Stories from Saturday, November 21, 2015

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Additional help for the Health Services Program was requested during the Poplar Bluff R-1 School District Board of Education meeting Thursday night. "We had 73,323 visits to our health rooms last year. We are a busy, busy department," said Health Services Coordinator Sheryl Talkington, who is in her 22nd year with the district...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha knows from experience what the Boys and Girls Club of Poplar Bluff means to the children of the community. The all-star starter was a Boys and Girls Club member growing up in Texarkana. Wacha stole the show during the club's annual Steak and Burger event Thursday evening at the Black River Coliseum, which is its biggest fundraiser of the year...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A Poplar Bluff man is in jail after allegedly kicking a kitten 12-feet across a room in plain view of police. Poplar Bluff Police arrested Steven Watson, 53, of the 900 block of Cherry, at 1:25 p.m. Wednesday at his home on suspicion of animal abuse. He was booked at the Butler County Jail...

From Staff Reports Reynolds County Authorities are calling for volunteers as the search for a man believed missing in Black River enters day two. According to the Reynolds County Sheriff's Office, John Gutches, 49, left for work at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday and is believed to have been swept off the road by flood waters. His vehicle was recovered near Highway J and 49...

By BEN KLEINE SEMO News Service BENTON, Mo. -- An 18-year-old Thomas W. Kelly High School student was arrested Thursday on suspicion of bringing a gun and marijuana to school. Landon M. Urhahn, 18, of Benton, Missouri, has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon, misdemeanor possession of less than 35 grams of marijuana and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Clothes packed in garbage bags, with one toy each, the brothers had lived in three foster placements in the five months before they arrived at the home of John and Jackie McElhaney. The oldest was 3, the youngest a year and a half...

Look for stolen plates Please look for a car with Missouri License plates KB8D8S. If you see these plates please call the Poplar Bluff Police, Butler County Sheriff or Missouri Highway Patrol. They were among at least 12 to 14 plates stolen in the Poplar Bluff area Tuesday and Wednesday...

WASHINGTON -- Yale's president, Peter Salovey, dealt with the Crisis of the Distressing Email about Hypothetical Halloween Costumes about as you would expect from someone who has risen to eminence in today's academia. He seems to be the kind of adult who has helped produce the kind of students who are such delicate snowflakes that they melt at the mere mention of even a potential abrasion of their sensibilities...

The 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress report, also known as The Nation's Report Card, shows that U.S. educational achievement, to put it nicely, leaves much to be desired. When it comes to reading and math skills, just 34 percent and 33 percent, respectively, of U.S. ...

Michael Caldwell RAINSVILLE, Ala. -- Michael Caldwell, 58, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Nov. 16, 2015, in Centre, Ala. Private family services will be held in Alabama. Wilson Funeral Chapel in Rainsville, Ala. was in charge of arrangements.

To the Editor: As like many Missourians and Americans alike, we are facing an epidemic type, radical movement around the world. The Syrian Immigrants issue is of major proportion and the problems caused by it are causing even bigger concerns. I too am very upset with our Governor, Jay Nixon, who as we all know is a lame duck Governor, is one who, like President Obama, have reached their end when it comes to having supporters believe anything they say. ...

Betty Lou Nelson FISK, MO. -- Betty Lou Nelson, 65, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are pending with White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk, Mo. Condolences: www.whitesandersfuneralhome.com...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor After learning about the importance of recycling, five members of the local "Semo Robotics" Home School Team will compete in the First Lego League International Competition on the Southeast Missouri State University campus in Cape Girardeau Saturday...

Like a steam engine picking up momentum, the Lady Raiders started off painstakingly slow, and slowly played better and better. They eventually scored 37 points in the fourth quarter to run away with an 89-60 win over Lindenwood-Belleville JV on Thursday at the Bess Activity Center...

Lydia Fern Lee Lydia Fern Lee, 96, of Surprise, Ariz., and formerly of Poplar Bluff, died Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015 in Arizona. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Ronald Stage Ronald Stage, 71, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born April 23, 1944 in Yakima, Wash. to the late Orvil Stage and Mary Conner Stage. Mr. Stage was a life time resident of Poplar Bluff...

Deborah Paist SPRINGFIELD, MO.--Deborah Payne Paist, 58, of Springfield, departed this life Monday, Nov. 16, 2015. She died peacefully in her sleep in the new home she had just established in Springfield with her husband Richard. She was born on July 10, 1957 to Wanda (Bell) and B.J. ...

Evelyn Long Phelps Evelyn Long Phelps, 82, of Doniphan, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015 at Westwood Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was born Aug. 28, 1934 in Walnut Ridge, Ark., the oldest daughter of 13 children born to Claude and Vera Morrill Rennison of Minneapolis, Minn. They preceded her in death. There are four living sisters, four living brothers, two deceased sisters and two deceased bothers...