Stories from Thursday, January 23, 2014

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The possibility of a local purchasing preference policy was discussed during the Poplar Bluff City Council meeting Tuesday night and moved to the Feb. 3 meeting. City Manager Doug Bagby said he had been contacted by three local contractors and asked City Attorney Wally Duncan to investigate the possibility of a local purchasing preference policy that would give local bidders a preference to out-of-town bidders for construction or other projects if the quality and price were otherwise comparable.. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor City Attorney Wally Duncan will find out what other cities are doing before the Poplar Bluff City Council decides on two requests made by Councilwoman Angela Pearson Tuesday night. She asked recordings of the council meetings be played on the city website and the open council meeting packets be posted online...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man may face child abuse charges after allegedly shaking a toddler left in his care. JonAndrew Stenger, 19, of the 900 block of County Road 468 was arrested in connection with an investigation, which began at about 3:45 a.m. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man was sentenced Tuesday afternoon to nine years in prison for severely injuring another man with a box cutter. Accompanied by his attorney Jemia Steele with the Public Defender's Office, William Fanter appeared before Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett for sentencing after having entered an Alford plea on the Class B felony of first-degree assault on Jan. 14...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday morning to fraudulently obtaining student loans and agreed to make restitution of more than $150,000. Jessica Elizabeth Conley, 40, of the 1300 block of Gray Street pleaded guilty to one felony count of making a false statement to a financial institution before U.S. District Judge Audrey Fleissig, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Hahn...

Story and photos by DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Phil Moss was 12 years old when he followed in his grandfather's footsteps and became a guide on the waterways of what are now the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. In the 61 years since, the Current and Jacks Fork rivers have been for the Ellington, Mo., resident a treasured connection to his heritage and a way to support his family, most recently as a boat manufacturer...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor BROSELEY, Mo. -- Four white males forced a rural Broseley resident into their car and took him to an isolated area where he was beaten. After the quartet left, John Taylor Morgan, 19, who lives in the 3000 block of County Road 628 north of Broseley, was able to get out of a ditch and run into the woods to hide. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Seven candidates are seeking three seats on the Poplar Bluff City Council in the April 8 city election. Tuesday was the deadline for candidates to file for the April 8 election. Ward 5 Councilman Robert Smith is being challenged by Carolyn Marshall and Peter Tinsley. The winner will be elected to a three-year term...

A 15-point, second-half deficit was too much to overcome Tuesday night for the Poplar Bluff Mules. But they made a run at it. Twice in the final six minutes the Mules had the ball down just three, but Jackson held off Poplar Bluff's furious comeback to win 73-63 at Peters Gym...

James Shields II James Henry Shields II, 70, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Shields was born March 8, 1943, in Poplar Bluff to the late James Henry and Jessie Mae Wooldridge Shields...

William Welsh William Welsh, 56, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Saturday, Jan. 18, 2104, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Memorials to Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home, Poplar Bluff. Online condolences: www.fowlersullivanfuneralhome.com

PUXICO --The Puxico Indians didn't experience a letdown about 24 hours after securing arguably their biggest victory of the season Monday night when it beat Twin Rivers. The Indains continued their strong midseason play with a 69-64 home win against the Dexter Bearcats on Tuesday night at Arnold Ryan Gymnasium...

Susan Goller ROGERSVILLE, Mo. -- Susan Diana Goller, 43, of Rogersville, Mo., passed away, Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, in her home following a long illness. She was born Sept. 7, 1970, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. On Sept. 5, 1992, she married Timothy H. Goller...

Ethel Hobbs FISK, Mo. -- Ethel Louise Hobbs, 73, of Dudley, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, at her residence. Born Dec. 29, 1940, at Broseley, Mo., Mrs. Hobbs had been a resident of Puxico, Mo., and Dudley most of her life. She attended Puxico High School and was retired from Ingrum Barge Company...

Raymond Asa DEXTER, Mo. -- Raymond Lee Asa, 55, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014, at Poplar Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will then be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with burial following in the Dexter Cemetery...

Jane Shacklee PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Jane Shacklee, 78, of Williamsville, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, at the Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Arrangements will be announced by Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont.

Marie Sides DEXTER, Mo. -- Marie Sides, 89, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Sides was born Feb. 23, 1924, in Advance, Mo., to the late Albert and Emma Berry Pixley. She had lived in Dexter until 1966 when she moved to Ellington, Mo. She moved to Poplar Bluff in 1986 and was a member of the First Church of God in Poplar Bluff...

