Stories from Thursday, April 3, 2014

By SAMANTHA RINEHART SEMO News Service Members of the Missouri House of Representatives came together in a bipartisan effort Tuesday morning to approve a bill that prohibits the implementation of regulations on wood-burning heaters. House Bill 1302 prohibits the Department of Natural Resources from regulating the manufacture, performance, or use of residential wood burning heaters or appliances unless first authorized by the general assembly. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Actions taken by city leaders to make possible new medical facilities, new commercial development and road improvement projects also are helping with the future growth of the schools, according to City Manager Doug Bagby...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Supporters of the tax levy proposal for Poplar Bluff schools believe the district is at tipping point now. It can become an advantage that draws new residents and business to a growing community, or the stumbling block that has to be overcome because its facilities can no longer meet its needs...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Carter County Prosecuting Attorney Rocky Kingree filed charges earlier this week against an assistant attorney general in an apparent dispute over which office is to handle a motion seeking to set aside the conviction of a man sentenced to die for gunning down a Missouri State Highway Patrol sergeant...

Fisk Middle School has released its third quarter honor roll and merit roll for the 2013-2014 school year. Students named to these lists follow. HONOR ROLL 5th Grade: Andrea Arnold, Johnna Bagwell, Leann Besher, Alexis Cobb, Zachary Deken, Hannah Eddy, Dustin Gillum, Ashley Gimbel, Abbey Hester, Erin Inman, Madison Inman, Avery Jackson, Allison Kacynski, Jacob Logan, Grace Montague, Wysteria Oetjen, Tayler Thurman and Ayden Wilkerson...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor The Bluff City Mallards chapter of Ducks Unlimited had its best fundraising banquet in more than a decade Saturday night at the Black River Coliseum as more than 275 waterfowl supporters attended the event. "We had a great night," said Area Chairman Grant Collins. "Everything flowed smoothly."...

Fisk Easter egg hunt set Fisk Community Betterment Council will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12, in the Fisk Park. The Easter Bunny will be present for pictures and activities. Attendance prizes will be drawn. White Sanders Funeral Home and First Missouri State Bank donated new bikes for the drawing. ...

Grandparents raising kids meeting Wed. The next meeting of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group will be held at noon Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church, 301 N. Main St. Free onsite childcare will be provided by the Family and Community Education members who support this program...

Rombauer Cemetery clean-up Sat. Rombauer Cemetery Association's spring clean-up day will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday and run until clean-up is finished. In the case of rain, the event will be rescheduled for April 12. Volunteers are welcome. Call Barbara Nelson at 718-2965 or Leslie Shuler at 785-1514 with questions...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Finally, after more than a year, there's some good news for sportsmen coming out of Washington, D.C. Last week, officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gave final approval for an expanded hunt management plan at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge near Puxico, Mo...

By MICHELLE MALKIN PUEBLO WEST, Colo. -- It's 9 a.m. on a weekday, and I'm at the Marisol Therapeutics pot shop. This is serious business. Security is tight. ID checks are frequent. Merchandise is strictly regulated, labeled, wrapped and controlled. The store is clean, bright and safe. The staffers are courteous and professional. Customers of all ages are here...

Returning from the break we immediately began work on the most important task of the state legislature - crafting a balanced budget. After several hours of debate and many amendments considered, we finally reached the finish line in the House on a budget I believe represents a fiscally responsible spending plan that makes wise use of taxpayer dollars...

Susan Matthews DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Susan Arlene Cooper-Matthews, 66, of Doniphan died Monday, March 31, 2014, at Southeast Health Center of Ripley County. Visitation for Mrs. Matthews will begin on at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Brother Tom Arnold officiating. Burial will be in the Hunt-White Cemetery in Doniphan...

Frances Yates PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Frances Lucille Yates, of Arnold, Mo., and also of rural Wayne County, died Monday, March 31, 2014, at her Arnold residence. Visitation for Mrs. Yates will be held beginning at 5 p.m. for the family and 5:30 p.m. for the public Wednesday at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. The service will held on at 11 a.m. Thursday also at the chapel with burial at the Carson Hill Cemetery...

Janet Maddux CORNING, Ark. -- Janet Maddux, 58, of Williamsville, Mo., passed away March 31, 2014, in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Maddux was a homemaker who enjoyed crafts, beadwork, fishing, off-roading and animals. Survivors include husband, Gaylon Maddux of the home; children, Garlon Maddux of Baton Rouge, La., Carla Hashmi of Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Angel Devoy of Detroit, Mich.; brothers, Elvis Freeman of Mercer, Mo., and Junior Freeman and Tim Freeman both of Stringtown, Mo.; sisters, Pat Rayfield of Marble Hill, Mo., and Rosie Cochran and B. ...

