Stories from Monday, March 6, 2017

DAR photos by Corey Matthews MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE C8

Gale and Scott Spencer of Poplar Bluff announce the engagement of their daughter, Caroline Smith Spencer to Jay Kelly Robbins of Hot Springs, Ark. The bridegroom-to-be is the son of Vickie and Kelly Robbins of Hot Springs, Ark. Grandparents of the bride-to-be are Ed and Donna Lou Spencer of Mt. Vernon, Mo., and Marshall and Glenda Gazette of Little Rock, Ark...

The Imaginary Theatre Company finished its play series Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Poplar Bluff Schools with a performance of "A Thousand Cranes" for fifth graders in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center, underwritten by the Bank of Missouri. Imaginary, the professional touring ensemble of The Repertory Theatre of St. ...

Be warned, think twice Dear Speakout: For the low bred piece of crap that "burglarized" my house between 8:00 a.m. and 9:20 a.m. Saturday morning. Here is a "Promise", I will be waiting on you next time, and I will kill you when you come in! RIP Floor seating...

By STEPHEN MOORE Governors and state legislators say they are running out of money again, and many are demanding tax hikes to close budget gaps. More than half the states are facing big deficits this year, and they are mostly blue states, including California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois and New York and Oregon. Wait. These are states with high taxes and some of the deepest pools of red ink. There's got to be a message here...

I would like to take the time to thank you (Melody), and the United Cancer Assistance (UCAN) along with many others for all the help you offered me. As you know I was diagnosed with cancer October 25, 2016. I had surgery to remove the cancer November 28th and started radiation and chemo January 9th. ...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- Among the many unintended legacies of Barack Obama, one has gone largely unnoticed: the emergence of a novel form of resistance to executive overreach, a check-and-balance improvised in reaction to his various presidential power grabs...

After breaking through last year and finishing second at the MSHSAA Class 2 Show-Me Showdown, the Neelyville Lady Tigers were tripped up again in the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon. Oran forced a turnover with a pair of tie-ups in the span of 0.7 of a second and got a free throw after saving the ensuing inbound pass from going out of bounds to hold on for a 72-69 quarterfinal win at the Bess Activity Center...

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Tyler Hansbrough returned to the court Friday night, making his debut with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League. The Poplar Bluff native was signed Thursday after being claimed via waivers, the team announced. The Mad Ants are own by the Indiana Pacers, who selected Hansbrough with the 13th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft...

The Raiders were hampered by the same problem again Saturday. Three Rivers College was swept by Mineral Area, losing the opener 3-2 and then the nightcap 13-12 on Saturday at Roger Pattillo Field, to also get swept in the four-game series. The Raiders (3-10, 0-8 Region XVI) out-hit Mineral Area 10-4 in the opener, but stranded nine runners. Then they stranded 11 runner in the nightcap and lost after initially coming back from a 9-0 hole...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Three Rivers coach Gene turned 82 on Friday. His family sang him "Happy Birthday" as he walked off the court. The team sang it when he walked into the locker room. The family sang it again at the team dinner at Applebee's. Bess got a free dessert, didn't want it, and team radio announcer Roger Burton took one for the team and ate it...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The injuries finally caught up with Three Rivers. Nov 21: Jay Perry, ACL. Nov. 29: Kabrien Rogers, medical. Jan. 21: Alex Kohler, Achilles. Feb. 8: Kaylee Heggemann, ACL. March 3: Ge'Naisha Robinson, MCL One boulder after another crushed Three Rivers College's deep, preseason bench. The last one fell in the Region XVI semifinals on the leading scorer's right knee...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer The bathroom debate is in the spotlight once again since President Trump repealed the Obama administration's controversial order on the protection of transgender rights in public schools on Feb. 22. Trump's decision to repeal Obama's order returned power to the states, removing the federal government from the discussion on how to handle the issue and in turn reignited the passionate opinions of many Americans...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Paving work will begin Monday on a 1-mile section of County Road 558, near Lake Road Elementary. Butler County Commissioners accepted a bid last week from Robertson Bridge and Grading of Poplar Bluff, Mo., for almost $178,000. Robertson was the lowest of four bidders...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Poplar Bluff will hold its annual spring clean up, Buff up the Bluff, on April 22. The event will run from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., said city planner Dennis Avery. It is held at the city leaf disposal site at County Road 604 and South F Street, behind Twin Towers. Signs will be posted directing residents to the site...

