Stories from Tuesday, August 1, 2017

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- A Doniphan man is accused of fatally shooting his brother-in-law during an apparent argument early Monday morning. At about 2:15 a.m., deputies responded to a residence on Millcreek Road, off of Highway 160 West, near Highway C, in reference to a shooting, explained Ripley County Sheriff Mike Barton...

Poplar Bluff businessman Eddy Justice is one of three new members recently appointed to the Missouri State Board of Education by Gov. Eric Greitens. "I am thankful for and humbled by my recent appointment," Justice said. "It is a great responsibility and I am committed to doing the best job possible."...

NEELYVILLE, MO. -- An emergency grant has offered a stop-gap measure to restore the operations of a failing wastewater treatment system for the city of Neelyville. Two new pumps have been installed at the city's lift stations and a back-up pump has been purchased, thanks to just under $6,000 from the Delta Regional Authority, according to officials...

Back to School time is quickly approaching and to help parents take care of all those last minute items, the Twin Rivers School District will be hosting a Back to School Fair. Twin Rivers School Board member Donna Sue Ashcraft-Fincher is heading up the Back to School Fair, which will be held from 1-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Broseley Gym...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Butler County authorities are searching for a Neelyville man who is accused of shooting another man in the arm on Sunday. At about 11 p.m., Deputy Derek House was sent to a residence in the 100 block of Haynes Street at Neelyville regarding an assault involving a firearm. The alleged suspect had fled in a white Toyota passenger car...

Authorities resumed their search of Black River Tuesday morning for a local man. He has not been heard from in more than three days and his shoes were among items found on a river levee near where he was living. At about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Butler County deputies were sent to the Dan River access area on County Road 611 in reference to a person possibly being in Black River, explained Lt. Charles Phelps...

Whether it is a border you can walk across or a border you can launch a missile across, it is the responsibility of Congress and the President to protect our country from those who wish to harm the United States. The last administration drew lines in the sand with foreign countries and let them blow away over and over again...

Tired of seeing that old, rusty grill sitting in your garage? Are your kids driving around in some wimpy, plastic car you have to replace the batteries in all the time? Then the Heartland Cruisers have just the thing for you! The Hot Rod BBQ grill is designed to look like a 1:1 scale aluminum engine, complete with zoomie-style headers that smoke while you cook, chrome air cleaner and accessories, and an authentic-looking engine stand base with locking casters...

The members of the Zalma General Baptist Church will he hosting a Back to School Luau from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 11 at the church. There will water games, ice cream social and door prizes. Ten and under must be accompanied by an adult. Everyone welcome...

As the sun is the center of our solar system with everything revolving around it, and depending upon it for life, so also is Jesus Christ the center of life for all Christians. "Now Christ is the visible expression of the invisible God. He existed before creation began, for it was through Him that everything was made, whether spiritual or material, seen or unseen. ...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Board of Equalization (BOE) heard an appeal from Union Electric Company d/b/a Ameren Missouri of the 2017 tax assessment for components of their commercial gas distribution center. The board met July 24 in regular session with Robert J. Cecil, CPA, Ameren state and local tax manager, presenting Ameren's case. BOE members are Greg Mathis, Carol Jarrell, Steve Jordan, Mike Bollinger and Mary Worley...

The Homecoming daily schedules for the Eat Shack are: Aug. 8 4-6 p.m.-Rudy Williams, Pam Williams, Rick McLean, Wayne Moore, Travis McGill and Johnny Hughes. 6-8 p.m.-People Community Bank. 8-10 p.m.-Puxico County Squares. Closing: Rudy Williams, Rick McLean, Doug Siler, Linda Siler, Wayne Moore and Johnny Hughes...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS For the most part, people share common goals. Most of us want poor people to enjoy higher standards of living, greater traffic safety, more world peace, greater racial harmony, cleaner air and water, and less crime. Despite the fact that people have common goals, we often see them grouped into contentious factions, fighting tooth and nail to promote polar opposite government policies in the name of achieving a commonly held goal. ...

