Stories from Sunday, November 6, 2016

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Contests for two Butler County commissioner seats will be determined by voters Tuesday. The western and eastern district commissioner elected by the people will begin a four-year term Jan. 1. Democratic candidate Doug Harwell and Republican candidate Dennis "Boots" LeGrand are vying for the western district seat. Incumbent Jeff Darnell chose not to run for re-election...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Authorities continue to investigate the Thursday death of a Doniphan man, who died from a gunshot wound to his chest. The Ripley County Sheriff's Department received a report of an "individual who was deceased as result of a gunshot wound" on Thursday, Chief Deputy Richie Phillips said in a news release...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Disgust is growing among players over "sub-par" conditions at Ozark Ridge, as the golf course continues to fall into what they say is a state of disrepair that renders it almost unplayable. Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation manages the 18-hole championship course, once dubbed one of the finest public courses in the mid-south, and for several years following its inception, living up to that moniker...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Doug Harwell says he is running for office to see a balanced budget for Butler County and a more open door policy in the commissioner's chambers. "Through talking to people, they say it's really tough to go into the commissioners office and talk," said Harwell. "I want to be a person they can talk to...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Eastern commission candidate Van Rhodes wants to see Butler County tax dollars spent wisely, without sacrificing services to citizens. A lifelong resident of Butler County, he also says he would ensure county infrastructure is built correctly and maintained...

Van Rhodes Age: 54 Education: Graduated Poplar Bluff High School 1981, completed Emergency Medical Technician and Firefighter 1 courses at Three Rivers College, attended law enforcement training at Southeast Missouri State University Occupation: firefighter, Poplar Bluff Fire Department...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Area counties swing Republican last 20 years Butler County picks it, 2 out of 3 elections Less than 50 people show, Butler County first presidential election Republicans get 1 vote, second Butler County run...

Van Buren students better [MAIL] I feel I must voice my concerns as a parent and as a taxpayer in the Van Buren R-1 school district. I am troubled by the recent findings of the board of education that the superintendent had directed the district to pay her stipends of $11,000 without school board approval. ...

Between a fast start and a late push, it looked like the second game of the season for the Three Rivers College men's basketball team Friday night. The Raiders led wire-to-wire in an 89-71 win over Link Year Prep at the Bess Activity Center after an opening 15-2 run...

Rev. Ellis Lee Ashworth FISK, Mo. -- Rev. Ellis Lee Ashworth, 77, of Dexter, Mo., died Friday, Nov. 4, 2016 at his home in Dexter, Mo. Rev. Ashworth was born July 18, 1939 in Poplar Bluff, Mo., son of the late Elbert and Mildred Ashworth. He started preaching at the age of 14 and preached at several churches in the area. He has been an Assembly Of God Pastor since 1973. On Dec. 14, 1958, he married Bronda Lacy. She survives...

Delora B. Crum PUXICO, Mo.-- Delora B. Crum, 97, of Wappapello died Thursday, Nov. 3. 2016, at her home. Vistation will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico. Kathy Bland will officiate. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the Little Brushy Cemetery at Wappapello...

Joshua Mullins PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Joshua Mullins, 37, of Greenville, Mo. died Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, at his residence. Arrangements currently are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home.

Julie Ann Keele Julie Anne Keele, 66, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016 at her residence. She was born on March 9, 1950 to George and Marjorie (Ferris) Meister in St. Louis, Mo. She married Carvin Keele on Sept. 25, 1969 in St. Louis, Mo...

Ronald Hagan DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Ronald Gene Hagan, 79, of Seaford, Del., died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016, at Seaford. Visitation will be held from 5 - 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 7, at the funeral home chapel with Brother Jared Baker officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak Ridge Cemetery with full military honors...

Ada Camille Crites Ada Camille Crites, 97, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016 at Cedargate Care Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Crites, the daughter of the late Stokely and Olive Lancaster Futrell, was born April 10, 1919 in Corning, Ark. ...

John M. Albright John M. Albright, J.D., 50, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died at his home on Monday, Oct. 31, 2016. John was born on May 13, 1966 in Huntington, W.V. to the late Doris and Charles Albright. After serving in the U.S. Army as combat engineer, John graduated from Marshall University in 1993 with a degree in Philosophy and from Washington University-St. Louis, Mo., in 1996 with a Juris Doctor Degree. John practiced law for over 20 years in Southeast Missouri...

