Stories from Saturday, December 13, 2014

Comparison of key issues Final: 150 hp Draft: 60/40 hp Current: unlimited Final: 25 hp limit Sept. 15 to March 31, from the start of the gigging season until the end of the trapping season. No motorboat access during peak season. Draft: No motorboat access, year round...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer An AmeriCorps Crew staying here since early November is credited with helping several projects in the Mark Twain National Forest's Poplar Bluff Ranger District and in the community move towards completion. Crew "Water 4" has been working on trail clearing and other related activities on the 21-mile, multi-purpose Wolf Creek Trail system under development north of Poplar Bluff. Approximately 16 miles are now open to public use...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The final general management plan released today by the Ozark National Scenic Riverways eases planned restrictions on boat horsepower for portions of the Current and Jacks Fork rivers, while offering some concessions and clarifications regarding gravel bar use and equestrian trails...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer As administrators unwrap the details of a federal mandate to provide health care to some substitute teachers and support staff by Jan. 1, 2015, it seems to be the gift that keeps on taking. Local admins say the "taking" comes in the form of additional costs or additional hours calculating IRS data. As schools already are facing budget cuts, it seems none are thrilled about the new requirements...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A company which owes the city of Poplar Bluff nearly $207,000 won a court ruling Thursday after arguing that debt is no longer owned by the city. The ruling by Carter County Judge Michael Ligons leaves the city with no further options in its attempt to collect on a 2013 judgment against Poplar Bluff Internet, according to city attorney Robert Smith. PBI was owned by Brian Becker of Williamsville, Mo. The company did business as Semo.net...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- By history's frequently brutal dialectic, the good that we call progress often comes spasmodically, in lurches propelled by tragedies caused by callousness, folly or ignorance. With the grand jury's as yet inexplicable and probably inexcusable refusal to find criminal culpability in Eric Garner's death on a Staten Island sidewalk, the nation might have experienced sufficient affronts to its sense of decency. ...

By MIKE JENSON Publisher Sikeston Standard Democrat Hillary Clinton has a problem. But this time the problem is not her husband, it's her mouth. The would-be presidential candidate told a Georgetown University audience this past week that America should show respect for our enemies and "empathize with their perspective and point of view."...

Everyone needs to pay loans [mail] The BBCC Our city is now operating under the BBCC form of government -- The Brian Becker City Council. They agree to pay your services or agree to pay back a loan and then just walk away after they're used it up. Brian Becker needs to pay his loan and so does CC to MU. The grant writer may need a new pair of shoes and that has to be in the budget...

Terry Hufford MALDEN, Mo.-- Terry Gene Hufford, 68, of Malden, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014, at his residence. Visitation will be from 2 to 2:45 p.m. Saturday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Graveside service will follow at 3 p.m. Burial will be in Stevens Cemetery in Malden...

Geneva Winson Geneva Winson, 97, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, at her residence. She was born Oct. 13, 1917, to the late Ira Montgomery and Laura Baker Montgomery. She was a long time resident of Poplar Bluff and a member of the Church of God...

Lottie Gee MALDEN, Mo.--Lottie I. Gee, 93, of Malden, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014 at the Golden Living Center in Malden. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until noon Saturday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Graveside service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Kennett, Mo. Burial will follow...

Charles Bennett PIEDMONT, Mo.-- Charles G. Bennett, 76, of Clarksville, Tenn., died Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, at Gatesville Medical Center in Clarksville. The visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont with the service following at 2 p.m...

Danny Tinnell Danny W. Tinnell, 66, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Tinnell was born March 30, 1948 in St. Louis, Mo. to the late Eugene and Helen Powers Tinnell. He was of the Baptist faith and was retired. Mr. Tinnell proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam Conflict. He enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing and woodworking...

DONIPHAN -- So far this season, the Greenville Bears and the Doniphan Dons have been trending in opposite directions. In an Ozark Foothills Conference game Thursday night, Greenville remained unbeaten by beating winless Doniphan 58-54. The Bears (6-0, 1-0 OFC) kept their upward trend by winning at the line late as they went 8-for-9 over the final 1:27. Senior Matt Wood made five of those attempts, including a pair with 8.1 seconds left to set the final score...

ROBINSON, Ill. -- Six points is all that separates the Raiders from being 15-0 and 12-3. Three Rivers suffered its third 2-point loss in four games Thursday, losing 64-62 at Lincoln Trail to start a three-day road trip. "We just have got to keep working and the thing we've got to do, we've got to get better to win our region," Three Rivers coach Gene Bess said. "This is probably telling us that we have still got a lot of work ahead of us."...

Terry Slankard Charles Terry Slankard, 63, of Poplar Bluff, Mo, passed away Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, at his residence. Mr. Slankard was born on June 29, 1951, in Rockford, Ill. He had served his country during the Vietnam Conflict with the United States Army. He retired from the Poplar Bluff School System, where he had taught Industrial Arts. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting and collecting arrowheads...

SIKESTON -- An underdog will have its day in the SEMO Conference Tournament championship. The seventh-seeded Poplar Bluff Mules will face New Madrid County Central, the fifth seed, in Friday's final after each team pulled off another upset Thursday night...

NEW MADRID -- The Doniphan Donettes beat a district opponent and their first-round opponent in the Lady Royals Christmas Classic in the process Thursday night with an 81-64 victory at New Madrid County Central. Doniphan (2-3) is seeded 12th at the upcoming Twin Rivers tournament while New Madrid is No. 5...

The Poplar Bluff wrestling team suffered its first loss of the season as Dexter edged the Mules 36-33 at Peters Gym. Poplar Bluff also beat Notre Dame 67-4. The difference between the Mules and Bearcats ended up being a single pin or a single point in the 132-pound match. Dexter's Brandon Twomey beat Sean Hardin 4-3 while 220-pounder Jared Deal's pin, one of five by the Bearcats, clinched the victory...

PARAGOULD, Ark. -- The Poplar Bluff Lady Mules stumbled again in the fourth quarter. Soley Webb's three-point play gave Poplar Bluff a 38-33 lead early in the final period, but Paragould answered with a 15-2 run as the host Rams won 50-45 Thursday night to open the McDonalds Shootout...