEY -- For the first time in months, Haley Beale finally felt like herself again. The Doniphan senior spent the first six weeks of the season nursing two broken bones in her right arm, held together by metal pins, plates and a number of stitches...

DEXTER --The Mules wrestling team got six pins and a pair of technical falls, losing just one match in a 62-12 win at Dexter on Thursday. Poplar Bluff's Colton Jackson got a third-period pin after trailing early while Austin Walker also overcame an early deficit before a second-period pin. Tanner Dunivan, Austin Aubuchon, Garrett McClure and Josh Lawrinenko also earned pins...

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Taylor Norwood won a pair of individual events, Lexi Vaughn missed winning her second event by 1.4 seconds while Poplar Bluff swept the relays to win by 37 points Thursday. The Mules finished 1-2 in the 400-yard freestyle relay to complete a 198-161 win over Notre Dame while host Farmington was third at 86 points followed by Saxony's 48...

Grandin woman wins $50,000 A Grandin resident won a top prize of $50,000 on a Missouri Lottery "Bonus Crossword" Scratchers ticket. Betty Mikesell purchased the ticket at Handy Dandy, N. Highway 21, in Doniphan. She later claimed her winnings at the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City on Jan. 17...

What began as a technology camp to share digital resources to upper grade level faculty has expanded to become a district-wide conference with a total of 133 breakout sessions, ranging from STEM exercises to yoga in the classroom. Attended by approximately 450 R-I educators on Tuesday, Jan. ...

Norma Barnes Norma Barnes, 75, of Poplar Bluff, died Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 at the Westwood Hills Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff. Arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

Sheena Maria and Jason Lee Burns of Hornersville, Mo., have chosen the name Sophia Rayn Burns for their daughter born at 9:58 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017 at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Sophia was 18.5 inches long...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Boys and Girls Club of Poplar Bluff honored the many men and women of the community who supported its efforts during the annual Believe Reception on Thursday at the Poplar Bluff Greater Area Chamber of Commerce. Club director Chris Rushin said the reception is an opportunity to update members of the community who donated on any level, big or small, on some of the club's many success stories and show them how the club puts their donations to good use...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff schools food provider Chartwells is moving into a new operations and storage facility this week, thereby severing all ties with the Old Armory building that was the subject of numerous health complaints. "I guess I would have to say it's like Christmas," said Dixie Harden, Chartwells director at Poplar Bluff schools. ...

Margie Chatman Margie A. Chatman, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thurs., Jan. 26, 2017 at The Manor in Poplar Bluff. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Richard Lee Dodge Richard Lee Dodge, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017 at his residence. Mr. Dodge was born Nov. 11, 1933 in Odis, Colo. He was a member of New Home General Baptist Church and had retired after proudly serving 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. He later retired from John J. Pershing VA Medical Center after serving 20 years as a maintenance supervisor. He enjoyed spending time with his family and traveling...

The Patrons of the Arts Society is teaming up with Center Stage to present a special dinner theater performance of "Jerry Finnegan's Sister" at 7 p.m. Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, at the Black River Hall in downtown Poplar Bluff. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Tickets will be $50 for couples, $35 single, and will include dinner, dessert, and a rose...