Catherine Holman MALDEN, Mo. -- Catherine M. Holman, 89, of Webster Grove, Mo., died Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, in Webster Grove. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the chapel with burial following at Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton, Mo...

This spring, the Shelter Insurance Foundation will award a $2,000 scholarship to a graduate of Twin Rivers High School. Shelter Agent Matt Thurmon sponsors and partially funds this scholarship. A committee of local high school officials and community leaders will select the local recipient. ...

Kenny Smith CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Kenny "Chico" D. Smith, 78, of Seymour, Ind., died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014. Born Feb. 27, 1935, in Pollard, Ark., he was the son of Mearl and Sylvia B. (Bradley) Smith. On June 28, 1994, in Gatlinburg, Tenn., he married Dorothy L. Moore Dixon who survives...

"We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we have borrowed it from our children." This proverb should cross our minds as we are challenged with the decisions on how to provide school facilities for the next generation. Over the past 27 years, I have worked with many dedicated board members. ...

By MONA CHAREN Everyone knows by now that the governor (and possible presidential contender) can be a hothead. Some have called him a bully. Even if you think that's too strong, it's undeniable that a trace of bellicosity has been important to what the professionals like to call his "brand."...

By CANDICE DAVIS Mo. Dept. of Conservation CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Landowners can learn to use prescribed fire as a land management tool at a Prescribed Fire Workshop presented by the Missouri Department of Conservation on March 4 at the MDC's Southeast Regional Office in Cape Girardeau, Mo...

GREENVILLE -- It is hard to play a game any closer than Neelyville and Greenville did Tuesday. Between the two Ozark Hills Conference teams, the biggest lead for either team through three quarters was five points. It was fitting that it was tied at 44 going into the fourth...

Judy Roberts DEXTER, Mo. -- Judy Roberts, 72, of Dexter died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014, at the Southeast Health Center in Dexter. Visitation will be from 1-4 p.m. Saturday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

By DEE-ANN DURBIN and TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writers DETROIT (AP) -- A race-worthy Corvette, a sumptuous Mercedes C-Class and other glitzy new models caught the eye at this year's North American International Auto Show, but larger trends in the auto industry were also on display...

Joyce Sandefer CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Joyce Sandefer, 78, of Hernando, Miss., formerly of Campbell, died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014, at Desoto Health Care Center in Southaven, Miss. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. today at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Don Gregory officiating. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Campbell...

Today is Wednesday, Jan. 22, the 22nd day of 2014. There are 343 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 22, 1984, the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins 38-9 to win Super Bowl XVIII (18), played at Tampa Stadium in Florida; the CBS-TV broadcast featured Apple Computer's famous "1984" commercial introducing the Macintosh computer...

The following local students have been awarded scholarships to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 2014-2015 academic year: Morgan Wilkinson of Bloomfield, Mo., has been awarded the University Scholarship and Residence Life Leadership Award. Wilkinson is the daughter of Bill and Krista Wilkinson of Bloomfield and will be a 2014 graduate of Bloomfield R-14 High School...

VAN BUREN -- There were no upsets to be had in the first round of the boys Black River League Tournament Tuesday night, but the Ellington Whippets came the closest. Seeded as the No. 5, the Whippets stormed back from 17 down after three quarters but came up short against No. 4 Van Buren, 76-70...

Mary Osborn QULIN, Mo. -- Mary F. Osborn, 84, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Osborn was born Oct. 8, 1929, at Jonesboro, Ill. She was a seamstress at Gossard for 17 years. On Sept. 4, 1977, she married Charles D. Osborn. He preceded her in death on Jan. 20, 2011...

Carolyn Dicken NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Carolyn Juanita Dicken, 69, of Harviell, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the chapel with Pastor Jerry Moore officiating. Burial will be at Dicken Cemetery...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS At one time in our nation's history, blacks feeling sorry for whites was verboten. That was portrayed in Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird." This is a novel published in 1960 -- and later made into a movie -- about Depression-era racial relations in the Deep South. ...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor As water levels at Wappapello and Clearwater lakes continue dropping toward winter pool, anglers have been busy chasing crappies. At last check late Wednesday, Wappapello was sitting at just more than 357 feet and falling about 7 inches daily...