Stories from Monday, March 23, 2015

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Tuesday, March 24, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, will host an event celebrating female veterans in recognition of March as National Women's History Month. "This will be a small event," said Martinie Porter, LCSW, Women's Veterans Program Manager, "to offer recognition to our local female veterans. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Missouri Department of Transportation opened three bids Friday for expanding the intersection of Oak Grove Road, Westwood Boulevard and Katy Lane. Lappe Cement Finishing of Perryville is the apparent low bidder at $1,137,643. Two Poplar Bluff bidders are Kajacs Contractors at $1,289,252 and Young's General Contracting at $1,434,811...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Spending for the city of Poplar Bluff will have to reach $15,000 before city council approval is needed, according to a new purchasing policy approved Wednesday. The council currently approves purchases above $5,000. The new purchasing policy is an effort to make city operations more efficient, said city manager Heath Kaplan...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Becoming Butler County's newest judge continues to be a learning experience for John Shock as he adjusts from arguing cases to hearing and deciding them. Shock took over Jan. 1 as Butler County's associate circuit judge for Division III, replacing William Clarkson, who retired after serving 32 years on the bench...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A new chapter in the R-I school system began Friday with a groundbreaking ceremony at the junior high. The event marks the first of many such ceremonies to come, as new construction and renovations begin following the 2014 passage of a $45 million bond issue...

Send him packing Well I can't stand the stupidity of the City manager and the City Council. It looks like if the rest of the Poplar Bluff citizens don't need to pay what they owe the city. After all if they won't go after Becker and the $200,000. They surely wont go after 500 hundred of us that didn't pay our water, cable or electric bill. I don't think they have room in jail for all of us or could afford to feed us and cloth us in those nice orange jump suits...

From Staff Reports If you listen to country radio, you no doubt have heard the hit song, "Make Me Wanna" by Thomas Rhett. What you might not know is that the song has a strong connection with Doniphan. "Make Me Wanna" was co-written by Larry McCoy, whose wife is the former Sandy Smothers from Doniphan. Sandy is the daughter of Ray Joe and Polly Hastings and a sister to Danny and Dr. Loren Smothers of Doniphan...

By SHARON RANDALL Tribune News Service Memorial services are not my idea of a good time. But a life well lived is cause to celebrate. Mae Carol Johnson grew up in the 1930s in Columbus, Ga., a beloved child of the segregated South with three strikes against her odds for a brighter future: She was poor, black and female...

Chloe Faith Brooks PARAGOULD, Ark., -- Chloe Faith Brooks, 4 months, of Paragould, Ark., died Sunday, March 15, 2015 in Tulsa, Okla. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Monday with the funeral following at 2 p.m. in the Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in the Tull Family Cemetery...

Part I -- Phnom Penh By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Cambodia was not a destination high on my list of places to visit, but when someone says, "Do you want to go. . ." My answer is always "Yes," even before I know the destination. My middle daughter, K. ...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- Of all the idiocies uttered in reaction to Benjamin Netanyahu's stunning election victory, none is more ubiquitous than the idea that peace prospects are now dead because Netanyahu has declared that there will be no Palestinian state while he is Israel's prime minister...

Leon Hudson NAYLOR, Mo. -- Leon Hudson, 73, of Naylor, died at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis. The visitation and funeral was from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday with burial in the Hitt Cemetery near Success, Ark.

The Poplar Bluff chapter of National Active and Retired Federal Employees recently elected Ann Barnes, president; Ray Burson, vice president; and Mildred Coursey, secretary/treasurer. The group also appointed Ann Barnes, Mildred Coursey and Edward Coursey to be delegates to the state convention in Kansas City, April 15-17. Jean Spain and Virginia Crafford were selected to be alternates...

