Stories from Monday, May 21, 2012

By SCOTT MYERS SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Russell Bucklew has sat on death row for 15 years awaiting his sentence for what local law enforcement officials describe as one of the worst Cape Girardeau County crimes of the past few decades...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer More important to Ronnie and Melissa Daughhetee than the nursing degrees they received Sunday during Three Rivers College commencement ceremony was sharing the story with everyone in attendance of Allison Grace, their 8-year-old daughter who died in a car accident less than one year ago...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor CORNING, Ark. -- Clay County residents will vote in Tuesday's presidential and county primary election from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Democratic voters will decide contests for U.S. representative, sheriff, county judge, District 9 justice of peace and West Oak Bluff Township constable...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Forty years after Eardie Carter earned her surgical technician degree, she watched her daughter graduate with the same credentials from Three Rivers College. Commencement was held Sunday at the Black River Coliseum to confer a record 624 degrees and certificates. Coleah Carter was one of about 260 graduates to participate in the ceremony, while her 2-year-old son, Isaiah, watched from his grandmother's arms...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A traffic stop on a would-be burglar's truck led local officers to then use the truck to arrest three other teenage suspects waiting for a ride following a suspected early morning burglary. At about 1:35 a.m. today, Poplar Bluff Police officers were dispatched to the Southside Sinclair in reference to a burglary alarm, explained Detective J. R. Keirsey...

TWIN RIVERS HIGH SCHOOL 4TH Quarter 2011-2012 Honor Roll Seniors: Jacob Baugus, Sarah Cotner, Courtney Crain, Kaleb Doyle, Dylan Heath, Sarah Joiner, Alix Jones, JoAnna Linville, BJ Lucas, Chelsea Merritt, Christopher Morse, Bradley Parks, Paul Rush, Bryce Tinsley...

WAPPAPELLO -- Tim Connelly was a fraction of a second faster than David Doner in the finals Sunday at the 24th annual Budweiser Drag Boat Nationals. Mike Lamb, meanwhile, won the Pro Modified final at Wappapello Lake by being slower. Lamb won on a double-red light against defending points champion Jim Richards by getting to the start line second...

Ottis Hampton ELLINGTON, Mo. -- Ottis Leon Hampton, 87, of Ellington, Mo., died Saturday, May 19, 2012, at Crockers Country Living in Lesterville, Mo. Mr. Hampton was born April 19, 1925, in Ellington. He served in the U.S. Navy and was a retired cattle farmer. ...

Dorothy Riddle PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Dorothy M. Riddle, 87, of Arnold, Mo., formerly of Piedmont, Mo., died Saturday, May 19, 2012, at the Woodland Manor Nursing Center in Arnold. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the Masonic cemetery in Piedmont...

Wes Rodebush VAN BUREN, Mo. -- James Wesley Rodebush, 42, of Dexter, Mo., died Thursday, May 17, 2012, at his cabin in Van Buren, Mo., of natural causes. Mr. Rodebush was born Aug. 4, 1969, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He had resided in Dexter, Mo., for the past year, but Van Buren was his home town. ...

Tilden Thomasson QULIN, Mo. -- Tilden J. Thomasson, 81, of Doniphan, Mo., died Saturday, May 19, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Thomasson was born Feb. 15, 1931, in Fagus, Mo. He had lived around Poplar Bluff, Mo., for several years and formerly lived in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Thomasson was a member of Bible Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff and had owned and operated Till's Auto Body...

Roberts on Dean's List William Penn University announces William Roberts of Gatewood, Mo., has been named to the Dean's List for the spring 2012 semester. To be included on the Dean's List, a student must complete at least 12 hours of credit with a grade point average of 3.5 - 3.89 on a 4.0 scale...

Dollar Gen. helps PB Boy/Girls Club The Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded a $3,000 grant to Boys & Girls Club of Poplar Bluff in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The funds will be used to further Boys & Girls Club of Poplar Bluff's summer programs for children and teens...

The Butler County Democrat Central Committee and the Truman Day Rally Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, at the Rushin Headquarters, 125 N. 11th St. All interested Democrats are urged to attend.

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) MO 734 met at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 9. Linda Morgan, leader, called the meeting to order. Five KOPS and 16 TOPS members were present. Lou Ann Wrather read the secretary's report and Pam Kane presented the treasurer's report. Both were approved...

DEXTER, Mo. --Visitors and residents will be out in full force along Highway 25 on Memorial Day weekend in search of bargains at the 100-Mile Yard Sale, but the Missouri Department of Transportation reminds everyone the greatest savings of the event could be a life...

Dorothy Riddle PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Dorothy M. Riddle, 87, of Arnold, Mo., formerly of Piedmont, Mo., died Saturday, May 19, 2012, at the Woodland Manor Nursing Center in Arnold. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the Masonic cemetery in Piedmont...

Tilden Thomasson QULIN, Mo. -- Tilden J. Thomasson, 81, of Doniphan, Mo., died Saturday, May 19, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Thomasson was born Feb. 15, 1931, in Fagus, Mo. He had lived around Poplar Bluff, Mo., for several years and formerly lived in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Thomasson was a member of Bible Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff and had owned and operated Till's Auto Body...

Dollar Gen. helps PB Boy/Girls Club The Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded a $3,000 grant to Boys & Girls Club of Poplar Bluff in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The funds will be used to further Boys & Girls Club of Poplar Bluff's summer programs for children and teens...

The Butler County Democrat Central Committee and the Truman Day Rally Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, at the Rushin Headquarters, 125 N. 11th St. All interested Democrats are urged to attend.

DEXTER, Mo. --Visitors and residents will be out in full force along Highway 25 on Memorial Day weekend in search of bargains at the 100-Mile Yard Sale, but the Missouri Department of Transportation reminds everyone the greatest savings of the event could be a life...