Stories from Friday, January 31, 2020

“I always enjoy speaking to an audience that is knowledgeable of the subject matter, and able to engage in meaningful dialogue,” Dr. Frank Nickell observed after his presentation on Saturday, January 25. Nickell, retired educator from Southeast Missouri State University and noted historian, was the guest speaker at a meeting of the Sons of Confederate Veterans...

Attending a meeting near Union Station in Washington, D.C., requires me to park a few blocks away and then walk under a bridge to an office building. People in business attire, like me, step carefully around the homeless men and women who have pitched tents under the bridge. They look filthy and miserable, especially in winter...

Can a septuagenarian socialist who just survived a heart attack and would be 80 years old in his first year in office be elected president of the United States? It’s hard to believe but not impossible. As of today, Bernie Sanders looks like one of the better, if not best, bets for the nomination. Polls have him running first or second in the first three contests: Iowa on Monday, and then New Hampshire and Nevada...

It’s high time to end this impeachment farce once and for all. For starters, the flimsy articles of impeachment that Democrats have brought forth aren’t crimes, much less the “high crimes” required to remove a sitting president. That alone is sufficient grounds to end this charade that’s chock full of presumptions and assumptions from partisans that the president (SET ITAL)may have(END ITAL) done something wrong...

City firefighters responded at 5:55 a.m. Friday, Jan. 31, to a motor-vehicle crash at the intersection of Rowe Parkway and Highway 142. According to the report, firefighters stabilized the neck of a driver until emergency-medical-services personnel arrived...

BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT Dillion Benjamin Conyers, 27, of Pollard, Ark., was booked at the Butler County jail Thursday, Jan. 30, on a warrant for DWI. He was released on bond. _ Bryan C. Hambrick, 37, of Poplar Bluff was booked at the Butler County jail Thursday, Jan. 30, on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance...

First Semester Second Grade A Honor Roll: Zhoey Abner Henry Allen Nora Beaird Jesse Berten Gregory Brown Wesley Burgett Caitlyn Christian Jackson Cloud Lillian Fowler Isiah Green Wade Hale Adalynn Henson Mason Hover Audrey King Gavin Lane Keygan Long...

Friday wrapped up Catholic Schools Week, which recognizes these schools as playing a role in the community.

The Margaret Harwell Art Museum has partnered with Mt. Calvary Powerhouse Church to host a special show during the month of February in honor of Black History Month. A reception will be held from 6-8 p.m. Saturday at the museum for “Twin Art, the Art of Terry and Jerry Lynn,” said museum director Steve Whitworth...

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson stopped by the Ag Expo on Friday afternoon to celebrate the importance of agriculture.

Debra Kay “Nana” Placher, 62, of Fisk, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 at home surrounded by her loving family. Debra was born on June 30, 1957 in Fresno, Calif., the daughter of James Pleasant Sampson Sr. and Donna Mae Bird. On Aug. 16, 1990 she married James Henry Placher in Poplar Bluff and he survives...

Melvin Gene Childress, 76, of Poplar Bluff passed away peacefully on Friday morning, Jan. 31, 2020, at home. He was born in Holcomb, Mo., Oct. 8, 1943, to Henry and Margie Childress. As a self-taught musician, he enjoyed singing and music, playing multiple instruments, although he played guitar most often. ...

Larry “Gene” Hunsaker, 87, of Dexter, son of the late Newton Raymond and Annie Doublin Hunsaker, was born Sept. 23, 1932, and passed away at the Winchester Nursing Home, in Bernie, Jan. 30, 2020. Larry “Gene” married Billie June Edwards Feb. 28, 1953 in Piggott, Ark...

Business owners, a young farmer, a woman in agriculture and a family were honored Friday as outstanding members of the area farming community. Awards were given out at the third annual farmer appreciation luncheon, prior to the 34th annual Ag Expo. The winners were: Boyles Farm Service, Outstanding Farm Business; Chad Buttrey, Outstanding Young Farmer: Kathryn Clark, Outstanding Woman in Ag; and Landon and Hayley Benson, Outstanding Farm Family...

Every four years the calendar contains a 366th day, Feb. 29. As we learned in school, this leap day is needed because it takes the earth approximately 365.25 days to travel around the sun. So, thanks to the Gregorian calendar making a needed adjustment, we have an “extra” day this month...

KENNETT — Tommy Gene Miller, 69, son of Irma Rouse Miller and the late Tommie Kelsey Miller, was born Monday, Jan. 8, 1951, in Kennett, and departed this life Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, at Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in Hayti. He had been a radio announcer in Kennett, Caruthersville and Poplar Bluff, and also worked as a photographer. Tommy’s heart and lungs gave out on him, but while he could, he loved God, family and friends...