Stories from Friday, May 15, 2015

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A new Downtown event, "Music on Main," will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday and continue for eight hours. "We will have 15 bands performing on two stages on Main Street. They will play country, rock, blues and pop music," said Penny McGath, executive director of Downtown Poplar Bluff Inc...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A special prosecutor was appointed Wednesday to investigate accusations of nepotism made against Poplar Bluff City Council member Jack Rushin. Ripley County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kasey Proctor was named to handle the case in a court order signed by Presiding Judge Michael Pritchett...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Wheatley Historic Preservation Association is hosting Heritage Fest 2015 from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the historic Wheatley School, 921 Garfield St. Purpose of this program is to honor individual contributions of heritage in the following categories -- academics, business, church, community, gospel music and sports...

They got us hornswoggled Hello, Speak Out. I've been watching the news the last couple of days on the television and I just wondered if anybody has done any research that would let us know as a country how many fraternities have been shut down and how many people have been fired from their job and how many people have been expelled from school for using the term, "honkie" and "whitey" and "pig"?...

Regina Vannasdall Regina Louise Vannasdall, 53, of Bernie, formerly of Malden, died Wednesday, May 13, 2015, at her residence. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday, at the Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. Friday in the funeral home chapel with Bro. Jerry Williams officiating...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- America's smallest state -- one Nevada county is nearly eight times larger -- has the longest name: In a 2010 referendum, voters kept the official title, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The state also has a dark-horse presidential candidate who is the only Democratic candidate so far who can shoe a horse. "Put a blacksmith in the White House" could be Lincoln Chafee's slogan...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Twelve area students were among those recognized for their projects during the 67th Annual Southeast Missouri District TEAM competition. TEAM stands for Technical Education Association of Missouri (moteam.org). This is the 15th year Three Rivers College has held the competition on its campus...

Lillian Crass VAN BUREN -- Lillian Marie Crass, 94, of Van Buren died Monday evening May 11, 2015 at her home. A visitation will be held from 1-3 p.m. Monday, May 18, at McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren follow by a graveside service will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the Van Buren City Cemetery...

As the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library prepares to celebrate its Centennial Year in 2016, the library is offering copies of an historical drawing and photographic calendars for sale. The library prints are from the original 1935 architectural drawing by Pleitsch and Price Architects of St. Louis. The original drawing was damaged due to age and lamination. As a result, the drawing had creases and had become indistinct...

Clearwater's DayVon Slack will keep his commitment to Mineral Area College despite the recent exit of coach Corey Tate. Slack signed with Mineral Area recently, before Tate accepted an offer to be an assisstant coach at the University of Missouri. Clearwater coach Andy Beck said Slack will still attend Mineral Area in the fall...

After playing to a scoreless tie through 80 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods, Poplar Bluff and Notre Dame refused to separate themselves -- until the fifth kicker of the ensuing penalty kicks. That's when second-year Poplar Bluff coach Nick Toniazzo made one of the toughest decisions of the season...

James Bryant "PeeWee" Miller WAPPAPELLO -- James Bryant "PeeWee" Miller, 87, of Wappapello, Mo., died Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Miller was born March 13, 1928 in Honey Grove, Texas to the late John and Maggie (Neeley) Miller. He was of the Baptist faith; and had retired as a hospital dock and maintenance supervisor in Elgin, Ill. Mr. Miller enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, flea marketing, fishing and hunting...

County firefighters responded to a dumpster fire at 9:35 p.m. on County Road 468. The fire was contained to the dumpster.

ORAN -- Following a nine-day layoff the Poplar Bluff baseball team knocked off the cobwebs to prepare for the postseason. Logan Misner, Brandon Stuckenschneider and Dalton Cooper each drove in two runs as the Mules won their fourth straight, beating Oran 9-3 Wednesday...

Carolyn Newkirk Puryear Carolyn Newkirk Puryear, 68, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday morning May 10, 2015, in Springfield. She was born Feb. 1, 1947, in Poplar Bluff, daughter of Velma and Bert Newkirk. Carolyn was a very caring, loving, giving, unselfish, and hard-working Christian mother. ...

Chris and Chelsea Smith of Poplar Bluff have chosen the name Aubrey Anne Smith for their 8-pound, 13-ounce daughter born at 1:25 p.m., Friday, April 10, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Aubrey was 20 inches long. Grandparents are Martin and Patti Elkins of Fagus and Louie and Carolyn Smith of Poplar Bluff...

Zachariah A. Parish, 19, of Piedmont, was arrested at 1 a.m. Wednesday in Wayne County on suspicion of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. He was placed on a 24-hour hold at the county jail. _ Tina R. Eads, 44, of Piedmont, was arrested at 1 a.m. Wednesday in Wayne County on suspicion of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. She was placed on a 24-hour hold at the county jail...

A utility trailer containing disaster supplies was reported stolen sometime in the past six weeks from Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center Westwood campus. _ A Poplar Bluff woman reported at 7:50 a.m. Tuesday that during the past few days someone stole a blank check from her home and cashed it in the amount of $900...

Charles Green, 34, of the 600 block of Kinzer, was arrested at 2:14 a.m. Monday near the intersection of Sixth and Cedar on a probation and parole warrant. He was booked at the Butler County jail. _ Brandon R. Howell, 21, of the 100 block of Mozart, was arrested at 4 p.m. Saturday in the 700 block of West Davis on suspicion of trespassing. He was booked at the Butler County jail...

Ryan E. Parker, 22, of the 100 block of Ridgetop Lane, was booked at the Butler County jail Tuesday to serve shock time. _ Hollie M. Riggins, 39, of the 1600 block of Highway 142, was booked at the Butler County jail Tuesday on suspicion of disturbing the peace...

Jonathan B. Butler, of Dexter, was arrested at 3:10 p.m. Tuesday in the 400 block of West Elk on a failure to appear warrant for fine payment. _ Leaving the scene of an accident was reported at 10:26 p.m. in the 900 block of Poplar Street. _ An animal running loose was reported at 10:56 a.m. Tuesday in the 900 block of Speciality Drive...

Blake A. Hardy, 21, of Dexter, was arrested on warrants for driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of the accident. He remains in jail at this time. _ Candi M. Rodger, 34, of Advance, was arrested on a warrant for possession of a controlled substance. She remains in jail at this time...

GREENVILLE -- Jake Dorris belted a 2-run home run to lead Greenville to a 10-5 win over state-ranked Bell City at home Wednesday. Junior Blakeney Kearbey picked up the win on the mound for the Bears (19-1). He pitched five innings, allowed one earned run on five hits and blasted a triple for the No. 2 ranked team in Class 2...