Stories from Wednesday, July 13, 2016

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer (EDITOR'S NOTE: Hardy Billington, a member of the Butler County Republican Central Committee, is representing Missouri during the Republican platform committee meetings this week leading up to the National Convention. Billington will be attending both, but will only be providing a daily journal on the platform meetings. Missouri House Speaker Todd Richardson will be providing daily reports on the convention.)...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer He's the winningest college basketball coach of all time. So, who better to hand the ball to than Gene Bess when it comes time for the first pitch at Three Rivers College Day at the Ballpark when the Cardinals face off against the Dodgers on Sunday, July 24...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- Why did he do it? FBI director James Comey spent 14 minutes laying out an unassailable case for prosecuting Hillary Clinton for the mishandling of classified material. Then at literally the last minute, he recommended against prosecution...

Howard Eugene Greer Howard Eugene Greer, 70 years old of Poplar Bluff, died Saturday, July 9, 2016. Arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Standard Democrat By any definition, this past week has been both tragic and unsettling in countless ways. Yet by now we have come to reluctantly accept the growing polarization along racial lines that erupted once again this week...

Competition and pageantry will be evidenced during the Missouri Peach Fair in Campbell this August 19 through 26, when pageants for ages 0-19 will be held throughout the week. The contests will open the fair on Friday, Aug. 19, with the Miss Missouri Peach Fair Queen at 8 p.m. ...

Cloyce "Dean" Bilbrey Cloyce "Dean" Bilbrey, 84, of Poplar Bluff, died Sat., July 9, 2016 at his residence. He was born on May 25, 1932 in Shook, Mo. On March 26, 1955 he married Mary in Hernando, Miss. Together they shared 61 years of marriage. She survives of the home. Mr. Bilbrey enjoyed riding horses and running his dogs. He dearly loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren...

Virgil Gipson DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Virgil Dean Gipson, 83, of Doniphan, died Sunday, July 10, 2016, at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., Wednesday, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at noon in the funeral home chapel with Brother Richard McGonigal officiating...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Chance Holden was one of just four players to break par Monday in the opening round of the 19th annual Missouri Stroke Play Championship at Dalhousie Golf Club. The Dexter golfer shot 1-under-par 71 and is a stroke off the lead heading into the second round. Brevin Giebler of Cape Girardeau, Mitchell Mather of Lebanon and Travis Mays of Overland Park, Kansas shared the first-round lead at 2-under 70...

Robert Delton Townsend VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Robert Delton Townsend, 81, of Van Buren, died Monday, July 11, 2016 at the Oakdale Care Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will begin for the public at noon, Saturday, at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren, with the funeral services following at 1 p.m. in the Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Ross Marshall and Rev. Eugene Hudson will officiate...

A year ago they were the newcomers, now they're the defending champs. In their second year as a program, the Wayne County Lumberjacks are out to prove they have another championship run in them. The Lumberjacks will begin defense of their Missouri Senior Babe Ruth state championship in the nine-team tournament, which begins today and concludes with the championship game Saturday at Hillhouse Park in Charleston, Missouri...

Betty McCain ADVANCE, Mo. - Betty McCain, 87, of Advance, died Sunday, July 10, 2016 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be 5 p.m., Tues., July 13, at Morgan Funeral Chapel in Advance. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. , Wed., July 13. at the chapel with Rev. Johnny Rhodes officiating. Burial will follow at Morgan Memorial Park in Advance...

In its final tuneup before the state tournament, Wayne County coach Jeff Null wanted to get his guys some playing time to knock off some rust after not playing for two weeks. It took a couple hours, but the Lumberjacks got there. Poplar Bluff won the opener 7-1 before dropping the nightcap to Wayne County 17-1 in five innings Monday...

Class of '59 lunch Thurs. The Poplar Bluff High School Class of 1959 will meet for lunch at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Myrtle's Place. All class members, spouses and guests are invited. Questions? Call 686-1019 or 718-5900.

Leamon Tillman Leamon Tillman, 75, of Doniphan, died Sunday, July 10, 2016, at Southeast Health Center of Ripley County. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., Thursday, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at noon in the funeral home chapel with Brother Hubert Payne officiating. Burial will be in the Towles Cemetery...

Barbara A. Condray PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Barbara A. Condray, 75, of Williamsville, died Monday, July 11, 2016, at Landmark Hospital at Cape Girardeau. Graveside services will be held at Duncan Cemetery in Piedmont, Mo, Wednesday, July 13, 2016, visitation will begin at 10 a.m. with services immediately following at 11 a.m. Ruegg Funeral Homes, Inc. is in charge of arrangements...

Virgil Dean Gipson -- Doniphan, Mo. Barbara A. Condray -- Williamsville, Mo. Betty McCain -- Advance, Mo. Leamon Tillman -- Doniphan, Mo. Robert Delton Townsend -- Van Buren, Mo. Howard Eugene Greer -- Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Ben Brumitt won the Westwood Hills Country Club match play title Sunday, defeating Brett McCauley 1 up in the final. Brumitt won his semifinal match 2 and 1 against Bobby Godwin earlier in the day while McCauley was a 1-up winner against Jake Robertson in the other semifinal...