Stories from Saturday, January 24, 2015

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD -- A former Dexter pastor will not stand trial for stealing more than $112,000 from his church; however, a judge found probable cause to believe he forged a church document. Accompanied by his attorney, Rance Butler, Marcus Credale Geuin appeared before Associate Circuit Judge John Spielman of Dunklin County for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 24...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff man was ordered to stand trial Thursday afternoon for the shooting death of a local man found submerged in Black River. Accompanied by his attorney, Rance Butler, Bryce Davis appeared before Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth for a preliminary hearing in his case...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor The Poplar Bluff Police Department is putting a new system in place to help reunite families with their pet when it goes missing or gets stolen. "We had an event recently that bought to light that something had to change regarding our knowledge of lost dogs," explained police Capt. Donnie Trout...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Poplar Bluff will host the first statewide exercise of a multimillion dollar system created to give emergency responders the ability to communicate across every corner of Missouri during a disaster. The event is an expansion of a Region E communications exercise planned for this summer with the Missouri Statewide Interoperability Network (MOSWIN), said Jeff Shawan, Butler County Emergency Management Agency director...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CAMPBELL -- Dunklin County authorities continue to investigate a Thursday afternoon shooting that left a Campbell man dead. Authorities learned of the shooting at 5:17 p.m. when they were called to what apparently began as a disturbance at the Highway DD mobile home of Johnny Mallett, according to Dunklin County Sheriff Bob Holder...

Having returned to school for the second semester, after being recharged from the holidays, excitement is at a high and temperatures are low. This time last year we had already missed an unprecedented 10 days of school, and little did we know we had two additional winter storms to go that would result in even more snow days...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS Leftists and progressives believe that the U.S. should become more like Europe. They praise Europe's massive welfare state, socialized medicine and stifling economic regulation and accept its unwillingness to defend itself against barbarism. I wonder whether America's leftists and progressives want to import some of Europe's barbaric extremism associated with its Muslim population...

Twin Rivers High School 2nd quarter Honor and Merit Rolls: Honor Roll Seniors: Cheyenne Buie, Mason Douglas, Madison Dunlap, Shana Jennings, Owen Jordan, Ashley Malkowski, Savanna Smothers, Austin Wall, Nathan Watson Brandon Aldrich, Hannah Baxter, Ryan Bradshaw, Thelma Brown, Kelsie Buttrey, Kayla Chrisman, Landon Craft, Kira Cunningham, Darian Doser, Casey Douglas, Sidney Eagle, Elizabeth Hale, Hunter Ham, Julia Hendrix, Madison Kacynski, Jamie Lowe, Andrew Mittelstadt, Dianna Mize, Jaysea Morgan, Abigail Rush, Logan Schalk, Brittney Stievenart, Joshua Suiter, Casey Wayne, Kyle Withrow. ...

Fred Wethington DEXTER, Mo. -- Fred Wethington, 82, of Bloomfield died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015 at his residence.. A graveside memorial service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with Rev. Alice Fowler officiating...

ELLSINORE -- Coming into the Black River League Tournament, the Ellington Whippets weren't accustomed to much success. All they needed Thursday night was a win over No. 3 East Carter to reach the championship game. That in itself was a point of pride for the program...

Cross another historic win off the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs' checklist. Having already beaten Notre Dame for the first time ever earlier this season, Sikeston improved to 2-0 in conference play with the program's first-ever win at Poplar Bluff, 59-45, Thursday night...

Clair "Cy" Schulz. PIERCE, Neb.-- Clair "Cy" Schulz, 85, of Pierce, Neb., father of local funeral director, Randy Schulz passed away Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015 at his residence. Cy was born Feb. 25, 1929, in Lincoln, Neb., and adopted by the late Emil Paul and Eva (Koehler) Schulz. He was confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in rural Pierce on March 29, 1942...

It's finally out of the way. The Three Rivers Raiders get to start an extended home stay this weekend against Moberly Area. They will close the season with 5 of 7 games at the Bess Activity Center after opening the second semester with 4 of 6 on the road...

Joseph Baker CAMPBELL, Mo.-- Joseph Ray Rodney Baker, 79, of Campbell, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, at the Elvis Presley Trauma Center in Memphis, Tenn. Mr. Baker, son of Amos and Lennie Lacey Baker, was born on June 12, 1935, in Campbell...

Aletha Robinson GREENVILLE, Mo.--Aletha Jane Robinson, 93, of St. Louis, formerly of Greenville, passed away Friday, Jan. 16, 2015, at her residence. Visitation will be held at 4:30 p.m. Friday, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Greenville. Services will follow at 1 p.m. Saturday, also at the chapel. Burial will be at Rucker Cemetery near Taskee, Mo...

Bonnie Gower Reaves FLATWOODS, Ky.-- Bonnie Gower Reaves, 84, of Flatwoods, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015, in Kings Brook Life Care Center with her family by her side. Bonnie was born on Dec. 11, 1930, in Florence, N.C. to the late Damond and Bessie Manning Gower...

DONIPHAN -- The Neelyville Lady Tigers looked more like themselves Thursday night as they took an Ozark Foothills Conference victory over Doniphan, 78-43. The Lady Tigers (15-2, 4-1 OFC) had four players reach double figures in scoring led by junior Maggie Eaker with 19 points. Shelby Moon hit three 3s and totaled 15 points while Riley Washburn had 10. Jamie Fowler added eight points...

Poplar Bluff Junior and Senior High teachers participated in the first Technology Camp during collaboration day on Friday, Jan. 16, featuring a series of breakout sessions led by R-I staff emphasizing content, the web, apps, engaging students and classroom management...