Stories from Friday, March 18, 2016

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Three Rivers College Board of Trustees on Wednesday named Dr. Amber Richardson to fill the term left vacant by the February resignation of Ben Ressel. Richardson is a practicing psychologist in Poplar Bluff and the wife of Missouri House Speaker Rep. Todd Richardson...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Law enforcement personnel maintained a presence on the Doniphan R-1 School campus Thursday after a threat was called into the police department. "We received a call here at the (Doniphan) Police Department last night around 6:15 to 6:30," said a police spokesman. "It was a threat to the school, not a specific school, not a specific child or anything like that. ... There was nothing specific in the call at all."...

By EVAN HOLLEY Staff Writer In the wake of the Missouri's first documented case of the Zika virus, area health care professionals and elected officials are learning how to deal with it and other emerging diseases. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed March 4 that a Missouri man contracted the Zika virus on a recent trip to the Caribbean island of Haiti. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Three Wayne County residents were to appear in court this morning after their recent arrests on drug-related charges. Michael Dewayne Hayes and Katrina Jean Gaines, both of Greenville, and Ray Shelby Smith of Mill Spring were to be arraigned before Associate Circuit Judge Randy Schuller...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor GREENVILLE, Mo. -- A Zalma, Mo., man recently was ordered to stand trial in connection with the shooting death of a missing Bismarck, Mo., man whose body was found in Black River in Wayne County last January. Russell Dale Mayberry, 31, appeared before Associate Circuit Judge Randy Schuller Friday for a preliminary hearing on the Class A felony of first-degree murder, the unclassified felony of armed criminal action and the Class D felonies of abandonment of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence.. ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A kindergarten teacher, whose story of perseverance and dedication has inspired many in the district, has been named Poplar Bluff Public Schools Teacher of the Year for 2016. Superintendent Chris Hon says Fawn Luecke, an 18-year veteran in the classroom who currently teaches music and art at Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center, is a tremendous asset to the district and goes above and beyond in her commitment to students and the school community...

Fresh veggies make great grab-and-go food -- have carrots, celery sticks, broccoli florets, jicama sticks or other prewashed, ready-to-eat vegetables in small bags for a snack. Want to plant some of these veggies this spring? Consider growing carrots...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark -- A white-tailed deer in Ponca recently tested positive for chronic wasting disease, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The disease is fatal to deer and elk. The positive CWD test from a deer comes on the heels of an elk near Pruitt, about 12 miles east of Ponca, that was confirmed to have the disease Feb. 23. Both areas are in northern Newton County...

By CALEB PRYOR Mo. Dept. of Conservation If you have gotten the chance to be outside in the early morning, you have probably noticed that the turkeys are starting to gobble. Yes, spring has sprung and spring turkey season is just around the corner...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor The Heartland Gobblers chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation typically hosts one of the state's larger banquets each year, and Saturday's event at the Brown-Mabry American Legion Post No. 153 in Poplar Bluff, Mo., was no exception...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- Bernie Sanders is the most successful Jewish candidate for the presidency ever. It's a rare sign of the health of our republic that no one seems to much care or even notice. Least of all, Sanders himself. Which prompted Anderson Cooper in a recent Democratic debate to ask Sanders whether he was intentionally keeping his Judaism under wraps...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Over the long weekend before the Mississippi and Michigan primaries, the sky above Sea Island was black with corporate jets. Apple's Tim Cook, Google's Larry Page and Eric Schmidt, Napster's Sean Parker, Tesla Motors' Elon Musk, and other members of the super-rich were jetting in to the exclusive Georgia resort, ostensibly to participate in the annual World Forum of the American Enterprise Institute...

By TOM UHLENBROCK Mo. State Parks WARSAW, Mo. - Bryan Bethel walked to the edge of the bluff to admire the view from a new hiking trail at Harry S Truman State Park in west-central Missouri. A few turkey vultures circled just below and, below that, a single bass boat worked some snags on the shoreline of Truman Lake, which reflected the white clouds overhead...

While recent years have seen an overall decline in the number of strokes in the U.S., research published in the American Academy of Neurology Journal suggests the number of strokes among younger adults is actually on the rise, with about one in five victims now below the age of 55...

More than $8.5 million in prizes of $1,000 or more were awarded to Missouri Lottery players during February. Winners of $1,000 or more in February include the following from this area: Pick 4 winners: Club Keno winners: $25,000 Scratchers winners: Tonya Davis, Van Buren...

Folks attending the April 8 opening reception of "Art for Animals" will get a special treat this year. Roxie, a beautiful female Vizsla owned by Poplar Bluff dog trainer Linda Kush, will demonstrate her talents as an artist, doing an original painting on the spot. The "Unleashing" reception takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. at Artfully Framed in the Bluff Estates Shopping Center...

Greg's Auto wins bid for sheriff's car Butler County commissioners awarded a bid Friday to Greg's Auto Sales of Poplar Bluff for the purchase of a 2014 Dodge Charger for Butler County Sheriff's Department. Greg's Auto was the sole bidder for the project, said county clerk Tonyi Deffendall...

