Stories from Friday, March 2, 2018

One man's trash is another man's treasure, according to Crossroads Ministries director and pastor Jimi Waggoner, whose goal to purchase the former Hentz Alternative School on C Street came to fruition through what, he said, is a miracle for the faith-based group aiming to help men with drug and alcohol addiction...

The Dog Park in downtown Poplar Bluff will celebrate its grand opening Saturday with activities for pet lovers. Events will begin at 1 p.m. and include a performance by the Purina Incredible Dog Team, treats for every pet while supplies last and the give away of a Purina Pet Lovers Basket valued at $125...

Local elected officials are weighing in on their thoughts regarding the recent indictment against Gov. Eric Greitens. A St. Louis grand jury indicted Greitens on Thursday, Feb. 22, on a felony invasion of privacy charge for allegedly taking a compromising photo of a woman without her knowledge or consent...

GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Jury selection began this morning in Wayne County in the trial of a former patron of Brick's Off-Road Park, who allegedly was intoxicated when his pickup ran a stop sign near the park and struck a local woman's car, leaving her paralyzed and his passenger injured...

Aiming to beat the heat, the Third Annual Three Rivers College Day at the Ballpark will be held in the spring instead of during the dog days of summer as it was in prior years. Set for 1:15 p.m. on April 8 at Busch Stadium when the St. Louis Cardinals play the Arizona Diamondbacks, the event takes place two days after the Cardinals 2018 home opener. Tickets are $30 each and include a 200-level seat and voucher for a free hotdog and drink...

Why is the United States reliant on China and Russia for strategic minerals when we have more of these valuable resources than both these nations combined? This has nothing to do with geological impediments. It is all politics. This is an underreported scandal that jeopardizes American security. ...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS A liberal-created failure that goes entirely ignored is the left's harmful agenda for society's most vulnerable people -- the mentally ill. Eastern State Hospital, built in 1773 in Williamsburg, Virginia, was the first public hospital in America for the care and treatment of the mentally ill. ...

By MARC A. THIESSEN WASHINGTON -- When the Republican-controlled Congress first approved its tax bill in December, most Democrats believed it would be a political loser for the GOP. Indeed, a New York Times poll found that just 37 percent of Americans approved of the plan. "To pass a bill of tax cuts and have it be so unpopular with the American people is an amazing achievement for the Republicans -- it's never been done before," Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., crowed...

One in five people will have a panic attack once in their lifetime. What would you do when this happens to a student, loved one, or church member? Attend the Youth Mental Health First Aid course to recognize symptoms of mental health problems, how to help, and how to guide the youth to professional help. University of Missouri Extension is sponsoring Youth Mental Health First Aid training on Thursday, March 29 in Poplar Bluff...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Susie Prater, 71, of Doniphan died Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. Visitation will be held at Edwards Funeral Home 1-3 p.m. Saturday, March 3, 2018 followed by a short eulogy. Prater's request was to be cremated and be set in her resting place beside her parents at Good Hope Church in Grandin, Mo...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Billie Lee Burton, Sr., 85, of Doniphan, Mo., died Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, at the Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at noon, in the Edwards Funeral Home chapel with Brother Jerry Cooper officiating. The graveside service will take place at 2:30 p.m. in the afternoon at the Sycamore Hills Cemetery at Pyle City, Mo...

Richard Eaton, 92, of Patterson, Mo., died Thursday, March 1, 2018, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center, Piedmont, Mo. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m, Saturday, March 3, 2018, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. Services will follow at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 4, 2018, also at the Piedmont chapel. Burial with military honors will be at Patterson Cemetery. Donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Luz Coronado, 57, of Holcomb, Mo. died Wednesday at his residence. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden followed at 1 p.m. by the funeral in the Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden. Brother Dale Rickman will officiate...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Earnest Junior Simmons, 90, formerly of Essex, Mo., died at the Eagle Crest Nursing Home in Ash Flat, Ark. Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. Visitation will begin at noon Monday, March 5, 2018, at the Dexter Church of Christ until time for services at 1 p.m. at the church with Bro. Kevin Lawrence of Gideon, Mo. officiating. Burial will be in the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo. with full military honors...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Joseph "Joe" Jackson, 57, of Piedmont, Mo., died Friday, March 2, 2018 at St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. There will be graveside services with military honors, Saturday, March 3, 2018, at Peachtree cemetery, near Piedmont, Mo. at 1 p.m...

Donald Albert Smith, 93, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Feb. 26, 2018, at Westwood Hills Care Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was born June 2, 1924, in Painesville, Ohio, to the late Emma Hill Curtiss and George William Smith. He was a late-life gift for the Smith Family as Emma was 42 when Don was born. ...

CEDAR HILL, Mo. -- Kiley Bess crashed to the court in the opening minutes of the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 championship game, the Poplar Bluff sophomore landing hard on her back. After slowly getting on her feet, Bess stayed in the game but it would be another 9 1/2 minutes before scoring her first points. By then, the Mules were down double digits after Jackson scored 18 straight points...

Mary L. Wagner, 70, of Harviell, Mo., died Thursday, March 1, 2018, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born Nov. 8, 1947 at Harviell and was a lifelong resident of Butler County. She worked at the Neelyville School District as a teachers aid. Her hobbies were planting flowers and sewing. She enjoyed her church, the Church of Christ in Harviell, where she had served as a Sunday school teacher...

Billie Lee Burton, Sr. -- Doniphan, Mo. Susie Prater -- Doniphan, Mo. Luz Coronado -- Holcomb, Mo. Donald Albert Smith -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Richard Eaton -- Patterson, Mo. Earnest Junior Simmons -- Essex, Mo. Joseph "Joe" Jackson -- Piedmont, Mo...

DEXTER -- The Dexter Bearcats didn't let a slow start get in the way of another postgame celebration. The Bearcats withstood a 10-0 first-quarter run by Notre Dame on Thursday night to beat the Bulldogs 64-44 to win their eighth-straight MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 championship...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Three Rivers coach Jeff Walk blames the officials. "I just feel like we got cheated. I can honestly say in 30 years, this is probably the first time ever that I've felt like that," Walk said. Crowder shot 40 free throws to 16 by Three Rivers and scored 12 more points from the foul line as the Roughriders won 75-64 in the Region XVI Tournament semifinal at Lincoln University...

HILLSBORO, Mo. -- Going into Thursday, Three Rivers had played two games this season while Jefferson had played 10. It showed. With weather consistently keeping the Raiders from both playing and practicing on their field, they suffered from early season problems and were swept Jefferson 6-2 in the opener and 8-0 in seven innings the nightcap...