Stories from Saturday, August 20, 2016

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The search for missing Arkansas resident Ginger Myers enters day four, and flood waters continue to cause a myriad of problems and road closures in Butler County. Myers called 911 at about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday to report her car being swept from Highway 53 by flood water and that she was unable to exit the vehicle, a late-model grey or white Lincoln Towncar...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer 34-year-old country musician Ryan Hinkle is making waves on radio airways after the successful launch of his single "Colder Than A Bad Girl's Heart." The Doniphan, Mo. native recently performed at the Black River Coliseum with singer Craig Campbell and headliner Mark Chestnutt...

By BRIAN BLASE Tribune News Service Outside the legal challenges it previously faced, the Affordable Care Act has never been as threatened as it is right now. President Barack Obama's signature law has so destabilized the individual market for insurance that three large companies have announced they are better off not participating in the exchanges...

Heritage Free Will Baptist Church members recognized their pastor, Rev. Donald Richmann, on achieving a milestone in his ministry. Sunday, Aug. 14, Rev. Richmann celebrated his 50th year in the ministry. His congregations loves and appreciates him and his lovely wife, Madonna Richmann...

Bridgett Shaffer GREENVILLE, Mo. - Bridgett Shaffer, 42, of Lodi, Mo., died Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016 at her residence. Visitation will be held from 3-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, at the Greenville High School Gym. Funeral services will immediately follow beginning at 4 p.m. ...

By JOEL MATHIS and BEN BOYCHUCK Tribune News Service Donald Trump on Monday gave a foreign policy speech in which he promised to curtail immigration from terrorism-breeding countries and to subject potential immigrants to "extreme vetting," including an "ideological test" aimed at weeding out un-American attitudes...

Mary L. Tibbs LaFond Mary L. Tibbs LaFond, 85, of Wappapello, Mo., died Friday, Aug. 19, 2016 at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Rev. Ernest Bennett, Jr. NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Rev. Ernest Bennett, Jr., 87, died Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016. He was born May 19, 1929 at Wayne County, Mo. to the late Rev. Ernest Bennett and Bertha (Clubb) Bennett. Bro. Jr. was an ordained General Baptist minister of the Hopewell Association, preaching for 59 years, pastoring seven different churches. ...

Mary Magdalene "Maggie" Wyatt Mary Magdalene "Maggie" Wyatt, 86, of Piedmont, Mo., died Friday, August 19, 2016 at her residence in Piedmont. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont.

Loyd Rex Holland Loyd Rex Holland, 91, of Doniphan, Missouri, departed this life Thursday, August 18, 2016, at his residence. Mr. Holland, son of Henry Roscoe and Sarah Magdalene (Owens) Holland, was born April 27, 1925, in Ponder, Missouri. He had been self-employed in the timber industry. Mr. Holland enjoyed reading and he especially loved singing. He had been a pilot, a minister and was a member of the Church of Christ...

Mules Stadium won't be lit up just on Friday nights. Poplar Bluff's soccer team will call the new stadium home as well this fall starting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday against CBC of St. Louis. The Mules have spent the preseason getting acquainted with the artificial surface field...

Lexi Hafford's bunt at a recent practice rolled toward the foul line as everyone suggested to the fielder to let it go foul. It didn't, coming to a stop right on the line marked on the artificial surface at Bobby Strenfel Field. Across town, Poplar Bluff's old softball field was a muddy mess...

DONIPHAN COACH: Brad Eddington, second season LAST YEAR: 6-8, lost in first round of district tournament RETURNING: Haley Beale, sr., Brooklyn Morgeson, sr., Erin Casteel, sr., Sydney Hastings, sr., Paige Eddington, jr., Kaylee Davis, soph., Serena Wicklund, soph...

In what has been one of the biggest offseason shake-ups in recent years for area high school baseball programs, only one baseball coach will return to the Ozark Foothills Conference this year. This time 10 years ago, Jared Stockton wasn't planning on ever returning to the OFC, as he put his Twin Rivers uniform on for the final time as a player. Fast forward to today and he is the lone returnee to the always-competitive conference in just his second year as head coach of the Royals...

CLEARWATER COACH: Cole Sheets, first season LAST YEAR: Fall: 11-7, lost in second round of OFC Tournament. Spring record: 17-8, lost in Class 3 quarterfinals RETURNING: Stephen Martino, sr., Tony Kruithoff, sr., Justin Wilkins, sr., Fynnegan Cooper, jr., Tanner Wilkins, jr., Jesse Holmes, soph., Heath Ayers, soph...

Mary Wyatt PIEDMONT, Mo. - Mary Wyatt, of Piedmont, died Friday, August 19, 2016 at her residence. Arrangements are currently pending with Ruegg Funeral Homes, Inc. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff R-I Board of Education met Thursday for its last meeting prior to the opening of the 2016-17 school year, approving two program evaluations, an additional secretary position, new bus routes and other items. Two district patrons addressed the board during the public comments portion of the meeting. ...

The South Central Missouri Community Action Agency sponsored its annual school readiness event Thursday serving the needs of 807 students as they prepare to return to school.

Linda Jo "Johnson" Jefferson NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Linda Jo "Johnson" Jefferson, 60, of Doniphan, died Wed., Aug. 17, 2016 at Mountain View Healthcare in Mtn. View, Mo. Mrs. Jefferson was born on Nov. 11, 1955 in Fairdealing, Mo. On May 5, 1972 she married Maj. ...