Stories from Friday, April 14, 2017

Poplar Bluff Junior High and O'Neal Elementary have received National Showcase Schools awards for their implementation of the Capturing Kids' Hearts program. The schools were two of 50, selected from more than 5,000 schools in the U.S., to receive the award. According to facilitator the Flippen Group, Capturing Kids' Hearts empowers schools to create an optimal learning environment by stressing safety, mutual respect and positive character traits...

Demolition orders were issued Thursday for a fire-damaged home on North Main and eight other properties as the Poplar Bluff Building Standards Board weighed owner history and extenuating circumstances while making difficult decisions. The orders will be in effect for 90 days, during which time the board hopes owners will take action...

A new report from the state auditor's office calls into question how much accountability and oversight protect $1 billion worth of taxpayer money that Missouri transportation development districts will use to pay for projects like those on Shelby and Oak Grove roads in Poplar Bluff...

Carol Ann Dollins -- Neelyville, Mo. Jeffery Morgan Aikens -- Malden, Mo. Leanna Klein -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. James "Jim" Gooch -- Piedmont, Mo. W.H. Peters -- St. Peters, Mo. Jeanette Patterson - Poplar Bluff, Mo.

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Standard Democrat New Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch joined the high court after a lengthy political battle that included a planned filibuster and the extraordinary use of the "nuclear option" to finally fill the seat of the late Justice Anthony Scalia...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- The world is agog at Donald Trump's head-snapping foreign policy reversal. He runs on a platform of America First. He renounces the role of world policeman. He excoriates parasitic foreigners that (I paraphrase) suck dry our precious bodily fluids -- and these are allies! On April 4, Trump declared: "I don't want to be the president of the world. I'm the president of the United States. And from now on, it's going to be America First."...

Lake Wappapello United Methodist Church invites everyone to take a walk on the prayer trail, a journey to the cross at 8 a.m. Easter Sunday. This journey is a solitary time of reflection at the end of Jesus' life and the resurrection of His life. As persons travel this short (3/8 mile) trail they will have the opportunity to meditate on the great love of Jesus. Mark 16, the resurrection of Jesus, will be read in route...

Early exposure to baseball helped Stephen Martino craft not only skill at the game, but a love of getting better. Work ethic has pushed Martino to the top as the Clearwater senior recently signed a letter of intent to further his baseball career with Williams Baptist College...

A special group of players has put the Naylor girls basketball team on the map in recent years. Now, another Lady Eagle will have the opportunity to lead a program at the next level. After another successful season in the Naylor uniform, senior Hannah Cunningham signed to play basketball at Crowley's Ridge College...

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- A church in Columbia, Missouri, has decided to become a sanctuary congregation in response to recent national political discourse that threatens immigrants and refugees. The Columbia Missourian reports the Unitarian Universalist Church voted Sunday to join an effort called the National Sanctuary Movement, which has the support of 400 congregations across the country...

This Easter a Poplar Bluff family is celebrating an amazing story of faith overcoming adversity. Grady and Amanda Deaton's young son was facing an incurable disease, then they say God led them to a life-saving organ donation through a series of incredible events...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- James "Jim" Gooch, 85, of Piedmont, died Thursday, April 13, 2017, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Home, Piedmont. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Saturday, at Trinity United Methodist Church, Piedmont. Funeral Services will follow at 1:30 p.m., also at the church. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Donald Ray Parks, Sr., 78, of Bloomfield, died Wednesday, April 12, 2017. Visitation will be from 10 -1 p.m., Friday, at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield with graveside service to follow at the Fairview Cemetery near Puxico...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Carol Ann Dollins, 71, of Neelyville, passed away Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at her residence. She was born Dec. 22, 1945, to the late William Wilcox and Beulah Marie "Willis" Wilcox. She married Charles E. Dollins, Dec. 24, 1964 at Coon Island. He survives...

ELLINGTON-- Spencer Burnham hit his fifth home run in as many games and did not allow a hit through 5 2/3 innings to lead the Van Buren baseball team in a 6-3 win over Ellington on Thursday. Burnham's two-run shot in the top of the seventh inning gave the Bulldogs (9-2) all the runs they needed. He also drew a walk and finished 1 for 3 at the plate...

NEOSHO -- The Raiders had allowed eight home runs all season when they got on the bus to go to Crowder. That number has jumped. Crowder's four home runs accounted for nine of its 21 total runs against Three Rivers on Thursday, and it swept the Raiders, winning 14-5 in the opener and 7-1 in the nightcap...

KENNETT, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff left-hander Ronin Rice walked to the hill with a five-run lead in the bottom of the first inning Thursday and hurled 6 1/3 scoreless innings to help the Mules beat Kennett 7-0 in a SEMO Conference game. "It's always nice to get five runs in the first inning," Poplar Bluff coach Steven Edwards said. "Coach (Aaron) New does a good job with his club. They have great players and a great tradition down here. Hats off to them. We just executed our plan at the plate...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Jeffery Morgan Aikens, 60, of Malden, died Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at his residence. Visitation will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 19, at Bradshaw Funeral Homes, Inc., Malden. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. at Bradshaw Chapel in Malden, with Rev. Leotis Aikens, Jr. officiating...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Leanna Klein,78, of Poplar Bluff, died Thursday, April 13, 2017 at Cedar Gate Nursing Home, Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. - noon, Monday, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. Funeral services will follow at noon at the Piedmont Chapel. Burial will be at 3 p.m., Monday at Bloomfield Veterans Cemetery...

FISK, Mo. - Jeanette Patterson, 83 of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died on Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. There will be a gathering of family and friends at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, 2017 with a memorial service to follow at 7 p.m. at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk with Rev. David Stewart officiating. There will be a full obituary in Sunday's paper...

DONIPHAN, Mo. - W. H. Peters of St. Peters, Mo. died Friday, April 14, 2017, in Bridgeton, Mo. Visitation will be at noon Monday, April 17, 2017, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel and burial will be in the Doniphan City Cemetery...