Stories from Saturday, November 8, 2014

By DAVID A. LIEB Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Many local officials across Missouri were declining to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples Thursday, saying a court ruling invalidating the state's gay-marriage ban applies only to St. Louis...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The city of Poplar Bluff has received bids for two new pumper fire trucks and three new snowplows. Jon's Mid America Fire Apparatus of Rogersville, Mo., submitted the apparent low bid of $916,542 for the two pumpers for the Poplar Bluff Fire Department. The trucks are manufactured by a Pennsylvania firm...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer As the temperature drops over the next few months, the home furnace or wood stove will likely get fired up more and more. Before the cold sinks in, firefighters suggest homeowners perform a winter safety check. According to the most recent available data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), heating equipment was involved in 53,600 house fires and 400 deaths in 2011. This accounted for 14 percent of all home fires in the U.S...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Plans for more than $50 million in new construction for Poplar Bluff VA hospital facilities were highlighted Thursday during a town hall meeting, where veterans shared concerns over wait times for services and medications...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Missouri Public Service Commission's (PSC) Cold Weather Rule, designed to prevent utility service disconnects during cold weather is in effect Nov. 1, 2014 until March 31, 2015. The rule prevents heating utility shut-offs when the temperature is predicted to drop below 32 degrees during the following 24 hour period. It applies to natural gas and electric utilities under PSC jurisdiction that provide heat-related service...

While driving home the other night, Poplar Bluff soccer coach Steve Edwards noticed a house already had its Christmas decorations up. Sure, it still might be a little early for that, but it was also a sign to Edwards about the success of his team this year...

Sylvia Chambers Sylvia Geneva Chambers, 79, of Memphis, Tenn., died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014 at her sister Christine Jefferson's home in Poplar Bluff. Mo. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon Friday at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness, 1406 Aste St., Memphis, Tenn., followed by the funeral at noon...

The Ripley County Chamber of Commerce will hold a meet-and-greet event featuring Dr. Wesley Payne, president of Three Rivers College, at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Ripley County Caring Community Building, 209 W. Highway St., Doniphan, Mo. The event will help introduce community members to the newly appointed head of one of the region's largest providers of higher education and workforce training...

"In Butler County the number of volunteers has grown over the last few years and more 4-H clubs have started as a result. With more volunteers 4-H is able to reach more youth in the county. This helps youth to be more active outside of school and they are able to learn life skills that will last them a lifetime, says Stephanie Milner, 4-H Youth Specialist."...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Unlike the dog that chased the car until, to its consternation, he caught it, Republicans know what do with what they have caught. Having completed their capture of control of the legislative branch, they should start with the following six measures concerning practical governance and constitutional equilibrium:...

By MICHELLE MALKIN Gird your loins, Beltway Republicans. Election Day is barely over, but the progressive left is locked and loaded for battle over President Obama's next U.S. attorney general. Liberals unhappy with the administration's failure to deliver a mass illegal alien amnesty fast enough want a consolation prize. ...

Isaiah Williams finally cracked the code. The Poplar Bluff junior had missed out on the MSHSAA cross country championship meet in each of the last two years despite finishing in the top 15 to qualify for the sectional meet. This time was different -- and not just because he had been shot in the arm by a BB gun while training for the race...

With three shutouts since the beginning of the district tournament last week, the Poplar Bluff Mules have their defense playing its best at the right time. The Mules (12-12-1), off their first state playoff win in school history Tuesday, are heading deeper into November with a MSHSAA Class 3 quarterfinal at Webster Groves (21-5-1)...

Steven R. Smith, 27, of the 600 block of Abbott, was booked at the Butler County jail Wednesday on a failure to appear warrant for driving with a suspended license. _ Jeremy G. Taylor, 41, of Doniphan, was booked a the Butler County jail Wednesday on a failure to appear warrant for non-support...

Candice and Greg Hambrick of Cunningham, Ky., have chosen the name Amelia Marie Hambrick for their 7-pound, 12-ounce daughter born at 8:03 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, 2014 at Jackson Purchase Medical Center in Mayfield, Ky. Amelia was 19 ¼ inches long at birth...

David T. Ezell, 44, of the 600 block of Bartlett was booked a the Butler County Jail Thursday on suspicion of disturbing the peace and a Butler County failure to appear warrant for possession of a controlled substance.

A Piedmont woman was injured in a moped accident at 4:10 p.m. Thursday and subsequently arrested for driving while intoxicated. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Kayla D. Moore, 24, was transported to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center for treatment of moderate injuries after the 2013 Honda Rucus she was driving ran off the road and overturned...

Larry Ash Larry Wayne Ash, 67, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014 at Poplar Bluff Regional Hospital. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service.

Darrin L. Lee, 29, of the 1900 block of Marshall, was arrested at 7:36 a.m. Thursday in the 600 block of Highway 57 on suspicion of domestic assault. He was booked at the Butler County jail. _ Randy J. Foster, 42, of the 200 block of Almond, was arrested at 2:09 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of 11th and Vine on suspicion of disturbing the peace. He was booked at the Butler County jail...

C. H. Parsons, III DEXTER, Mo.--C. H. "Trey" Parsons, III, 47, of Dexter, departed this life on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014. He was the older son of C. H. Parsons, Jr. and Betty Sue Parsons and was born at Cape Girardeau, Mo. on May 3, 1967. Trey graduated from Dexter High School with the Class of 1985. He recVeived a football scholarship from the University of Missouri where he attended until he sustained a career ending injury. He graduated from Arkansas State University in 1994 with a B.S. Degree...

Chelsea Marie Bader Hill CAMPBELL, Mo. - Chelsea Marie Bader Hill, 23, of Glennonville, Mo., passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, as a result of an auto accident near Qulin. Mrs. Hill, daughter of Steven Magella and Judy Lyne Head Bader, was born April 24, 1991 in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

Leroy Everett MALDEN, Mo.--Ambers Leroy Everett, 79, of Malden, died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014, at his residence. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bradshaw Chapel...

Art O'Conner Art O'Conner, 50, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014 in Wayne County, Mo. Mr. O'Conner was born June 5, 1964 in Litchfield, Ill. to the late Vondie O'Conner and Beulah (Andrews) O'Conner. He was a member of Temple Baptist Church. He was a commercial electrician and enjoyed his dogs, computers and anything outdoors...

Lies and HIPAA Speak Out. Such a person can call another person's physician and make up lies on that person. What happened to the HIPAA Law? It takes a rotten person to do such a thing as this. And we can all be for sure that they are rotten! So, people, watch your neighbors and watch your friends and your relatives. Thank you...

Faye Rackley DONIPHAN, Mo.-- Wanda Faye Rackley, 81, of Doniphan, passed away Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014, at the Colonial Home in Doniphan. Mrs. Rackley, daughter of the late Ural and Pauline (Cartwright) Kinder, was born Sept. 15, 1933, in Kennett, Mo. She enjoyed quilting, cooking and reading and was a member of the Doniphan Church of Christ...

Charles Roberts PUXICO, Mo.-- Charles "Chick" Roberts, 85, of Puxico, died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born Jan. 4, 1929, in Puxico, to Lester C. and Lona J. Clark Roberts, both preceded him in death. Mr. Roberts was a retired farmer. On March 21, 1949, he married Dorothy Welsch, she survives of the home...