Stories from Wednesday, December 14, 2016

(figures approximate) Proposed Deficit: $173,800 With no raises General fund Revenue: $12,406,000 Expenses: $12,579,700 Cash on hand: Approximately $1.4 million Total salary and benefits By department: Police: $4,048,200 Fire: $2,201,500 Street: $1,062,600...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff High School Choir is busy planning for a trip to the Big Apple - hosting a number of activities recently and in the next several months to fund the 30 members' expenses. Vocal music director Joshua Allen says the goal of the trip is to help members experience things they would not get to see in Poplar Bluff. The trip is planned for June, when school dismisses for summer, and the choir will get to see some of New York City's most famous landmarks...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Less than two years after a city spending spree on technology and equipment, Poplar Bluff city cash levels have reached what officials describe as a "critical level." City manager Mark Massingham asked the council Monday to approve personnel cuts to the police, street and planning departments, as well as city court. The proposed budget also eliminates dental insurance for employees...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Proposed city personnel cuts to the Poplar Bluff Police Department could pose a threat to officer and resident safety, members of law enforcement said Monday. The recommendation was not taken lightly, according to city manager Mark Massingham, and comes after both the fire department and street department have also lost personnel...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Described as an "old-time policeman," Butler County's last remaining former sheriff, who was once shot in the line of duty, has died at the age of 73. Bill R. Heaton, who served as sheriff from 1990 to 1992 and 1997 to 2004, died Monday at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Many city residents, particularly in south Poplar Bluff, may have experienced water pressure problems Monday morning and afternoon. The cause was a damaged water main at the city's water plant around 10 a.m., according to Municipal Utilities General Manager Bill Bach. City crews were continuing to work on repairs today, but had managed to divert most of the water flow away from the broken line, he said...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- The most amusing part of the Trump transition has been watching its effortless confounding of the media, often in fewer than 140 characters. One morning, after a Fox News report on lefty nuttiness at some obscure New England college -- a flag burning that led a more-contemptible-than-usual campus administration to take down the school's own American flag -- Donald Trump tweets that flag burners should go to jail or lose their citizenship...

Adopted cat brings joy I just wanted to say that I have adopted a cat from Hicks Animal Clinic a week ago and I am disabled and she's eight months old and she has brought me so much joy and I also want to tell the people right now they don't have any dogs, but have probably 30 cats or more that need homes. ...

To the Editor: A while back I watched the movie Greater, an inspirational story based on the real life Arkansas Razorback, Brandon Burlsworth. In one scene, the coach asked his players, "Have I told you that I love you lately?' As I thought about that question, I began to reflect on our own community's coaches, teachers and educators...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- There has been ferment among the literati since Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Many say that however well Dylan does what he does, it is not literature. Dylan did not go to Stockholm Saturday to collect his prize, which the Swedish Academy says was awarded "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition." Well, then:...

Retired teachers, school personnel group to meet Butler County Retired Teachers and School Personnel will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, in the Altrusa Room at Twin Towers. Highlights of the program will include Larry McCann, retired music teacher from Doniphan, with Christmas songs and the installation of officers for 2017. Bring a white elephant gift. All retired educators and school support personnel are invited to attend the meeting...

JACKSON, Mo. -- There's been plenty of recent history between the Saxony Lutheran and Twin Rivers girls basketball programs, having played five times in the last four years, including four straight Class 3 sectional clashes. This year, though, the schools are new district foes, and their rosters have undergone some serious renovation...

DONIPHAN -- Callee Pickrell obviously recognized there was a momentous swing in the middle of Monday's game against Doniphan, but the Naylor junior forward didn't realize how momentous it was until she saw the stats moments after the dust settled. The Lady Eagles quickly pulled away from a 4-point second-quarter advantage and didn't allow a field goal for the next 15 minutes, 57 seconds, stringing together a 30-0 run and cruising to a 53-20 victory at Bill L. Wright Gymnasium...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. --Poplar Bluff took the top three spots in the 200-yard freestyle relay and the 50-freestyle Monday in a 109-66 win against Jackson. Paige Bradley won the 50 in 27.9 seconds followed by teammates Samara Kilgore in 28.31 and Hannah Fortner in 29.04 while Taylor Norwood won the butterfly and backstroke races and Raegan McAtee won the 100 freestyle...

CLARKTON -- Emanuel White was told to take over the game late in the fourth quarter. The Clarkton senior ran the point on one end and defended the post at the other, but still second-seeded Risco was able to prevent the upset and win 67-64 in the first round of the Clarkton Invitational on Monday...

BROSELEY -- Hayden Thomas netted a game-high 23 points for the second straight game as Twin Rivers defeated Hayti 75-65 in a Bloomfield Christmas Tournament tune-up Monday night. Jamie Robards chipped in 18 points, all from 3-point range, and Chance Wilkerson netted 15 points for the Royals (4-2)...

Bill R. Heaton WAPPAPELLO, Mo. -- Bill R. Heaton, 73, of Wappapello, passed away Monday, Dec. 12, 2016 at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Bill, the son of the late William Heaton, Sr. and Clara M. Pediford Heaton, was born Oct. 20, 1942 in Sikeston. ...

Charles Elco Redden MALDEN, Mo. -- Charles Elco Redden, Sr., 92, of Clarkton, died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, at Gideon Care Center. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. until service time, Tuesday, at Bradshaw Funeral Homes, Inc. at Malden. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m., at the Bradshaw Chapel in Malden...

Daniel G. Buresh VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Daniel G. Buresh, 69, son of the late James Joseph and Mildred Adeline (Lalla) Buresh was born March 15, 1947 in Berwyn, Ill., and departed this life Friday, Dec. 9, 2016, at the Jefferson Barracks V.A. Medical Center in St. Louis...

Glen Denver Young NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Glen Denver Young, 81, of Naylor passed away Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016 at the Oak Dale Residential Care in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Young was born Nov. 25, 1935 in Naylor. He worked as a farmer and enjoyed hunting, running his dogs, outdoors and gardening. He drove the school bus for the Naylor School District from 1968-1981 and attended the Naylor Pentecostal Church...

Chalmer Laverne Parker MALDEN, Mo. -- Chalmer Laverne Parker, 82, of Malden, died Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, at Ridgeview Nursing Center in Malden. Visitation will be at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, at Bradshaw Funeral Homes, Inc. in Malden. The Funeral will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, at Bradshaw Chapel in Malden with Rev. Mark Thrasher officiating...

Timothy S.Slaughter PUXICO, Mo. -- Timothy S. Slaughter, 58, of McGee, Mo. died Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, at work. Arrangements pending with Morgan-Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico.

Frances Faye Lewis FISK, Mo. -- Frances Faye Lewis, 92, of Fisk, died Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Lewis was born Sept. 6, 1924 in Burt, Mich. She was a member of Westwood Baptist Church at Poplar Bluff. ...

Leonard Earl Little MALDEN, Mo. - Funeral services for Leonard Earl Little will be held Saturday, De. 17 at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by the "Celebration of Life" service at 1 p.m. with Reverend Bob Phillips officiating...

Ray Lumpkins Ray Lumpkins, 86, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Saturday, Dec. 20, 2016 at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Lumpkins, son of the late Frank Lumpkins and Nola Johnson, was born June 2, 1930 in Moark, Ark. He proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean conflict and had retired from the Poplar Bluff R-1 School System. Mr. Lumpkins enjoyed spending time with his family, woodworking, repairing small engines and fishing...