Stories from Tuesday, March 6, 2012

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Details obtained during an overnight armed robbery at the Dexter, Mo., Taco Bell led authorities to arresting two local women believed responsible for that robbery, as well as an earlier one in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor With last week's tornadoes fresh in everyone's mind and a whole tornado season looming, a member of the Poplar Bluff Severe Weather Response Team addressed the Poplar Bluff City Council Monday night. Craig Meador gave a presentation on the work of trained storm spotters and how they work closely with the National Weather Service and Butler County Sheriff's Department in coordination with its new text and e-mail alert system...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A second taxicab company will soon be operating in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The Poplar Bluff City Council voted 7-0 Monday night to authorize City Clerk Pamela Kearbey to issue a license to Sandra Montgomery, the owner of Sandy's Cab., 110 N. Broadway St...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A permanent road to replace a damaged section of Highway T at Wappapello Dam should be in place by the end of the year, according to officials. The $1.7 million project is expected to be the single most costly repair for the Missouri Department of Transportation following spring 2011 flooding in Southeast Missouri...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Parents, teachers and taxpayers packed the Hillview Elementary cafeteria Monday night to discuss Proposition K.I.D.S., Keep Improving District Schools. The proposed tax levy increase of $0.86 per $100 assessed valuation would fund $4.5 million in construction and improvements at the Neelyville campus and move all students there...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor The weekend arrest of a Poplar Bluff, Mo., man following a traffic crash may result in him facing assault charges after his alleged actions sent two officers to the hospital and injured a third. Poplar Bluff Police Patrolman Danny Hicks was knocked unconscious while attempting to subdue Ryan Aaron McVaugh, who later allegedly choked Butler County Cpl. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A former Poplar Bluff, Mo., man was ordered to stand trial Monday for causing the death of his longtime friend during a physical altercation apparently fueled by alcohol. Associate Circuit Judge Thomas Swindle heard from two witnesses before finding probable cause to bind Matthew Clifford Coble over to stand on trial on the Class C felony of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and the Class D felony of unlawful use of a weapon...

One of the first rights we learn about as children is freedom of speech. While our First Amendment Rights are extremely important, I believe we must still strive to be respectful - especially when it comes to solemn events such as funerals. We're all too familiar with the extreme disturbances the Westboro Baptist Church employs at funerals of our fallen soldiers and, in some cases, those of young children. ...

The next meeting of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group will be held at noon Wednesday, March 14, at the First Presbyterian Church, 301 N. Second St., in Poplar Bluff. Free onsite childcare will be provided by the Family and Community Education members who support this program...

The Second Annual Substance Abuse Prevention Conference concerning trends of drug use and abuse in Southeast Missouri will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 21 at the Malden Community Center. Registration is $10, which includes lunch, and must be turned in by March 16...

By OLIVER NORTH WASHINGTON -- On Feb. 20, a NATO-Afghan security team at the Parwan Detention Center -- adjacent to the U.S.-run Bagram Air Field, north of Kabul -- began destroying files, books and documents from the detention facility library. The printed material was being burned because it contained handwritten coded messages being passed among Taliban and al-Qaida detainees. ...

On Saturday, the Three Rivers College Patrons of the Arts Society will present "Give 'Em Hell, Harry!" a one-man show about the life and presidency of Harry Truman as told by Truman, Kansas City's iconic native son who became the country's 33rd head of state...

Work in Jefferson City is in full swing as we near the halfway point of the legislative Session. The House of Representatives has already passed a number of important pieces of legislation and that work will only intensify in the weeks ahead. VOTER ID...

Remember, God loves you You know if you feel down and like no one loves you always remember that Jesus loves you. He loves you more than anyone else could love you. If you do wrong, He knows it, but He still loves you. He don't condone it or, you know, uphold it, but He loves you. God loves no matter what you do, but He don't want you to sin and do things like that, but He loves ya. He's a friend who will stick with you when other people turns you down. He'll never turn you down...

John Overstreet NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- John W. Overstreet, 62, of Doniphan, Mo., died Sunday, March 4, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Overstreet was born Dec. 1, 1949, in Hanford, Calif. He was a plastic technician for MO-ARK Plastics. He had lived in Ripley County for the past three years and had previously lived in the Wappapello, Mo., area...

Jimmy Stratton DONIPHAN, Mo. -- James "Jimmy" Ray Stratton, 43, lifetime resident of Doniphan, Mo., died Sunday, March 4, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Stratton was born Sept. 24, 1968, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was a timber working alongside his father and enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing poker on his computer and Elvis Presley's music. Mr. Stratton attended Faith Seventh Day Baptist Church...

Mary Sandage Mary Louise Sandage, 88, a longtime resident of Butler County, Mo., died Saturday, March 3, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Sandage was born June 3, 1923, in Tennessee. She was a homemaker and a member of Harviell Pentecostal Church. Mrs. Sandage enjoyed reading her Bible, and spending quality time with her family and friends...

Pat Thomason DEXTER, Mo. -- Pat Thomason, 75, of Dexter, Mo. died Sunday, March 4, 2012, at at the Golden Living Center in Dexter. She was born on June 1, 1936 in Leachville, Ark. Survivors include two brothers, DeWayne Thomason of Daytona Beach, Fla., and Bobby Thomason of Elk Ridge, Md.; and one sister, Faye Peacock of Dexter...

