Stories from Wednesday, May 14, 2014

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Poplar Bluff's rapid growth following the arrival of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad was highlighted during the Grand Staircase Groundbreaking and Dinner Saturday. Both events were organized by the Poplar Bluff Historic Depot Restoration Corporation Board and the steps committee in conjunction with National Train Day...

By COREY NOLES SEMO News Service PUXICO, Mo. -- A Puxico man is behind bars after being accused of beating a woman in the head with a horseshoe and dousing her with gasoline. Donald Wilson, 41, has been charged with felony second-degree domestic assault and felony armed criminal action. The charges against him stem from an incident that occurred April 2...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Dexter, Mo., couple was charged over the weekend with attempted murder for allegedly acting with a pastor to burn his house while his wife slept. Brandy Lee Hicks, 33, her 34-year-old husband, Christopher David Hicks, and Donald Luther Lafferty, 69, of Quechee, Vt., were charged with the Class B felonies of attempted murder and first-degree arson and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action by Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver.. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A preliminary plat for Southern Missouri Bancorp's property at the northeast corner of Shelby and Oak Grove roads was approved by the Poplar Bluff Planning and Zoning Commission Monday night. City Planner Dennis Avery said a new Southern Bank will be built on approximately two-thirds of the property...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A former Bloomfield pastor wanted for multiple felonies, including the attempted murder of his wife, will appear in a Massachusetts court today after his arrest there Monday night on the Stoddard County charges...

By AMITY SHEDD SEMO News Service The key to keeping Chronic Wasting Disease at bay in Missouri's white-tailed deer population is prevention, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation, and that could mean stricter, more expensive regulations for deer breeders...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Mayor Angela Pearson announced Monday she has appointed the final three members to the city manager search committee. "Capt. David Sutton will represent the police department, Firefighter Larry Stonecipher will represent the fire department and Sandy Walker will represent the utilities department," Pearson said...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Second grade instructor Chelsea Smith may be recognized by co-workers and parents for her skill and professionalism, but to students, the Lake Road Elementary Teacher of the Year is simply the best. Poplar Bluff School District has honored educators at each campus. These individuals will continue to be featured once a week in May...

By GEORGE F. WILL FLINT, Mich. -- Earnest moralists lament Americans' distrust of government. What really is regrettable is that government does much to earn distrust, as Terry Dehko, 70, and his daughter Sandy Thomas, 41, understand. Terry, who came to Michigan from Iraq in 1970, soon did what immigrants often do: He went into business, buying Schott's Supermarket in Fraser, Mich., where he still works six days a week. ...

By BEN CARRSON We recently learned that China is poised to replace the United States as the No. 1 economic power in the world sometime later this year. Our anemic quarterly growth rate of 0.1 percent certainly lends credence to this speculation. We must seriously question those who say our nation is not in decline. They are adopting the ostrich strategy and sticking their heads in the sand...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- The Democrats are portraying the not-yet-even constituted House Select Committee on Benghazi as nothing but a partisan exercise. They are even considering boycotting the hearings to delegitimize them. Fine. Although this would give the Obama-protective media a further reason to ignore Benghazi, it doesn't matter. All that matters is whether the committee produces new, important facts. If it does, it will be impossible to ignore...

The annual Kinsey Cemetery clean--up day will be Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. Bring rakes and shovels. In accord with Item 6 of the posted cemetery rules patrons are asked to please remove all benches, fences and ornaments to facilitate mowing and maintenance...

The year 2013 was a strong one financially and fraternally for Modern Woodmen of America, according to recently released results for the year ending Dec. 31. Highlights of 2013 include: life insurance in force grew by more than $1 billion for the third straight year, assets surpassed the $13 billion mark, and AM Best reaffirmed Modern Woodmen's financial stability, security and management performance as A+ (Superior)...

Poplar Bluff's first Direct Primary Care clinic opened Monday, May 5, at 4801 West Blvd. Founder, Dr. Michael Stevenson, DO, is a board certified physician. Dr. Stevenson stated, "Direct Access Family Care is founded on the basis of providing high quality healthcare at an affordable cost to the deserving people of Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas," Dr. Stevenson said. "Our goal is to ensure that healthcare does not become a fantasized luxury but rather is an accessible reality. "...

Becker's puppets? Wow! Great job to the not so smart citizens of Poplar Bluff for electing in the current not so smart city council members! Hopefully in 2 years the smarter citizens of Poplar Bluff step up and vote them off the council. Poplar Bluff had so much going for it until Becker and his city council puppets got involved!!...

Pearl Jackson MALDEN, Mo.--Pearl Jackson Junior, 83, of Vicksburg, Miss., died Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at River Region Hospital in Vicksburg. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Wednesday at Bradshaw Funeral Home. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Bradshaw Chapel...

By BEN CARSON With Europeans intrigued by America's unexpected success, Alexis de Tocqueville carried out an in-depth study of the new nation in the 1830s. He was quite impressed with our divided government, which featured the separation of powers...

ST. CHARLES -- The Mules beat one district champion Monday in the MSHSAA Class 4 sectional golf tournament but couldn't catch anybody from the other district. Poplar Bluff placed fifth, beating Jackson by 2 shots, but missed the cut for the state tournament by 12 shots and were shut out individually...

Lewis Hillis Lewis Ross Hillis, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Cash, Ark., passed away Monday, May 12, 2014, at his residence. Mr. Hillis was born Jan. 11, 1931, in Little Texas, Ark. to the late Robert Henry and Mary Mathis Hillis. He was a member of Highland Drive Church of Christ in Poplar Bluff, and he was a retired barber and real estate agent...

Locked in a third-set battle, Poplar Bluff junior Chris Stocks was serving with a chance to force a tiebreaker Monday as thunder rolled in from an approaching storm. The Mules needed to wait out the rain before winning a pair of doubles matches to advance past Sikeston 6-3 in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 quarterfinal...

Willard Howell DONIPHAN, Mo.--Willard Howell, 83, of Doniphan, Mo., departed this life on Friday, May 9, 2014, at Southeast Health of Ripley County. Mr. Howell, son of Nathan and Muriel (Wilson) Howell, was born Aug. 3, 1930, in Hayti, Mo. He had been a general laborer and was of the Baptist faith. Mr. Howell was a veteran of the U. S. Army...

Vernon Crook DONIPHAN, Mo.--Vernon Harold Crook, 77, of Doniphan, died Sunday, May 11, 2014, at the Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation for Mr. Crook will begin at noon Wednesday at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Brother Pete Joplin officiating. Burial will be at Good Hope Cemetery...

By MONA CHAREN Sonia Sotomayor is a wonderful role model. Truly. Through hard work, brains and rare self-discipline at an early age, she was able to overcome poverty and family dysfunction to become what she is today. She was diagnosed at the age of 7 with Type 1 diabetes, and because her father was an alcoholic and her mother a full-time nurse, it fell to her to manage the daily insulin injections and testing that are part of the required treatment. ...

Eugene Field Elementary School has released the names of its April Students of the Month. First grader Melanie Barr, daughter of Carl and Leah Barr, was chosen because she is always trying to do her best. She works very hard to learn each and every day. Melanie makes goals for herself and tries to achieve them. She is a good friend to her classmates and always tries to help. Her teacher is Cynthia Olsen...

Carrie Brandon Carrie Lee Brandon, 82, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, May 11, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will follow at noon in the chapel with Dr. Ronnie Webb officiating. Burial will be at City Cemetery in Poplar Bluff...