Stories from Sunday, February 2, 2014

By DAVID A. LIEB The Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon on Friday set an Aug. 5 special election to fill three vacant Missouri House seats, including one that's been vacant since June. The date ensures the winners won't be around for this year's regular session but could take office in time to decide whether to override any potential gubernatorial vetoes...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer State fire marshals are still investigating the cause of a fire which damaged a Poplar Bluff school building Thursday evening. The fire at the Graduation Center, located at 1316 Maud, was mainly contained to the attic area where it started. It caused extensive smoke damage throughout the building, according to school officials...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Not long ago, few farmers would have considered themselves lucky to pay $2.70 for a gallon of propane. Not when those who locked in the price before winter got it for a $1 less. But Dennis Robison does now, as prices in the Poplar Bluff area have shot up to more than $5 a gallon this week...

Contract therapy providers RehabCare Group Inc., RehabCare Group East Inc. and Rehab Systems of Missouri and management company Health System Inc. have agreed to pay $30 million to resolve claims that they violated the federal False Claims Act by engaging in a kickback scheme related to the referral of nursing home business, according to a U.S. Justice Department news release...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Four businesses listed as defendants in a Medicare fraud case, which involved an alleged kickback scheme for providing contract therapy at 60 Missouri nursing homes, have agreed to pay the federal government $30 million...

By SHARON RANDALL McClatchy-Tribune News Service My aunt Hazel used to say, "I just go a-fightin' all the time." I know what she meant. This morning I had several things I planned to do after my husband left for work. Shop for groceries. Pick up dry cleaning. Call my sister. Split a few atoms...

By GEORGE F. WILL "There is a certain relief in change, even though it be from bad to worse; as I have found in traveling in a stage coach, that it is often a comfort to shift one's position and be bruised in a new place." -- Washington Irving WASHINGTON -- Rep. ...

Thank you, kind stranger To the gentleman that brought hot chocolate to the ladies that was standing in the cold waiting for the community action to open, THANK YOU THANK YOU. Just shows that there still good people in this cruel and mean world. Thank you again kind stranger...

Marie Klien-Burns NEELYVILLE, Mo.--Marie Klien-Burns, 64, of Naylor, Mo. died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014 at her residence. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Camp Cemetery in rural Cornell, Ill. Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel of Neelyville is in charge of local arrangements...

William Sweeney BROSELEY, Mo. -- William Wayne Sweeney, 60, of Crandall, Texas, formerly of Malden, Mo., passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014. He was born to William "Bud" Sweeney and Mary Nell Maddox in Lepanto, Ark., on Oct. 22, 1953. Wayne graduated from Gideon High School in 1971. He married Donna K. Brandt on June 22, 1980. They resided in Malden until 1988 when they relocated to Columbia, S.C., and later to Crandall, Texas...

Robert Webb PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Robert "Bob" Joseph Webb, 67, of Piedmont went home to be with Jesus on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Bob was born in Lutesville, Mo., to William Daniel Webb and Lossie Frieda (Graham) Webb on Nov. 14, 1946. He graduated from Clearwater High School (1964) in Piedmont. He married Dianne Mae Mann on May 30, 1970, in Mill Spring, Mo...

DONIPHAN -- In front of a boisterous homecoming crowd Friday night, Malden junior Cortez Dobbins showed the composure of a veteran basketball player. Dobbins' Green Wave led a majority of the game, but that lead finally slipped away with 2:43 left. After falling behind by two points with 1:41 to go, Dobbins went to the line on four consecutive possessions, went 8-of-8 on his foul shots and the Green Wave came away with a district win, 53-47...

SPRINGFIELD -- Haylee Dragon, Morgan McAtee, Lexi Vaughn and Kaelyn Moore cut 1.35 seconds off the Poplar Bluff school record in the 200-yard medley relay Saturday. The Lady Mules finished in 2 minutes, 5.9 seconds to place seventh place, breaking a record time set earlier this season and is 4.45 seconds faster than the best time set last year...

The final seconds provided plenty of drama Friday night -- and a bitter taste for the Poplar Bluff Mules. Andre Statam's free throw with 9.5 seconds left broke a tie before each team turned the ball over in a wild finish as Cape Central edged the Mules 63-62 in a SEMO Conference game...

DEXTER -- The top-seeded Mules outscored No. 6 Woodland 19-4 in the second quarter Friday to pull ahead in the Stoddard County Activities Association Tournament championship and take a 59-45 win. Jake Wagner made six 3-pointers and led Bernie with 20 points. B.J. Jennings and Justin Stanfield each finished with 11...