Stories from Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Campbell, Mo., native Keith Blackman joined the list of distinguished Arkansas State University ROTC alumni by being inducted into the Hall of Heroes. Ever since a young age, Blackman said his father was very patriotic and instilled that in him growing up, which eventually led to a career in the military...

A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man began 2018 by allegedly robbing a cab driver just minutes after midnight and then is accused of firing multiple rounds in a residential neighborhood from a stolen SUV. Bryant Edward Jenkins, 21, remains in the Butler County jail on suspicion of first-degree robbery, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and stealing a motor vehicle...

Despite some decidedly mixed reviews, the Donald Trump Morning Show on Twitter has been picked up for a second season, at least apparently. Look out, though. The president may fall victim to something he, as a show-business sort of guy, ought to know is a problem: reruns too familiar to the audience...

Kevin Boyd was in his mid-20s when he first grasped what it meant to be serving life without parole. It happened when a couple of longtime inmates who'd mentored him died of old age in prison and he watched them carted off on gurneys. He couldn't help but think about his own future...

Two close observers of the media environment, Adam H. Johnson (from the political left of center) and Sean Davis (from the political right of center), were asked by the Los Angeles Times to list the top 10 under-covered stories of the year. Read Davis' contribution first and Johnson's second...

NEW YORK (AP) -- Internet-connected lights, locks and laundry machines are close to becoming everyday household items, thanks in part to voice-activated speakers such as Amazon's Echo and Google Home. Market research groups are seeing increased sales of lights that turn off when you say "good night," smart locks that let in your friends before you get home and similar smart-home gadgets. ...

Allie Laura Keeney Mack, of Warrenton, Mo., formerly of Poplar Bluff, died Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, at the Warrenton Manor. Mrs. Mack, the daughter of the late Edward and Maude White Keeney, was born Jan. 23, 1921, in Carter County, Mo. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and was a homemaker...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Gregory Allan Reynolds Sr., 73, of Clarkton, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, on Highway 25 at Clarkton. Visitation will begin at noon Wednesday at the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden, followed by the memorial service at 1 p.m. with the Rev. William Hill officiating. Burial will be in the Stanfield Cemetery at Clarkton...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Steven D. Yokel, 41, of Alexandria, Va., formerly of Piedmont, died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017, at his residence. Visitation was to be held at noon today at Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont, followed by the funeral at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Wayne Street officiating. Burial was in the Cool Springs Cemetery near Greenville, Mo...

Travis Kenneth Hart, 39, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff, followed by a Celebration of Life at 3 p.m...

Mary Jean Bingham, 89, of Poplar Bluff passed away on Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, at her residence. She was born on June 27, 1928, to Nathan and Effie (Bond) Timmons in Doniphan, Mo. Mary owned Que Sera Boutique in Valley Plaza. Mary is survived by her children, Donna New and Lyndal "Stag" Bates and wife, Diane, all of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; one daughter-in-law, Carolyn Bates of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; nine grandchildren, Dale (Denise) Tinsley, Karen Widding, Cathy Kelly, Shane (April) Bates, Eric Montgomery, Sean Casey, Benjamin Casey, Chance (Trisha) Whitehead, and Lance (Mandy) Bates; 17 great-grandchildren; and a host of family and friends.. ...

John Hennessy, 91, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 at Mark Train Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Arrangements are pending with Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

MALDEN, Mo. -- Floy Claudene Hill Charles, 86, of Chaffee, Mo., formerly of Malden, died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018, at Landess Funeral Home in Malden. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. in the Landess Funeral Home Chapel...

Sarah Elizabeth Ellington, 81, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Dec. 28, 2017 at her residence. Visitation will be Wed. Jan. 3 at noon at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow in the City Cemetery...

HOXIE, Ark. --The defending Arkansas 3A state champs used a second-quarter run to shake the Poplar Bluff girls basketball team Saturday night in the championship game of the Mustang Classic. Hoxie outscored the Mules 12-4 after the teams played even through the first eight minutes to win their own eight-team tournament 61-37...