Stories from Monday, January 23, 2017

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Butler County Commissioners will meet at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the courthouse to approve a 2017 budget. The $22.4 million in proposed spending is conservative, according to officials, who say they overestimate costs and underestimate revenues...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The United States Geological Survey reports a magnitude 2.8 earthquake occurred at 11:31 a.m. Saturday about five miles east of Wilson City, Mo. According to the USGS, the earthquake happened directly underneath the Mississippi River at 36.885 degrees north latitude and 89.118 degrees west latitude. The epicenter was reported at a depth of 4.7 miles...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The execution of a search warrant Thursday at a Dexter, Mo., home resulted in an area man going to jail and the filing of 10 drug-related offenses against him. Johnathan Blake Butler, 24, of Campbell, Mo., was charged with the Class C felony of delivery of a controlled substance (synthetic cannabinoid), six Class D felonies of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine, Oxycontin, Alprazolam, Hydromorphone, Hydrocodone and Oxycodone); the Class A misdemeanor of possession of a controlled substance (more than 10 grams of synthetic cannabinoid); and two Class D misdemeanors of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance (fewer than 10 grams of marijuana).. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor DONIPHAN, Mo. -- The Butler County Prosecuting Attorney's Office filed a notice of appeal last week after its case against a former bookkeeper who was accused of stealing money from a local construction company was dismissed by a Ripley County judge...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Poplar Bluff's former city cable division is changing hands again, according to an announcement last week by NewWave's parent company. Cable One of Phoenix, Ariz., is purchasing Rural Broadband Investments for $735 million. RBI owns NewWave and other cable service providers...

By JODIE JACKSON JR. Columbia Daily Tribune COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Mark Swanson's lifelong love affair with board games seems unlikely considering he grew up in a family that didn't have the money to go out and buy a new game to keep everyone entertained on rainy days...

JONESBORO -- Members of the Chancellor's and Dean's Lists for fall 2016 at Arkansas State University have been announced. Combined, the group numbers 2,250 students from 29 states and 14 countries are listed. Area students include: MISSOURI Poplar Bluff: Devin Allison, CL, Trevor Asher, CL, Brooke Darnell, CL, Danielle Farmer, CL, Samantha Gatewood, CL, Sadie Lynn Harber, CL, Lydia Keller, CL, Matthew King, CL, Kaylee Lewis, CL, MaKala McIver, CL, Taylor Pierce, CL, Mallory Robertson, DL, Christina Russom, CL, Alyssa Spear, CL, Brandon Stuckenschneider, DL, Tyler Tomerlin, CL, Chandler VanWinkle, CL Emily Walls, CL, Savannah Weitzel, CL and Kelsey Williams, CL.. ...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Members of American Legion Unit 153 celebrated 85 years Sunday, Jan. 8, with a Cavalcade of Memories. The American Legion, Brown-Mabry Post 153 was granted its charter Aug. 1, 1924. The American Legion Auxiliary was formed in 1919. By 1920 there were 1,324 local units. The American Legion Auxiliary, Brown-Mabry Unit 153 was granted its charter, Jan. 2, 1932 with 23 members...

Poplar Bluff's hot shooting in the second half Saturday afternoon eventually wore down state-ranked Caruthersville. After a slow start, the Mules used a 12-3 run in the third quarter to pull ahead and another surge midway through the fourth in a 95-83 win over the Tigers at the Senior High Gym...

PHOTOS AVAILABLE Mary Newcomb was surrounded by family, friends, residents and staff Friday, Jan. 6, 2017 at the Westwood Hills Rehabilitation Center in Poplar Bluff in celebration of her 99th birthday. Mrs. Newcomb was born in 1918, the Progressive Era and two days before President Woodrow Wilson would deliver his Fourteen Points speech. ...

NEELYVILLE -- Twin Rivers coach Dustin Benson was worried his team might have hit a wall after a string of two straight losses and a bevy of injuries in the last week. The Royals did a few times Friday night as well, but climbed over each one against Neelyville...

DEXTER -- Josh Lewis has been burning for this one all year. After finishing with a second place medal at last year's SEMO Confrence Wrestling Tournament, Lewis erased a year's worth of bad memories and finally got his gold. The senior pinned North County's Ryann Propst to claim his first conference championship in the 285-pound division and joined Tanner Dunivan as conference champions for the Mules at the Dexter Bearcat Event Center...

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- The SEMO Conference can sometimes be brutal on Dexter, especially early. They lost five of their first six games to that field of nine that's routinely mentioned as one of the toughest grinds in the state. But the Bearcats are far from that 1-5 start now and were able to continue one of the longest winning streaks in southeast Missouri on Friday night...

Three Rivers College coach Gene Bess called it the best game of Terrence Parker's career. Parker spent the end of it bleeding. The Three Rivers big man finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, and probably six stitches as the Raiders won their first home region game of the season 81-78 over MSU-West Plains University on Saturday...

The Lady Raiders have swept the first half of their Region XVI schedule. Three Rivers College defeated Crowder College 73-68 Saturday at the Bess Activity Center to start 4-0 in the region and extend its winning streak to 16 games. Three different times the Lady Raiders (18-2, 4-0 Region XVI) built a double-digit lead, only to have Crowder (4-17, 1-1 Region XVI) erase it. The final time it happened, the Lady Raiders were down a point with a minute left to play...

