Stories from Friday, March 14, 2014

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff High School SHO-ME Marching Band performed before more than 60,000 people this week as they helped Disney World debut a new parade in Florida. Despite losing nearly a week of practice time because of snow days, the 84 students sounded and looked great Tuesday as they led the pre-show portion of the Festival of Fantasy Parade, according to band director Stephen Winters...

By EMILY PRIDDY SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Glen Scott Evans had no idea he was about to become an accessory to murder when he gave Matt Cook a ride to Advance, Mo., two witnesses testified Wednesday. Evans, 46, of Dexter, Mo., is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the Feb. 19, 2013, shooting death of Sean Crow, 34, outside a fast-food restaurant in Advance...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Jeremy Siebert, current Campbell High School principal, was named the new Twin Rivers superintendent at a special board meeting Wednesday night. Siebert was approved on a 4-3 vote. Board members Donna Sue Ashcraft-Fincher, Eva Barnett, Brian Leutert and Jill Worley voted "yes." The three "nos" came from Lee Lewis, Roger Baxter and Dennis Whitlow...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A local state senator supports a Poplar Bluff school tax levy proposal that will be decided in the April 8 election, while two area representatives say they will leave the matter in the hands of voters. Sen. Doug Libla (R-Poplar Bluff) said in a statement Wednesday the best facilities the community can afford need to be provided to make a safe and comfortable learning opportunity for children and improve working conditions for employees...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A motion to dismiss a condemnation petition the city of Poplar Bluff filed against Carsan Investments was denied by Carter County Judge Michael Ligons following Wednesday's hearing in Butler County Circuit Court that lasted two and a half hours...

Libla only out for self Yeah, I can understand Senator Libla not talking like that. I've knowned him for almost 40 years. He's always been arrogant with a stiff upper lip like someone from England. You know what I mean? He don't care about nobody but hisself, making money. He don't care about the poor or nobody else just the buck he can make. I don't know why they ever elected him for it...

By MONA CHAREN When seven Democratic senators voted with all of the Republicans to reject Debo Adegbile's nomination to serve as head of the Justice Department's civil rights division, Harry Reid cried racism. It's as if Reid was on autopilot, and the aide who usually touches his elbow to correct him wasn't available. If the aide had been there, he would have whispered, "Um, Senator, you're accusing your own side of racism."...

Matthew Powers PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Matthew Lee Powers, 66, of Patterson, Mo., died Tuesday, March 11, 2014, at his home. No public service is being planned. Ruegg Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

Salad, anyone? According to the Vegetable Planting Calendar lettuce can now be planted. Wonder what type to plant? There are about 100 varieties of lettuce including head lettuce, butterhead lettuce, leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, and celtuce. So just what's celtuce? That's a lettuce that's a cross between celery and lettuce. The stems are eaten raw or cooked like celery...

Opal Spencer Opal Mae (Browning) Spencer, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Jack Roach GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Thomas L. "Jack" Roach, 84, of Lodi, Mo., died Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home in Greenville. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

Hazel Gentles PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Hazel Gentles, 86, of Piedmont died Thursday, March 13, 2014, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center in Piedmont. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont.

With a little more pressure, Dexter might have turned the Lady Rebels into a bunch of diamonds. The Lady Bearcats added to the postseason pressure with extra defensive pressure and wore down Park Hills Central 59-42 in the MSHSAA Class 4 state playoffs at the Bess Activity Center on Wednesday...

Randy Stelling ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Clarence Randall "Randy" Stelling, 62, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, March 11, 2014, at his residence. Randy was born Aug. 21, 1951, in Poplar Bluff. He had resided in Ellsinore for most of his life and had attended Ellsinore schools. He owned and operated the A & S gas station, and trucking companies of J & R Trucking and L & R Trucking...

Loretta Parks DEXTER, Mo. -- Loretta Jane Parks, 55, of Dudley, Mo., died Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at the Holly Ridge Healthcare Center in Dexter. Visitation will be held after 11 a.m. Friday at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday in the Watkins & Sons Chapel with Rev. Jeff Clark of Ozark, Mo., officiating...

Dorothy Matlock DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Dorothy Matlock, 84, of Chicago, Ill., a native of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, March 4, 2014, at Jackson Park Hospital in Chicago. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 15, at the First United Methodist Church, 500 N. Main St., Poplar Bluff, Mo. The funeral service will follow at noon in the church sanctuary. Burial will be in the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery. Repast will be at Wheatley School...

Cape Central's playoff mojo didn't translate to the basketball court. The Tigers couldn't complete a second-half rally as Farmington held on for a 50-47 win Wednesday night in a Class 4 sectional game at Three Rivers College "Sometimes the ball doesn't bounce your way, tonight definitely," Central coach Drew Church said after his team missed four chances in the final minute to tie or take the lead...

To the Editor: Entering the second year as your Senator, I am proud to report the promises made in my campaign still hold true today. I pledged to use my 43 years of business experience to bring accountability to the functions of government that affect all of us on a daily basis...