Stories from Wednesday, January 25, 2017

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Butler County Commissioners approved a 2017 budget Monday that includes a 50 percent raise for the county coroner and an additional salary for a second assistant coroner. The $22.4 million budget attempts to keep spending the same or less than 2016 for the majority of county offices, according to commissioners, who have been trying to reign in spending from the cash reserve. ...

By MARYBETH NIEDERKORN SEMO News Service GORDONVILLE, Mo. -- Tucked back on a one-lane county road just outside of Gordonville, there's a bright red barn with a handwritten sign taped to the door: "Fat Chance General Store -- Not Open to the Public." Step inside and there's a collection. At first glance it overwhelms, but a closer look reveals intriguing pieces that tell a story of how our region was settled and grew...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Butler County homeowners should see a decrease in their insurance premiums this year thanks to a lower fire classification for the first time since the early 1990s. The Butler County Fire Protection District "tested" in March with ISO (Insurance Services Office), which is a company that "goes around and grades fire departments," explained Chief Bob Fredwell. "Basically, they do this for the insurance companies."...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Members of the Poplar Bluff Planning and Zoning Commission delayed a vote Monday concerning rezoning of property on Eugene Boulevard for a low income housing complex. Approximately 150 signatures have been gathered on three petitions against the proposal and submitted to the city clerk's office, according to officials. Copies of the petitions were not available at press time...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A familiar face on the Poplar Bluff Board of Education says he will not seek another term. Local businessman Steve Sells, who has served on the board for nine years, says after much consideration he will focus on his family, church and business when his current term expires in April...

By JULIE PACE AP White House Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) -- Charting a new American course abroad, President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the sweeping Trans-Pacific Partnership on Monday, using one of his first actions in office to reject a centerpiece of Barack Obama's attempts to counter China and deepen U.S. ties in Asia...

Litter from pickups and trash trucks While driving in Poplar Bluff its hard not to notice all the trash on the side of streets and highways. It looks to me like people should be proud of their town and keep their trash in the vehicle until they get somewhere with a trash can instead of throwing junk out the window when so many people work hard to keep property clean...

The House welcomed Governor Eric Greitens to our chamber to deliver his first State-of-the-State address to a special joint session of the Missouri General Assembly. In his address, Governor Greitens reinforced many of the priorities I laid forth in my opening address, including his commitment to supporting legislation that will improve Missouri's business climate, ensure our courts system is just for all parties, and continue restoring public trust in government. ...

By BERNARD GOLDBERG By now Meryl Streep's well-rehearsed performance at the Golden Globe awards may feel like old news. But like so much of Streep's work, it stays with us long after the show has ended. A less skilled performer would have called Donald Trump out by name, and not just once or twice, but over and over -- and in a loud, angry voice. Streep never uttered his name in her 5 minute and 47 second speech -- even as she calmly berated him to a worldwide TV audience...

To the Editor: I am writing to thank and celebrate Missouri Bootheel residents for spreading joy to children around the world this Christmas season. The generosity of Poplar Bluff volunteers, families and groups paved the way for us to collect 12,531 shoebox gifts for the Samaritan's Purse project Operation Christmas Child--the world's largest Christmas project of its kind...

One of the projects of the Exploring program of the Greater St. Louis Area Council of the Boys Scouts of America is to help youth with career decisions. Deciding on a career is one of the most important choices in our lives. To facilitate this process, the Scouting Exploring program will present two programs in the Poplar Bluff area this month which will be of interest to youth and their parents...

Greenville High School has selected their Students of the Month for January. Siera Cheyenne Bennett, daughter of Paul and Lisa Bennett of Loundes, loves to play volleyball, go on road trips with her friends and go the movies. She is active BETA, FBLA, FCCLA and Art Club. Siera plays softball and volleyball...

GREENVILLE -- The Greenville Bears jumped all over East Carter and scored 66 points in the final three quarters to pick up their first Ozark Foothills conference victory, 82-47, on Monday night. The Bears (10-5, 1-3 OFC) led 41-27 at halftime and extended it to 62-41 by the start of the fourth...

BLOOMFIELD--The Dexter Bearcats and the Puxico Indians met one week ago in Dexter and it was a good night for the home team as they won by 30 points. They met again on Monday night in the opening round of the SCAA Tournament and it was a classic case of "same song, second verse" for Puxico...

VINCENNES, Ind. -- Things imploded in the fourth quarter and took the Lady Raiders' winning streak with them. Three Rivers College allowed 31 points in the final 10 minutes against nationally-ranked Vincennes and lost 78-55 on Monday. "It was one of those games that we had a chance to win and the ball just wouldn't go in," Three Rivers coach Jeff Walk said. "It was well within reach, but we could just never get going offensively in the fourth quarter."...

NEELYVILLE -- An enticing matchup between Neelyville and Saxony Lutheran felt like a playoff game Monday night. And for 27 minutes the two state runner-ups from a season ago lived up to that billing. But by the midway point of the fourth quarter, Neelyville turned up the defensive pressure...

Richard "Dick" Stephens, Sr. VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Richard "Dick" Stephens, Sr., 72, of Van Buren, died Monday, Jan. 23, 2017 at The Riverways Manor in Van Buren, MO., with his family by his side. Visitation will begin for the public at 6 p.m, Thursday, at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren, with the Funeral Service being held at 10 a.m., Friday, in the First Baptist Church in Van Buren. Rev. Ron Robinson will officiate. Burial will be in Poca Hollow Cemetery in Van Buren...

Fran Woods PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Fran Woods, 72, of Piedmont, died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2107, at the Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be held from 5 - 8 p.m., Thursday at the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the Potter Cemetery in Reynolds County...