The Planning and Zoning Commission is expected to decide Monday night on whether to recommend a zoning change that would allow construction of a low-income housing project. At issue is a 48-unit building to be constructed by the Missouri National Guard Foundation. ...

Patrick Anthony Neel DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Patrick Anthony Neel, 56, of Doniphan, died Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be held from 5 - 8 p.m., Monday, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 10 a.m., Tuesday, in the funeral home chapel with Heather Hill officiating. Burial will be in the Pilgrim's Rest Cemetery...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Raegan McAtee punched her ticket for the MSHSAA state championships in an individual event and helped the 400-yard freestyle earn a state cut Saturday at the City of Roses Invitational. The Poplar Bluff sophomore qualified for state in the backstroke and missed returning in the 50 freestyle by less than half a second. Raegan McAtee, Morgan McAtee, Taylor Norwood and Lexi Vaughn cut 14.46 seconds off their time in the 400 relay to qualify for state...

To the Editor, This letter is in response to the piece written by DAR news reporter Donna Farley in Wednesday, Jan. 18th paper titled "Housing Opponents Shouldn't Judge Poor". Ms. Farley's piece certainly illustrates her own bias. Apparently, she is not aware what the income standards are required for application to live in the projected complex. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "Don't Make Any Sudden Moves" is the advice offered to the new president by Richard Haass of the Council on Foreign Relations, which has not traditionally been known as a beer hall of populist beliefs. Haass meant the president should bring his National Security Council together to anticipate the consequences before tearing up the Iran nuclear deal, moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem or shooting down a missile being tested by Kim Jong Un...

Gordon Long Gordon L. Long, 70, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 at his residence surrounded by his family. Mr. Long, the son of the late Elmer and Addie Bell Ball Long, was born March 23, 1946 in Trumann, Ark. He served with the Arkansas National Guard from 1964 to 1970 and had retired from Union Pacific Railroad as a locomotive engineer. Mr. Long was of the Baptist faith. He enjoyed spending time with his family, gardening, flying airplanes and home remodeling...

Charles Bowman PUXICO, Mo. - Charles E. Bowman, 72, of , of Advance, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 at his home. Funeral arrangements are pending through Morgan Sifford Funeral Home of Puxico, Mo.

Austin Moody SHERIDAN, ARK. - Austin Moody, 17, of Sheridan passed away on Jan. 19, 2017. He was born on Jan. 12, 2000 to Terry and Robin Moody in Little Rock, Ark. Austin loved living life to the fullest. He enjoyed football, track and field and won many state championship in Taekwondo and the 2008 World Championship in Sparring. He was a member of 1st Landmark Baptist Church in Sheridan and attended Sheridan High School...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A month and a half into the operation of her new pet grooming business, Posh Paws, 21-year-old Milli West used this weekend's Ag Expo to meet prospective new customers. Accompanied by her six-year-old Great Pyrenees, West had the chance to reach more than 6,000 area residents who attended the Friday and Saturday event at the Black River Coliseum...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer "I used the analogy of soldiers together make an army, athletes together make a team, instruments together make an orchestra, shingles together make a roof, and voices together make a harmony," said Dr. Ron Webb of his benediction prayer at Gov. Eric Greitens' inauguration on Jan. 9...

Maria Jean Paskel Bolin Maria Jean Paskel Bolin, 63, died unexpectedly Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, at her home in Navarre, Fla. While living in this area, she attended church in Saint Francis, Ark., and First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was a born again Christian and she went to be with the Lord on the morning of Jan. 9, 2017...

John Adams PIEDMONT, Mo. - John M. "Johnny" Adams, 72, of Patterson, Mo. died Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Sunday in the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont, Mo. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. Sunday in the funeral home chapel. Interment will be in the Patterson Cemetery...

Margie Wright QULIN, Mo. -- Margie Louise Wright, age 90 of Qulin, died Friday Jan. 20, 2017 at Westwood Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mrs. Wright was born September 13, 1926 at Malden, Missouri, daughter of the late J.B and Lula Fowler...

Tyler Doublin PUXICO, Mo. - Tyler Dale Doublin, 28, of Puxico, Mo, died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The funeral was held at noon, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 in the Morgan Sifford Funeral Home chapel. Burial was in the Fagan Cemetery in Puxico, Mo...

Verna Haggard Verna "Vicki" L. Haggard, 87, of Maryland Heights, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 at NHC Healthcare in Maryland Heights, Mo. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23 at Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville, Mo. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. Burial will be in the Springhill Cemetery in Fairdealing, Mo...

Yoshiyah York DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Yoshiyah York, 9, of Doniphan, Mo. died Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 at his home. He was born Feb. 12, 2007 in Mammoth Spring, Ark., to parents Kenny and Renee Smith, both survive. He is also survived by four sisters; Madelyne, Abbe, Audree and Jasmina; and three brothers, Lucas, Eliyah and Isaiah...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Steve Proctor and his wife, Nancy, were not supporters of President Donald Trump during the primary process, as Republicans chose the candidate they hoped to send to the White House. But now that he is president, the Proctors want to see him succeed...