Stories from Wednesday, October 21, 2015

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A Missouri Department of Agriculture investigation regarding two members of the National Guard and a resident reportedly sickened by spray from a crop duster in the spring of this year continues, officials say. "A thorough investigation by the Department of Agriculture includes contacting and interviewing all involved parties, collecting samples, sending them to a lab for analysis" with two staff members reviewing the results, said Public Information Officer Sarah Alsager.. ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer An 11-year-old boy suffering from an undiagnosed illness saw his biggest wish come true Saturday, thanks to the Poplar Bluff Masonic Youth and the Make A Wish Foundation. Markell McDaniels of Naylor has spent much of the past four years in and out of the hospital with a lung disease doctors have yet to pinpoint. His current medication has weakened his bones and caused spinal fractures...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A proposed rate increase that could generate about $14,000 in additional revenue for the Black River Coliseum Aquatic and Fitness Center has been brought to city officials. City council members discussed the proposal Monday and are expected to vote on the matter Nov. 2...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Talk by two Poplar Bluff entities brought officials no closer Monday to a decision on who should control the Municipal Utilities department and its approximately $48 million annual budget. The months-long debate has raised questions about how to prevent what some have called past mistakes in the spending of reserve dollars, and address other concerns over how much control city hall leadership has of ratepayer money in the future...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A photo exhibit on the history of the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library will begin touring the community this week. The exhibit offers a pictorial timeline stretching back to the library's origins. It is on display in advance of the organization's centennial to be celebrated in 2016...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Doniphan, Mo., man was sentenced to more than four years in federal prison Monday morning for illegally possessing handguns stolen from Dennis Outdoors and now will return to Butler County to face additional charges...

By MICHELLE MALKIN In Hollywood, anything is possible -- if you're a privileged femme fraudster with cover-up pals in all the right (or rather, left) places. Last week, upper-crust Manhattanite actress Lena Dunham dropped in at the Beverly Hills home of billionaire mogul Ron Burkle, who was co-hosting an event with Hanoi Jane Fonda, organized by the Rape Foundation, to honor her longtime friend and HBO "Girls" show producer, Judd Apatow...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN The honor of it all aside, Rep. Paul Ryan would do well to decline the speakership of the House. For it is a poisoned chalice that is being offered to him. The Republican Party is not, as some commentators wail, in "chaos" today. It is in rebellion, in revolt, as it was in the early 1960s when Barry Goldwater's true believers rejected Eisenhower Republicanism and Nelson Rockefeller to nominate the Arizona Senator for president...

Betty Jackson DEXTER, Mo. - Betty Jackson, 83, of Dexter, Mo., died Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015, at Mulberry Manor in Dexter. Visitation will be at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 20 at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. The funeral will follow at 1:00 p.m. ...

To the Editor: DIGITAL FLAWS: Digital signals only extend a few miles from the broadcast tower. And weather conditions can shut them off, also daylight hours often do the same. Converters are used to convert digital signals for analog TVs. However, they are only effective with strong channels. ...

Jacob Baumgardner Jacob H. Baumgardner, 90, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

FARMINGTON -- Poplar Bluff had four runners finish in the top 30 and took third as a team at the Farmington Invitational on Saturday. Isaiah Williams was the top finisher for the Mules. He took sixth in 17 minutes, 16 seconds. Ryan Parson of Farmington won the 3.1-mile race in 16:09...

Marvelene Riepe Marvelene Riepe, 79, of Poplar Bluff, died today at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

Bernie Leo Hopkins DONIPHAN, Mo. - Bernie Leo Hopkins, 76, of Doniphan, died Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015, at Southeast Health Center of Ripley County. Mr. Hopkins was born Aug. 7, 1939, to Dewey & Ruby (Sprouse) Hopkins in McDougal, Arkansas. He was a member of West Point Pentecostal Church and was a veteran in the U.S. Navy having served during the Korean War. Mr. Hopkins enjoyed spending time with family and traveling; he was a self-employed contractor...

James W. Hastings James W. Hastings, 90, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Saturday, Oct. 19, 2015 at the Manor in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Hastings was born Sept. 1, 1925 in Poplar Bluff and was orphaned at an early age. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff and had retired as a loan officer from Commerce Bank after 37 years of employment. ...

Health dept. receives $25K grant By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Butler County Health Department has received a $24,548 federal grant through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. "This grant will be used to provide training for first responders and health care providers in Butler and Ripley counties," said Robert Hudson, director of the Butler County Health Department who submitted an application during the competitive grant process...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- I repeat: Unless she's indicted, Hillary Clinton will win the Democratic nomination. I wrote that six weeks ago, amid fevered dreams of a Clinton collapse and a Joe Biden rescue. That those were a mirage is all the more obvious after Tuesday's debate. The reason, then as now, is simple: Clinton has no competition...

By MICHELLE MALKIN It's deja screwed all over again. In the fall of 2013, our family received notice from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Colorado that we could no longer keep our private health insurance plan because of "changes from health care reform (also called the Affordable Care Act or ACA)."...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Two persons were injured, a house was hit and five vehicles were damaged in two accidents at the intersection of Ninth and Lester streets Friday. Rachel Rose Conner, 11, of the 500 block of North Sixth Street was transported by ambulance to a hospital for treatment of injuries following the first crash at 6:15 a.m...

