Stories from Thursday, April 14, 2016

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor An Ellsinore, Mo., man was sentenced Tuesday afternoon to prison for distributing methamphetamine, as well as burning multiple homes, including the home of former Carter County sheriff Tommy Adams. Accompanied by his attorney, Steve Lynxwiler with the Public Defender's Office, Gary Wayne Bender, aka "Goober," appeared for sentencing before Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett nearly three years after he pleaded guilty to multiple felonies in connection to an investigation into the alleged wrongdoings committed while Adams was sheriff.. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer State auditors announced this week they have started a regularly scheduled audit of Carter County that will review mismanagement and criminal issues discovered in 2012. That audit resulted in a county-wide performance rating of "poor," as well as the resignation and subsequent conviction of a former collector for stealing from county coffers...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer More than 400 people have signed an online petition calling on the Poplar Bluff City Council to vote against alcohol sales at Hydro Adventures. The appeal was posted Friday to www.ipetitions.com. It says the water park is a family establishment with children of all ages, and for safety reasons should not have alcohol. ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce honored local teachers Tuesday evening with a banquet at the 5th & 6th Grade Center. Several teachers from Poplar Bluff R-I, Three Rivers College, Sacred Heart Catholic and Westwood Baptist Academy received a plaque from the chamber to recognize their commitment to education...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Today, Healthgrades awarded Saint Francis Medical Center the Outstanding Patient Experience Award for the seventh time (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016). The Medical Center was the only facility in Cape Girardeau County to win this award, which recognizes hospitals for providing outstanding patient experience based on 10 measures related to doctor and nurse communication, hospital cleanliness and noise levels, and medication and post-discharge care instructions...

Heather and Donald Jones of Dexter would like to announce the birth of their daughter, Journey Rae Lynn Jones, born 8:48 a.m. Jan. 26 at St. Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. She weighed 8 pounds 13 ounces and was 20.5 inches long...

Joseph David Roberts Joe Roberts, 85, formerly of Amarillo passed away March 13, 2016 with all his children at his side. He was born Oct. 27, 1930, to L.C. and Lona Jane Roberts. He grew up in Puxico, Mo., where he loved and played basketball for Coach Arnold Ryan. Joe left home as a teenager to work construction for an uncle in Texas...

Any school better than PB Kudos to the person that put that article comparing Poplar Bluff to Neelyville Schools in the March 17th issue of Speak Out. My grandson has a learning disability and the teachers are supposed to be modifying his tests, reading the test out loud to him and putting him in a room by himself to take the test. ...

By MONA CHAREN When a Republican has been in the presidency for eight years, as George W. Bush was, Democrats run against the Republicans. When a Democrat has been in office for eight years, as Barack Obama will soon have been, Republicans run against Republicans...

By STEPHEN MOORE No issue is more entwined in paradox than that of free trade versus protectionism. Here's an example: Polling suggests that voters recognize the benefits of free trade more now than at anytime in many years, even as the presidential candidates advocate more protectionism...

To the Editor: Since the 1930s, advancements have improved our lives. Technology has drastically improved, with computers, Internet, satellite television, and iPhones being integral parts of our daily lives. Most of these inventions were unimaginable 80 years ago, but have unequivocally improved our lives. ...

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held its first ever Wappapello Lake Woodlands Expo on Saturday, April 2. Over 2,700 people enjoyed the event, held on a beautiful day, with 26 competitors participating in both Traditional and Chainsaw events. A variety of games were available in the children's Little Lumber Jack area, which included a skiddr pull, rubber axe throw sawdust scramble and pulp toss...

The Poplar Bluff Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated its historic mileage marker at the site of the Bettis Ferry at the Old Greenville Recreation Area Saturday, April 9. Members of the Crowley Ridge Black Powder Club assisted in the dedication ceremony...

Cindy Taylor-Parks DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Cindy Taylor-Parks, 41, of Doniphan, Mo., died without warning Tuesday, April 12, 2016. Funeral arrangements are pending with Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan and will be announced upon completion.

