Stories from Monday, December 22, 2014

A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man accused of forcing his way into the home of his ex-girlfriend was stabbed early Friday morning after allegedly fighting with a pair of brothers trying to protect her. Michael J. Melvin, 34, of the 300 block of Cleveland suffered what were described as serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, according to Butler County Cpl. Randle Huddleston...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Spirit of Christmas shines the brightest in those who have little and give it all away. People like Areva Elliot, an 82-year-old resident at Westwood Hills, who fills her days knitting afghan blankets only to give them away as gifts to anyone who needs one...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Mid Continent Nail in the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park has announced plans for a nearly $5 million expansion project and the hiring of 91 workers. The firm will install a new line in its original 118,000-square foot plant in the industrial park on the north side of Revere Plastics. Equipment has been ordered and will be installed as soon as possible...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor As an associate circuit judge for Butler County, it has been Bill Clarkson's job to settle disputes among parties for more than 30 years. Voters elected Clarkson eight times to preside over cases involving guardianships and divorces, as well as mental health and adult abuse issues...

More than $25K in toys, goods for area families By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Perhaps the biggest Christmas giveaway in southeast Missouri, Mt. Calvary Powerhouse Church gifted thousands of toys and necessities on Saturday to members of the community facing economic barriers...

VAN BUREN - Christmas is a favorite time of year for many people. The smell of freshly baked cookies, snowflakes falling softly to the ground and twinkling lights around every corner remind everyone of special memories of years past. In honor of the season, Ozark National Scenic Riverways hosted An Ozark Christmas Sunday, Dec. 14...

Paul and Penny Davis of Poplar Bluff announce the engagement of their daughter, Brooke Nicole Davis, also of Poplar Bluff, to Cody Jordan Hindes of Neosho. The parents of the bridegroom-to-be are Paul and Rhonda Smallwood of Ballwin and Jeff Hindes of Wentzville...

Ozark Family Resource Agency is a regional service provider that exists to support families and children in crisis through emergency shelter, affordable housing, child advocacy and other supportive services. According to its website, Ozark Foothills Child Advocacy Center has served over 3,000 victims of abuse, along with their non-offending care givers, since July 2003. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Two area health centers have received Affordable Care Act funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Missouri Highlands Health Care based in Ellington, Mo., and 1st Choice Healthcare based in Corning, Ark., each received $15,000 for being Electronic Health Record reporters...

I wonder if the mayor realized that the estimate reported in Monday's City Council meeting was based on Phase 3 of Oak Grove Road being a three lane all the way to Township Line Road not the two lane it became. It is pretty easy to come in under budget when you eliminate one third of the project. ...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Who better to administer the Northside Nutrition Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo., than someone who always has been concerned about whether everyone had something to eat? That is the philosophy of the new administrator, Tammy Kassinger of Wappapello, Mo., who joined the center in September 2014. ...

Steven Gambill Steven Douglas Gambill, 51, of Jacksonville, Fla., passed away Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. Steve was born in Poplar Bluff, Aug. 24, 1963. He graduated from Nashville Diesel College in Nashville, Tenn.; he then enlisted in the United States Navy and served until 1989. ...

Stephen Thacker Stephen Ray Thacker, 45, of Zephyr Hills, Fla., formerly of Poplar Bluff and Campbell, passed away Tuesday, Dec 16, 2014, in Zephyr Hills. Mr. Thacker was born Dec. 14, 1970, in Hillsboro, Ill. He enjoyed fishing, working on cars, car racing and boats. He loved his grandchildren...

By SHARON RANDALL Tribune News Service This is a Christmas story. I've told it before, but Christmas stories beg to be retold time and again, lest their truth be lost to anyone, especially the teller. Besides, Christmas stories are woven with a thread of magic that makes each new telling a bit different from the past, both in how it's told and how it's heard...

Stevan Sopko Stevan Sopko, 54, of Doniphan, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, at his residence. Mr. Sopko was born Feb. 20, 1960, in Flint, Mich. He was employed in construction and attended Pilgrim's Rest Church. Surviving are his mother, Carole Martin of Fairdealing; two sisters, Kathy Gabel of Colorado and Theresa Wheaton of Michigan; three brothers, Patrick Sopko and Michael Sopko, both of Fairdealing and Matthew Sopko of Bonne Terre; and two step-sisters, Marla Martin and Carla Martin, both of Michigan.. ...

Jordan Gambill Jordan Douglas Gambill, 21, passed away Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. Jordan was born Jan. 1, 1993, in Cadiz, Spain. He graduated from Creekside High School, St. Johns, Fla. in 2011. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as an active reservist until Oct. ...

'Bob' Gunter NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Floyd "Bob" Gunter, 64, of Fairdealing, Mo., passed away Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014, at his residence. He was born March 30, 1950, in Ripley County, Mo., to the late Floyd and Dorothy Dudley Gunter. Mr. Gunter was a U.S. Navy veteran, having served in the Vietnam era and had received five medals for his service. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post No. 3485 in Doniphan...

