Stories from Wednesday, April 27, 2016

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff school officials say they are glad to see new learning standards agreed upon by state education officials and will begin adjusting the curriculum this summer. Missouri lawmakers spurred state education officials to formulate new standards two years ago in response to criticisms that the Common Core standards adopted by Missouri and most states were difficult to understand and caused a loss of local control...

By EVAN HOLLEY Staff Writer Two local law enforcement officials were honored Friday for their "heroic" efforts in helping to prevent child abuse. Sgt. Jeff Johnson of Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop E and Ripley County assistant prosecuting attorney Kasey Proctor were the recipients of awards from the Ozark Family Resouce Agency (OFRA) at the organization's third annual Hero of the Year ceremony...

Mary Lentz MALDEN, Mo. - Mary Lentz, 66, of Malden, died Sunday, April 24, 2016 at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Arrangements are pending at this time. Landess Funeral Home of Malden is in charge of arrangements.

David Thompson Sr. WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. - David Thompson Sr., 66, of Williamsville, Mo., died Friday, April 22, 2016, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be at 5 p.m., Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at Ruegg Funeral Home in Williamsville. The funeral will be at 2 p.m., Wed., April 27 in the funeral home chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

Sherry Ann Cutrell MALDEN, Mo. - Sherry Ann Cutrell, 63, of Malden, died Sat., April 23, 2016 at her residence. Visitation will be at 5 p.m., Thurs., April 28 at the Stokelan Drive Christian Church in Malden. The funeral will follow at 7 p.m. in the church with Mr. Dan Hargrave officiating. Burial will be in the Ivy Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Ventura, Calif...

To the Editor: I want to make sure people in your area know that Franklin Graham's Decision America Tour Prayer Rally will be in Jefferson City, Missouri, at noon on May 17. I'm very concerned about this visit by Franklin Graham. The more I ask people if they know about it, the more I hear people say they have never heard of the event. I've also spoken with those at a well-known Christian bookstore and at Christian radio stations...

Here is what presidential aspirant Sen. Bernie Sanders said: "I believe that health care is a right of all people." President Barack Obama declared that health care "should be a right for every American." The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: "Every person has a right to adequate health care." President Franklin D. ...

By STEPHEN MOORE There was a time in America -- and it wasn't even so long ago -- that liberals cared a lot about working-class people. They may have been misguided in many of their policy solutions -- e.g., raising the minimum wage -- but at least their hearts were in the right place...

Several area students are receiving scholarships to attend Southeast Missouri State University, They include: Alexa Everett of Poplar Bluff, Mo., has received the University Scholarship and Residence Life Leadership Award. Everett is the daughter of Christy Everett of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and will be a 2016 graduate of Poplar Bluff High School...

Odell Albert Johnson DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Odell Albert Johnson, 91, died Sunday, April 24, 2016, at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation was held Tuesday morning at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. A graveside service followed at noon in the Gum Cemetery in Naylor...

A year later, the roles were reversed for Carr Vernon and Joshua Rhodes. Vernon sat tied for the clubhouse lead with another former champion Sunday after finishing the final round of the 70th Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational at Westwood Hills Country Club...

Madelyn Wilson will be the guest speaker at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Butler County Genealogical Society meeting at the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Room. She will demonstrate the art of spinning wool, and discuss the various types of animals and types of wool and how it is done. Ms. Wilson will have her spinning wheel and some spools for anyone who wishes to try spinning. The meeting is open to the public...

Clyde Ray Stone Clyde RayStone, 81 of Poplar Bluff, Mo.,passed away on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Hospital. Mr. Stone was born December 22, 1934, in Poplar Bluff, to the late Joe and Ruby (Montgomery) Stone. Mr. Stone was a member of First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff. ...

Zelma Beauton Maddox Thurman NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Zelma Beauton Maddox Thurman, 95, of Harviell, passed away on Sunday, April 24, 2016 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Thurman was born Oct. 8, 1920 in Ridgley, Tenn. She worked as a homemaker and was a pastor's wife, serving several area churches in a span of 60 years. She loved her family, feeding birds, squirrels and Ms. Tigger. She attended Independence Missionary Baptist Church...

Mary Lee Owings DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Mary Lee Owings, 54, of the Briar, Mo., community, died Friday, April 22, 2016, in her home. Visitation will be from 5 - 8 p.m., Thursday, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 10 a.m. Friday in the funeral home chapel with Brother Bob Featherston officiating. Burial will be in the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Briar...

Valerie Marie Grace DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Valerie Marie Grace, 33, of Doniphan, died Wednesday, April 20, 2016, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. A private family service is planned. Online condolences: family@edwardsfuneralhome.org...

Rev. Vincent "Vic" Suhany DEXTER, Mo. -- Rev. Vincent "Vic" Suhany, 89, of Dexter died Saturday, April 23, 2016, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m., Wednesday in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Lloyd Anderson and Rev. Lonny Mittag officiating. Burial will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield...

Steven Dennis Reed VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Steven Dennis Reed, 60, of Van Buren, died Monday, April 25, 2016, in Springfield, Mo. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 30, 2016, at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren. Online condolences: www.mcspaddenfh.com...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Jack is back. And so is the Notre Dame boys golf team. Bulldogs senior Jack Litzelfelner's 68th stroke, a 5-foot putt, at the SEMO Conference Tournament did a victory lap around the hole before disappearing for eagle on the third green at Fox Haven Country Club...

Carol Francis Stubbs DEXTER, Mo. -- Carol Francis Stubbs, 78, of Dexter, died Sunday, April 24, 2016 at the Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 5 - 8 p.m., Wednesday, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, April 28, 2016 at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield...

NAYLOR --Deadlocked at 8-all with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Chelsey Rigdon's double down the right-field line scored Shawna Estencion all the way from first base for a 9-8 Naylor victory over Doniphan on Monday. But the win was overshadowed by the absence of Lady Eagles' senior Kabrien Rogers, who's younger brother passed away Sunday. Prior to the game, the Donettes paid their respects and brought a bouquet of flowers to the Lady Eagles in honor of Rogers' brother...

Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Raider bats are waking up at just the right time. Three Rivers had double-digit hit totals in both games of a doubleheader for the first time this season and split with MCC-Maple Woods on Sunday to split the season series, as well. The Raiders won the nightcap 7-6 and lost the opener 8-4 in eight innings at Roger Pattillo Field...

Jarvis keeps the Iron Man empire running and, on Monday, powered the Lady Raiders, too. Three Rivers' Alex Jarvis had two home runs, including a grand slam, and eight total RBIs as the Lady Raiders finished off their regular season with a sweep over conference rival Mineral Area, 11-8 and 12-3 on Monday at Mineral Area...