Sacred Heart School Honor Roll for the third quarter includes: "A" Honor Roll: First Grade: Katie Acre, Ireland Byrne, Audrey Cato, Macey Savat, Rion Tenchavez, Presley Tinsley Second Grade: Guy Conner, Gracie Massey, Selina Shi, Marcus Tabanera Third Grade: Cohen Ashcraft, Josephine Kaup, Joshua Wheeler...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- All Notre Dame baseball coach Jeff Graviett could advise his players throughout Tuesday night's game against Poplar Bluff was to be aggressive at the plate against left-handed pitcher Kameron Misner and try to get a fastball to hit early, "because once he got ahead of us he was carving us up."...

Alan Pyle CORNING, Ark. -- Alan Pyle, 68, of Corning passed away at home Monday, April 11, 2016. Survivors include wife Bethel "Tinker" Pyle of the home; children, Justin (Shonna) Pyle of Jonesboro, Ark. and Ellen (Chris) Shockley of Tunica, Miss.; brothers, Bill Pyle of Current View, Mo. and Eddie Pyle of Little Rock, Ark.; sisters, Marsha Paslay and Sarah Wiedeman, both of Hot Springs, Ark.; grandson, Hunter (Sierra) Pyle of Corning; several nieces and nephews; and sister-in-law, Pat Pyle...

Raymond C. Brooks Raymond C. Brooks, 90, of Cody, Wyo., passed away at home on April 9, 2016. He worked and retired from KN Gas. He was a rancher and farmer around Corbet Dam in Cody, Wyo. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He also enjoyed going for drives just to look at different farms and wild life. Ray was also a member of Cody Bible Church...

Susan D. Lawson BUTLER, Mo. -- Susan D. Lawson passed away on Saturday, April 9, 2016 in Kansas City, Mo. She was born to Glenda McClure Bilbrey and the late Raymond Bilbrey in Albuquerque, N.M. Nov. 2, 1952. She was a mother, daughter, granny, sister and loyal friend. ...

With their first signing of the spring, the Three Rivers Raiders scooped up a two-time state champion, the Scott-Mississippi Conference Player of the year, and the 2014-15 Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 2 Player of the Year. Scott County Central's Jeffery Porter signed Monday to play at Three Rivers College next season...

FESTUS, Mo. -- Wyatt Murphy and Denzell Britton each won an individual event and the Mules won two relays to take the Tiger Town Invitational title Tuesday. The Lady Mules finished second, 18 points behind Jackson, as Krisman Eakin won the 200-meter race and ran a leg on three winning relays...

Elbert Hawkins CORNING, Ark. -- Elbert Hawkins, 85, of Corning passed away Tuesday April 12, 2016 in Jonesboro, Ark. Mr. Hawkins was retired from Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. He was a member of Corning Church of Christ. On June 21, 1958 he married Anna Hawkins. She survives along with his two sons, Randy and Michael Hawkins, both of Corning...

For the sixth year, the University of Missouri Extension Center will be hosting a Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference on Tuesday, May 3, at the First United Methodist Church, 500 N. Main St. in Poplar Bluff. This conference is also for others who are raising children who are not their own. ...

Growing up, Destiny Bolen pulled a metal sled up and down the street in front of her house. Up and down, back and forth, again and again. When she took her recruiting visit to Three Rivers, she took some batting practice on Rains Field and started calling her shots. The power hitter from Hamburg, Arkansas, would crush one and the second it pinged off her bat, she'd go "That's gone."...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Raiders arrived in Springfield just fine on Tuesday. Their defense was a little bit late. Three Rivers fell behind 11-0 through two innings and eventually lost to Drury University JV 14-4 in a single nine-inning game on Tuesday...

SUMMERSVILLE -- Summer Shockley threw her third no-hitter of the spring as Van Buren beat Eminence 13-0 in the semifinals of the Big Springs Conference Tournament. Shockley retired the first 14 batters of the game before an error ended her perfect-game bid...

Judy Ann Hall Judy Ann Hall, 66, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away on Monday, April 11, 2016 at her residence. She was born on July 26, 1949 to Guadlupe Bernal and Floy (White) Hearn in Forrest City, Ark. She was a member of The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. She enjoyed reading and most especially spending time with her grandchildren...