Stories from Monday, April 27, 2015

Concrete Strategies of St. Louis is the low bidder at $499,300 for the construction of a new grand staircase at the Poplar Bluff Historic Train Depot. Three bids were opened during the Butler County Commission meeting Friday. The other two bids were $502,487 from Hessling Construction of Dexter and $552,435 from RL Persons Construction of Poplar Bluff...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The words on the back of his racing shirt express Dennis Minner's determination to fight cancer and to continue running half marathons. "In just the last four years, I have had cancer four times and this is my fourth half marathon during that time," Minner wrote. "Cancer can't outrun me!"...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor About 1,500 adults and children learned about the 61 businesses and organizations at the 36th annual Merchants Showcase at Three Rivers College Saturday and participated in a variety of activities. Organizers and vendors were very thankful the rain stopped in the morning and the weather turned out to be perfect for the popular event...

2 plea guilty to federal charges By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Two Poplar Bluff men, including a convicted felon, pleaded guilty in federal court last week and now face sentencing in July. Jeremy Robert Paul Ellis, 36, of the 300 block of West Neat pleaded guilty as charged to the felony of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute before U.S. District Judge Audrey Fleissig on Monday, according to Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis...

Schools deal with sub shortage By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A nationwide shortage of substitute teachers is echoed in local school districts, causing educators to look at new ways to address the shortfall. According to STEDI.org, a substitute training provider, 48 percent of districts nationwide reported a shortage during the 2013-14 school year -- a marked change from previous years. The numbers are mirrored at Poplar Bluff, Neelyville and Twin Rivers, who say they are also feeling the pinch...

Theodore "Ted" Schalk of Poplar Bluff is honored as Patriot of the Month for April by the Missouri State Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Ted Schalk entered the United States Navy on his 18th birthday, Nov. 17, 1942, and left Poplar Bluff, Mo., for swearing in at St. ...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer What do Inis Kearbey, Senior Citizen Center activities coordinator, and Betty Britton, Senior Citizen Center secretary, have in common with the Twin Towers of Poplar Bluff? They are all landmarks of the community. Mention the names, Inis Kearbey and Betty Britton, and you immediately think of the Twin Towers on Bartlett Street. ...

Players didn't try out for bench I would like to say something about our Poplar Bluff Junior High sports program. Our kids try out for the team. They are chosen. They go to all the practices and then, we, parents and grandparents go to watch the team only to see that our kids are on the bench for the whole game or maybe only a minute. ...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- In 1994, Lindsey Graham, then a 39-year-old South Carolina legislator, ran for Congress in a district that he said had not elected a Republican since Union guns made it do so during Reconstruction. He promised that in Washington he would be "one less vote for an agenda that makes you want to throw up." He was elected to the Senate in 2002 and soon almost certainly will join the Republican presidential scramble, enlivening it with his quick intelligence, policy fluency, mordant wit and provocative agenda.. ...

Where's the glass recycling Does anyone know where we can recycle glass bottles? My wife and I recycle everything, but no glass is accepted any more. Maybe manufacturers need to stop using glass and put everything into plastic. If you know of a place that recycles glass, please let us know through Speak Out. Thank you...

On a clear day, from where I sit, you can see forever. Well, more or less. My desk is wedged into a bay window of our home on a hill just outside Las Vegas. Facing west, it looks out across the desert and a patchwork quilt of subdivisions to a point at which civilization ends and the Spring Mountains rise up, rugged and majestic, reaching up to heaven...

Sue Sturgess DEXTER, Mo. -- Sue Sturgess, 76, of Dexter, died Thursday, April 23, 2015 in the Southeast Health of Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be held from 1- 3 p.m. Sunday at the Dexter Church of Christ. Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. in the church...

To the Editor: The week of April 12 --18, 2015 has been set by Congress as National Public Safety Telecommunications Week to honor those emergency dispatchers that serve the public needs. I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to the businesses that donated items to be used to recognize those that work as Police and Fire Dispatchers for the City of Poplar Bluff. ...

Ruby Evelyn Tolbert MALDEN, Mo.--Ruby Evelyn Tolbert, 86, of Gideon, died Friday, April 24, 2015 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born March 5, 1929 in Gideon. March 23, 1944 she married Carl Edward Tolbert in Gideon. He preceded her in death March 1, 2015...

Kendric McCain, 22, of the 900 block of Oakwood, was arrested at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday near the intersection of Oakwood and 11th on suspicion of possession of marijuana. He was booked at the police station and released on bond. _ Tyler Watkins, 25, of Doniphan, was arrested at 2:41 p.m. Wednesday in the 1400 block of Black River Industrial Park Drive on a probation violation. He was booked at the Butler County jail...

