Stories from Thursday, December 31, 2015

Third of a four-part series City politics again was the big news in the third quarter. The City Council unanimously voted to hire Mark Massingham as city manager to replace Heath Kaplan, who was fired. And, Jack Rushin resigned his seat on the City Council rather than fight a nepotism charge. ...

By DONNA FARLEY and DAVID SILVERBERG Staff Writer A woman may have contracted hypothermia after becoming stranded in a vehicle this morning in flood waters on Highway 53, according to area first responders. The individual was taken by ambulance to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center for treatment...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A Bismarck, Mo. man faces serious charges after allegedly forcing his way into a local daycare, pulling blankets off sleeping children and taking his child to another county in apparent violation of a custody agreement. Casey J. Rayfield, 28, was arrested by Iron Mountain Police in St. Francois County, Mo., Tuesday on suspicion of first-degree burglary and child abduction for his suspected actions at the daycare, class B and D felonies, respectively...

Voter feeling the 'Bern' In terms of the 'liberal' vs. 'socialism' argument, a distinction must be made. The two realms involved are the economic realm and the social realm. So, the continuum for social issues ranges from liberal to conservative, and the continuum for economic issues ranges from communism to capitalism, with socialism in between...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- When the federal government's 1980 "Dietary Guidelines for Americans" warned about the baleful effects of saturated fats, public interest activists joined the fight and managed to persuade major food companies to switch to the shiny new alternative: trans fats. Thirty-five years later, the Food and Drug Administration finally determined that trans fats are not just useless but unsafe, and ordered them removed from all foods. Oops...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN On Jan. 1, 2002, the day that euro coins and banknotes entered into circulation, my column, "Say Goodbye to the Mother Continent," contained this pessimistic prognosis: "This European superstate will not endure, but break apart on the barrier reef of nationalism. For when the hard times come, patriots will recapture control of their national destinies from Brussels bureaucrats to whom no one will ever give loyalty or love."...

To the Editor: After all the hand wringing about various attacks on Americans, it is past time for some factual statements concerning Muslims, aka Islamist, aka "a peaceful religion." First and foremost, Muslim's are NOT just a religious organization, but in fact are a form of totalitarian government whose entire aim is to either make everyone else "convert" to be a Muslim or kill them. There is no in between, You either bow to the Quran's teachings or DIE!...

The host Mules felt fortunate to be down just four heading into halftime Tuesday in the consolation semifinal of the 29th Poplar Bluff Showdown. Then, the 3-point shots started to fall for Memphis Central. The Warriors sank three during a 15-3 run to open the third quarter, added two more in the frame and pulled away to beat Poplar Bluff 65-51 at Peters Gym...

LeRoy Pickens DONIPHAN, Mo. -- LeRoy Pickens, 88, of Doniphan died Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015, at his residence in Doniphan. Visitation was Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015 at Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan and the funeral service was the morning of Wednesday Dec. 30 at Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan with Bro. Randy Miller and Bro. Jeff Jacobs officiating. Burial was in Towles Cemetery with full military honors...

It probably goes without saying, but more than half a foot of rain over the weekend has pretty much shut down outdoor activities. Anglers and duck hunters were affected the most, though access to a lot of areas for bowhunters also likely was cut off...

After 33 years as a public servant with the U.S. Forest Service, Doug Oliver is calling it a career when he leaves his office for the final time Thursday. "It's bittersweet," he said as he looked back over his career and the years ahead of him. "And, it's a bit scary."...

Tom Crutchfield Tom Crutchfield, 78, of Poplar Bluff died on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Arrangements are pending with Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

With the ending of the Alternative Methods Deer Hunting Season on Tuesday and all this rain and water, the main game right now for an outdoorsman is most definitely waterfowl hunting. If you are a waterfowl hunter, I have to ask, do you have a printed copy of the 2015-2016 Waterfowl Hunting Digest? How could anyone follow the rules of the sport without reading them and knowing them. ...

MEMPHIS -- Over the Christmas break, Three Rivers Lady Raiders coach Jeff Walk watched of lot of his team's games from the first semester. It seemed to him that the Lady Raiders were having trouble scoring off of offensive rebounds. So in their three days of practice before playing Wallace State on Tuesday, the Lady Raiders worked on grabbing the rebound, getting the ball reversed and shooting the 3...

Dena Starling Dena Starling, 40, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015 at her home. Arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- The Raiders ended up on the losing side of their first overtime game of the season. Three Rivers' shooting went cold at the end of regulation and allowed four offensive rebounds in overtime before falling 103-98 to host Monroe in the Monroe College Classic on Tuesday...

Patricia A. Smith Patricia A. Smith, 75, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015 at her residence. Ms. Smith was born June 24, 1940 in Qulin, Mo. to the late George and Lubell (Kilgore) Ford. She was a member of Westwood Baptist Church and had retired after 26 years as a R.N. for Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Ms. Smith enjoyed spending time with her family, crocheting, fishing and working puzzles, but most of all she enjoyed her nursing career and helping people...

Kylie Rae Weaver Kylie Rae Weaver, seven-month-old daughter of Kadi Joann Toole and Ricky Weaver of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015 at her resident. The visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday at Cornerstone Tabernacle United Pentecostal Church with the funeral service following at 2 p.m...

Shirley Hanser DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Shirley Ann Lorance Hanser, 85-year-old resident of Gatewood, Mo., departed this life Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015 at her daughter's residence in Soldotna, Ark. Mrs. Hanser was born April 29, 1930 to the late Bernard and Mary Proctor Lorance...

Devin Jeffery Richardt Devin Jeffery Richardt, 25, of Arnold, Mo., went home to be with the Lord on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2015. He was born Aug. 31, 1990 in Poplar Bluff, Mo., to Mary Angela Richardt. She loves him more than life itself. He is the beloved brother of Nick J. Jackson, Destanie M. Gruver, brother-in-law to Bradly Gruver, admired uncle to four loving nephews, wonderful grandson, nephew, cousin and caring friend to all. He is so missed and will never be forgotten...

BLOOMFIELD -- Dexter coach Josh Dowdy gave Gabe Jackson the green light to shoot and shoot often Tuesday night. The Bearcats' offense began and ended with the 6-foot-4, 230-pound sophomore, and Malden found that out the hard way, becoming Dexter's latest upset victim...

BLOOMFIELD -- Bloomfield had something to prove and Doniphan had something to learn. The host and top-seeded Wildcats, upset after being upset in the quarterfinals, jumped ahead in the first quarter with physical defense that the Dons weren't ready for Tuesday...

BLOOMFIELD -- A strong fourth quarter ended Bernie's tournament run and gave No. 9 Twin Rivers a 65-53 win Tuesday during the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament consolation semifinal. Chance Wilkerson led the Royals with 22 points and was one of five players, who helped the Royals (7-4) close out the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run to seal a close game...

DYERSBURG, Tenn. -- Poplar Bluff didn't allow a point until the second quarter as the Lady Mules advanced to the fifth-place game at the Lady Trojans Christmas Tournament. Autumn Dodd scored nine of her game-high 14 points in the opening quarter as Poplar Bluff beat Hayti 64-13 Tuesday afternoon...

Vashon kept missing shots and Kenmore kept rebounding Tuesday night in the semifinal of the 29th Poplar Bluff Showdown. The Broncos advanced to the final in their first appearance at Peters Gym with a 58-48 win over Vashon following an overtime win in the opening round...