Ladies' VFW Corn Dog Stand Schedule Tuesday, Aug. 8: 5:3-7:30 p.m.--Erin Caldwell, Sherry Thompson, Amanda Fortner and Cheryl Doublin 7:30-9:30 p.m.--Sharom Simmers, Cindy Martin,Jake and Chantel Baytes. 9:30 p.m.-Closing--Janell Taylor, Pam Parsley and Lou Ann Placher...

One of the summer's more popular events - Doggie Swim Day - has been set for Sunday afternoon, Aug. 27, at the Poplar Bluff city pool at Hillcrest Park. Doggie Swim Day is sponsored by the Animal Welfare Alliance (AWA) and the Poplar Bluff Parks & Recreation Dept. Admission is just $1 per dog; their humans get in free. Refreshments for two-leggeds and four-leggeds will be available for purchase...

The Missouri Peach Fair will begin on Friday, Aug. 18, with the Miss Missouri Peach Fair Pageant to be held at the Campbell Community Building. This pageant will be conducted for young women ages 16-19. On Saturday, Aug. 19, the day will begin early with an 8 a.m. start for runners and walkers. The Peach Fuzz 5K will take place at Walker McCutcheon-Jim Morris Park...

CLARKTON, Mo. - Judith Galindo was born on October 17, 1952 in Columbia, Missouri, to Orval Ralph Black & Wanda Alene Hobbs Black. She departed this life on Thursday, July 27, 2017 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar, Missouri, at the age of 64 years 9 months and 10 days...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission voted 2-1 to appoint Don Rhodes to the Senate Bill 40 Board of Directors at the commission's regular meeting July 24. Associate Commissioners Steve Jordan and Carol Jarrell voted to appoint Rhodes, while Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis voted to appoint Dan Robinson...

Theresa Jean Thiele, 61, of Silva, died Sunday, July 30, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 4 at the Highway Missionary Baptist Church north of Poplar Bluff on 67 Highway. Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff is in charge of arrangements...

The sun set on 61 year old Bruce Wayne Benson Sr. July 25, 2017 at Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Bruce was born December 23, 1955 to the late J.C. Harrison and Melvina Johnson. Bruce's greatest joy in life was the unconditional love shared in his marriage to Monica Benson for 23 years. His favorite pastimes were hunting, watching football and NASCAR. He was wholly devoted to the time spent with all his family and friends...

Marilyn Faye Page, 68, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Friday, July 28, 2017 at her residence in Poplar Bluff. She was born on June 25, 1949 to Robert and Ruby (Barriner) Hawthorne-Hodapp in Poplar Bluff. She graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 1967 and later the Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center where she obtained her LPN Degree. Marilyn worked for Doctor's Regional Medical Center for 32 years and retired from The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center after 15 years...

PIEDMONT, Mo. - Lynn D. White, 69, of Greenville, formerly of Piedmont, died Wed., July 26, 2017 at Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., Wed., August 2 at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont, Mo. The funeral will follow at 11a.m. at the Piedmont Chapel. Burial will be in New Prospect Cemetery in Silva, Mo. Rev. Darrel Silvy is the officiant. Online condolences may be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

DEXTER, Mo. - Winford Lee "Wimpy" Matney, 69, of Dexter, died Sunday, July 30, 2017. Visitation is at 11 a.m., Tues., Aug. 1 at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. in the Watkins and Sons Chapel in Dexter. Burial will be in the Dexter Cemetery with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service in charge of arrangements. www.watkinsfuneralhome.com...

PUXICO, Mo. - Missouri Master Naturalist, Master Gardener, and Wildlife Artist Leslie Limberg will exhibit her nature-themed oil paintings for the month of August at the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. Limberg will be at the visitors center Friday, Aug. 4, and Saturday, Aug. 5, to share the wonders of Missouri wildlife through art, activities, and poetry. Get out of the heat with the kids for an inspirational, fun, and interactive art display...

