Stories from Saturday, December 20, 2014

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The intersection of Shelby and Oak Grove roads is no longer a four-way stop with flashing red lights. "The signal lights became fully operational Friday morning," said Billy Cobb, an engineer with Smith & Co. of Poplar Bluff...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor DEXTER, Mo. -- Two Dexter residents were charged Thursday with drug-related offenses after authorities seized multiple packages of suspected crystal methamphetamine during the execution of a search warrant. Dallas Junior Cluck, 67, was charged with the Class B felony of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute by Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver...

By EMILY PRIDDY SEMO News Service A Kennett, Missouri, man was among 20 people to whom President Barack Obama granted clemency this week. Antonio Gromyko Reeves pleaded guilty in 2004 to distribution of 6.05 grams of cocaine base and was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in federal prison...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Dexter, Mo., man was charged with multiple felonies Thursday after he allegedly fired shots in his mother's home and pointed a rifle at responding officers. William C. Howard, 55, was charged with two Class A felonies of first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer, two unclassified felonies of armed criminal action and two Class B felonies of unlawful use of a weapon by Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Philip Crocker filed Thursday as a Ward 4 candidate for the Poplar Bluff City Council in the April 7 city election. Johnny Brannum, the Ward 4 incumbent, is not seeking re-election due to moving outside the city...

Support our city manager I would like to speak to the City of Poplar Bluff, including the City Administration and City Council. First, I am not in favor of the treatment that our former City Manager Doug Bagby received during the first meeting of our "new" City Council. ...

By GEORGE F. WILL "Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery." -- Mr. Micawber in "David Copperfield" WASHINGTON -- If America's long-term economic growth were 3.5 percent, the result would be the restoration of cheerfulness. If long-term growth is closer to 2 percent, the result will be continuing social disappointment and political crankiness...

Whether you are hosting the family Christmas, or traveling across the country to be with loved ones, I hope you have time this holiday season to enjoy the company of those closest to you. While we never want to overlook the true meaning and significance of the Christmas holiday, it's also the time of the year when we reconnect with our loved ones; enjoy watching the excitement in our children's eyes as they open presents; and simply relax for a few moments as we put our worries aside and appreciate the many blessings we have been given. ...

Minnie Arnold Minnie Juanita Pope Arnold, 79, of San Jacinto, Calif., formerly of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014. She was born Dec. 17, 1934 in Dudley to the late Isom Lavern Pope and Cynthia Louise Cryts Pope. She was of the Protestant faith. She was a long time resident of the Poplar Bluff area...

There was something eerily familiar and yet not at all the same Thursday night for the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules. Meeting for the second time in five days, Greene County Tech (Ark.) jumped ahead by double digits early but Poplar Bluff rallied. The rematch, however, ended much differently as the Mules lost again, 57-48 at Peters Gym...

Ada Robey Ada "Granny" Robey, 91, of Sikeston, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home chapel with Bro. Ray Duffey of Cape Girardeau officiating. Burial will be in the Walker Cemetery near Bloomfield, with Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home of Bloomfield in charge of arrangements...

Archie Rommel Archie Duwayne Rommel, 63, of Poplar Bluff, died Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

BROSELEY -- The favorites took Day 1 of the Lady Royals Christmas Classic, with one free-throw shooting exception. Doniphan won the battle at the charity stripe and the fourth quarter to upset New Madrid Central 51-41 Thursday night. Donettes junior Shaylee Ficke scored in the final seconds of the third quarter to tie it up at 32 going into the fourth...

Kevin James Knautz Kevin James Knautz, 60, of rural Doniphan, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014, at his residence. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Handy Church in Handy, Mo. Burial will follow...

Genevieve Murphy Sudbury Genevieve Murphy Sudbury, 80, of Poplar Bluff, passed from this life Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, and woke in the presence of her Savior. She was born May 25, 1934, in Broseley, to the late Ira and Mattie White. She was a member of New Home General Baptist Church for 54 years where she served as deacon's wife, choir member, and on various committees. ...

CLARKTON -- The No. 5 Clarkton Reindeer trailed by four heading into the fourth quarter, but gave up 31 points in the final quarter and lost 74-59 to No. 1 Gosnell (Ark.) in the semifinal round Clarkton Christmas Tournament Thursday night Emanuel White led Clarkton (3-4) with 16 points. Trey Moore got 14 and Cody Lott added 10...

Maggy Bess Maggy Bess, 70, of Puxico, died Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, at her residence. She was the daughter of the late Nolan Travis and Virginia Williams Thomason. She was born in Harrell, Ark., on Nov. 28, 1944. Maggy had lived in Florida for 10 years and returned to Puxico where she has lived the past 18 years. She was a member of the Christian Church and most enjoyed spending time with her family. She worked for Mel's Diner in Puxico as a cashier...

Hazel Burton DEXTER, Mo.--Hazel Christine Burton, 83, of Morehouse died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014 at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Mrs. Burton grew up in Arkansas and had lived in Morehouse, Missouri for Visitation will be from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter...

Pansy Alexander NEELYVILLE, Mo.--Pansy M. Alexander, 93, of Harveill, Mo., departed this life on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014 at the Black River Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Alexander was born May 22, 1921 in Ash Hill. On Nov. 9, 1939 at Piggott, Ark., she married Frank M. Alexander. He preceded her in death on Feb. 1, 1993...

Michael and Jenny Gilbert of Nashville, Tenn., are the parents of an 8-pound 10-ounce daughter named Josephine (Josie) Rae Gilbert born at 9:28 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 2014, at Vanderbilt Hospital, Nashville. She was 20 inches long. Grandparents are Dan and Kim Coffman of Poplar Bluff, Steve and Jennifer Schiwinger of Columbia, and Dale and Trudie Gilbert of Greet, S.C. Great-grandparents were the late Charles and Mary Duncan of Piedmont...

Mila Myre Hendrickson Mila Myre Hendrickson, infant daughter of Katie Ann Godwin and Danny Hendrickson, of Poplar Bluff, was stillborn Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. In addition to her parents, baby Mila is survived by her grandparents: Alan and Cyndi Godwin and Chuck and Marleny Hendrickson, all of Poplar Bluff; great-grandparents: James and JoAnn Godwin of Poplar Bluff and Joanne Ossendorf of St. ...

Barbara Ann Castillo MALDEN, Mo.--Barbara Ann Castillo, 72, of Malden, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014 at her residence. Visitation will be from noon until service on Friday at Bradshaw Funeral Home. Service will begin at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Bradshaw Chapel with burial in Rosewood Cemetery in Malden...

Doyle Caldwell Doyle Caldwell, 60, of West Plains, formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014, at Green Acres Care Center in West Plains. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Butler County officials are investigating the early morning stabbing of a man, who allegedly entered a Ridge Top Lane home and assaulted two of its occupants. At 3 a.m., deputies were sent to a residence in southern Butler County in reference to a disturbance in progress, according to a news release from Sheriff Mark Dobbs...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff R-I Board of Education approved liability insurance renewals, the hiring of an additional teacher and a bid to demolish the a maintenance building at the junior high, at Thursday's regular monthly meeting...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor One of the concerns discussed during the Twin Rivers School District Steering Committee meeting Wednesday is the overcrowded classrooms at Fisk. To achieve a closer balance between the number of Fisk and Qulin students, one possible solution is to move the boundary line north...