Stories from Friday, February 17, 2017

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. - Two people are facing charges after a Portageville man was injured in an assault. Tony L. Portwood, 37, and Brittany E. Cates, 28, of Doniphan are each charged with first degree assault and armed criminal action in connection with a disturbance reported around 4:30 a.m. Saturday...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Lake Road Elementary recently was recognized for several improvements by "Positive Focus," a newsletter published by the state department of education and University of Missouri's Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support program...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Three Rives College will attempt to trim $436,000 from its budget to address an anticipated shortfall in the wake of lower enrollment and state funding cuts, but officials say no positions will be lost or services affected...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Eugene Field Elementary students took their message of success to the state capitol on Tuesday, sharing information about their school with elected and education officials during the Missouri School Boards' Association 2017 Legislative Forum...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor The Current River Smallmouth Association was back in action Saturday, hosting a winter tournament to benefit the Ellington, Mo., nutrition center. With the weather so warm, it was no surprise there were 20 boats entered into the tournament...

PUXICO, Mo. -- The hooting, hollering and laughter across the brushy Bollinger County field told the story of success - the shotgun blast, still echoing through the hills, had hit its mark, and a young hunter's first-ever rabbit was in the bag. "It's very exciting ... I've never shot one before," exclaimed Lexi Amelunke, moments after taking her first cottontail. "I shot twice, and the second time I didn't even realize I'd hit it until they told me."...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- In theory, if only occasionally in fact, Congress plays a role when a president wants to initiate military hostilities. Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah thinks Congress should also have a say when a president wants to initiate a trade war...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor BRANSON, Mo. -- Musical harmonies, comedy and the bright lights and glitz of the "76 Country Boulevard" are what comes to mind when most people think about Branson. What a lot of people don't know, however, is there's world-class fishing within sight of the tourist town, and the winter months can be some of the best of the year for catching big rainbow and brown trout...

By FRANK CAMPA Mo. Dept. of Conservation Although most of our hunting seasons are now over, it is now time to look forward to the new year's hunting seasons that are coming soon and prepare accordingly. Near and dear to my heart and coming up quickly in early April is Missouri's youth spring turkey hunting weekend April 8-9. Then, opening just a few days later, the regular spring turkey season starts on April 17 and will run through May 7...

The Agee Community Club had its monthly meeting at Ryan's Steakhouse, Friday, Feb. 3. President Cathy Womack called the meeting to order, the women repeated the club motto, "When the heart is full of love, the world is full of beauty." Nadine Johnson offered the invocation before the luncheon. ...

The Cane Creek Community Club met Wednesday, Feb. 8, in the Snider Room at Twin Towers. Four members were present. President Marie Boxx called the meeting to order followed by the group reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The members recited the 23rd Psalms as their devotional...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - 2017 marks the 75th anniversary of the Seabees, a hybrid unity of the Navy which formed during World War II. To celebrate the milestone, VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau is hosting a formal Seabee ball. According to Post 3838 member Thomas K. Meyer, special recognition will be given to the youngest and oldest Seabee's, as well as keepsakes, military Seabees displays, and musical entertainment throughout the evening...

The Butler County Commissioners recently accepted the low bids for approximately $153,000 in grader blades and other equipment for the highway department. Purcell was one of two bidders for tires, which will cost $52,356. Contech was the sole bidder for aluminized culverts at $66,076.50...

TOPS MO 734 Taking Off Pounds Sensibly held three meeting during December. Meeting were Dec. 14, 21, and 28 and each was called to order by leader Linda Morgan. Attending the first meeting was 12 TOPS and three KOPS members; eight TOPS and one KOPS were present for the second meeting; and nine TOPS and three KOPS attended the last meeting of the year...

Swimming at the St. Peters Rec-Plex and the MSHSAA state championships is getting to be just another meet for the Poplar Bluff Mules. Morgan McAtee will make her fourth state appearance, junior Taylor Norwood her third and sophomore Raegan McAtee a second trip starting Friday as the trio compete in prelims for individual events and relays...

The Show-Me Star Club, a member of the Missouri Association for Family and Community Education of Butler County will sponsor an educational program, "Pie Making." The program will be held from 5- 8 p.m. Thursday, March 9, at Temple Baptist Church located at 1813 Barron Road. ...