Darrin Denbow COLUMBIA, Mo.-Darrin was born in Poplar Bluff, the son of Micheal and Sandra Sifford Denbow. He joined a brother, Devlin. Darrin attended elementary school in Mtn. Grove. Darrin was baptized at Trinity Methodist Church. Later the family moved to Centralia, where Darrin joined the United Methodist Church. ...

Mildred Phelps JACKSON, Mo. -- Mildred Hope Phelps, 88, of Jackson died Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home in Jackson. She was born Aug. 5, 1926, in Pocahontas, Mo., to Hobson Richard and Maudie Mae Cramer Bess. She and Lynn T. Phelps were married Dec. 20, 1946...

Betty Hodge AVON PARK, Fla.-- Betty B. (Bettis) Hodge, 79, of Sebring, passed away, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 at Highlands Regional Medical Center, Sebring, Fla. She was born Feb. 1, 1935, in St. Louis, to Earl Estes Bettis and Laura Brooke Skyrme. On Jan. ...

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. ...

Betty Lou Duncan Betty Lou Duncan, 76, of Poplar Bluff passed away Friday, Dec. 19, 2014 at Oakdale Care Center. Mrs. Duncan was born Dec. 14, 1938 in Biggers, Ark., to the late Ira A. Larkins and Maudie Goodwin-Larkins. Mrs. Duncan was a retired dental assistant. She was a member of First Christian Church in Corning, Ark. She was also a member of the Eagles Lodge and the American Legion. Mrs. Duncan enjoyed making flower arrangements...

Larry Quinten Lomax Larry Quinten Lomax, 72, departed this life Friday, Dec. 12, 2014 at St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, Wash. He was born Aug. 28, 1942 in St. Louis to Opal (Thorpe) Lomax and Byron E. Lomax. On July 2, 2005 he was united in marriage with Mary Miller of Canada in Blain, Wash. She survives...

Michael Crites Michael Douglas Crites, 54, of Puxico, passed away Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, at his home. He was born Aug. 16, 1960, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., the son of Jerry T. and Marjorie Ward Crites. Michael was an over the road truck driver. He had received numerous safe driving awards. He loved to fish and ride his Harley Davidson motorcycle with his son, Allen. He believed in the Baptist faith...

Clarence Miller DEXTER, Mo.--Clarence Albert Miller, 94, of Dexter, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014 at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing in Dexter. Visitation will be from noon until 2 p.m. Sunday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Steve Tippen officiating. Burial will follow in the Essex Cemetery in Essex...

Archie Rommel Archie Duwayne Rommel, 63, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Rommel was born Feb. 17, 1951, in Peoria, Ill. He was of the Baptist faith and had retired as an over-the-road truck driver and later worked at Minit Print Printing Company...

SULLIVAN -- Poplar Bluff's double-digit lead was down to four early in the fourth quarter Saturday when senior Patrick Tillman doubled it. Tillman hit a 3-pointer and a free throw for the rare four-point play and St. Francis Borgia never recovered as the Mules won 59-49 at the fifth annual Sullivan Shootout...

BROSELEY -- So far, so dominant for the host school at the Twin Rivers Lady Royals Christmas Classic. After a 35-point win over Portageville in the first round, the fourth-seeded Lady Royals came back in the quarterfinals and put it on a depleted Doniphan team Saturday evening...

ST. PETERS -- Matt King won a tiebreaker in the championship match Saturday to win the 120-pound title at the Ft. Zumwalt East Tournament. Steven Haley placed third at 195 pounds for the Mules who finished seventh in the 23-team tournament. "I think overall it was probably a pretty good way to go into the Christmas break," Mules coach David Sievers said. "We had a pretty good weekend. Our kids are getting better."...

PIEDMONT -- The Twin Rivers Royals came back from four down after three quarters Friday night to win their first Ozark Foothills Conference game of the season, 58-56, over Clearwater on Friday night. The Royals (5-4, 1-0 OFC) got two key 3-pointers by Mason Douglas while Jase Worley, Andrew Mittelstadt and Seth Snider each made two field goals in a 22-point fourth quarter...

BROSELEY -- In a way, the Greenville Lady Bears felt like they were under-seeded coming into the Twin Rivers Lady Royals Christmas Classic. It took an extra four minutes of play in the first round Friday night, but they proved it. Coming in as the 11th seed, the Lady Bears blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter as No. ...

BROSELEY -- Naylor's three seniors always came up short in the quarterfinals of the Twin Rivers Lady Royals Christmas Classic. Not this time. After a brief scare early against upset-minded No. 11 Greenville, the No. 3 Naylor Lady Eagles got together in the second half to finally advance to the semifinals with a 56-34 win...

BROSELEY -- Shamyiah Stone scored 38 points as the No. 14 Malden Green Wave survived a Twin Rivers Lady Royals Christmas Classic consolation quarterfinal game that went to overtime against No. 6 Charleston, 65-63. Malden (4-2) struggled immensely from the free throw line but overcame it. The Green Wave had many chances to secure the win in the fourth quarter, but shot 4-for-18 from the line. They improved in overtime by going 8-for-14 but were 35 percent (17-for-49) overall in the game...