Stories from Tuesday, June 23, 2015

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff made the top 50, coming in at number 39, in the 2015 Niche Best Towns to Raise a Family in Missouri report. Niche uses crime rates, school ratings, access to services, census data and other demographics to compile the "Best Towns" report. Cities with a population of more than 100,000 are excluded...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Despite a social media braggadocio that he "never ran from a gun" on the Poplar Bluff Police Facebook post seeking his whereabouts, Randy A. Wynn, was apprehended without incident early today. Authorities arrested Wynn, 31, of the 1300 block of Mill Street, at 9:40 a.m. ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A class at O'Neal Elementary is taking a step back in time this summer to learn about the prehistoric world. Karen Hogg's second-grade students are currently studying paleontology. As part of their course, they created and unearthed a number of "dinosaur eggs" and other fossils...

Do survey on bond rate Speak Out item about the city being ripped off got me to wondering. A survey about what people think happened regarding this issue could really be helpful. What the people think is the true story about this bond rate of eight percent that we're told is costing the city around $50,000 a month. What's the bond for? Is the city paying six percent too much interest?...

Patricia Williams Patricia Williams, 52, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, June 21, 2015, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending with the Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- In January, McDonald's, leaning against the winds of fashion, said kale would never replace lettuce on its burgers. In May, however, it said it will test kale in a breakfast meal (breakfast is about 25 percent of McDonald's sales). Kale might or might not cause construction workers to turn at 6 a.m. into McDonald's drive-through lines, where approximately two-thirds of McDonald's customers place their orders...

Violet Mae Lettington PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Violet Mae Lettington, 85, of Piedmont, died Sunday, June 21, 2015, at Parkland Health Center, Farmington, Mo. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont.

To the Editor: The family of SSgt. Eric Summers would like to thank all who made the 2nd Annual SSgt Eric Summers Play for Honor Golf Tournament and Silent Auction a success. We would not have been able to raise funds for the Butler County Veterans' Memorial Wall without you. ...

Ruth A. Malcolm PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Ruth A. Malcolm, 74, formerly of Des Arc, Mo., died Saturday, June 20, 2015, at Forsyth Nursing and Rehab Center, Forsyth, Mo. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont.

By JAY AMBROSE Tribune News Service In their policy views, Republicans keep singing the same old song, one that spells disaster. That's what Hillary Clinton said during her presidential announcement speech the other day, and then she warbled on about such issues as the minimum wage, unfairness to women, climate change, speech restrictions, the need for more new programs and income inequality _ all tunes brand new for Democrats, right?...

Joseph Fortner Jr. PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Joseph R. Fortner Jr., 50, died Saturday, June 20, 2015, at his home near Des Arc, Mo. Arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont.

Clara E. Jones Clara Esther Jones, 83, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Tuesday, June 16, 2015, at Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 9, 1931, in Malden to the late Luke Fowler and Grace (Perkins) Fowler. She was of the Pentecostal belief. She enjoyed sewing and canning...

Saturday at Huntington Pool, Poplar Bluff TEAM -- Sikeston 533; Farmington 389; Poplar Bluff 308; Scott City 7. x- denotes exhibition swimmer 6-UNDER GIRLS 50-METER FREESTYLE -- x-Samiya Anders, 1:18.32; 9. Maclaren Moore, 1:28.81; x-Willa Moore, 1:30.31;...

The Missouri Department of Transportation urges drivers to use extreme caution while traveling through these work zones this week. BUTLER CO. Southbound U.S. 67 between Butler County Roads 340 and 352 will be reduced to one lane from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday as MoDOT crews do bridge maintenance work...