Stories from Wednesday, February 1, 2017

By PAT PRATT and MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Staff writers Two Poplar Bluff schools were put on lockdown Tuesday morning after a firearm allegedly was flourished during an apparent domestic dispute on the gravel parking lot near the Early Childhood Center. At 7:44 a.m., a woman, who was dropping off her child at the center, contacted the Poplar Bluff Police Department regarding the child's father allegedly violating an order of protection, said PBPD Sgt. Keith Hefner...

Joseph Birchfield Joseph Birchfield, age 62, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, January 27, 2017 at Cedar Gate Healthcare, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be at 11 a.m., Wed., Feb. 01 at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Qulin. Graveside services will follow at 1 p.m. at Qulin Cemetery in Qulin with Rev. Jim Sanders officiating. www.whitesandersfuneralhome.com...

To the Editor: The staff and board of the Broseley Senior and Community Center would like to thank all those who have assisted with our recent events and fundraisers. Most of all we thank those who attend our special and daily dinners, and those who donated toys for our Christmas party for Broseley Head Start...

WASHINGTON -- When the president speaks of closed factories scattered like "tombstones" across America, has he noticed the shuttered stores in shopping centers, and entire malls reduced to rubble? He promises "protection" to prevent foreigners from "destroying" manufacturing jobs by exporting to America things that Americans want to import. Does he know that one American company might be "destroying" more American jobs than China is? And that this supposed destruction is beneficial?...

Rotary helping youth The Sierra group from the Sierra Osage Treatment Center met recently with the Poplar Bluff Rotary Club. The Rotary Club of Poplar Bluff pursues a motto of "Service above Self." The overall objective of the club is "to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise." That is why the president of the Rotary Club, Sheldon Tyler, and Michelle Shepard, a new member of the club, decided to embark on a new program to allow youth the opportunity to develop a variety of vocational, career, leadership and character building skills through an ongoing relationship.. ...

Many Oak Grove Elementary students tried spinach for the first time through the Chef 2 School program hosted recently by Chartwells School Dining Services, with dark green leafy vegetables serving as their monthly food focus. "I thought I didn't like it, but I did," first grader Lexi Walter said about the vegetable pasta salad...

Carrie L. Diggs-McCombs of Poplar Bluff, Mo. will celebrate her 90th birthday from 3-8 p.m. Saturday at the Holiday Inn Ballroom, 2781 N. Westwood Blvd. Friends and relatives are invited to attend. She was a nurse at Lucy Lee Hospital and her children are Stan Diggs, Vickie Kelso and Melvin Diggs...

PIEDMONT -- In a season full of uphill battles, the Clearwater girls basketball team cleared one rung of the ladder, beating Bloomfield 60-17 for its first win of the season Monday night. Clearwater, which has competed with just five players for most of the year, got a game-high 32 points from junior Cheyanne Burton while junior Brittany Adams added 12 points, all from 3-point range...

Poplar Bluff couldn't keep pace with Jentri Worley and the Neelyville Lady Tigers. Worley scored 38 points and Lauren Crossed added 25 as Neelyville ran past the Mules 90-60 Monday night at the Senior High Gym. "We seem to be better at fast pace," Tigers coach Becky Hale said. "We've been working on both but I felt we transitioned really well and that helped us out."...

Joan Huckabay Joan Huckabay, 85, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017 at her daughter's residence. She was born on the 4th of July in 1931. After moving to Poplar Bluff in 2008 Joan worked at Wal-Mart in the bakery. Joan is survived by her three children: Bill (Paula) Slayton of Acworth, Ga., Jonathan Huckabay of Chelsea, Vt., and Mable Britt of Poplar Bluff; six grandchildren: Allyson Poe of Ridgeland, Miss., Mattiesha Britt of Poplar Bluff, Gabbie Slayton of Acworth, Ga., Eliza Jayn Huckabay of Montpelier, Vt., Will Slayton of Madison, Miss., and Kevin Carvotta of Acworth, Ga.; four great-grandchildren: Rowan, Jaelynn, Bella, and Savanna; and many cherished nieces and nephews.. ...

Joseph Birchfield QULIN, Mo. -- Joseph Birchfield, 62, of Poplar Bluff, died Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 at Cedar Gate Healthcare, in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will begin at 11 A.M., Thursday, at White-Sanders Funeral Home, Qulin. Graveside services will follow at 1 P.M., Qulin Cemetery in Qulin with Rev. Jim Sanders officiating...

Mary Magdalene "Maggie" Smith CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Mary Magdalene "Maggie" Smith, 79, of Campbell, died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017, at Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott, Ark. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell., Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, at Landess Funeral Chapel in Campbell with Rev. Bruce Vinson officiating...

Sally Louise Featherston Boyd Sally Louise Featherston Boyd, 69, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Sunday Jan. 29, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Boyd, the daughter of the late Charles Henry and Ellen Inez O'Brien Featherston, was born Sept. ...

Qulin Lions Club dinner The Qulin Lions Club will host dinner Sunday. Menu will include: fried catfish, fried potatoes, baked beans, coleslaw, white beans & ham, mach & cheese, hush puppies, desserts and drinks. Adults: $10; children under 12: $5. Saturday, Joe Jane will celebrate his 92nd birthday. He is the only active member since the beginning of the Lions Club from 1968. He will be honored at this dinner...

Tax clinic begins Feb. 7 at Twin Towers Beginning Tuesday, Feb. 7, a Tax Clinic (Federal, State, and the MO Property Tax Credit) will be provided free of charge from 8 -11 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at Twin Towers. The clinics will continue through Tuesday, April 18. No appointment is necessary; however you will need to sign up in the Twin Tower's Community Room when you come into the clinic...

James "Jay" Averhart Jr. NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- James "Jay" Averhart Jr., 71, of Naylor, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, at his home. Mr. Averhart was born Jan. 23, 1946, in Bay, Ark. An auto mechanic, he had lived in Ripley County since 1989. He enjoyed squirrel hunting and training squirrel dogs, cutting grass and visiting at the Naylor Quick Connection. He was a member of the Success, Ark., Pentecostal Church and a National Guard veteran...