Stories from Saturday, April 1, 2017

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer BROSELEY, Mo. - Three candidates are challenging three incumbents for a position on the Twin Rivers R-X Board of Education in Tuesday's election. The three available seats are currently held by Billy Watson, Robert Thurman and Roger Baxter, who are each seeking re-election. David "Pop" Dugger, Keith Parker and Brian Love have tossed their hats into the ring with hopes to serve on the school board for the next three years...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff City Council is expected to vote Monday on an approximately $1.8 million project to install remote read electric meters. This is the second half of a project to replace water and electric meters. Approximately $1.8 million was spent to install remote read water meters in 2016...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer WAYNE COUNTY, Mo. -- The largest cash balance in a decade was reported by Wayne County officials at the end of 2016, but auditors still have concerns about jail expenses and procedures set by the prosecuting attorney's office...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Five Neelyville residents are vying for a seat on the R-IV Board of Education in Tuesday's election. The three chairs up for grabs currently are held by Shane Eaker, Paul Petty and Dean Fisher, who are each seeking re-election. The incumbents are challenged by two first-time candidates, Preston Gill and Wayne Dye. Those elected will each serve three year terms...

By GEORGE F. WILL PHOENIX -- As a boy, Barry Goldwater Jr., son of the former senator and 1964 Republican presidential nominee, would step out of his father's house and shoot at tin cans 50 yards away. Now 78, he says he could fire in any direction and not endanger "anything but a cactus." His father, born in 1909 in Arizona territory, three years before statehood, built the house on a bluff where, as an adolescent, he rode his horse there and slept under the stars. ...

Small crowd I was wondering about in Thursday's paper there was just three pictures from the Indian Bowhunters Shoot. There was no write-up about it at all and they didn't show a photo of the winners. I'm a little disappointed. I'd like to have more information about this. Thank you...

Dear Editor: I think of this every spring, am wondering if readers of this paper might find this interesting to read. As many of you know I have lived many places. In fact I have moved fifty (50) times!! There is no place that the spring bulbs bloom the way they do in this area. ...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Sunday, March 26, 2017, on what would have been Guy Whitworth's 90th birthday, the local Veterans' Honor Guard comprised of American Legion and VFW members and the Missouri Military Funeral Honor Guard, of Cape Girardeau, held a brief ceremony on the grounds of Holy Cross Episcopal Church, 420 N. Main St...

The Poplar Bluff Junior High eighth grade volleyball team completed its season Thursday night with an undefeated record. The Junior Mules beat Dexter 25-17, 25-12 to finish 19-0. Dexter won the seventh grade game 25-15, 25-12 as Poplar Bluff finished 11-6-1...

DONIPHAN -- Kaylee Davis smacked her first career home run and Paige Eddington added another as the Doniphan softball team beat Twin Rivers 8-6 on Thursday. Davis was 3 for 4 at the plate with a double and four RBIs. Eddington went 3 for 3 with four runs scored...

Michael James Ballou Michael James Ballou, 68, of Fairdealing, passed away Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at John Cochran VA Hospital in St. Louis. He was born July 8, 1948 to James and Louise (Vogel) Ballou in Keokuk, IA. Mike enlisted in the Marines and fought in the Vietnam War...

Joe J. DePriest Joe Junior DePriest, 81, of Poplar Bluff, formerly of St. Louis, died Saturday, March 25, 2017 at his home. A visitation will be held at noon, Tuesday, April 4, at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff, followed by a graveside service and burial at 1 p.m. in the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery with full military honors. Pastor Jerry Lemons will officiate...

Jimmy Wayne Cross PIEDMONT, Mo..- Jimmy Wayne Cross, 55, of Piedmont, died Saturday, March 25, 2017, at Mercy Hospital, St. Louis. Memorial visitation will begin at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 1, 2017, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. Memorial service will follow at 11 a.m., at the chapel...

Diana Macheal Neel DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Diana Macheal Neel, 46, of Doniphan, died Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at her residence. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., Sunday, April 2, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral will follow at noon in the funeral home chapel with Heather Hall officiating. Burial will be in the Pilgrim's Rest Cemetery...

Chester Allen Henson, Jr. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Chester Allen Henson, Jr. 72, passed away at his home in Tallahassee, Fla., Sunday, March 26, 2017 surrounded by his loving family. Chester was born April 22, 1944 in Dallas, Texas. The son of the late Chester Allen Henson, Sr. ...

Carl Ray McIrvin Carl Ray McIrvin, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. McIrvin was born May 15, 1940 in Wray, Colo. He served in the U.S. Army from 1964-1970 and was a member of DAV and VFW. He had worked at Soapy Suds Laundromat and enjoyed fishing and watching wildlife...

A Dexter High School student has won Best of Show in an annual competition hosted by Margaret Harwell Art Museum. Katie Coleman received the award for the 17th Annual Regional Juried High School Art Exhibit with her colored pencil drawing, "Fly on the Wall," according to a press release. High school students from area districts in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas were invited to submit up to 12 original works created in the 2016-17 school year for the event...

Walter L. Lewis PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Walter L. Lewis, 76, of Fredericktown, formerly of Des Arc, died Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at his residence. Visitation will be held from 5 - 9 p.m., Friday, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. Funeral Services will be at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, April 1, 2017, at Beulah Baptist Church, in Brunot...

Robert "Bob" Andrew Webb, Jr. VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Robert "Bob "Andrew Webb, Jr., 94, of St. Louis, died Monday, March 27, 2017 at DePaul Hospital in St. Louis. Visitation will begin at noon, Saturday, at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren, with the funeral service following at 2 p.m. in the Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Jim Cooper will be officiating. Burial will be in Carson Hill Cemetery near Ellsinore...

Lucky Strike Kirby Lucky Strike Kirby, 78, of Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at his home. Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, April 3, at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, in the chapel. He will be buried in the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery with full military honors...

Charles "Chuck" Clay, Jr VAN BUREN, Mo. - Charles "Chuck" Robert Clay, Jr., son of Betty (Pierce) Clay and the late Charles Robert Clay, Sr. was born February 12, 1957 in Saint Louis, MO., and departed this life on March 29, 2017 at Saint Louis University Hospital in Saint Louis, MO. He had attained the age of sixty years, one month, and seventeen days...

Ida Lillian Walenda ELLSINORE, Mo.- Ida Lillian Walenda, 83, daughter of the late Lora and Estella (Weaver) Steward was born Feb. 26, 1934 in Lenox, Mo., and departed this life on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

Kenneth Allen Harrison Kenneth Allen Harrison, 62, was reunited with his family on Saturday, March 18, 2017. He was born March 4, 1955, to Gerald Allen Harrison and Francis "Fran" Bess Harrison in Overland, Mo., and passed away in Poplar Bluff, Mo. after a lengthy and arduous battle with cancer...

Pearl Joann McManis QULIN, Mo. - Pearl JoAnn McManis, 77, died Wed., March 22, 2017 at Westwood Hills Healthcare in Poplar Bluff, Mo. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 1 at the Qulin Cemetery in Qulin, Mo. Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements...

Robert Declue PIEDMONT, Mo. - Robert Declue, of Mill Spring, MO, died Thursday, March 30, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 2 at Ruegg Funeral home, Piedmont, MO. Funeral Services will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, also at the Piedmont Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

Mikel DeWayne Brawley VAN BUREN, Mo. - Mikel DeWayne Brawley, 21, of Van Buren, died Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at the University Hospital in St. Louis. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m., Monday, April 3, at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren, with a memorial service being held at 7 p.m., in the Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating will be Rev. Dave Truncone...