Stories from Thursday, May 8, 2014

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man was placed on probation Tuesday morning after pleading guilty to endangering the welfare of a 5-year-old boy by biting and spanking him. William E. Storey, 47, of the 1500 block of Thomas Street pleaded guilty to the Class A misdemeanor of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child before Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The decision by the new coalition on the Poplar Bluff City Council to fire City Manager Doug Bagby will cost the city nearly $278,000 in salary he still must be paid under his contract. "Mayor Angela Pearson knew I have a three-year contract," Bagby said today...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Amanda Plunk teachers her cosmetology students at Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center not only the skills need to join this industry, but also how to maintain patience and a positive attitude when dealing with the public, according to students, parents and co-workers...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Concerns about how trees near power lines are trimmed were presented during the public comment of a special Poplar Bluff City Council meeting. "I certainly recognize the need for trimming limbs away from our power lines. I simply ask that it be done in a proper manner by crews trained accordingly," said John Stanard of 1310 Barron Road...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Butler County volunteer firefighter was arrested Tuesday morning after allegedly setting fire to his home while his young son was inside. The Poplar Bluff Fire Department responded at 6:38 a.m. to a structure fire at the 2018 Hillsdale residence occupied by Dallas Lee Tanner...

By MICHELLE MALKIN The Obama administration doesn't have watchdogs. It has whitewash puppies. The president's Chicago bullies have defanged true advocates for integrity in government in D.C. from day one. So the latest report by the Senate Homeland Security and Government Operations Committee on corruptocrat Charles K. Edwards, the former Department of Homeland Security inspector general, isn't a revelation. It's confirmation...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama's 949-word response on Monday to a question about foreign policy weakness showed the president at his worst: defensive, irritable, contradictory and at times detached from reality. It began with a complaint about negative coverage on Fox News, when, in fact, it was The New York Times front page that featured Obama's foreign policy failures, most recently the inability to conclude a trade agreement with Japan and the collapse of Secretary of State John Kerry's Middle East negotiations.. ...

When I travel throughout the 30 counties in our Eighth Congressional District I constantly hear from people who are looking for work. Government does not create jobs, but government can create an economic environment that encourages small business owners to grow their businesses and hire new workers. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Well, it looks like Donald Sterling will not be getting that NAACP lifetime achievement award he was set to receive at the civil rights organization's 100th anniversary celebration in Los Angeles in May. Allegedly, Sterling's 30-something girlfriend, a model who goes by the name of V. Stiviano, whom Sterling's wife of 50 years is suing, taped these remarks of the 80-year-old owner of the L.A. Clippers:...

The Ben Rhodes memo revealing the duplicity of this administration on the subject of Benghazi reminds us about the character of those involved. That President Barack Obama could lie so evenly and so passionately (remember the second presidential debate?) is not perhaps surprising at this stage. But let's not forget what it took for Hillary Clinton to lie to the grieving father of an American hero...

SIKESTON -- Though Senior Night is usually a time for veterans to shine, Sikeston was boosted by rookies and an up-and-coming goal scorer. Behind two goals apiece by sophomore Claudea Kuykendall and freshman Larysa McClellon, the Lady Bulldogs beat visiting Poplar Bluff Monday 4-0...

Broseley ctr. fundraiser A Broseley Senior Center fundraiser will be held from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Sunday, May 18, at the center. Menu includes: fish, French fries, baked beans, hushpuppies, coleslaw, dessert and drink. $8, adults; $4, child.

On trial in South Africa I don't know if anybody else has been watchin' that Bladerunner trial over in South Africa, but you know I've been to court a few times in my life time and sat in court for jury trials and stuff, but we're awful lucky here in Butler County and in the United States that we've got a court system the way we have. ...

To the Editor: I wish to thank everyone who helped with the successful Buff Up The Bluff on April 26. Residents filled 24 big Dumpsters with trash and another one will be filled by the time all the trash is picked up at the homes of elderly residents...

