Stories from Thursday, December 8, 2016

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor The testimony of multiple defense witnesses who placed a Myrtle, Mo., man at locations other than the home of his wife's grandmother at the time she was killed in 2008 weighed into a Butler County jury's decision to acquit him of killing her...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A St. Louis man now accused of burglary picked the wrong Poplar Bluff home to intrude upon Monday night. In addition to being arrested on charges of first-degree burglary, third-degree assault and property damage, 25-year old Aaron McCoy, took quite a beating in the suspected commission of those crimes...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer The second of five public meetings regarding the economic outlook for Butler, Carter, Reynolds, Ripley and Wayne counties took place Tuesday in Poplar Bluff. According to Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission Associate Director Matt Winters, the group of 35 representatives focused on five target areas needing attention in the foothills region...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A new and unique program at Poplar Bluff High School is helping students who are facing economic barriers receive necessities in a discreet way. The Students' Closet, located in the library, is a free store open to students who might need clothing, personal hygiene or food items. The project was initiated by school board member Alana Robertson, who also serves on the Bright Futures advisory, after seeing a similar idea on social media...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A new transformer was delivered Tuesday to Municipal Utilities substation on Morrison Road, which has operated off a smaller backup unit since an alleged drunk driving accident in 2015. It will take one to two weeks to bring the main transformer online, according to utilities General Manager Bill Bach...

It is alleged that Hillary Clinton won a popular vote majority. Therefore, if the nation were not burdened with the antiquated Electoral College, anguished and freaked-out Americans whine, she, instead of Donald Trump, would be the next president of the United States. ...

By STEPHEN MOORE The blue states of America are in a depression. I don't mean the collective funk of liberal voters because they lost the election to Donald Trump. I'm talking about an economic malaise in the blue states that went for Hillary Clinton. ...

Get ready for one of the largest farm trade shows in the region, Ag Expo 2017, Jan. 20 and 21 at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. There will be 118 booths available to visit and learn first-hand about agriculture and its importance to the economy, said Sarah Denkler of the University of Missouri Extension. If you are an ag related business consider becoming a vendor before Dec. 31 to receive a discount price for the booth. The expo will also feature outdoor exhibits...

Dustin and Meagan Whitten of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Kaylee May Whitten for their 6-pound 8-ounce daughter born at 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She is 20 inches tall. Grandparents are Dan and Terri Whitten and Robbie and Paula Stucker, all of Poplar Bluff. Great-grandparents are Inez Harvatin, Eva and Lawrence Stucker and Sue and Paul Sells of Poplar Bluff...

By PETE ROSENBERY CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A student from Poplar Bluff was among the 10 students enrolled in Southern Illinois University Carbondale's nationally recognized aviation programs to receive scholarships during the recent fall aviation banquet...

The first wrestling match for the Mules in their new home didn't last very long Tuesday night. Only one match went the full six minutes as six of Poplar Bluff's eight pins came in the opening period in a 70-12 win against Kennett at the Senior High Gym...

Swimming for the second time in as many days, Poplar Bluff coach Beth Lewis-Muse mixed things up Tuesday. "We broke up a lot of the relay to try and do something a little different to see how much stronger we could make a few relays," she said. "We are always open for different options for our relays when it comes to conference time."...

MALDEN -- If the Malden boys basketball team was looking for a shot of confidence coming off last week's loss in the Oran Invitational championship, it was mission accomplished on Tuesday night. The Green Wave shot a season-high 65 percent from the floor and used a second-quarter run to streak past Twin Rivers 76-60 in their home opener at Malden High School...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- After losing the SEMO Conference Tournament play-in game with a less than desirable effort on Monday, Dexter head basketball coach Josh Dowdy said that would change. Twenty-four hours later, he was right. The eighth-seeded Bearcats blistered No. 7 Kennett 63-41 to advance to a consolation semifinal tonight and pick up their first win of the season at the Sikeston Field House...

Markeia Porter came through when it mattered most. Then she did it again, and one more time just to be sure. The freshman forward was clutch three times in the final minute of Three Rivers College's 61-56 win over Vincennes University on Tuesday at the Bess Activity Center...

ELLSINORE -- Lucas Moe drained a game-high 19 points and all but two players scored as the Doniphan boys basketball team picked up its first Ozark Foothills Conference win of the season Thursday with an 84-52 victory over East Carter. Klay Barton added 12 points for Doniphan (4-1), which jumped out to a 42-27 lead at halftime. The Dons outscored the Redbirds (0-5) by 14 points in the second half...

Relina and Chad Carter of Poplar Bluff have chosen the name Cullyn Layne Carter for their 4-pound, 14-ounce son born at 2:41 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016, at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Cullyn was 17 inches long...

Betty Jane Stafford MALDEN, Mo. -- Betty Jane Stafford, 76, of Jackson, Mo., formerly of Malden, died Monday, Dec. 5, 2016 at Monticello House-Jackson. Visitation will begin at noon Thursday at Bradshaw Funeral Home, Inc. in Malden funeral services will follo at 2 p.m. at the Bradshaw Chapel in Malden with Rev. Nancy Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden...

Allen Alvin Black Allen Alvin Black, 87, of Saint Charles, Mo. passed away Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016 in St. Charles, Mo. He was born in Butler County, Mo. July 10, 1929 to Lawrence W. and Eva P. Black (nee Gary). Allen was a self employed General Contractor, a U.S. Army Veteran and a member of the St. Charles American Legion...

Bobby G. Livesay Bobby G. Livesay, 81, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Monday, Dec. 5, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Livesay, the son of the late Milo Earl and Margaret Marie (Whorton) Livesay, was born Aug. 14, 1935 in Marmaduke, Ark. ...

Edward Lee Norden FISK, Mo. -- Edward Lee Norden, 58, of Fisk, Mo., died Monday, Dec. 5, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Norden was born Sept. 30, 1958 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was an assistant manager at Orscheln in Poplar Bluff. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Norden was a member of the NRA...

Bill D. Howard Bill D. Howard, 89, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016 at his residence. Bill, the son of the late Albert and Josephine Pigg Howard was born Jan. 11, 1927 in Poplar Bluff. He proudly served in the U.S. Army during WWII and was awarded a Victory Medal and an Army of Occupation Medal (Germany). ...