Stories from Saturday, April 25, 2015

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A man who assaulted a Butler County Deputy during a failed escape at the courthouse on Tuesday was apprehended on Thursday. Butler County Sheriff's deputies arrested Travis D. O'Barr, 24, of the 100 block of Lexington, at 11:05 a.m. near the intersection of Fifth and Harper streets on a Butler County warrant for aiding a felony prisoner's escape attempt and assault on a law enforcement officer, class B and C felonies respectively...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Betty Absheer was named the new mayor of Poplar Bluff after council members were forced Thursday to draw names from a cup. City officials believe this is the first time in the town's history the council has been unable to reach a consensus when electing a mayor from within its ranks...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Stoddard County jury took 3 hours and 5 minutes Thursday to convict a Catron man of a manslaughter charge in connection with the May 2012 shooting death of his son. The seven-woman, five-man jury left the courtroom to begin its deliberations at 4:57 p.m. ...

Two Poplar Bluff students have received scholarships to attend Southeast Missouri State University. Destinee Harmon of Poplar Bluff has received the Residence Life Leadership Award to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 2015-2016 academic year...

Thank you to Mr. Wolpers I would like to applaud a neighbor of ours, Mr. Wolpers, for allowing the kids in our neighborhood to fish in his pond. Kids now days are usually yelled at and chased off older peoples' property causing disrespect and animosity. Mr. Wolpers took the time to talk to the kids and welcomed them back. Thank you Mr. Wolpers for letting kids be kids!...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer "Butler County Relay for Life is kicking off the 2015 season," said community manager Shanna Gilberto, "by focusing on our mission and getting everyone involved in the fight against cancer. The American Cancer Society and Relay for Life of Butler County invites the community to join us for a Cancer Prevention Health Fair."...

Francisco Torres Vega Sr. Francisco Torres Vega Sr., 47, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, April 19, 2015, at his home. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Mt. Calvary Powerhouse. The funeral service will follow with Bishop Ron Webb and Jimmy Wagner of Crossroads Ministry officiating. Burial will be in the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery...

Supplemental Budget Bill Approved (HB 14) While the Senate continued to make negotiations on the Fiscal Year 2016 spending plan slow and difficult, the House took action this week to approve supplemental funding for the FY 2015 budget. The bill that is now in the Senate appropriates more than $120 million in state general revenue for the remainder of the fiscal year that ends June 30. The bulk of that funding will go to the state's Medicaid program to cover the cost of prescription drugs...

Debra Blunt DEXTER, Mo. -- Debra Blunt, 57, of Sikeston, died Wednesday, April 22, 2015, at her residence. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Allen Basham officiating. Burial will follow in the Sadler Chapel Cemetery in Dexter...

By MONA CHAREN Two relatively recent photos of Barack Obama with foreign leaders reveal much about his deep-dyed leftism. The first features President Obama and democratically elected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of one of America's most loyal friends. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Two Sikeston residents are celebrating a recent $1 million Missouri Lottery Scratchers win. Samantha Lankheit, 39, and Ashley Rogers, 31, claimed their prize on April 14, after uncovering the $1 million top prize on a "Millionaire Riches" Scratchers ticket. The friends purchased their ticket on April 10 from Huck's Food Store, 823 E. Malone Ave. in Sikeston, and plan on splitting the $1 million prize...

Roy Boozer NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Roy David Boozer, 69, of Doniphan, Mo., formerly of Arkansas, Arizona, and Illinois, died Tuesday, April 21, 2015. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. Saturday in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Whitmer officiating. Burial will be at New Home Cemetery in Tucker, Mo...

When players step up to the first tee Saturday to start the 69th annual Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational, they will be tested right away. With water on the right, out of bounds to the left and a pack of tall pine trees hiding the flagstick, the opening shot of the 36-hole tournament can be more nerve-racking than most...

Frankie Johnson LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Frankie Johnson, 76, of North Little Rock, Ark., died Saturday, April 18, 2015. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at 4323 West 29th St. Arrangements are provided by Hardy Funeral Home 5300 West 12th St., Little Rock...

Brandon Stuckenschneider did it all Thursday. The Poplar Bluff senior hit a go-ahead single with two outs, added a 2-run home run and -- by the way -- tossed a 3-hit shutout as the Mules beat Jackson 3-0 in a key game at Strenfel Memorial Field. "It was a blast," said Stuckenschneider who struck out eight. "Those games are always fun, well-played games."...

William 'Bill' Moore DEXTER, Mo. -- William "Bill" Moore, 72, of Dexter died Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be held from 5 - 8 p.m. Friday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Justin Sponaugle officiating. Burial will follow in the Dexter Cemetery with full military honors...

Willard "Tex" Thompson CORNING, Ark. -- Willard "Tex" Thompson, 75, of Corning passed away Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at Corning Therapy and Living Center. Mr. Thompson was the owner of Tex's Body Shop in Corning. He enjoyed golf, playing pool, and watching television, especially westerns. He was an army veteran and a member of Old Reyno Freewill Baptist Church...

Lorene Tinker Lorene Tinker, 88, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at Westwood Hills Caring Center. She was born Feb. 8, 1927 to the late Matthew Walton and Elsie Stoker Walton. Lorene was a lifetime resident of Poplar Bluff. Before retiring, she was a self employed hairdresser. She enjoyed making quilts and was a member of the Cane Creek Community Club...

Mary L. Kirchner Mary L. Kirchner, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at her residence. She was born July 13, 1938 in Conway, Ark. to the late Virgil Eaton and Glodine Zermatten Eaton. Mary was a longtime resident of Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was a member of the Scared Heart Catholic Church...

The Naylor seniors said they were embarrassed. These three-time conference champs were down 7-1 in the middle of the fourth inning. These two-time Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament champs had just given up three unearned runs. These 2012 state runners-ups were down six runs to a team that they hadn't lost to in years...

Dr. John Michael Hoja Dr. John Michael Hoja, 60, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on April 22, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Dr. Hoja was born on July 12, 1954, to Alex and Ulrike (Gäbler) Hoja in Louisville, Ky. In 1972 he graduated from Poplar Bluff High School. ...

Hilda Martin Hilda M. Martin, 95, of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, April 21, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Martin, daughter of the late Theodore Alexander and Julie Emrald Cole Whitt, was born Dec. 17, 1919, in Butler County. She graduated with the Poplar Bluff High School Class of 1939, which was the first class to graduate in the junior high gym and the largest class to graduate to date. ...

City firefighters responded at 10:25 a.m. Tuesday to a report of smoke in the area at 727 Kinzer. Investigation revealed it was a controlled burn. ------ City Firefighters responded to a report of heavy smoke at 11:25 a.m. Tuesday at 906 Second Street. Investigation revealed the smoke was from burning leaves...

ADVANCE -- The Lady Mules saved their best offense for last. Second-seeded Bernie scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to secure an 8-4, 9-inning victory against top-seeded Advance in the Stoddard County Activities Association Tournament championship...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Betty Absheer was named the new mayor of Poplar Bluff after council members were forced Thursday to draw names from a cup. City officials believe this is the first time in the town's history the council has been unable to reach a consensus when electing a mayor from within its ranks...