Stories from Wednesday, July 20, 2016

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer Hardy Billington, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., got a few seconds of national fame Monday night while attending the Republican National Convention as a delegate from Missouri. His picture was briefly flashed on both CSPAN and Fox News...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Emergency management officials across Missouri are asking the public to take heed as we enter what is shaping up to be the hottest and most miserable week of 2016 thus far. "We are just having an extremely hot summer, and we want to remind people to take care of themselves because these are dangerous conditions," said Butler County EMA director Robbie Myers. ...

By TODD RICHARDSON EDITOR'S NOTE: Todd Richardson, Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives, is providing a daily report from the Republican National Convention. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Republican National Convention officially convened in Cleveland yesterday. After months of caucus meetings and primaries, the race for the White House formally begins this week. I'm proud to be one of 52 delegates representing the State of Missouri...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A new retailer and new restaurant would be constructed at Mansion Mall, under plans discussed Monday by the Poplar Bluff City Council. The approximately 37,000 square foot building would be located on property owned by Jim Bailey, between Swafford's Amoco and MERS/Goodwill, city planner Dennis Avery said...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Poplar Bluff, Mo., could spend $3,000 a month in rent to move some city hall offices into a former bank building under a plan considered Monday by the city council. The council is expected to vote in August on a one-year lease for the 4,500-square-foot Vine and Fifth street building recently vacated by Southern Bank. ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reporters on Wednesday will visit Poplar Bluff schools, gathering opinions on current U.S. affairs from locals for an upcoming documentary to be featured on the news agency's World Service radio...

Dannie Lee Floyd QULIN, Mo. -- Dannie Lee Floyd, 72, of Qulin, died Sunday, July 17, 2016 at his home. Dannie was born June 24, 1944 in Kennett, the son of the late Thomas Lee Floyd and Helen Maxine Floyd-Watson. He was a Retired Veteran of the United States Army. ...

Loren Gilmore MALDEN, Mo. - Loren Gilmore, 78, died Tues., July 12, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be at 9 a.m., Wed., July 20 at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will follow at 10:30 a.m. at Bradshaw Chapel. Burial will be in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with Military Rites. www.bradshawfh.com...

The prospects for a better future are nearly hopeless for roughly 20 percent of black people -- those who reside in big-city crime-infested and dysfunctional neighborhoods. There is virtually nothing that can be done about it without a major rebuilding of the black community from within. Let's examine some of the aspects of the problem and the dismal prognosis, given the status quo...

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Standard Democrat Given the warp-speed of rapidly changing world events, there is always concern writing a newspaper column two full days in advance to meet a publication deadline. Over this past weekend, as would be expected, I had hoped to focus on the GOP nominating convention...

Glenna Czerwonka DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Sylvia Glenna Czerwonka, 84, life-long resident of Doniphan, Mo., died Sunday, July 17, 2016, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 21, 2016, at the Doniphan First Church of God. The funeral service will follow at noon with Brother Larry Earl officiating. Burial will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery...

Kajuan Christian didn't know a lot about his dad's alma mater. Three Rivers College had a good record, was a tough school and played in a tough region. His dad had a little bit to say about the school's longtime head coach, Gene Bess. "He's gonna get you right," Christian remembers his dad saying...

By MARK BLISS SEMO News Service A comic book artist and illustrator who spent his early years in Cape Girardeau knows how to graphically tell stories. But his latest venture is huge: a full-scale, walk-through, Christian comic book on a massive Noah's ark attraction...

Chris Siler has never been one to back down from a challenge in the last decade he's spent on the diamond. The Puxico graduate led his team in stolen bases, strikeouts and had the lowest ERA in each of his three seasons at the varsity level with the Indians...

John Robert Powell John Robert Powell, 55, of Memphis, Tenn., formerly of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, July 16, 2016, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff...

Margie Willcut Margie A. Willcut, 77, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Saturday, July 16, 2016 at her residence. Ms. Willcut was born Nov. 15, 1938 in Hendrickson, Mo. She attended Midland Church and formerly owned and operated Margie's Dinner Bell Cafe. Ms. Willcut enjoyed cooking and was best known for her chicken and dumplings. She also cooked for Bingo and other special occasions...

Gary Ray Davis Gary Ray Davis, 58, of Neelyville, passed away Friday, July 15, 2016 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in Saint Louis. He was born Jan. 31, 1958 to H.D. Davis and Vada (Yandell) James in Moark, Ark. He attended Neelyville High School. Gary worked as a Heavy Equipment Mechanic for Harold Implement for several years. He married Glenda Ferguson March 12, 1981 in Coon Island...

Shirley Jeannie Wall DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Shirley Jeannie Wall, 80, of Silex, Mo., died Saturday, July 16, 2016, at the Silex Nursing Home. Visitation will begin at noon today. July 19. at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. om the funeral home chapel and burial will be in the Doniphan City Cemetery...

Virginia A. Topping MALDEN, Mo. -- Virginia A. Topping, 96, was born on Aug. 23, 1919 in Risco, Mo. to the late Frank Topping and Mary Carter Topping. She departed this life on Monday, July 18, 2016 at her residence in Malden, Mo. Topping had been a sales representative for American Book Company in Chicago, Ill., and she was a active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Malden...

Dallas Dean Voyles FISK, Mo. -- Dallas Dean Voyles, 71, of Wappapello, died Sunday, July 17, 2016 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Dean was born Jan. 7, 1945 in Ruble, Mo. a son of the late Lee Roy Voyles and Daisy Arsetta (Holloway) Voyles. ...

Michael Hefner Michael Christopher Hefner, 45, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Sunday, July 17, 2016 at his residence. Michael was born Dec. 15, 1970 in Poplar Bluff. He was of the Catholic faith and had previously worked at Bailey's Auto Body Shop as well as the Poplar Bluff City Street Department. Michael enjoyed spending time with his family, playing pool, riding four wheelers, watching NASCAR racing and the Dallas Cowboys play football...