Stories from Thursday, August 22, 2013

By SAMANTHA KLUESNER SEMO News Service BENTON, Mo. -- Authorities accuse a Scott City man of strangling his mother, then burning her two dogs alive along with her body to cover up the crime. Murder charges were filed Monday and announced by the sheriff's department Tuesday against Neil Howland Jr. after his mother's body was found in a burning car off Scott County Road 323 on Aug. 7...

By TOM MURPH AP Business Writer Workers saw a modest rise in the average cost of employer-sponsored health insurance this year, but they're probably not overwhelmed with relief. Coverage costs still are climbing faster than wages. That means, in many cases, a bigger portion of the average paycheck is sliced off for insurance instead of being deposited into employee bank accounts...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Seventeen persons testified on both sides of the smoke-free issue Tuesday night before the Poplar Bluff City Council urged the Breathe Issue Coalition to request a countywide vote. Coalition members wanted the council to adopt a proposed smoke-free ordinance like 24 other Missouri cities have done...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Poplar Bluff City Council members voted 6-0 Tuesday night to give City Manager Doug Bagby a vote of confidence in response to allegations made a day earlier by Councilwoman Angela Pearson. Having just been elected in April in Ward 1, Pearson told the news media "the information I have uncovered during my research is very disappointing and disturbing."...

Doniphan license office bids being taken DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Bids to operate the Doniphan, Mo., license office are being accepted through Sept. 16 by the Missouri Office of Administration. In fiscal year 2013, more than 31,000 transactions were conducted at the Doniphan office, generating approximately $102,400 in agent processing fees...

Peach festival parade Sat. Downtown Campbell, Mo., will be the site of decorated floats, classic cars and horses marching when the yearly parade will be held as part of the Missouri Peach Fair. The parade will begin moving through the downtown area at 10 a.m. Saturday. Entries will be judged along the parade route and prizes will be given in several different categories...

Mosquito truck issues Mosquito truck! One week we've got the mosquito truck every day. Now, I haven't seen a mosquito truck in three weeks. We sit in the front yard at night and enjoy yourself and the mosquitoes eat you up. Why don't the city do somethin' about it! Run the truck or just forget about it. I'm tired gettin' et up by mosquitoes. Thank you...

Councilwoman Angela Pearson presented an 86-page document to area law enforcement and other state agencies alleging corruption in Poplar Bluff city government. The allegations specifically target long-time City Manager Doug Bagby. Pearson alleges Bagby used his considerable influence as city manager to award city contracts to friends and business associates. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN In the near term, bet on the men with the guns. The Egyptian Army, being slowly squeezed out of its central role in the nation's life by Mohammed Morsi, waited for the moment to oust the elected president and crush his Muslim Brotherhood...

By MARTIN SCHRAM Scripps Howard News Service Just as our debates, over lunch pails or lattes or on cable TV, were growing repetitive and dreary as we rehashed whether the National Security Agency dangerously violates our privacy by harvesting our communications data, we were rescued Monday by some real breaking news:...

Loyd Dollins NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Loyd Edward Allen "Brother" Dollins, 82, of Neelyville died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013, at his residence. Mr. Dollins was born June 2, 1931, in Neelyville. He was a member of Coon Island General Baptist Church and was a farmer and worked in a sawmill. He served on the HVAM Cemetery Board and dug graves over the years. He enjoyed visiting friends and family...

Robert Miller Robert F. Miller, 82, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013, at his residence. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Charlene Middleton DEXTER, Mo. -- Charlene Middleton, 94, of Dexter died Monday, Aug. 19, 2013, at her residence. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. today in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Don Kennedy officiating. Burial will follow in the Dexter Cemetery...

Wanda Lacy PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Wanda L. Lacy, 84, of Des Arc, Mo., died Monday, Aug. 19, 2013, at the Parkland Medical Center in Farmington, Mo. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Des Arc Assembly of God Church. Burial will be in the Mt. View Cemetery in Des Arc...

Stephanie Newsom MALDEN, Mo. -- Stephanie Danielle Newsom, 20, of Kennett, Mo., died Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013, in Holcomb, Mo., due to an auto accident. Visitation will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Bethel Assembly of God Church in Gideon, Mo. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton, Mo...

PBHS Class of '60 to meet The Poplar Bluff High School Class of 1960 will be meeting for lunch at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Ryan's Restaurant. Class members, spouses and friends are welcome. Any questions, call 573-686-2251.

Wanda Tilman Wanda Lee Tilman, 84, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday Aug. 20, 2013, at Westwood Hills Care Center. Mrs. Tilman was born Oct. 23, 1928, in Marble Hill, Mo. On Oct. 28, 1949, she married John Martin Tilman in Marquand, Mo. He died on March 8, 1996...