John Bostic MALDEN, Mo. -- John Mart Bostic, 85, of Malden, Mo., died Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at his residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden.

The Three Rivers Raiders are looking to win the season series with MSU-West Plains to extend their season. The Raiders have split with the Grizzlies as each team has won at home this season with the teams set to meet at 7 p.m. Friday in the semifinals of the Region XVI Tournament at Jefferson College...

Clyde Welty QULIN, Mo. - Clyde Welty, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, March 5, 2012 at his residence. Mr. Welty was born March 5, 1927 in Kennett, Mo. He had lived around Poplar Bluff and Qulin most of his life and was a retired farmer He is survived by the love of his life, Ematee Taylor, of the home; two daughters, Sherry Diane Welty Rush and husband, Charles Daniel, and Vicky Lynn Welty Hoover and husband, Gary Wayne, both of Poplar Bluff; one grandson, Scott Daniel Rush and wife, Carla, of Harker Heights, Texas; and two great-grandchildren, Meagan and Cody Rush.. ...

Three Rivers sophomore Tarius Johnson has developed into the Raiders' hybrid weapon this season. "I think that would be a good way to describe him," Three Rivers coach Gene Bess said of Johnson's versatile style. Johnson is averaging a region-best 20.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game but missed out on the Player of the Year honors to Moberly's Kenny Williams...

Three Rivers freshman Mariah Randazzo couldn't have picked a better time to collect her only hit in the opener Monday. Three Rivers scored two runs in the seventh inning to win the first game 4-3 on a single from Randazzo before getting two home runs in the second game to win 7-2 and earn a sweep over Southwest Tennessee...

Tim Hutson PUXICO, Mo. -- Tim D. Hutson, 75, of Puxico, Mo., died Sunday, March 4, 2012, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The son of the late Neil and Rosella (Miller) Hutson, he was born June 14, 1936, in Puxico. Mr. Hutson was a 1954 graduate of Puxico High School. ...

Charles Rankin MALDEN, Mo. -- Charles Ray Rankin, 53, of Clarkton, Mo., died Friday, March 2, 2012, at his residence. He was born Jan. 3, 1959, in Portageville, Mo. Surviving are his father, Harold Rankin of Little Rock, Ark.; his mother, Daisy Rankin of Clarkton, Mo.; one son, Charlie Rankin of Conroe, Texas; two daughters, Tabbatha Rankin of Pasadena, Texas, and Ashley Rankin of Oklahoma; two brothers, Rayburn Rankin of St. ...

Reva Robertson Reva Mae Robertson, 80, a longtine resident of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Monday March 5, 2012 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Robertson was born Oct. 29, 1931, in Holcomb, Mo., to Ulysis Harold Lee and Cora Lou (Hemby) Lee...

A new coach is at the helm of the dance and cheer programs at Three Rivers College. Brad Piercy, formerly a co-ed cheerleading coach with Arkansas State University, joined the Three Rivers staff in December. Piercy has assumed the duties of former coach Deana Douchant, who returned to her home state of Wyoming in late 2011 for personal reasons...

On Saturday, the Three Rivers College Patrons of the Arts Society will present "Give 'Em Hell, Harry!" a one-man show about the life and presidency of Harry Truman as told by Truman, Kansas City's iconic native son who became the country's 33rd head of state...

The next meeting of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group will be held at noon Wednesday, March 14, at the First Presbyterian Church, 301 N. Second St., in Poplar Bluff. Free onsite childcare will be provided by the Family and Community Education members who support this program...

By OLIVER NORTH WASHINGTON -- On Feb. 20, a NATO-Afghan security team at the Parwan Detention Center -- adjacent to the U.S.-run Bagram Air Field, north of Kabul -- began destroying files, books and documents from the detention facility library. The printed material was being burned because it contained handwritten coded messages being passed among Taliban and al-Qaida detainees. ...

One of the first rights we learn about as children is freedom of speech. While our First Amendment Rights are extremely important, I believe we must still strive to be respectful - especially when it comes to solemn events such as funerals. We're all too familiar with the extreme disturbances the Westboro Baptist Church employs at funerals of our fallen soldiers and, in some cases, those of young children. ...

John Overstreet NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- John W. Overstreet, 62, of Doniphan, Mo., died Sunday, March 4, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Overstreet was born Dec. 1, 1949, in Hanford, Calif. He was a plastic technician for MO-ARK Plastics. He had lived in Ripley County for the past three years and had previously lived in the Wappapello, Mo., area...

The Second Annual Substance Abuse Prevention Conference concerning trends of drug use and abuse in Southeast Missouri will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 21 at the Malden Community Center. Registration is $10, which includes lunch, and must be turned in by March 16...

Remember, God loves you You know if you feel down and like no one loves you always remember that Jesus loves you. He loves you more than anyone else could love you. If you do wrong, He knows it, but He still loves you. He don't condone it or, you know, uphold it, but He loves you. God loves no matter what you do, but He don't want you to sin and do things like that, but He loves ya. He's a friend who will stick with you when other people turns you down. He'll never turn you down...

A new coach is at the helm of the dance and cheer programs at Three Rivers College. Brad Piercy, formerly a co-ed cheerleading coach with Arkansas State University, joined the Three Rivers staff in December. Piercy has assumed the duties of former coach Deana Douchant, who returned to her home state of Wyoming in late 2011 for personal reasons...