Barbara (Barbie) Ann Dixon Barbara (Barbie) Ann Dixon, 46, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016 at the SonShine Home in Poplar Bluff. She was born on Nov. 21, 1969 to Hayden and Lavena (Williams) Dixon. Barbie had a smile that lit up any room. ...

Frank Thomas DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Frank D. (Frank) Thomas, 83, of Doniphan, Mo., died Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Mr. Thomas, son of Harry and Dorothy (Rapert) Thomas, was born Jan. 2, 1933, in Doniphan, Mo. He had retired after a career in the insurance business...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Tuesday evening, after Election Day's tranquility, new clamors will erupt as analysts with agendas tickle portents and lessons from the torrent of election returns. Herewith some developments to watch. -- In the 17 elections since World War II, the winner has averaged 385.4 electoral votes, the loser 145.1. ...

Robert Andrew Vancil FISK, Mo. -- Robert Andrew Vancil, 69, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Vancil was born July 25, 1947 in Flint, Mich. to the late Charles E. Vancil and Dorothy N. Pruett. He was retired from the U.S. Army and had served in the Vietnam War. He enjoyed woodworking, fishing, and he had a green thumb. Bob loved his grandchildren...

Phyllis L. Ward PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Phyllis L. Ward, 94, of Mill Spring, died Friday, Nov. 4, 2016, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, 2016, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. Funeral services will immediately follow at 1 p.m. also at the Piedmont chapel. Burial will be at Mill Spring Cemetery...

Letter to Editor The Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Post 6477 held our Annual Family Picnic on Sunday, September 18 at The Eagles Picnic Campground in Poplar Bluff. Veterans of Foreign Wars, their families and invited guests attended. It was a beautiful day, we had wonderful food, all the children played games, the adults competed in horseshoes, and most attendees received a door prize...

Addison Valenzuela Oak Grove Elementary Third Grade I want to make the world a better place because I would make people stop drinking alcoha. I would make people be nice. Let kids out of the orfinige and find moms and dads for them so they can have a happy life to. I want to make the world were there are no bad people. I want to make the world better were there were people not drinking bad stuff...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. --The Lady Dawgs fell three points shy of adding to the trophy case for the second time this fall. Van Buren girls finished fifth in Class 1 of the MSHSAA cross country championships Saturday at Oak Hill Golf Center. The Lady Dawgs, who won the school's first softball title in October, missed a fourth-place trophy by the slimmest of margins...

The Raiders spent the final 10 minutes with its starting and backup point guards in foul trouble, and had to fight off North Lake (Texas) in the process. The defense held and got a eight-point burst from the offense to hold off the Blazers and win 81-74 on Saturday at the Bess Activity Center...

MT. CARMEL, Ill. -- Despite a dreadful free-throw percentage, the Lady Raiders still had a chance to win late. Three Rivers was down as much as 14 before a late run cut Wabash Valley's lead to three. With the clock winding down, the Lady Raiders got the ball to last season's leading scorer Michael Everhart, who missed a 3 at the buzzer as Three Rivers lost to Wabash Valley 70-67 Friday night...

Dexter coach Kevin Goltra thinks the Bearcats had their best offensive practice of the season on Tuesday with a second state-ranked opponent on the horizon. On Friday, Dexter lost 45-7 to Park Hills Central, ranked seventh in Class 3. Now it has travel to Malden, ranked fifth in Class 2, in the final game of the regular season...

Madison Cagle Naylor High School 11th Grade If I was the president today I would make sure that every veteran has a place to live. I would also make sure every parent that has to pay child support pays the correct amount that is needed each month. I think the most important characteristic a president should have is intelligence. We need an intelligent president to get things done, not just someone who is saying they will make changes, but someone who will actually do it...

Samantha Frye Neelyville Middle School Seventh Grade I would take my grandma (to the White House) because we are always joking about politics. Lexus Hagood Neelyville Middle School Seventh Grade The most important job of the president is to keep our country safe. I think this because I believe our country is going downhill very fast and we need a president who is going to treat our country right and keep it safe...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer For 116 years, the majority of Butler County voters have been solidly Republican in presidential elections. The county has only supported Democratic candidates six times since 1900. The last time was Bill Clinton's first presidential run, when he beat George H.W. Bush by 1 percent...