VAN BUREN, Mo. - David Wilson Keathley died July 31, 2017. When he discovered he was in renal failure David wrote the following: I was born Nov. 30, 1937 to my parents Harrison and Virginia Keathley, in South Van Buren, Mo. Both parents died in 1999. One sister, Joan Koper of Bowling Green, Ky...

DONIPHAN, Mo. - Barbara Marilee Hoefer, 81, of Doniphan, Missouri, departed this life Saturday, July 29, 2017 at her residence in Doniphan. Mrs. Hoefer, daughter of the late Elbert & Ethel (Severs) Miller, was born August 9, 1935, in Oxly, Missouri, and was a lifelong resident of Ripley County. ...

PIEDMONT, Mo. - Steven Ray Ruble, 58, died Monday, July 31 at his home near Vulcan. Arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel, Piedmont.

Three area students have been awarded scholarships to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 2017-2018 academic year. They are Charlotte Adams of Puxico, Mo., Oshen Schaefer and Davin Fugate, both of Wappapello, Mo. Adams has received the Residence Life Leadership Award. Adams is the daughter of Mark and Vicki Adams, and is a 2017 graduate of Puxico High School...

The Stoddard County Ambulance District (SCAD) Board of Directors voted 4-0 to purchase a new ambulance from American Response Vehicles at their regular meeting recently. The district has sought bids to replace an older ambulance. SCAD Manager Dave Cooper said request for bids were sent to six companies, but only one company submitted a bid. ...

MALDEN, Mo. - Charles Edward Trinkler, Jr., 89, of Malden, died Sunday, July 30, 2017 at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis. Visitation will be at 1 p.m., Sat., August 5 at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will follow at 3 p.m. in the Bradshaw Chapel with Rev. Aulden LeBlanc officiating. Burial with military rites will be in Rosewood First Addition Cemetery in Malden. www.bradshawfh.com...

DETROIT -- Gavin Vaughn out-touched his opponent by 12 seconds at the finish of the 200-meter butterfly to capture the bronze medal on the final day of the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Detroit Sunday. As a team, the Poplar Bluff Piranhas finished 15th out of 30 teams...

The City of Puxico Board of Aldermen set Saturday, Aug. 5 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. as a time for the City-Wide Clean-Up. As was done last year, a dumpster will be set up on the west side of the City Hall parking lot Aug. 5. The dumpster will be there only the one day from 7 a.m. ...

When Kent Keith walks around the Poplar Bluff campus these days, he does so with a big smile on his face. Now in his sixth year as the Mules athletic director, Keith and the athletic programs he oversees are finally settling into their new facilities on the first official day of practice Monday for high schools across Missouri...

A 49-year-old Malden, Mo., man is dead after a one-vehicle crash at 12:17 p.m. Sunday on Highway 53, one half mile south of Poplar Bluff, Mo. According to the report, John D. Minks was operating a northbound 2008 Pontiac G6 when it ran off the right side of the roadway and overturned...

Because of major flooding in May, it really wasn't any surprise when the Missouri Department of Conservation canceled the three meetings it had scheduled around the area to discuss the crappie situation at Wappapello Lake, and ever since, we've been waiting to hear when they'd be rescheduled...

Local Puxico resident and Malden fifth grade science teacher Diana Lowe Wilkerson recently has brought a new form of entertainment to Puxico. Puxico Rocks is providing art, hunting, and overall fun for many residents in the small community who have taken up the event of painting rocks, hiding them, and then hunting for rocks that others have hidden...

From Staff Reports Preparations for the 71st Annual V.F.W. Homecoming Tuesday - Saturday, Aug. 8-12, began immediately after last year's event. The V.F.W. already has purchased hundreds of pounds of goat meat and are completing final touches for this year's event...