Take away the big inning and Neelyville played Naylor even. But four-time defending champions have a habit of creating big innings. Neelyville was within upset range, trailing 6-4 in the fifth inning Tuesday, but gave up seven runs to the Lady Eagles and lost 14-7 in the Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament semifinals...

After getting 85 percent of their points in the field at last year's district meet, the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules look to earn more points on the track this spring. "I think our relays will do pretty well," Lady Mules coach Beth Lewis-Muse said. "We've got a lot of young talent in our throws this year (and) we're working on our distance lineup right now...

Jo Ann VanGilder DEXTER, Mo. -- Jo Ann VanGilder, 65, of Dexter died Sunday, March 30, 2014 at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Visitation will be from 10 until 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. with Rev. Steve Tipton officiating. Burial will follow in Hagy Cemetery...

It wasn't Senior Night, but the Poplar Bluff soccer seniors definitely had a game to remember. Each of the four seniors had a big part in the first win of the season as the Lady Mules won 4-0 Tuesday evening at the Whiteley Park. Okeemah Nicolini, Kaycee Kimbrow and Katelyn Moore scored the first three goals while Courtney Raulston earned the shutout in net...

Jimmy Gream GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Jimmy Ray Gream, 54, of Greenville, passed away Monday, March 31, 2014 at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was born in Gideon, Mo. Nov. 4, 1959, the son of Clifford and Mary (Moffett) Gream. ...

With runners on first and second in the bottom of the seventh, East Carter's Morgin Turner hit a liner back at Twin Rivers pitcher Kira Cunningham. Cunningham snared the ball and tossed it to first for the double play. Lauren Copeland, who started the play on second base, went to third and beat out the throw...

Janie Ashcraft QULIN, Mo. -- Janie Ashcraft, 57, of Qulin died Tuesday, April 1, 2014, at her residence. But, the house isn't filled with moans of anguish or regret. She wouldn't have it that way. Laughter is heard. Memories are being shared. Smiles and hugs are freely being given. She didn't give us just an example of how to die, but one of how to live...

ST CHARLES -- The Lady Raiders completed a season sweep of Region XVI rival St. Charles on Tuesday. Three Rivers won the opener 7-2 and took the nightcap 7-1, but scored its runs much differently. They took a 4-0 lead through the first two innings of the day, but as a nasty mist settled in on the nightcap, it took four innings for anybody to get some momentum rolling...

Heather Kingery DEXTER, Mo. -- Heather Dawn Kingery, 37, of Dexter died Monday, March 31, 2014 at her residence. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home chapel with Gary Burns officiating. Burial will follow in the Hagy Cemetery...

Dennis Stevens COWETA, Okla. -- Dennis Eugene Stevens, 48, of Old Monroe, Mo., passed away Wednesday, March 26, 2014, in Missouri. Dennis was born on May 29, 1965, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and was the son of Donald Lee Stevens and Norma Lou (Ward) Hayes. He enjoyed collecting guns and tinkering with cars. He was a great storyteller...

Brenda J. Baker CORNING, ARK.--Brenda J. (Rodden) Baker, 69, died Monday, March 31, 2014 at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville, Ark. Born in Pollard, Ark. March 30, 1945 to Hiley and Ruby (Forrest) Rodden, Mrs. Baker was a member of the First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, Mo. ...

Naomi Styles Naomi B. Wilson Styles, 93, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Arkansas, died Monday, March 31, 2014 at The Manor in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Styles was born Sept. 22, 1920 in Trumann, Ark., and was a graduate of Bauxite High School in Bauxite, Ark. She was a member of First Baptist Church, where she was also a member of the Ola Sparkman Quilting Group. Mrs. Styles enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, crocheting and quilting...

Pauline Woolard NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Pauline Lucille Woolard, 90, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, March 31, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Woolard, born July 11, 1923, was a nursing home worker/caregiver. She enjoyed watching television and shopping and was of the Pentecostal faith. She had lived in Butler County for 50 years...

WEST POINT, Miss. -- Three Rivers freshman Denton Fugate and Tyler Albright took first and second in the bull riding Long Round at the East Mississippi Community College Rodeo over the weekend. Denton barely outscored Albright 76-73 points. Fugate also earned 72 points in the Short Round to finish second in the average. Albright took fourth in the Short Round with a 71-point ride and finished third in the average...

DEXTER -- The Dexter Bearcats rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth as they escaped with a 3-2 win over Doniphan Tuesday afternoon. Colton Averett had the clutch hit for the Bearcats (2-1) as he smacked a 2-run single with the bases loaded to tie the game. Jason Mattison then hit a sacrifice fly to center field for the winning run...