Stories from Wednesday, January 6, 2016

The University Of Missouri Extension Council of Butler County will elect eight people for a two-year term according to County Program Director, Phyllis Flanigan. Sixteen candidates have filed for the eight two-year terms. Voting begins today and continues through Jan. 16...

By BEN KLEINE SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Cape Girardeau man is accused of stabbing his father in back four times on New Year's Eve. What supposedly sparked the attacker's ire was his mother asking him to wear a different shirt. Cape Girardeau police went to the 2500 block of Saddlegate Court about 6:15 p.m. and saw Michael D. Croyle, 26, on his stomach with his father lying on top of him, according to a probable-cause statement from officer Brett Hellmann...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer More than 20 homeowners on streets north of Hillcrest Park have expressed interest in joining a flood buyout program for an area that saw high water last week. Work on the nearly $1 million buyout began several months ago, according to information provided Monday to Poplar Bluff City Council members...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Members of the electric department's union will receive a 2 percent pay increase this year and a 4 percent raise next year, according to a vote Monday by the Poplar Bluff City Council. The raise for 2016 is the same as that approved by the council for all city employees...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Flooding in the St. Louis area has temporarily halted Amtrak passenger train service to Poplar Bluff and other problems have caused delays at other times. Due to flooding of Union Pacific Railroad tracks in the St. Louis area, Amtrak had to bus passengers, starting Dec. 30, between St. Louis and Little Rock and between St. Louis and Kansas City. The bus did not go through Poplar Bluff or Walnut Ridge, Ark., but took Interstates 40 and 55...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Presidential campaigns inflate expectations that power wielded from government's pinnacle will invigorate the nation. Thus campaigns demonstrate that creationists threaten the creative ferment that produces social improvement. Not religious creationists, who are mistaken but inconsequential. It is secular creationists whose social costs are steep...

The Bank of Missouri has received 5-Star "Superior" from BauerFinancial, Inc., an independent bank rating company. This is the 17th straight quarter they have achieved this rating. The Bauer rating is based on a complex analysis of financial criteria, including capitalization, asset quality, profitability, liquidity and risk. The 5-Star Rating indicates The Bank of Missouri is both financially sound and has the resources to deal with a variety of adverse economic conditions...

Donald David Conner QULIN, Mo. - David Conner, 61, of Qulin, went to be with the Lord on Jan. 1, 2016. He was born April 23, 1954 in Qulin, Mo. and was the son of Elmer and Jamima (Winingnear) Conner. Mr. Conner was preceded in death by his father Elmer Conner and brother Mike Conner. ...

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."...

The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce currently is taking applications for its 2016 Gateway to Leadership program. It is an innovative community program designed to identify and motivate emerging and/or relocated leaders and to develop their potential for community leadership roles by acquainting them with the opportunities, realities and challenges of the community. ...

By ALEX VEIGA AP Business Writer The U.S. stock market took investors for a wild ride in 2015, but in the end it was a trip to nowhere. Despite veering between record highs and the steepest dive in four years, the stock market ended the year essentially flat, delivering the weakest performance since 2008. That means if you invested in a fund that tracks the Standard & Poor's 500 index, you have little to show for the past 12 months...

Kirk Mondy of the Ozark Federal Credit Union has been selected as one of inaugural board of directors of the Heartland Credit Union Association. The association is a new organization launched Jan. 1 and formed about three months ago by member credit unions of both the Kansas Credit Union Association (KCUA) and Missouri Credit Union Association (MCUA) who voted to consolidate and form the new entity: Heartland Credit Union Association and Shared Financial Solutions...

NAYLOR -- Throughout most of Campbell's rout of Naylor, Justin Storey couldn't miss. The 6-foot-3 senior made his first four shots and had a team-high 17 points and six rebounds, helping the Camels ring in the New Year with an 83-58 road victory Monday night...

Freta I. Hager Freta I. Hager, 83, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Hager, daughter of the late O. E. and Marie (Walters) Greenwood was born Dec. 4, 1932 in Butler County. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church and was a homemaker. She had also retired after over 30 years with H. W. Gossard Women's Apparel as a seamstress and served as a tourguide for Robbins Tours...

Mary L. Hayes Mary L. Hayes, 67, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Hayes was born Feb. 3, 1948 in Odessa, Mo. She was retired from Butler County Health Department. She was married to Gene Hayes. He preceded her in death...

Curtis Whitlock Sr. Curtis Dean Whitlock Sr., 75, of Poplar Bluff passed away Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, at his home. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Calvary Baptist Church on Victor Street in Poplar Bluff with the Rev. Shelvie Shephens officiating. Interment will take place in Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo...

Anita Marie Tanksley Anita Marie Tanksley, 62, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015 at her residence. She was born Nov. 13, 1953, in Louisiana, to the late James and Annie (Stark) Brumley. She was a devoted worker for WalMart over 35 years and was a member of the South Poplar Bluff General Baptist Church. She loved her grandchildren, going to church, and reading...

Bessie Poyner CORNING, Ark. -- Mrs. Bessie Pauline Poyner, 90, of Corning, passed away Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016 at Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. Born March 4, 1925 in Corning, Mrs. Poyner was a homemaker. She enjoyed spending time with her family, painting, shopping, listening to country music and going to Branson shows. She was a member of the Church of Christ...

Depending on how you look at it, Three Rivers softball coach Jack Childress has either signed the final player of this year's freshman class, or the first player from this year's senior class. DeSoto's Wiley Lowry has chosen to graduate a semester early and recently signed with the Lady Raiders. She will be eligible when the season starts in late February...

Doris Carroll DEXTER, Mo.-- Doris Carroll, 72, of Dexter, died Friday, Jan., 1, 2016, at the Golden Living Center in Bloomfield. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m., Tuesday at the Methodist Church in Bernie. Funeral services will follow at 6 p.m., Tuesday in the Methodist Church with Rev. Susan Marner-Sides and Rev. David Fowler officiating...

Shannon Morgan Shannon Keith Morgan, 90, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Jan. 1, 2016, at Westwood Hills Health Care Center. He was born in Arab Mo. December 2, 1925 to the late Ernest Morgan and Opal Rowe Morgan., He was of the Methodist faith. He married Anna Lee Hendrix on December 11, 1949. She survives...

Angela Jane Pearson Former Mayor and Ward 1 Councilwoman, Angela Jane (Cox)Pearson, 32, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, at her home surrounded by loved ones, following a 9-month battle with stage 4 melanoma cancer. Angelawas born March 18, 1983 in Kingsport, Tenn.She was largely known by the community as the youngest mayor in Poplar Bluff history, loved by many for her outspoken approach to local politics. ...

William "Bill" Spease William "Bill" Spease, 74, of Naylor, Mo. died Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016 at his home. A memorial visitation and memorial service were Tuesday at Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel. Bro. Kevin Murray officiated.

WARDELL, Mo. -- Cody Randol sank a game-high 21 points to lead Neelyville in a 56-40 win over North Pemiscot Monday on the road. Randol hit a 3-pointer, made 6 of 9 from the free throw line and added an assist. Rashawn McComb chipped in 10 points and Tyler Turner added eight points and a game-high six rebounds...

Freta Hager Freta Hager, 83, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

Shannon Keith Morgan flag Shannon Keith Morgan, 90, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Jan. 1, 2016, at Westwood Hills Health Care Center. Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m., Wed. Jan. 6 at Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home Chapel in Poplar Bluff. A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. at Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Online condolences: http://www.fitchhillisfh.com...