There is no bigger match in the wrestling season than the opening round of the MSHSAA state championships. A loss means a grueling road in which a wrestler needs to win three straight matches to earn an all-state medal. The winner advances to the quarterfinals, needing just one more win to place in the top six...

Kim Dollins has been a mainstay for the Neelyville athletics program. The Tigers are equally as constant in Dollins' life. These days, the time the Tigers spend playing on the court or on the diamond means even more as Dollins, a lifelong Neelyville fan and alumnus, battles breast cancer...

If Gabe Grant gets 21 points against Arkansas Baptist tonight, the Raiders will have two players on the team with 1,000 points or more. Camron Reedus crossed the 1,000-point mark on Feb. 8 at St. Louis, and is currently at 1,051 points. Grant has scored 20 points or more five times this season, with a season high 25 points against North Lake in early November...

In 17 games during the fall season, the Lady Raiders walked 12 batters and hit another three for just 15 free bases. "If we continue that into the spring, we are going to be pretty competitive," Three Rivers coach Jeff Null said. "The kids have been working their tails off. They come in with good attitudes every day and I think everyone is optimistic about the spring."...

Bobby Joe Klepzig PONDER, Mo. - Bobby Joe Klepzig, 67, of Doniphan, Mo., died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017 at his residence in Doniphan. Visitation will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Ponder Community Center in Ponder, Mo., followed by a memorial service in the Center at 1 p.m. Burial will be in the Poca Hollow Cemetery in Van Buren, Mo. at 2:30 p.m. Online condolences may be made to the family at edwardsfuneralhome.org...

Glena Funck Glena Funck, 81, of Desoto, Mo., formerly of Broseley, died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017 at Hillcrest Care Center. She was born Aug. 22, 1935 in Elk, Mo. to the late Doyle Forrest and Myrtle Nations Forrest. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ferguson. She was a graduate of Broseley High School. She moved to St. Louis when she was twenty, then moved to Poplar Bluff in 1994...

James Weeks CAMPBELL, Mo. -- James Weeks, 81, of Piggott, Ark. died Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Friday, at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, at Landess Funeral Chapel in Campbell with Rev. Grady Goff officiating. Burial will be at Hall Cemetery in St. Francis...

Heather Dawn Million-Ridgel ELLSINORE, Mo -- Heather Dawn Million-Ridgel 39, of Ellsinore, died Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017 at her residence in Ellsinore. Visitation will begin for the public at noon, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017 at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m., with Rev. William McDowell will be officiating. Burial will be in Owl's Roost Cemetery in Ellsinore...

Dale Lee Sullivan Dale Lee Sullivan, 67, of Poplar Bluff, died Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, at New Home General Baptist Church. Funeral service will follow at noon Saturday at the church with Rev. Calvin Buhler officiating...

Lloyd Allen Daniels VAN BUREN, Mo. - Lloyd Allen Daniels, 66, of Springfield, Mo., formerly of Van Buren, died Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo. A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Van Buren City Cemetery. McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren is in charge of arrangements...

David Joe Ford David Joe Ford, 78, of Rombauer, Mo., died Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017 at his residence. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Dorothy N. Farrell Dorothy N. Farrell, 102, of Piedmont, died Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at Clark's Mountain Nursing Home. Arrangements are currently pending with Ruegg Funeral Homes, Inc. Online condolences may be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

George Y. West PUXICO, Mo. - George Y. West, 81, of Puxico, died Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 at Puxico Nursing & Rehab. Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 17 at Brown Chapel General Baptist Church in Puxico with the funeral following at 11 a.m. Rev. John Buttry is officiating. Burial will be in the Brown Chapel General Baptist Cemetery. Morgan Sifford Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

Virgie Jane Bollenbacher DONIPHAN, Mo. - Virgie Jane Bollenbacher, 90, of Doniphan, Missouri, departed this life Tuesday, February 14, 2017, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Mrs. Bollenbacher, daughter of Walter E. and Roxie Pearl (Fagan) Smith, was born February 5, 1927, in Gatewood, Missouri. ...

Cynthia Chestnut NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Cynthia "Cindy" Pearl Chestnut, 65, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 at her residence. Mrs. Chestnut was born on Feb. 18, 1951 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She worked as a homemaker and was of the Baptist faith. Cynthia enjoyed fishing, flowers and being with her grandchildren...