BENTON, Ill. -- Cynthia "Cindy" Dawn Morgan-Mattison, 48, of Benton, passed away at 8:15 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, at her residence surrounded by her family. Cindy was born Feb. 5, 1968, to James Morgan and Virgie (Levette) Stellmon in Festus, Mo. She married Richard Lee Mattison April 11, 1987...

Charlene Spears MALDEN, Mo. -- Charlene Spears, 68, of New Madrid, died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017, at her residence. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Landess Funeral Home of Malden in charge of arrangements.

Linda Craig PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Linda Craig, 74, of Piedmont, died Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, at her residence. A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, January 29, 2017, at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Piedmont. Bro. Gary Aubuchon will minister to the family...

Joyce "Badgley" Whitesell FISK, Mo. - Joyce "Badgley" Whitesell, age 82, of Broseley, Mo., died Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Five Rivers Medical Center, in Pocahontas, Ark.. Mrs. Whitesell was born April 15, 1934 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. the daughter of the late Fredrick and Lelia "Hathaway" Badgley. ...

From Staff Reports Wappapello Lake Area Association (WLAA) is launching plans for 2017 activities as it wraps up last year's events. The Festival of Lights was a high area of discussion during the monthly meeting Tuesday, Jan. 10, at the Bill Emerson Memorial Visitor Center at Wappapello Lake...

The Mingo National Wildlife Refuge staff invites the general public to Eagle Days from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4. Eagle days is a great way to celebrate eagle conservation and the positive population increase over the past 25 to 30 years while having fun. Based on the population reports from the first of January, visitors can suspect to see around 20 adults eagles and more than 50 juvenile eagles within the days span...

Virgil Campbell DONIPAN, Mo. -- Virgil Campbell, 93, of Fairdealing, died Sunday, Jan. 22 , 2017, at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, at the Doniphan City Cemetery with Brother Miller officiating...

Robert Allen (Sonny) Reed Robert Allen "Sonny" Reed, 68, ofDoniphan, Mo., formerly of Naylor, passed away Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Sonny was born Aug. 19, 1948 in Catron, Mo., son of the late Robert Edward Reed and Helen Marie (Whitaker) Reed. He was a bus mechanic forthe Doniphan R-1 School, from which he retired. He greatly enjoyed handlingrace horses and watching westerns...

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...

The American Red Cross is urging the public to give blood now to help overcome a severe winter blood shortage, which is being compounded by ongoing winter weather. Blood donations are currently being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in...

Claudetta Irene Littrell DONIPHAN, Mo. - Claudetta Irene Littrell, 66, of Doniphan passed away on Jan. 21, 2017 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center surrounded by family and friends. Mrs. Littrell was born on Aug. 30, 1950 in Doniphan, Mo. She was retired from S.M.T.S where she worked as a transportation driver for 24 years. ...

By MIKE MCCOY SEMO News Service BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission voted to change the cameras to be installed as part of a security upgrade in county buildings from Panasonic to Axis and also to change the software for the system from Panasonic to a Digifort IP security system. The action was taken at the regular meeting Monday, Jan. 16, after a presentation from Robin Tolbert with KT Power Systems in Cape Girardeau...

By TRAVIS L. QUERTERMOUS SEMO News Service BLOOMFIELD -- The Dexter Bearcats and the Puxico Indians met one week ago in Dexter and it was a good night for the Dexter team as they won by 30 points. They met again on Monday night in the opening round of the SCAA Tournament and it was a classic case of "same song, second verse" for Puxico...

Tyler Carl Dye MALDEN, Mo. -- Tyler Carl Dye, 25, of Fairdealing, died Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, at his residence. Visitation will be from 1- 2 p.m., Wenesday at the Landess Chapel in Malden. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m., at the Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden with Pastor Larry Earl officiating...

Naomi M. Gosnell Naomi M. Gosnell, 94, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 at The Manor Care Center. Mrs. Gosnell, the daughter of the late William and Bessie Place Porter, was born February 19, 1922 in Risco, Mo. She was a 1940 graduate of Risco High School. Mrs. Gosnell previously retired from the O'dells Cleaners and was a homemaker. She enjoyed spending time with her family, sewing, quilting and crocheting...

By MIKE MCCOY SEMO News Service "God had a hold of me... that is all I can say," Kay Asbell reflects about an accident that left her in the Trauma Center at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Though the accident left her with serious injuries, Asbell considers herself lucky that it wasn't worse. She is on the road to recovery...

Mildred Maxine Wilkerson, 82, of Fisk died Monday, Jan. 16, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation was held Jan. 18, 2017 and funeral services were held Jan. 19, 2017 at the White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. Rev. David Edwards officiated. Burial followed in the Shain Memorial Cemetery in Fisk...

By AMY WALKER Winners of the annual Puhicah Thursday, Jan. 19, are third grade 2017 Elementary Queen Brook Doublin and King Ashden Murphy; seventh grade 2017 Junior High Queen Jayden Strickland and King Braden Cornelius; and 12th grade 2017 High School Queen Emma Parsley and King Caleb Swallows...

Vernita Payne, 64, of McGee died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017 after an extended battle with cancer. Graveside services were held Jan. 21, 2017 at the McGee New Hope Cemetery in McGee. Rev. LeeRoy Hefner officiated. Morgan Funeral Home of Advance in charge of arrangements...

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

April 17 is the deadline for youth, 15-18 years of age, to apply for Mark Twain National Forest summer jobs through Youth Conservation Corps (YCC). Applicants are not required to live in the local area, but anyone chosen for the program must be capable of reporting daily to the job location...

I do not know who wrote the seventy-third Psalm, but was a man that had fought a terrific battle within his own life, and won. This little psalm shows us two ways in which his religion affected his life. First it made him miserable, then happy and content. ...