It has happened again. Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) caused another spill in Colorado. This time, it was gray water spilled into a creek while working to clean up the Standard Mine. The EPA did not immediately notify the community or affected elected officials...

Marvelene Riepe Marvelene Riepe, 79, of Poplar Bluff died Monday, Oct. 19, 2015, in St. Francis Medical Center at Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 18, 1935, at Hollywood, Mo. Marvelene was a nurse's aide and a foster grandparents at Eugene School. She was a member of the Abundant Life Christian Center...

Shirley Dyer NEELYVILLE -- Shirley Irene Dyer, 66, of Neelyville died Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in her home. Visitation will be 1-2 p.m. Wednesday in the Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville. A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Kinsey Cemetery near Harviell with Donnie Fowler officiating...

Shirley Ham DEXTER -- Shirley A. Ham, 80, of Bloomfield died Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Landmark Hospital at Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Kenneth Biggs officiating...

James Hastings correction James W. Hastings, 90, of Poplar Bluff died Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015, in The Manor at Poplar Bluff. The date was incorrect in Monday's edition.

Marvelene Riepe Marvelene Riepe, 79, of Poplar Bluff died Monday, Oct. 19, 2015, in St. Francis Medical Center at Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 18, 1935, at Hollywood, Mo. Marvelene was a nurse's aide and a foster grandparents at Eugene School. She was a member of the Abundant Life Christian Center...

Delores Barriner Delores Barriner, 57, of Poplar Bluff died Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Mt. Zion Cemetery. Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff is in charge of arrangements...

Willard Bales Willard Bales, 90, of Poplar Bluff died Monday, Oct. 19, 2015, at the VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Westwood Baptist Church. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the church with Pastor Steve Proctor officiating...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The second annual Nightmare at Kinyon School is a Poplar Bluff Kiwanis Club benefit to raise funds for playground equipment in Kiwanis Bacon Memorial Park. "All funds are being applied to the purchase of and installation of new toddler playground equipment and handicapped accessible playground equipment in the park. ...

BLOOMFIELD -- When Bloomfield freshman Bailey Below drilled a kill for the Lady Wildcats' first point, the student section, on cue, started chanting "She's a freshman!" By the time Below earned her ninth kill, the chant had grown up into "You can't stop her!"...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The Dexter volleyball team has put together its fair share of comebacks in the 2015 season and delivered again in the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 semifinal Monday. Dexter overcame a 20-15 first-set deficit, fought off a set point when trailing 24-23, and eventually secured a victory against Perryville. Dexter never trailed the second set as it jumped out to an 18-10 lead and hung on for a 27-25, 25-18 win...

BERNIE -- When Bernie senior Addie Shelton wasn't slamming kills on Monday, she was looking for Kayli Tanner at the net nearly every time the ball came her way. The junior middle hitter was ready and waiting for Shelton's sets all night. Tanner had a match-high 13 kills while Shelton chipped in nine and 12 assists to power the top-seeded Lady Mules to a 25-16, 25-15 victory over No. 4 Risco in a MSHSAA Class 1 District 2 semifinal...

Kent Hawkins MALDEN, Mo. -- Kent Hawkins, 64, of Arlington, Texas died Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at the Medical Center in Plano, Texas. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday and will continue until service time in the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. in the chapel. Burial will be in Memorial Park in Malden. The Rev. Aulden LeBlanc will officiate...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor QULIN -- The MFA Oil Foundation of Columbia has awarded a grant to Community Senior Citizens, Inc. of Qulin for the purchase of a full-size convection oven. Suzie Leutert, director of the Qulin Nutrition Center, is very thankful for the $2,000 grant...

The Black River Coliseum is undergoing a transformation this week. It takes a lot of work to turn the concrete-floored events center into a rodeo arena. Dirt has to be brought in, panels set up, shoots built and stakes arranged. Much of which will be handled by the Three Rivers rodeo team to get everything ready for its second Baldwin Automotive Raider Rodeo from Thursday through Saturday...

SIKESTON -- Kameron Misner scored both of Poplar Bluff's goals within the first 2 minutes, 30 seconds of the game to lead the Mules in a 2-1 victory over Sikeston on Monday night. Sam Cox scored his 19th goal of the season in the 26th minute for the Bulldogs (9-15-1) to make it a one-goal game at halftime...

The Raiders' weekend was a bit up and down. Or to be more accurate, it started down and ended up. The Three Rivers men's basketball team played a pair of jamborees over the weekend against six different opponents for nine individual games and went 4-4-1. Regardless of the score, the Raiders won the rebounding battle in every game...

MEADOW HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Greenville narrowly missed the MSHSAA Class 1 District 3 final. The third-seeded Lady Bears stayed within two points of second-seeded Leopold after taking the first game of the semifinal Monday, but a slow start to the decisive third game tipped the match in favor of the Wildcats, 20-25, 25-18, 25-17...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Baldwin Toyota has a totally new look and many more conveniences for its customers. Extensive remodeling of the showroom, customer lounge, service and parts areas has created a state-of-the-art facility for Toyota customers...

By ALEX WEST Staff Writer Affordability and comfort are the staples of Super 8 Motel in Poplar Bluff and new updates keep this fixture of the city contemporary as well. Super 8 has served travelers for more than 25 years providing budget hotel services at a location near major highways. According to owners Brandon and Ken Mcvey, the motel has begun renovations to make sure clients of today's age are comfortable and aesthetically pleased by the services they offer...