Stories from Saturday, March 19, 2016

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff R-I Board of Education members approved bids for upcoming work at the elementary schools, a new food policy, health insurance and other items during the March regular meeting on Thursday. While all three bids for projects at the elementary schools came in lower than the $2.1 million estimate, Zoellner Construction, based in Perryville, Mo., was awarded the contract with a bid of $1,586,997...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor DONIPHAN, Mo. -- A Doniphan man remains in jail after being charged earlier in the week with pistol-whipping a man who gave him a ride home. Ronnie Dean Brawner, 39, was charged with the Class B felony of first-degree assault, the unclassified felony of armed criminal action and the Class C felony of second-degree assault by Ripley County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kacey Proctor...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Don't let a lack of cash keep you from being pampered and beautiful, one of Poplar Bluff's best kept secrets has you covered. And it's a win-win situation for the community, who by using the services are helping the students gain needed experience to propel their careers forward...

BY PAT PRATT Staff Writer Oak Grove Elementary student Carson Todd won the Missouri Association for Family and Community Education (MAFCE) essay contest among participating fourth grade classes in Butler County. MAFCE President Edna Crain says the yearly essay contest is designed to promote good manners in young children, a concept that she says has fallen by the wayside in recent times. This year's essay topic was fairness...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Poplar Bluff will host a free pesticide collection March 26, the second of six statewide events to help farmers and households get rid of unwanted chemicals. Events like this have collected nearly 200,000 pounds of waste pesticide since 2012, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources...

Vernon M. Patterson NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Another World War II hero is gone Vernon M. Patterson, 93, was welcomed into heaven Monday, March 14, 2016. A native of Wardell in Southeast Missouri, Vernon was a World War II Army veteran who was very proud of his service to his country. ...

Bryson Burns only needed one shot to prove he was ready for the next level. He got it in a tryout of sorts just three weeks before signing day. Soccer ID camp's were formed to provide aspiring soccer players a snapshot of the collegiate game in a challenging and competitive environment, and the Poplar Bluff senior took full advantage of one in January...

Trynt Tompkins added his name to an impressive list earlier this year. Tompkins became one of five Greenville seniors to further their baseball careers when he signed his National Letter of Intent with Mineral Area College. "It kind of puts a good confidence on the team that almost every kid in your class, and a couple others, are good enough to play at the next level," Tompkins said. "It puts a good perspective on how great we've all been together as a team."...

Wayne Hargrave PUXICO, Mo. -- Wayne Hargrave, 79, son of the late Richard and Wilmoth Morton Hargrave, was born in Sturdivant, Mo. on July 20, 1936, and passed away at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Wednesday, March 16, 2016...

Wayne Duley...

Alex Jarvis doesn't show up on Three Rivers' NJCAA stats page from last season. The walk-on from Jonesboro, Ark., didn't record an at-bat, didn't throw a pitch and didn't complete an out. As a sophomore this past fall, Jarvis chose to give up softball and concentrate on music. She played the lead Suzy Hendrix in Three Rivers' most recent musical, "Wait Until Dark."...

Melvin Hicks Jr. Melvin Hicks Jr., 86, of Ozark, Ark. passed away Wednesday, March 9, 2016 in Fort Smith, Ark. He was born June 20, 1929 in Greenville, Mo. to the late Melvin Alton Hicks and Dessie Viola Lincoln-Hicks. Melvin was a Veteran of the U.S. ...

John Crawford John Bob Crawford, 87, of Harrison, Ark., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Sunday, March 13, 2016 in Harrison. Mr. Crawford, the son of the late Clyde and Isabell Stokes Crawford, was born May 16, 1928 in Wayne County, Mo. He was a member of Burlington Baptist Church in Burlington and was the former owner and operator of Vernon's Farm Implement Company in Poplar Bluff. He enjoyed spending time with his family, gardening, being outdoors and going to farm auctions...

Joseph "Joe" Hutchason DEXTER, Mo. -- Joseph "Joe" Hutchason, 94, of Dexter, died Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m., Sunday, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m., Sunday, in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Dr. Barry Winders officiating. Burial will follow in the Dexter Cemetery...

Della Yvonne Iler Della Yvonne Iler, 51, of Oxly, Mo., died, Thursday, March 17, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be from 2 - 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 20, 2016 in the Moore Funeral Service Chapel in Poplar Bluff. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com...

Terry Eugene Williams MALDEN, Mo. - Terry Eugene Williams, 56, of Risco, Mo., died Wed., March 16, 2016 at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be at noon, Sat. March 19 at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Mark Powell officiating. Burial will be in Rosewood Cemetery in Malden. Bradshaw Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

Joe "Mighty Joe" Casey Joe Harold "Mighty Joe" Casey, 83, of Greenville, Mo., passed away Thursday, March 17, 2016 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Joewas born August 8, 1932, in Kennett, Mo., to Jesse V. Casey and Beatrice Viola (Shelton) Casey...

Martha Vilene Eaton Martha Vilene Eaton, 98, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at Oakdale Care Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Eaton, the daughter of the late Joseph Eldon and Hixie Mae Howard Pigg, was born July 6, 1917 in Cool Springs, Mo. She was a member of Westside Church of God and was a homemaker. Mrs. Eaton loved to spend time with her family...

David Wayne Durham DEXTER, Mo. -- David Wayne Durham, 64, of Campbell, died Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at Malden Nursing and Rehab in Malden. Visitation will be after 1 p.m. Friday at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Chapel in Dexter. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m., Friday, at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Chapel in Dexter, with Rev. Bob Taylor officiating...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer An overhaul to Poplar Bluff fire codes before the city council Monday could add new permit requirements for commercial buildings. The changes would update the codes by 12 years and bring them into line with building code changes made last year, said fire chief Ralph Stucker...

By MARK DAVIS The Dallas Morning News via Tribune News Service The choruses are warming up. On one set of risers, the voices demanding immediate Senate consideration of Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama's Supreme Court pick. Opposite them, voices insisting against hearings, so that voters may have a say on the choice to be made by a president elected late this year...

By EVAN HOLLEY Staff Writer Ground will soon be broken on a brand new $2.1 million Pepsi distribution center in Poplar Bluff. Pepsi Mid-America expects to add more than 30 jobs as it expands and relocates to a 15 plus-acre facility located on the West Outer Road near U.S. 67 South...