Another week of interesting activities is planned for Twin Towers beginning at 9 a.m., Monday, when the P.A.C.E. (People with Arthritis Can Exercise) in the Assembly Room. Tuesday, 8 a.m., the Tax Clinic will be in the Assembly Room to prepare taxes for free. Bring all the necessary documents. This is a first-come, first serve basis. Ken Thurman will entertain at 11 a.m. in the dining room. The "Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions" program continues at 1:30 p.m. in the Snider Room...

Derrick Thomas Struttmann UNION, Mo. -- Derrick Thomas Struttmann, 41, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Wednesday, March 9, 2016. The funeral was Monday, March 14, 2016 at Oltmann Funeral Home in Union with Rev. Mike Bone officiating. Burial followed privately in the Midlawn Cemetery in Union. Memorials may be given to American Legion Post #297...

Council giving money away After reading about the Eight Points debacle and now the NewWave cluster, maybe the Poplar Bluff City council should consider hiring some one to negotiate their contracts. Who in the world would agree to guarantee a company 12000 customers with a population of 18000. ...

By TOM UHLENBROCK Missouri State Parks MIAMI, Mo. - The American Indian tribe that became known as the Missouria had first choice, and they built their thatched lodges on the hills above a spring in the fertile Missouri River valley. They planted corn, beans and squash, and gathered roots and seeds from the wetlands below. The upland woods and prairies, and bottomland forests and river sloughs, provided a supply of otter, beaver, turtles, muskrat, deer, bison, fish and waterfowl...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Quite a few boats were on the water below the Clearwater Lake dam at daylight Tuesday, with anglers hoping to snag a big paddlefish on the opening morning of the season. Apparently, though, the paddlefish didn't get the memo...

Former students, family and friends are invited to help retired vocational agriculture teacher Orville Duane Allen celebrate his is 90th Birthday at a reception from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at the Hampton Inn located at 2420 Crestwood. Allen taught at the Neelyville schools for 36 years after opening the vocational agriculture department...

Donald Frey As part of the partnership with the Vietnam War Commemoration for the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, the Poplar Bluff Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution announces Donald R. Frey as a "Vietnam Veteran of the Month" for March...

Ronald Frey As part of the partnership with the Vietnam War Commemoration for the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, the Poplar Bluff Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution announces Ronald Frey as a Vietnam Veteran of the Month for March...

Poplar Bluff High School has named its Students of the Month. They are: Ninth grader Henry Traxel, son of Ben and Madawn Traxel, enjoys running, playing soccer, drawing and the traveling soccer team. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church Youth Group and has gone on mission trips with church groups. He also volunteers with Kinderhoops and the Bread Shed. Henry is on the Mules soccer team, track team and is active in the Mule Barn...

Derrick Thomas Struttmann -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mary Isabell McMillen -- Campbell, Mo. Geraldine Howard -- Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Mary Isabell McMillen MALDEN, Mo. -- Mary Isabell McMillen, 82, of Campbell, died Sunday, March 13, 2016, at her residence. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m., Thursday, at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will be at 2 p.m., Friday, at Bradshaw Chapel with Rev. Bill Garrett and Rev. Jack Allen officiating...

Geraldine Howard Geraldine Howard, 91, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at her residence. Mrs. Howard, the daughter of the late William and Josephine Rouse Fletcher, was born Aug. 9, 1924 in Kirksville, Mo. She was a member of the First Church of God. Mrs. Howard had worked as a cafeteria cook at Mitchell grade school. She enjoyed spending time with her family, reading and quilting...

Help care for Miller Creek/Alexander Cemetery Anyone interested in assisting with the care and upkeep of Miller Creek/Alexander Cemetery located near Williamsville may send contributions to: Miller Creek Cemetery c/o Junior Eads Route 1 Box 164 A Williamsville MO 63967...

Richard Ball NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Richard Louis Ball, 59, of Harviell, Mo., previously of Biloxi, Miss., passed away on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at his home. Mr. Ball was born on Dec. 29, 1956. He worked in house construction and previously had served in the Coast Guard. His hobbies included art, boating, music, traveling, and being with people. He was of the Pentecost faith and had attended West Point U.P.C. in Doniphan, Mo...

Hillview elementary school third quarter principal roll and third quarter A/B honor roll have been announced. Third quarter principal roll Second Grade: Maggie Adams, Nicole Akers, Reign Coston, Zak Cowley, Parker Ernst, Ruger Fisher, Shane Fisher, Leslie Guthery, Andrew Hall, Hayden Leach, Madelyn Lumby, Landon Lunsford, Darrion Mann, Miah Martin, Preston Morey, Brooklyn Piroli, James Robinson, Emma Sheehy, Corey Shipp, Raylyn Taylor, and Jamel Watkins...

The field is new, the dugout is different but not much else has changed for the Poplar Bluff baseball team. The Mules return everybody minus one starter from a team that reached the district final and won 18 games a year ago. They've moved into the new Strenfel Memorial Field, which debuts Monday, after playing three games starting Friday at East Carter...

For the Poplar Bluff girls soccer program, a fresh start is nothing new. Seniors Cassie Myers, Taylor Worley, Alyson Griffin, Maria Zavala, Courtney Peck and Destiny Wallace can all attest to that as each has played for two different coaches in three years...