Elliott Githens ATLANTA, Ga. -- Elliott Leigh Githens passed away by accidental death on Friday, May 2, 2014. She was a vibrant little girl who deeply loved her family and friends. She will be dearly missed by all who she touched. Her mother, father, and loving brother John will always have a special place in their hearts for her and will never forget the wonderful years that they had with her. ...

Paul Hogg Paul E. Hogg, 94, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Monday, May 5, 2014, at Oakdale Assisted Living Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Hogg was born May 14, 1919 in Poplar Bluff to the late John E. and Carrie Nance Hogg. He was a member of First Christian Church of Poplar Bluff and had retired as Butler County Clerk after many years of service. ...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor From nearly every hunting report I'm hearing and my own observations, the spring turkey season seems to have hit a brick wall. Yes, the dreaded gobbling lull has arrived, and the woods have been pretty quiet lately. Sure, there's an occasional gobbler sounding off briefly at daylight, but for the most part, finding a workable bird has been tough. If you do hear one, you'd better get to him as fast as you can because he'll likely shut up within a few minutes...

Mary Dunson Mary Louise Dunson, 80, of Broseley, Mo. died Saturday, April 26, 2014 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mary was born April 9, 1934 in North Little Rock, Ark. She was an active member of New Home Missionary Baptist Church in Broseley, where she was also served on the Mother Board. ...

Nadine Bennett MALDEN, Mo. -- Alma Nadine Bennett, 72, of Malden, Mo., died Sunday, May 4, 2104, at Malden. Visitation will be 6 p.m. Thursday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with burial in Rosewood Cemetery in Malden...

By FRANK CAMPA Mo. Dept. of Conservation While we are wrapping up the third and last week of spring firearms turkey season, there is much going on statewide and locally that has nothing to do with turkey hunting at all. However, these topics are quite newsworthy and of great importance to everyone...

BLOOMFIELD -- Bloomfield's Tim Fox has signed to play at Mineral Area in the fall. "I am just happy to get to play at the collegiate level," Fox said. "I've always wanted to play baseball and I am just happy to get the opportunity." Fox, who will most likely play second base as a Cardinal, chose Mineral Area over Hannibal-LaGrange because of his comfort level with the school and coaching staff, along with it being close to home...

NEW MADRID -- Kony Ealy has came a long way from the Bootheel of Southeast Missouri. Over the last several years, Ealy has made the transition from talented high school football and Division I recruit at New Madrid Central High School to being a star defensive end for the Missouri Tigers of the Southeastern Conference, which is arguably the nation's most prestigious college football conference...

NAYLOR -- Thursday could be seen in the tail of every comet she sent past the scoreboard. Naylor's Darby Pruett signed Thursday to play second base for Southeast Missouri State. She is the first Lady Eagle to sign with a four-year school in the nine years that Gene Deckard has been coaching the team...

WINONA -- A rematch is set for the Black River League Tournament championship as top-seeded East Carter defeated Van Buren 9-1 Tuesday afternoon before Clearwater thumped South Iron 11-1 in the semifinals. East Carter and Clearwater will meet in Winona at 5 p.m. Thursday for the championship...

Jerry Noble Jerry W. Noble, 48, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, May 6, 2014, at his home. A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Black River Cemetery. Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home. condolences: http://www.fitchhillisfh.com.

Johnny Moore Johnny W. Moore, 89, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, May 6, 2014. He was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Hendrickson, Mo., to the late John W. Moore and Thurza Fudge Moore. He was a long time resident of Poplar Bluff. Before retiring, Johnny had worked in Texas schools and was employed by the Poplar Bluff School district as a maintenance worker. He enjoyed working in the yard and loved to fish...

Natasha Linette and Elihue James Miller of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Addison LillyAnn Miller for their 5-pound, 14-ounce daughter who was born Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at 10:12 p.m. at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Addison was 18 inches long...