Stories from Thursday, May 3, 2018

With spring finally making its way here, it has brought many things with it such as warmer days, green trees and sunshine. One other thing we begin to see this time of year is the emergence of baby wildlife. Many animals are having their babies this time of year, such as birds, rabbits and others...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is reviewing regulations of the Wildlife Code of Missouri regarding gigging on Ozark streams and wants public input through a brief online survey regarding timing of the season, season length, and comments...

There's no real way to sugar-coat the 2018 spring turkey hunting season in Missouri, which looks like it could go down, statistically speaking, as the worst one in a long, long time. If hunters can't squeak out nearly 4,200 more kills before it closes Sunday afternoon, the season likely will end up being the worst one the Show-Me State has experienced in two-plus decades...

WASHINGTON -- Among the recent garbled effusions from today's temporary president -- cheer up; they are all temporary -- was one that concerned something about which he might not have thought as deeply as the subject merits. During an episode of government of, by and for "Fox & Friends," he said: He won the 2016 election "easily" but wishes the electoral vote system were replaced by direct election of presidents by popular vote. ...

By STEPHEN MOORE I have argued many times on these pages and elsewhere that the shale oil and gas revolution is the story of the decade. Since 2007 U.S. oil and gas output has risen by about 75 percent, and the renaissance is still in its infancy stages...

By MARC A. THIESSEN WASHINGTON -- Imagine your own beloved child was lying in a hospital with a mysterious brain disease. Should you, as the parent, be allowed to decide whether to continue treatment for your son or daughter? Or should the state have the power to overrule you and cut off life support over your objections?...

CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Albert Noble, 65, of Perryville, Mo., formerly of Campbell. died Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at the Estates of Perryville in Perryville. Visitation will be from noon - 1 p.m. Monday, May 7, 2018, at Landess Funeral Chapel in Campbell. Landess Funeral Home of Campbell is in charge of arrangements...

What started out as a wager between a student teacher and an eighth grade student has turned into a popular fishing club for students at the Poplar Bluff Junior High School. "We got to talking about fishing one day and we made a deal," said eighth grader Tyson Huddleston...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Puxico father and son are to stand trial in February in connection with an apparent high-speed crash that left a pedestrian dead. Wesley G. Faries and his father, Garey L. Faries, appeared in court Wednesday before Presiding Circuit Judge Robert Mayer for a review of their cases...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Linda Gene Fowler, 74, of Fairdealing, Missouri, died Sunday, April 27, 2018, at Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. A graveside service will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, May 4, 2018, at the Pope Chapel Cemetery near Doniphan. Edwards Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

Staff Reports Poplar Bluff experienced a widespread outage of landline phones early Thursday morning. Residents could not call in to the police department, city hall or some other businesses and homes. The problems began around 3:30 a.m., but were not impacting 911 services, said chief police department communications officer Kim Johnson. The 911 lines are hardwired, and it is very unlikely to experience a problem with those services, she said...

"As you celebrate going to the next phase of life, I want you to think about the topic of your identity," Jeremy Jackson of New Home General Baptist Church told the Twin Rivers Class of 2018 during the Baccalaureate ceremony. Twenty-three years ago, Jackson said he sat in the same Twin Rivers High School gym with his senior class preparing for the next chapter of their lives...

What at first appeared as a stairway to nowhere now has a fresh destination at the top, making the trek from the parking lot at Three Rivers College to pretty much anywhere else on campus now less tedious. In a Wednesday afternoon ceremony, the College revealed a new brick pathway at the top of the steps featuring 3,600 bricks, officials said. ...

PIEDMONT -- Clearwater never saw the seventh inning. The Tigers run-ruled all three teams it faced in the MSHSAA Class 1 District 5 tournament, eventually beating Greenville 11-1 in six innings Wednesday in Piedmont to win its fourth district championship in five years...

Jimmy Dale Reece Jr., 48, died Monday, April 30, 2018, at his home in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He is survive by his wife, Elizabeth Reece; two daughters, Lynn Bequette and Tiffanie Reece; mother, Sue Reece; very special sister, Becky Reece, and sister, Tracey Reece; brother, Ronny Retherford; two grandchildren, Jordyn (Carma) Reece and Rylan (Casper) Reece and many nieces and nephews...

Derek Everett Sieben, 28, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., entered the arms of his Lord and Savior Tuesday, May 1, 2018 in Butler County, Mo.. Derek, the son of Tina Sieben Batton and Chad Everett Kearbey, was born Nov. 4, 1989 in Poplar Bluff. He worked for Cornell Trucking as a dump truck driver and was a diesel mechanic. Derek's passion in life was being a loving husband and father. He loved fishing, boating and spending time at the river and lake with his family and friends...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Nearly four years after Congress approved initial funding for construction of a new veterans health care center in Cape Girardeau, final design work is slated to begin soon, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs...

Carol A. Vinson (nee Crowell), formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, April 30, 2018. Beloved wife of the late James A. Vinson; loving mother of Cynthia (Michael) Sanders and the late Mark Vinson; Adoring grandmother of Kaitlyn (fiance' Joel Fisher) Stewart and Amber (fiance' Dylan Baugher) Miller; Dear sister of Pam (Robert) Campbell and Bill (Karen) Crowell; our dear sister-in-law, aunt, great aunt, cousin and friend to many...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Ray Lindsey, 65, of Doniphan, Mo., passed away Monday, April 30, 2018 at his home. Mr. Lindsey was born May 2, 1952 in Michigan. He was a Veteran having served in the Vietnam War and the founding member/president of the 32nd Chance Church. He enjoyed fishing, car shows and drag races...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Nancy Dee (Lester) Elayer died April 28, 2018, at her home in Piedmont, Mo. She was born Aug. 21, 1918, in Detroit, Mich., to J.D. and Leonie B. (Brown) Lester. Her father had moved from Kentucky to Detroit to work during World War I. After the war, they moved back to their hometown of Princeton, Ky., where Nancy and her brother and three sisters grew up...

Staff Reports Many Three Rivers College students rely on the Pell Grant to pay for their education. Starting this summer, qualifying students will be able to access additional Pell funds to pay for summer classes. The U.S. Department of Education has made changes to the Pell Grant to make it a year-round program, said Regina Morris, Director of Financial Aid at Three Rivers College...

Terry E. Chaney, Sr., 68, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at Mark Twain Caring Center. Arrangements are pending with Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home.

Staff Reports Two-way traffic will start in downtown Poplar Bluff streets at 6 a.m. Friday. One-way sections of South Broadway and Main streets will be open in both directions. Lane lines have already been repainted yellow and new traffic signs have been installed on these streets, and have been covered until the change...

Prospect-News A Ripley County man was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting an elderly couple and their son with an ax while under the influence of methamphetamine. Christopher D. Waddell, 39, Doniphan, pleaded guilty April 16 in Ripley County Circuit Court to a Class B felony charge of second-degree assault (special victim)...

Ruth E. Scoggins, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, April 30, 2018 at Oakdale Care Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 14, at Living Work Baptist Church, with the funeral service at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 15. A complete obituary will be published in the May 11 edition of the Daily American Republic...