Marion L. Winters Marion L. Winters, 78, passed away Friday, March 20, 2015 at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. He was born Oct. 1, 1936 to Dewey and Edna (Murdock) Winters. He was joined in marriage to Frances E. Cross on March 3, 1962. Marion was a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church where he served as Deacon, teacher and Sunday School Superintendent...

Stella Keele Stella L. Gilliam Keele, 98, of St. Louis, formerly of Poplar Bluff, died Friday, March 20, 2015 at Christian Hospital Northeast in St. Louis. Mrs. Keele was born Jan. 15, 1917, in Poplar Bluff. She was a member of First Christian Church in Poplar Bluff and had retired as a telephone operator from Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. Mrs. Keele enjoyed spending time with her family...

George Wayne Phelps ELLSINORE, Mo. -- George Wayne "GW" Phelps, 87, of Ellsinore, departed this life Friday, March 20, 2015 in the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Phelps was born June 13, 1927 in St. Louis, Mo. to P.C. and Maudie (Beard) Phelps. ...

Lee Roy Conner PUXICO - Lee Roy Conner, 46, of Puxico, Mo., died Saturday, March 21 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Monday at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home chapel with burial in the Little Brushy Cemetery in Wappapello, Mo. with Rev. Howard Coleman officiating...

Patsy Davis PIGGOTT, Ark. -- Patsy Davis, 75, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Friday, March 20, 2015 at her home. She was born June 24, 1939 in Cape Girardeau, Mo. to the late Robert and Victoria (Anderson) Allen. She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Jimmie Ralph Davis; parents, Robert and Victoria Allen; two brothers, Robert Leon Allen and Donald Eugene Franklin...

After coming in to wiggle out of a jam on the mound, Poplar Bluff's Kameron Misner gave himself a win with a swing of his bat Friday. The junior pounced on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the sixth, sending it well over the right-field fence for a go-ahead, 2-run homer. Misner struck out five of the six batters he faced to finish a 4-2 win over East Carter at Strenfel Memorial Field...

Three Rivers played two more 1-run games Friday, adding to an already odd start to the season. "I've never been involved in a start of a season with that many 1-run games like that," Three Rivers coach Stacey Burkey said. After playing three 1-run games to open the season, in which the Raiders went 1-2, they played three more in a four-game series against North Central...

JEFFERSON CITY - Every spring, the Missouri Department of Transportation starts preparing for the summer season of roadwork across the state. Part of that preparation includes the observance of National Work Zone Awareness Week, which is March 23-27...

One in five people will have a panic attack once in their lifetime. What would you do when this happens to a student, loved one, or church member? Attend the Youth Mental Health First Aid course to recognize symptoms of mental health problems, how to help, and how to guide the youth to professional help. ...

Yu Mei Chang BALLWIN, Mo. -- Yu Mei Chang, 75, of St. Louis, passed away on Thursday, March 19, 2015, in St. Louis. She was born Oct. 23, 1939 in Taipei, Taiwan. Beloved wife of 55 years to Hsi Lin Chang. Dear mother of Chris (Roxanne) Chang, Mei Lin Chang and Suzy (Matt) Blanchard. Grandmother of Ciera and Brendan Chang; Shih-Fu Wu and Shih-Ye Wu; Caitlin and Megan Blanchard. Sister of nine...

JOPLIN -- The Lady Raiders are trying to piece things together, but are racking up losses in the process. Three Rivers went 1-2 during the first day of the Carthage Bash in Joplin on Saturday, making it 3-7 in its last 10 games. "We've got the people who can do it, but not getting the job done," Three Rivers coach Jack Childress said. "Just got a ways to go."...

PORTAGEVILLE -- Christian Deen doubled with the bases loaded to score two runs Friday afternoon as the Campbell Camels opened their spring season with a 4-2 win over Portageville. Tommy Steward was 1-for-2 for the Camels (1-0) with a walk and a double. Matt Campbell had two singles. Campbell, Steward, Riley Peters, Chris Steward and Nick Littrell all logged time on the mound...