Stories from Monday, March 9, 2015

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Despite pending litigation and legislation, many Poplar Bluff R-I students are set to take their first Common Core based assessment tests this spring. The standards will apply to the English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics section of assessments for grades 3-8...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The stars of the silver screen will shine in Poplar Bluff on March 14, when the Ozark Family Resource Agency (OFRA) hosts its first ever "Hollywood Nights" event. Hollywood Nights will feature members of the community dressed as Tinseltown's "A" list performing a variety of skits. Money raised from the event will benefit the numerous community betterment programs sponsored by the resource agency...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor An intensive investigation by the Poplar Bluff Police Department into a Feb. 1 home invasion has resulted in the arrests of three suspects on charges of armed criminal action, first degree robbery, first degree assault and first degree burglary, according to a news release issued Friday afternoon...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Grant money received by the city of Poplar Bluff has paid for the completion of a stormwater detention project and will fund the extension of a walking trail. Grant dollars could also soon pay for a full-time police officer for traffic enforcement...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Poplar Bluff city officials put a hold last week on a project to make approximately $17.2 million in necessary upgrades to the city's wastewater treatment facility, saying they want to re-examine their options. A presentation given Tuesday by engineering firm Horner & Shifrin cautioned the city against investing in work the firm believes might not meet future water quality standards...

Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour and his wife, Tonya, narrowly escaped from their burning home early Saturday. "When we got there, the house was totally engulfed in flames. It was destroyed," Butler County Fire Chief Bob Fredwell said...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Sueanne Cmehil-Warn's geocaching hobby of hide and seek uses a GPS unit and multi-million dollar satellites to find Tupperware in the woods. It's fun, it's an adventure and anyone in the world can join her. "It's a game that goes with other activities and they are everywhere," said Cmehil-Warn, who is among the more than five-million people worldwide who participate in geocaching...

If you have diabetes, or prepare meals for a diabetic, choosing and preparing foods that are low in sugar, fat, and sodium can be a real challenge. The University of Missouri Extension Specialists are offering a series of cooking classes for people with diabetes or for people who prepare diabetic foods for their families and friends...

A presentation on bird migration will be given at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at the Poplar Bluff Public Library. The program is free, sponsored by the Poplar Bluff Garden Club. Persons of all ages are welcome. The presentation is timely, since many of the summer birds are already beginning their trip to Missouri and points north. ...

Where was code enforcement? We've got one of the finest police departments in southeast Missouri or anywhere else, but I'm sorry about roof being leaking like that. But the code enforcement goes around all over town making people take care of their houses and businesses. ...

By SHARON RANDALL Tribune News Service It was not part of the plan. Or, at least, not my plan. I guess you could just call it life. One morning, after returning from four weeks in California (where I'd welcomed a new grandbaby and tried to help by riding herd on her two older brothers), I stepped out of bed and put my feet on the floor...

Charles Ross MALDEN, Mo. -- Charles "Chuck" Ross, 33, of Nixa, Mo., died Monday, March 3, 2015, at St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis. Visitation was Saturday at Landess Funeral Home Chapel in Malden. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Landess Chapel in Malden. Burial will be the Bernie Cemetery...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress was notable in two respects. Queen Esther got her first standing O in 2,500 years. And President Obama came up empty in his campaign to pre-emptively undermine Netanyahu before the Israeli prime minister could present his case on the Iran negotiations...

Clara B. Farris PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Clara B. Farris, 94, died Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at her home near Annapolis. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Monday at the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the Huff Cemetery near Glover, Mo...

Mr. and Mrs. Steve and Laura Thomas of Vicksburg, Mich. announce the engagement of their daughter, Jenna Thomas, to Matthew Whitworth, son of Steve and Terena Whitworth of Poplar Bluff. Jenna graduated Vicksburg High School in 2006 and received a bachelor of music in music therapy from Western Michigan University in 2011. Jenna is currently a board certified music therapist at Easter Seals Midwest in Poplar Bluff...

Poplar Bluff High School has announced its Students of Month. They are: Turner Fritts and Alyssa Cook were named Students of the Month for ninth grade. Fritts is the son of Bud and Gayla Fritts. He enjoys playing baseball, basketball, football, and hunting and fishing. He is involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Beta Club and He is a member of the Freshman basketball team. He is undecided where he wants to attend college...