Jerry D. O'Neal MALDEN, Mo. -- Jerry D. O'Neal, 72, of Dexter, died Wednesday, March 1, 2017, at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter. Funeral will be at noon, Monday, at the Missouri Veterans' Cemetery in Bloomfield with Mr. James Powell officiating...

Hazel Lorine Bone Hazel Lorine Bone, 78, of Williamsville, died Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born in Merced, Calif., March 26, 1938. to the late Arthur Hill and Odell Bishop Hill. She was a long time resident of Poplar Bluff before moving to Williamsville...

David Reed David Wayne Reed, 53, of Florissant, Mo., died Thursday, March 2, 2017, at Christian Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Butler County voting will go digital after the April election for city and school district boards. County commissioners have voted to purchase 28 new voting machines at a cost of just under $151,000 from the sole bidder, Elkins-Swyers...

Deloris Kellum GIDEON. Mo. -- Deloris Kellum, 75, of Gideon died Friday, March 3, 2017, at Ridgeview Living Community in Malden. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Monday, March 6, at Bradshaw Chapel in Gideon. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 7, at Bradshaw Chapel in Gideon. Burial will be in Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton...

Willis White GREENVILLE, Mo. - Willis White, 84, of Clubb, Mo. died Saturday, March 4, 2017 at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Greenville. The funeral service will follow at noon Wednesday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the White Hollow Cemetery at Clubb...

Willard G. Guess PIEDMONT, Mo. - Willard G. Guess, 93, formerly of Piedmont, died Thursday, March 2, 2017 at the Lewis & Clark Gardens in St. Charles, Mo. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home chapel. Burial with Military Honors will be in the Masonic Cemetery...

Floyd Earl Burns NEELYVILLE, Mo.- Floyd Earl Burns, 77, of Naylor, Mo., passed away Thursday, March 2, 2017 in the Westwood Hills Nursing Center of Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was born Dec. 26, 1939 at Essex, Mo. to the late Elmer and Lydia Burns. He is survived by his children: Debbie Duhon of Corning, Ark., Don Burns and wife Sherry of Poplar Bluff, Mo. ...

William Lee Davis NEELYVILLE, Mo. - William Lee Davis, 49, of Fairdealing, Mo., died Friday, March 3, 2017, at his home. Arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel.

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor SHOOK, Mo. -- A Shook area woman who apparently got lost while searching for her dog in what authorities described as densely wooded and rugged terrain was found Friday morning. A family member called the Wayne County Sheriff's Department at about midnight to report his/her 60-year-old relative had "left out, looking for her dog," explained Wayne County Sheriff Dean Finch...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. - A Multi-Agency Resource Center for those affected by the Perryville tornado will open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 4, at the Perry Park Center. Proof of address is required to receive available services and referrals. At the MARC, affected residents can request debris removal, insurance and legal services, food stamp replacement, emergency financial assistance, health and wellness referrals and other assistance...

Ronnie Pierce Ronnie Pierce, 73, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Thursday, March 2, 2017, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Mr. Pierce, the son of the late Millice and Elza Welch Pierce, was born May 10, 1943, in Mineral Wells, Texas. He was an x-ray technologist and a bio-med tcchnician for Lucy Lee Hospital for 45 years...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The National Weather Service along with state and local emergency management agencies are urging the public to participate in Missouri Severe Weather Awareness Week March 6-10, to better prepare for those hazards. This year's event comes on the heels of a deadly tornado outbreak that on Wednesday killed one person in nearby Perryville, Missouri and three other people in the Ohio Valley region...