Stories from Thursday, June 16, 2016

By BEN KLEINE SEMO News Service SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- Multiple witnesses saw a 2-year-old walking alone at Scott City Park on two occasions Saturday. The mother said her daughter had learned to unlock the deadbolt of their door and walked nearly a quarter-mile to the pool...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Ceremonies will be held Saturday at Wappapello Lake to recognize the 75th anniversary of the project, which annually brings more than 1 million visitors to the area and an economic impact of approximately $30 million. A dedication ceremony is scheduled to start at 10 a.m., recreating the original event held June 23, 1941, in front to of the gatehouse to mark the completion of the dam construction and opening of the lake, said James Gracey, assistant operations manager.. ...

Enertech Global, manufacturer of GeoComfort geothermal heating and cooling systems, hosted its annual dealer recently in Cancun, Mexico, celebrating its 20th anniversary and recognizing its top dealers from 2015. Local Poplar Bluff business, Precision Heat & Air Inc, , was recognized with the Diamond award as one of the nation's premier geothermal...

Improve paper delivery service Hello. I have enjoyed the DAR for over 20 years. I even had it sent to me when I lived very far from Poplar Bluff. I hope you can see that the person who delivers the paper can annoy someone so much they say, "Okay, I quit." I am disabled and it makes me angry that I have to go over to my neighbor's driveway to get the paper. I appreciate the DAR, and I thank you. Goodbye...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN On Saturday night, Omar Mateen was a loner and a loser. Sunday, he was immortal, by his standards, a hero. Mateen had ended his life in a blaze of gunfire and glory. Now everybody knew his name. He had been embraced by ISIS. His face was on every TV screen. His 911 call to Orlando police identifying with the Islamic State and the Tsarnaev brothers of the Boston Marathon massacre was being heard across America...

By STEPHEN MOORE In the last month or so, both the presumptive presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, have said stupid and even offensive things. Trump, as we all know (because we heard it repeated by the media a thousand times), questioned the impartiality of a federal judge because he is of Mexican descent. Dumb. Even indefensible...

Dear Editor: Please print this letter so the people of Poplar Bluff, Butler County and the State of Missouri can understand what has happened under their nose. The entire system of "justice", city, county and state has been proven, by their own admission, to be incapable of enforcing the law. ...

The deadline to purchase tickets for Three Rivers College's "Day at the Ballpark" event, July 5, is approaching. In addition, anyone who purchases a regular-seating ticket by June 29 will be entered into a drawing to win a two-ticket VIP upgrade. The event will be held at the Cardinals vs. ...

Center Stage, Three Rivers College's theater company, will present a production of "The Boys Next Door" by American playwright Tom Griffin on July 14-16 at 7 p.m. and July 17 at 2 p.m. at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center in Poplar Bluff. Tickets are $10, or $5 with a valid Three Rivers student ID...

By KITTYE HALL Master Gardener University Extension Would you like to learn how to grow and also cook with herbs? The local chapter of Master Gardeners spent an evening recently learning how to do just that! A couple of our knowledgeable Master Gardeners gave us a wonderful educational program as well as a tasting of the different ways to use and cook with herbs...

Thanks to a collaboration between Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, Black River Medical Center, Butler County EMS and the American Heart Association, Poplar Bluff-area residents will have an opportunity to learn Hands-Only CPR on Saturday. This free training opportunity will occur at Poplar Bluff Junior High School, where participants are free to come and go between 9 a.m. and noon. The event is designed for all ages. Registration is not required...

Connie F. Causey MALDEN, Mo. - Mr. Connie F. Causey, 79, of Malden, died Sat., June 11, 2016 at his residence. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., Friday, June 17 at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. at Bradshaw Chapel with Rev. Eston Hurst officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden. www. bradshawfh.com...

The annual Pollard Picnic will be held Saturday, July 9 at Pollard, Ark. Fried chicken dinners, music, baseball games, games for children, and beauty pageants will highlight the picnic. The pageant committee announces the following events: 10 a.m. - "Baby Pollard" contest for boys and girls. Boy's division and a girl's division from birth through 12 months. Dress in sportswear/casual clothing...

When Dusty Dinkins accepted a job at his hometown high school of South Iron, he was cautious. The Three Rivers College alum was still in his mid 20s and had three years of experience as an assistant varsity coach. South Iron was a school rich with basketball tradition and moving back home was not without risk...

Lawrence C. Fagan GATEWOOD, Mo. - Lawrence C. Fagan, 85, of Fairdealing, Missouri, departed this life Friday, June 10, 2016, at Avow Inpatient Hospice in Naples, Florida. Mr. Fagan, son of William Clarence and Nova Lorene (Robinson) Fagan, was born November 11, 1930, in Gatewood, Missouri. ...

FULTON, Mo. -- Tanner Tibbs has found a home away from home. The left-handed hurler joined the Wayne County Lumberjacks two weeks into the season and his addition has been beneficial for both parties. Tibbs struck out seven, only walked one and went the distance in the Lumberjacks' 5-3 victory over Mid-Missouri at the William Woods Showcase Tuesday afternoon...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor GREENVILLE, Mo. -- A Lowndes, Mo., man pleaded guilty Monday to his role in the shooting death of a man whose body was found laying next to his overturned all-terrain vehicle on a county road near Hiram, Mo. Accompanied by his attorney, Jason Tilley, Brandon Norman was supposed to appear Monday before Circuit Judge Kelly Parker for a review of his case, but instead he pleaded guilty as charged to the Class A felony of second-degree murder, according to one of the case's prosecutors.. ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff Municipal Library is gearing up for another summer of spectacular events with activities for everyone ranging from musical performances to magic shows. The library's annual summer reading programs currently are underway from May 31- July 29. For every book they read, patrons have a chance to enter drawings for a number of prizes. Assistant director Shannon Mangrum says the program has for years helped curb summer learning loss among area students...