Stories from Thursday, April 30, 2015

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer City manager Heath Kaplan denied Tuesday that the city has missed any payments to the Eight Points developers, despite painting a very different picture for the city council at the March 18 council meeting. The question was raised during a meeting of the city's finance committee, which also questioned calculations of the development's expected future sales tax collection and how much debt those collections can support...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A Poplar Bluff technology company said today the city of Poplar Bluff was sold a phone system in July that was intended to serve all of its departments. About $32,000 in equipment related to the system was purchased from Today's Computers, which won bids for the project, according to city documents...

On Thursday, May 14, the Poplar Bluff Early Childhood Center will hold screening appointments for the 2015-2016 school year. Children eligible for screening must be 3 years old before July 31, 2015, and must not be 5 years old before July 31, 2015. Screenings are only available by appointment. To make an appointment call Sandy Case at 573-785-6803...

Greenway Equipment is hosting the 2015 Drive Green Demo Days event at its Poplar Bluff dealership from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 4-8 and 9 a.m. to noon on May 9. This event will give area residents a chance to check out the latest utility tractors, lawn and garden tractors, loaders, implements and other equipment from John Deere, as well as take advantage of special Drive Green savings...

Thank you Tucker Davis Yes, I want to thank the utility advisory board member Tucker Davis for his input on the rate hike for the utilities, especially when he brought up the cost of the $ 47,000 for a new city website. That is a "wanted" item, not a needed item. ...

By TOM UHLENBROCK Missouri State Parks ARROW ROCK, Mo. - In a December 1858 edition, the Marshall Weekly Democrat noted that artist George Caleb Bingham was returning to Missouri from Europe after completing paintings of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson...

At 1 p.m. Saturday the American Legion Post 630, located at 309 South Broadway, is having a benefit for area veterans. There will be an auction, bake sale, door prizes and karaoke. There will also be a barbecue pork steak plate for $7. Any questions call 1-573-872-9225...

By PAT BUCHANAN For a month now, the Saudi air force has been bombing Yemen to reverse a takeover of that nation of 25 million by Houthi rebels, and reinstall a president who fled his country and is residing in Riyadh. The Saudis have hit airfields, armor and arms depots, and caused a humanitarian catastrophe. ...

I recently voted to repeal the death tax and help put the American Dream back within reach for family farmers across southeast and southern Missouri. Since I was first elected to Congress, I have worked to get a vote on repealing the death tax for family farmers, including cosponsoring this important piece of legislation. ...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- In December, President Obama said that he wished to see Iran ultimately become a "very successful regional power." His wish -- a nightmare for the Western-oriented Arab states -- is becoming a reality. Consider:...

The administration and faculty of O'Neal Elementary announced the Students of Month for March. Maison Dennis is the son of Cindy Kelley and Robbie Dennis. He is a second grader in Ms. Shannon Miller's class. He enjoys playing with toys and singing. His favorite school subject is music class. He enjoys bowling with his dad. When he grows up Maison would like to teach music to kids...

Naylor Senior Center fundraiser Naylor Senior center is planning a fundraiser Friday, May 1. Serving starts at 4:30 p.m. Catfish or chicken strips with fries, baked beans, slaw, hushpuppies, essert and drink $8.00 a plate. Also, Senior Beta club will be having a bake sale to raise money. All proceeds will go to benefit the Senior Center...

An annual partnership between Poplar Bluff Schools and Special Olympics Missouri, the Southeast Area spring games were hosted April 17 at Fred M. Morrow Stadium featuring participation in track and field events from hundreds of athletes representing over a dozen counties...

There will be a fish fry at South Park in Puxico Saturday, May 9, from noon until 5 p.m. There will be fish, baked beans, French fries, slaw, hushpuppies, and your choice of tea or lemonade. The fish fry is sponsored by Vesta Club of Puxico OES Chapter 422...

