Stories from Saturday, May 14, 2016

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Butler County jury convicted a local man who apparently was caught on surveillance video as he attempted to rob a local convenience store at gunpoint in August. The nine-woman, three-man jury deliberated about 30 minutes Wednesday in convicting Matthew Obadiah Jackson, 22, of the 300 block of Selma Street of the Class B felony of attempted first-degree robbery and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action (ACA), according to Ted Thompson, Butler County assistant prosecuting attorney.. ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Following a year that saw the tragic loss of a classmate, the retirement of a long-time district leader and the end of an era for the Mules current home, 297 Poplar Bluff High School seniors received their diplomas Thursday evening during graduation ceremonies at the Black River Coliseum...

A year ago, Justin Capps was on Poplar Bluff's junior varsity golf team with scores in the triple digits. Now the junior is preparing for the MSHSAA Class 4 state tournament with teammate Nathan Woolard. "That is amazing and again it just shows you how much a kid that has some talent and works hard can go from 100s and 90s to 70s," Mules coach Billy Pyland said...

Crockett Williams CORNING, Ark., -- Crockett Williams, 77, of Corning, passed away Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at home. Mr. Williams was a truck driver who enjoyed trucking, taking care of his dog, Rusty, and spending time with family and friends. He was a member of Grace Christian Fellowship in Poplar Bluff...

Crockett Williams CORNING, Ark., -- Crockett Williams, 77, of Corning, passed away Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at home. Mr. Williams was a truck driver who enjoyed trucking, taking care of his dog, Rusty, and spending time with family and friends. He was a member of Grace Christian Fellowship in Poplar Bluff...

Janice Moore Janice Moore, 66, of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, May 10, 2016, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at New Life Tabernacle, 603 Victor St., Poplar Bluff. Private burial will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Zalma...

Oda Lee Mace Oda Lee Mace, 86, of Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be after 6 p.m., Sunday, May 15, 2016, at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Monday, at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home. Burial in Dunning Cemetery...

The Animal Welfare Alliance will hold its annual "Bark in the Park," from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Hendrickson Park. Dog training demonstrations, vendors, a pet parade and goofy pet contests like dog/owner look-alike, best-dressed and funniest-trick competitions are on the agenda...

Glenn Miller Ellis DEXTER, Mo. -- Glenn Miller Ellis, 91, of Dexter, died Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at the Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, at the Sadler Chapel Cemetery in Dexter with Rev. Kenneth Biggs of Dexter officiating...

Mike Jensen Publisher Standard Democrat Beware of Julian Castro. As Housing Secretary, Castro has become the darling of the far left and the much-rumored vice presidential frontrunner for Hillary Clinton. In what could be the final nail in the coffin fashioned for America by President Obama, this fall, Castro will launch the most socially disruptive scheme yet devised...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Forty-eight hours after Donald Trump wrapped up the Republican nomination with a smashing victory in the Indiana primary, House Speaker Paul Ryan announced that he could not yet support Trump. In millennial teen-talk, Ryan told CNN's Jake Tapper, "I'm just not ready to do that at this point. I'm not there right now."...

Most black politicians, ministers, civil rights advocates and professionals support Hillary Clinton's quest for the presidency. Whoever becomes the next president, whether it's a Democrat or Republican, will mean little or nothing in terms of solutions to major problems that confront many black people. We've already seen that even a black president means little or nothing. Politics and political power cannot significantly improve the lives of most black people and may even be impediments...

Verdella McAllister PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Verdella McAllister, 91, died Thursday, May 12, 2016 at the Hunter Acres Caring Center in Sikeston, Mo. Visitation will be held at noon Sunday at the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home chapel with Pastor Pete Ruble officiating...

Poplar Bluff's baseball team has enjoyed its most successful regular season with an impressive resume -- a record 25 wins, a state ranking and conference championships in regular season and tournament play. All of that means nothing now. "Things are going good, couldn't be any prouder of the boys for the season so far," Mules coach Steven Edwards said...

The basketball culture at Malden and Hannibal-LaGrange University were nearly one in the same for Trevor Ison. After a workout in March, it was everything the senior standout was looking for at the next level. Now that team will take him to a new town as Ison recently signed with the Trojans...

William "Bill" Gerald Penrod NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- William "Bill" Gerald Penrod, 70, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed suddenly on Thursday, May 12, 2016, at his home. He was born March 17, 1946, to the late William G. and Lula Mae (Grimes) Penrod in Neelyville, Mo...

Maggie Eaker is following in her sister's footsteps and joining her on the hardwood once again. The Neelyville senior recently signed her National Letter of Intent to play basketball at Crowley's Ridge College where her older sister, Emily, has played for the last two years...

Sarah Ann Iler Sarah Ann Iler, 26, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away Wednesday, May 11, 2016 in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born on September 19, 1989 to Michael Herrmann and Patricia Iler in St. Louis, Mo. She enjoyed music, but most of all she loved spending time with her family and playing with her niece and nephews...

Oda Lee Mace -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Janice Moore -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Glenn Miller Ellise -- Dexter, Mo. Connie J. Larrew -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Verdella McAllister -- Piedmont, Mo. Richard Kneibert -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. William "Bill" Gerald Penrod -- Poplar Bluff, Mo...

Richard Kneibert FISK, Mo. -- Richard Kneibert passed away at the age of 76 on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at the St. Francis hospital, surrounded by family and friends. He was the husband of Ann Kneibert, both of Poplar Bluff, MO. They shared 20 years of marriage together...