Stories from Sunday, April 2, 2017

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer BROSELEY, Mo. - Oklahoma-native Kirk Smalley is a construction worker, a dad, and an incredible keeper of promises. In an effort to maintain his reputation, Smalley is working hard to keep a promise he made to his 11-year-old son seven years ago to put an end to bullying all over the world...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Gates Corporation Poplar Bluff division has received the company's 2016 Diamond Award, an honor identifying it as the "best of the best" of the industrial and automotive parts manufacturer's global facilities. Given to only one division in the world, the Diamond Award is just one of several bestowed on the Poplar Bluff facility in 2016. The division also claimed a company President's Award and a Health, Safety and Environmental performance award...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer With decisions looming regarding control of Municipal Utilities and zoning for a controversial housing project, voters once again have an opportunity to choose new leadership. Three positions are open in Tuesday's election for the Poplar Bluff City Council. Each carries a three-year term...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Voters will choose three members of the Poplar Bluff school board on Tuesday. Five candidates are running for the three-year terms. Each candidate was asked the same two questions - what do they see as the biggest problem in the district and what can they as an individual member do to resolve those issues...

Fun benefiting This is about the Speak Out item wondering about why this donut event was allowed. Apparently there was no vendor fee allowed, it was a fun event! Our Donut House could not have supplied hundreds and hundreds of donuts in one day. I went there as the event was closing down and they were out of donuts and they said, "Don't forget your Donut House," and pointed down the street. ...

Jimmy Wayne Cross Jimmy Wayne Cross, 55, of Piedmont, Mo., passed away Saturday, March 25, 2017, at Mercy Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. Jimmy was born Aug. 20, 1961, to parents Gene and Shirley (Byrd) Cross in St. Louis. Jimmy had served in the United States Navy 13 years from 1979-1992 before an injury forced early retirement. ...

WASHINGTON -- The Senate's coming confirmation of Neil Gorsuch will improve the Supreme Court, and Democrats' incontinent opposition to him will inadvertently improve the Senate -- if Republicans are provoked to thoroughly reform the filibuster. If eight Democrats will not join the 52 Republicans in providing 60 votes to end debate and bring Gorsuch's nomination to a vote, Republicans should go beyond extending to Supreme Court nominees the prohibition of filibusters concerning other judicial nominees. ...

Lucky Kirby Lucky Kirby, 78, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Palermo, Calif., passed away Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at his home. The son of John Kirby and Effie (Davis) Kirby, Lucky was born Oct. 4, 1938 in Yuba City, Calif. He was of the Methodist belief. He served in the U.S. Marines, Army Reserves and California National Guard. He enjoyed motocross racing, street rods, pool, gathering with family and friends, telling jokes and traveling here and abroad...

Lenda Couchman Lenda Couchman, 71, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at her residence. A graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at the Old Bethel Cemetery in Dexter, Mo. Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff, Mo. is in charge of arrangements...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Butler County Emergency Management will receive a vehicle at no cost to local officials. Commissioners accepted a bid Friday on the grant-funded purchase, and discussed changes at the Butler County Sheriff's Department to expand the booking area...

Cecil Everett Lock QULIN, Mo. - Cecil Everett Lock, 88, of Qulin, died Thursday, March 30, 2017 at his residence. Mr. Lock was born April 6, 1928 in Chaonia, Mo. He retired from Pen and Dixie in Kokomo, Ind. He enjoyed fishing and hunting. On Nov. 10, 1951, he married Lois June DeWitt. She preceded him in death on Oct. 8, 2010...

Robert DeClue PIEDMONT, Mo. - Robert DeClue, 54, also known as "airbrakes" and "Roberto" by close friends at the highway shed, of Mill Spring, Mo., passed away Thursday, March 30, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born June 25, 1962, to James E. DeClue and Patsy S. DeClue nee' Cravens, in St. Louis, Mo...

Mikel DeWayne Brawley Mikel DeWayne Brawley, son of Crystal Brawley and Scott Brawley, was born March 30, 1995 in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and was taken from this life too soon on March 28, 2017 at the University Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. He had attained the age of 21 years, 11 months and 26 days. ...

Joe Junior DePriest Joe Junior DePriest, 81, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of St. Louis, passed away Saturday, March 25, 2017 at his home. Mr. DePriest was born Sept. 19, 1935 in Dyersburg, Tenn. He was a member of Southside Assembly of God and loved doing art work. He served in the U.S. Army and retired from United Tech Windshield...

Evelyn Yvonne McClinton MALDEN, Mo. - Evelyn Yvonne McClinton, 76, of Malden died Monday, March 27, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. at Bradshaw Chapel in Malden with Elder Samuel Pulley officiating. Burial will be at Macedonia Cemetery in Malden...

Mary Rodgers Ford DEXTER, Mo.- Mary Rodgers Ford, 72, of Parma, Mo., died Saturday April 1, 2017, at the Gideon Care Center in Gideon, Mo. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, April 3, at the First Baptist Church in Parma followed by the funeral service at 1 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Parma Cemetery in Parma. Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements...

Robert Lee Lindsay Robert Lee Lindsay, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at his residence. He was born on March 15, 1932 to Jessie Lindsay and Norma (Sisk) Doran in Villa Ridge, Ill. Robert retired from Northwestern Steel and Wire after 32 years. He married Elsie Parker and she preceded him in death in 1986. On May 23, 1987 he married Louise Schoenleben in Mound City, Ill...

For Jen Hoffman, each race motivates her. But there's one race in particular that hits close to home and keeps bringing her back to Poplar Bluff. Hoffman and 75 other runners battled a chilly wind Saturday morning in the third annual Badge of Honor Benefit Run half-marathon to benefit police officers and firefighters who have dedicated their lives to protect and serve their communities...

After missing chances to break his opponent's serve early in the singles final of the Poplar Bluff Invitational, Humza Siddiqui didn't let it get to him. Not even when Alex England of Farmington was able to get a break point for a 3-1 lead. The Poplar Bluff senior answered by breaking England's serve with a return to the back line and took advantage of his other break chances to earn an 8-5 win...

A week of practice helped Poplar Bluff's hitting. The Mules had a combined 20 hits, half for extra bases, in a pair of wins Saturday at Bobby Strenfel Field. Jared Moses tripled to start a four-run fifth inning in the nightcap, a 5-1 win over West Plains. Austin McIntosh followed with a tiebreaking hit, one of four hits on the day for the junior...

SEDALIA, Mo. -- Riley Hickerson scored five runs Friday to lead the Raider offense in the sweep. In the opener, he was 1 for 3 with two runs as Three Rivers won 5-1. Then in the nightcap, he was 1 for 5 with three runs as the Raiders out-hit State Fair to win 9-6...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Ally Hendricks continued her surge of recent power hitting Saturday. She hit her team-leading sixth home run as Three Rivers College split with MCC-Maple Woods, losing the opener 7-3 and winning the nightcap 4-1. "It was a shot," Three Rivers coach Jeff Null said. "She's staying hot. The second game she had a tough game, but she just hit it at people."...

PUXICO -- Zach Hardin tossed a one-hitter and the Twin Rivers baseball team blanked Puxico 19-0 to remain undefeated Friday. Hardin struck out eight and walked four in four innings to get the win. He also singled and drove in a run. Jack LeGrand pitched a scoreless fifth inning with two strikeouts and was 3 for 3 with two RBIs...