Jonnie Maddox Jonnie Maddox, 61, of Dudley, died Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home chapel with Bro. Herman Morse of Dexter officiating. Burial will be in the Rock Hill Cemetery near Puxico with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Puxico in charge of arrangements...

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...

Thena Wilson Thena Wilson, formerly of Piedmont, died Thursday, March 5, 2015. The visitation was Saturday at the Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 8, at Victory Baptist Church. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

Christine Moyer Christine Lacey Moyer, 70, of Dyersburg, Tenn., died Tuesday, March 3, 2015, at the Dyersburg Regional Medical Center. She was born Sept. 5, 1944 in Campbell, Mo. to Marvin Doyle Moyer and Jewell Nadine Looney Moyer. She was retired after 20 years of teaching the third grade for the Department of Defense Schools in Germany. She was of the Presbyterian faith...

Jessica Leigh Moore Jessica Leigh Moore, 37, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Thursday, March 5, 2015 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Jessica was born Nov. 24, 1977 in Poplar Bluff. She was a 1996 graduate of Poplar Bluff High School. She was a homemaker and she enjoyed fishing, animals, camping and the outdoors in general. She attended Old Oak Hill and Mt. Calvary Church and was recently saved and baptized...

Edwin Floyd Wheat Edwin Floyd Wheat, 69, of Poplar Bluff died at his residence Thursday, March 5, 2015. Mr. Wheat was born Nov. 6, 1945 in St. Louis. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Elks for 20 plus years. He was an industrial salesman. His hobbies were fishing, hunting, golf and antique coins...

William H. Vancil William (Bill) H. Vancil, 63, of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at John J. Pershing Veterans Hospital. He was born Oct. 18, 1951 to Nadine Scheer and the late Norman Vancil. He was a long time resident of Poplar Bluff. Bill was a nurses aid. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, spending time on the river, camping and family get-togethers...

Mary Finney MALDEN, Mo.--Mary Finney, 77, of Malden died Thursday, March 5, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Monday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, at Bradshaw Chapel. Burial will be in Rosewood Cemetery in Malden...

Rebecca K. Small Rebecca K. Small, 67, of Wappapello, Mo., passed away Thursday, March 5, 2015 at her home. Mrs. Small was born June 23, 1947 in Saginaw, Mich. She was a homemaker and enjoyed reading and making greeting cards. She was a member of Fellowship General Baptist Church and taught Sunday school. She loved her church family...

The upcoming week will be a busy one at the Twin Towers. Monday, 11:30 a.m., Tommy Swindle will entertain in the dining room with gospel songs. Afterwards, the first of four classes will begin at 1:30 p.m. The first class entitled, "Eat Well. Be Well with Diabetes," will be taught by Dr. ...

ARNOLD -- Jackson knocked down 3s early and free throws late to knock out the Mules. Braden Wendel sank four first-quarter 3-pointers to give the Indians a lead they never lost thanks to 18 fourth-quarter free throws to beat Poplar Bluff 73-59 in the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 championship game Friday night...

DEXTER -- The Lady Royals knew exactly what Saxony Lutheran was going to do, but the undefeated Lady Crusaders did it anyway. Twin Rivers gave up a 32-3 run to finish the first half in the first round of the MSHSAA Class 3 playoffs and ultimately lost 70-36 Friday...

Mr. Kaplan, you obviously have immense disdain for me and the staff of the Daily American Republic newspaper. Your unprofessional outburst in a public meeting referring to DAR staff members as "not human" suggests you have not matured professionally or personally since your employment evaluation from the Village of Mattawan, Mich., in April 2006, while serving as village manager...

MOUNTAIN VIEW -- Weather hasn't been a friend of the Neelyville Lady Tigers this past month. On the one hand, it's important for everyone to get minutes and stay sharp. At the same time, it was important to make quick work of Chaffee in a two-day delayed MSHSAA Class 2 playoff to save some energy for the quarterfinal 24 hours later...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Recommended improvements in the Poplar Bluff wastewater treatment facility to meet state and federal water quality requirements were presented to the Municipal Utilities Advisory Board Monday. "The new state operating permit for the facility was officially issued Sunday by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources," said Greg Bell, an engineer with Smith and Company of Poplar Bluff who has been doing the design work...