Stories from Wednesday, March 4, 2015

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff city manager denied Monday that the city struggled in February to find $3 million in financing to pay for additional technology purchases and the next three years of a citywide capital improvements plan...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A March snowstorm is a rarity in Southeast Missouri, but the area is expected to receive 4-8 inches Wednesday. "We are predicting 4-6 inches north of a line from Poplar Bluff to Carbondale, Ill., and 6-8 inches south of the line," said David Humphrey, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service at Paducah, Ky. "Locally higher amounts are likely where snow banding occurs."...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The city of Poplar Bluff may create two new positions, one to manage city accounts and the other to serve as assistant city manager and personnel director. The new positions would replace the current finance director position, city manager Heath Kaplan said Monday during a city council meeting...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The city of Poplar Bluff will lease a building from Three Rivers College for a 911 center under a contract approved Monday by the city council. The city's dispatch center could be relocated in as little as two weeks, city manager Heath Kaplan said. He attributed the ability to move quickly to the city's spending in October on technology improvements...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The city of Poplar Bluff will provide 70 hours of patrol coverage for Three Rivers College under a contract approved Monday by the city council. The change will provide a more efficient use of community money, city manager Heath Kaplan said...

BY PAT PRATT Staff Writer Local street and highway departments say material supplies are in good shape and crews are ready to go, as they gear up for what is hopefully the last round in a season of intense winter weather. Interim Poplar Bluff Street Department Superintendent Denis Kearbey said that this morning, crews are just playing the waiting game. According to the National Weather Service, winter precipitation is expected to begin at 6 a.m. Wednesday...

Recently, I was temporarily placed on the Southern Poverty Law Center's watch list for extremism simply because I vocally support traditional marriage. I remember thinking: When did advocating for lifelong love between one man and one woman become a hate crime? Fortunately, the group saw the folly of its ways and apologized, removing me from the list...

Carl Tolbert GIDEON, Mo. -- Carl Edward Tolbert, 88, of Gideon, died Sunday, March 1, 2015, at his daughter's residence in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Gideon. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow in the Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton, Mo...

This Thursday was a tragic and surreal day in Missouri politics. Shortly before 12 p.m. Thursday, news began to circulate in Jefferson City that State Auditor Tom Schweich was in the hospital. A short time later we learned that Auditor Schweich had died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. ...

Leslie Biester Leslie D. Biester, 45, of Patterson, Mo., died Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015, at her residence. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont with the funeral following at 11 a.m. also in the chapel. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

By MICHELLE MALKIN At the White House Summit on Extremism That Shall Remain Unspecified Because Violent Followers Belonging To Unnamed Extremist Movement Might Take Extreme Offense And Act Extremely, the feds are touting a groundbreaking new strategy to fight terrorists...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Vice President Joe Biden will deliver a speech this week to the nation's largest gay rights group. The Human Rights Campaign says Biden will headline its annual convention on Friday in Washington. The group advocates for equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people...

VAN BUREN -- The Neelyville Tigers had energy and the crowd support early in their MSHSAA Class 2 District 2 title game Monday night. It just didn't have shots falling. The Tigers managed just four points on 2-of-11 shooting in the first quarter and Thayer took advantage as it led by 11...

ARNOLD -- Cassidi Tomsu and Jackson denied Poplar Bluff coach Kirk Chronister of a historic win Monday night. Tomsu hit a game-tying 3-pointer to force overtime and hit the go-ahead basket with 23 seconds left, lifting Jackson to a 53-49 win over the Lady Mules in the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 semifinal at Fox High School...

Gary Stage Gary Stage, 67, of Poplar Bluff, died Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born Oct. 29, 1947 in Yakima, Wash. He was in the United States Army, and he was a member of the American Legion and the Eagles. He worked for the railroad and Hyde's Catfish. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and cleaning vehicles...

VAN BUREN -- No doubt about it, winning a district title is a big deal to the Lady Tigers. After winning their fourth consecutive championship by beating Alton 75-53, there were still smiles, hugs and high fives for Neelyville. But there was also a sense of unfinished business now that the MSHSAA Class 2 playoffs are starting...

Clay Walter C.W. Craig MALDEN, Mo. -- Clay Walter C.W. Craig, 90, of Poplar Bluff, formerly of Malden, died Friday, Feb. 27, 2015, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. today at the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Bradshaw Chapel with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden with military rites...

Wallace Massingham Wallace David Massingham, 91, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Monday, March 2, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Massingham was born Aug, 25, 1923, in Poplar Bluff. Mo. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church; and he served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1944. ...

Class of '59 meets Thurs. The Poplar Bluff High School Class of 1959 will meet for lunch at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 5, at Fazoli's. All class members, spouses and guests are invited to attend. Any questions call 573-686-1019 or 573-718-5900.

Taylor Bradfield and Callie Stanhouse picked up the spring rodeo season right where they left off. The two Three Rivers Raiders placed in the top three in their respective events at Arkansas-Cossatot, which is the first of five spring events. Stanhouse took third in goat tying with a time of 17.4 seconds. It was a 10th of a second behind second and a half second away from first...