Helen Hogg Helen Hogg, 94, of Poplar Bluff, died Saturday, April 25, 2015, at Black River Medical Center, in Poplar Bluff. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Francisco Vega Sr. Francisco Torres Vega Sr., 47, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, April 19, 2015, at his residence. Mr. Vega was born Feb. 18, 1968, in Buffalo, N.Y. He was co-founder and member of Crossroads Church and was a member of Community Watch and Men of Faith in Action. He also was an installer for Fowler Flooring. Mr. Vega enjoyed fishing, music, community engagment activities and volunteer work...

Lavon Batten NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Lavon Batten, 93, of Halls, Tenn., formerly of Naylor, died Monday, April 20, 2015 at Tennova Residential and Hospice care in Halls. Visitation is from 5-7 p.m. Monday at Fowler Sullivan in Neelyville with the funeral to follow at 7 p.m...

Michael Lee Adams Michael Lee Adams, 67, of Poplar Bluff, died Saturday, April 25, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Adams, son of the late Albert L. "Doc" and Helen (Drew) Adams, was born May 31, 1947, in Gideon, Mo. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy and was self-employed. Mr. Adams was a licensed solo pilot who enjoyed flying as well as flying his remote control plane. He enjoyed watching football and St. Louis Cardinal's baseball...

City firefighters responded at 9:20 a.m. Wednesday to an alarm at Dunham's Sporting Goods at 763 North Westwood. Investigation revealed it was a false alarm. _ City firefighters responded to a motor vehicle accident at 10:33 a.m. Wednesday in the 3000 block of Oak Grove Road, but were disregarded en route...

Ruben J. Edwards, 36, of Harviell, was arrested at 12:02 a.m. Saturday on a Butler County failure to appear warrant for non-support. He was booked at the Butler County jail. _ Tony D. Dillinger, 42, of Harviell, was arrested at 4:50 a.m. Saturday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. He was placed on a 12-hour hold at the Butler County jail...

Elizabeth A. Cross-Daugherty, 36, of the 900 block of County Road 302, was booked at the Butler County Jail on Thursday on suspicion of possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, first-degree child endangerment, possession of marijuana, failing to stop at a stop sign and failure to maintain financial responsibility...

Lloyd Wilson DEXTER, Mo. -- Lloyd Wilson, 87, of Poplar Bluff, died Saturday, April 25, 2015 at Westwood Hills Health and Rehab Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Monday at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter with the funeral service beginning at 1 p.m. at the funeral home chapel...

POTOSI -- Another school record fell for the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules track and field program Friday night. Senior Jessenia Ellis' discus throw was the farthest in school history and the Lady Mules won nine events to win the overall team title at the Trojan Relays...

Ben Godwin's woes on the first hole at Westwood Hills Country Club continued Saturday. The four-time champion opened his round at the Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational with a double-bogey but rebounded to finish at 2-under 69, tied for second and 2 shots off the lead heading into today's final round...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Three Rivers men's basketball coach Gene Bess was honored Saturday as the recipient of the Gary Filbert Lifetime Achievement award, presented by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. The Gary Filbert Award was created in 2011 and is given annually to a coach who has shown a lifetime of dedication that reflects the mission set forth by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association of promoting basketball in Missouri...

With his opponent in the sand, Chad Niezing was just looking for a two-putt on the final hole Friday in the 26th annual Ozark Shootout. But those slick greens at Westwood Hills Country Club didn't oblige. Steve Groom forced a chip-off with a sand save as Niezing's first putt curled past the hole and downhill before a tough birdie try missed left...

COLUMBIA -- The Lady Raiders will have nine months to think about one day. Three Rivers lost its first two games to get knocked out of the Region XVI tournament as the No. 2 seed. Crowder, the third seed, beat Three Rivers 12-6 in the second round and then No. 4 North Central won 12-1 in five innings to eliminate the Lady Raiders from the double-elimination bracket Friday...

ST. JOSEPH -- Three Rivers was a hit or two away from a much different day. The Raiders struggled to bunch hits together in a doubleheader against Maple Woods and got swept 8-2 and 5-2. "They put there's together, basically and we weren't able to put ours together enough," Three Rivers coach Stacey Burkey said...

VAN BUREN -- Twin Rivers junior Kira Cunningham pitched three perfect innings to defeat Plato 13-0 and secure third place in the Sterling Bank Van Buren Lady Dawg Invitational. Kira Cunningham never lot a ball reach the outfield and pitched three perfect innings for Twin Rivers (8-3)...

FARMINGTON -- A pair of tough games doubled the Poplar Bluff Mules' losses on the season Saturday afternoon. Against state-ranked Oakville, the Mules only mustered four hits in a 7-1 loss. They then lost to district opponent Farmington as the Knights walked off with a 2-1 win in eight innings...