Stories from Monday, August 10, 2015

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A local Facebook page is getting a lot of attention for its high-tech aerial video - producing some amazing images in the past few weeks of Poplar Bluff and surrounding areas. Employing a DJI Phantom 3 drone and video camera combo, Aerial PB since its inception last week has posted fly-overs of R-I school construction, Black River, historic downtown, traffic and other community landmarks...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff public schools saw its highest graduation rate in five years, according to figures recently released by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The R-I four-year graduation rate was 86.6 percent. That is the number of students who graduate in four years, 303 in 2015, divided by ninth grade class size, 350, and adjusted for transfers and other factors...

Free classes this month at Poplar Bluff Municipal Library offer area residents an introduction into basic computer skills, Facebook, email and many other programs which have become crucial in navigating today's society, according to library staff. "Many critical social services have moved online," said Shannon Mangrum, assistant library director...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer DEXTER, Mo. -- Marine Lance Corp. Riley David Raulston left Poplar Bluff to start his tour of duty in November 1967. Less than six months later, the 19-year-old was killed by an explosive device in the Quang Tri Province of South Vietnam...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer As of Saturday evening, Reynolds County authorities continued to look for a couple who fled from police on Thursday near Garwood, Mo. Nathan Edgar, 28, who is listed as having a Van Buren address in online court records, and Amber Ottwell, 24, who is listed as having a Belleview address in online court records, are wanted for questioning in the theft of a motor vehicle and other alleged crimes...

There will be a 50th wedding anniversary celebration for Dennis and Kay Smothers at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015 at First Baptist Church, 551 N. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, Mo. The Smothers were married July 31, 1965, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was a Navy Hospital Corpsman stationed at Great Lakes, Ill., when they married, but was later transferred to the Millington, Tenn. naval base...

Jenna Marie Thomas and Matthew Stephens Whitworth, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo., were married June 6, 2015 at First United Methodist Church in Poplar Bluff. Pastor Byron Beck conducted the double-ring ceremony. Parents of the bride are Steve and Laura Thomas of Kalamazoo, Mich...

During the months of July and August, matching funds grant checks for rural fire departments are being distributed by the Missouri Department of Conservation, Forestry Division staff. Checks for up to $4,000 were received by 186 fire departments which will help with the purchase of personal protective gear and fire fighting equipment for wildfire as well as structure fire suppression efforts. ...

Deadbeats or disabled Here's a little thing for our President. The thing to understand when it comes to the problem of social security disability -- the thing that the newspaper here locally said that the disability is going to run out of funds late next year. ...

By TERESA S. JOHNSON Director of Communications Three Rivers College What do you get when you put 28 people, ranging in age from 20 to 74 years, on a plane bound for New York City? A fantastic theater trip planned by Three Rivers College, Center Stage, and Tim Thompson, Tinnin Center Director...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- History books can be historic events, making history by ending important arguments. They can make it impossible for any intellectually honest person to assert certain propositions that once enjoyed considerable currency among people purporting to care about evidence...

Mia Harper Litterst is the name chosen by Harley Oona Trammel and Michael Edward Litterst of Poplar Bluff for their 6-pound, 5-ounce daughter born at 3:51 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015 at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Mia was 18 1/4 inches long...

Michael George Wingate MALDEN, MO.--Michael George Wingate, 60, of Clarkton, died Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation at 1 p.m., Monday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Bradshaw Chapel in Malden. Burial in Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton...

Allyson Nicole and Kyle Lee Huggins of Poplar Bluff have chosen the name Ty Jentry Huggins for their 3-pound, 15 ounces son born at 12:13 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, 2015 at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Ty was 17 inches long...

Elbert Wheatley Elbert "Bert" Wheatley, 74, of Piedmont, Mo., died Friday, Aug. 7, 2015, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be held 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont, Mo. Funeral services will follow at 4:30 p.m. in the Piedmont chapel. Burial will take place at Masonic Cemetery Piedmont...

A dangerous dog was reported at 8:28 a.m. Thursday in the 700 block of South Main. _ Johnny Griffin, 50, of Dexter, was arrested on a warrant at 1:50 a.m. Thursday on Cemetery Road. _ Steven Reinbott, 18, of Dexter, was arrested on a warrant at 11:35 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of Business US 60 and North Elm...

Simera N. Nagi, 32, of Bloomfield, was arrested on a warrant for resisting arrest. She was booked at the county jail and released on bond.

Jeffery D. Casey, 33, of the 600 block of Bearden, was booked at the Butler County jail Friday on suspicion of distribution of a controlled substance. _ Rickey L. Coble, 56, of Qulin, was booked at the Butler County jail Friday to serve shock time. _...

City firefighters responded at 2:16 p.m. Thursday to a gas meter struck by a vehicle. Crews remained on the scene while the gas company repaired the meter. _ County firefighters responded to a structure fire at 11 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of County Road 624 and Route F near Fisk. A cause of the fire has not been determined. The house was unoccupied...

A Bernie, Mo. woman was injured in a single-vehicle accident at 7:25 p.m. Friday in Stoddard County. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Evelyene M. Wheatley, 47, was treated at Saint Francis Medical for moderate injuries. Troopers reported the accident occurred on Highway 25 just south of Dexter when a 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe driven south by Wheatley ran off the right side of the road, was overcorrected, ran off the left side of the road, struck and embankment and overturned...

The start of the season is still two weeks away but the competition has already begun for high school athletes and coaches. It's fundraising time -- the Mule-athon if you will. Hundreds of cards with a Mules logo and discounts to area businesses for a donation have hit town...

Ronald Norman Reed Ronald Norman Reed, 63, of Poplar Bluff, died Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born Nov. 10, 1951, in Dexter. On Jan. 31, 1969, he married Bonnie Heaton Reed. She survives. They had two children...

A six-time state champion in hurdles, an all-state defensive back that served as captain of the Army football team and the Mules' fourth state championship golf team will be added to Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame. Tenisha (Britton) Miller, Kenny Rowland and the 1988 Mules golf team will be inducted in a ceremony Sept. 24 at Westwood Hills Country Club...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The father-son team of Jimmy and Carr Vernon are tied for third, two shots off the lead, heading into today's final round of the Missouri Golf Association's Four Ball Championship. The Poplar Bluff golfers shot 8-under-par 64 Saturday at Dalhousie Golf Club and are tied with Brevin Giebler of Cape Girardeau and Travis Simmons of Jackson...