Goldie Lafferty DEXTER, Mo.--Goldie Irene Lafferty, 90, of Bloomfield, died Monday, April 27, 2015 at her home. Visitation will be from noon - 2 p.m. today at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services follow at 2 p.m. in the Watkins & Sons Funeral Chapel in Dexter, with the Rev. Gary Hancock of Fagus officiating. Burial will follow in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery near Dexter, with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements...

Three minutes after breaking open a scoreless game, the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules had their momentum brought to a halt. A red card following some physical play near the sideline at Whiteley Park put Poplar Bluff down a player for the rest of the game in a crucial district contest...

By FRANK CAMPA Mo. Dept. of Conservation I know we are currently right in the middle of the 2015 spring firearms turkey season and some awfully good fishing opportunities, but, take the time to write this very important upcoming event down on your calendars...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Today is the 10th day of Missouri's spring turkey season, and by 8 a.m. this morning, hunters had tagged almost 27,000 birds. That's up just about 1,200 from a year ago at the same point in the season. For the first week, the harvest was up a tick from last year...

Zelma Taylor NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Zelma (Williamson) Taylor, 96, went to be with her Jesus Sunday, April 26, 2015, in Panama City, Fla. Zelma lived much of her life around Corning, Ark. and Naylor, Mo., where she was a homemaker and raised eight children. ...

The only thing that went well for the Poplar Bluff baseball team Tuesday was the fact that it wasn't Friday. The Mules committed a season-high five errors, leading to five unearned runs in the first two innings, and stranded eight base runners in a 7-3 loss to New Madrid County Central...

Anna Williams FISK, Mo. -- Anna L. Williams, 88, of Broseley, Mo., died Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at Westwood Hills Health & Rehabilitation Center at Poplar Bluff. She was born Dec. 28, 1926, at Fisk. She was a cook at Broseley and Twin Rivers School Districts for 33 years. She was a member of Black River General Baptist Church. She enjoyed going to the Broseley Senior Center and had served on the board for several years. She also enjoyed Cardinal Baseball...

LEOPOLD -- Trey Kirkpatrick tossed a five-inning no-hitter Tuesday afternoon as the Bernie Mules run-ruled Leopold 23-0. The junior had 13 strikeouts and only two runners reached on errors. "Trey threw the ball very well today," Bernie coach Darrin Shipman said. "We took a lot of good at bats. Hopefully we can continue to do that (Wednesday against Holcomb)."...

Hannibal- LaGrange Dean's List Local students on the Hannibal-LaGrange University Academic Dean's List for the ADVANCE Program's Fall 2014 semester are: Kody Okenfuss and Jessica Deffendall, Broseley; Kimberly Clayton,Dexter; Stacy Burris and Donna Clark, Fisk; Steven Briscoe, Donald Miller, and Amber Adams, Naylor; Ashley Janecek, Piedmont; Shannon Kelly, Jason Shupe, Josiah LaTrasse, Tristin Neel, Craig Darnell, Jacob Jordan, David Morgan, Bobbie O'Kelley, Julia Henson, Purity Williams, Cynthia Brown, Mallory Parr, Brenna Moots, Madison Russom, Myesha Prater, Amantha Tyler, Fallon Stewart, Alicia McAnulty, Zachary McAnulty, Lowell Williams, Juli Smith, Ashley Lyscas, Derek Pickens, Karen Romine, Dalton Battles and Tyler Darnell, Poplar Bluff; Matthew Wallace, Puxico; Jemmalee Anderson and Tiffany Dorris, Van Buren.. ...

CARTERVILLE, Ill. -- The Raiders matched their season low for hits in a doubleheader. Three Rivers scored one run Tuesday off nine total hits and was swept in its doubleheader with John A. Logan, 3-1, 5-0. Only Mineral Area, in a sweep in March, held the Raider offense to under 10 hits in a day...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Olympic star Jackie Joyner-Kersee met a capacity crowd at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Banquet on Tuesday, saying it was a great feeling to be back in Poplar Bluff. "It really is a great feeling, to see family and I have so many great memories here. There is just a lot of love here" said Joyner-Kersee...