Stories from Saturday, March 25, 2017

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man appeared in court last week after his recent indictment on 15 felonies, including kidnapping and sexual assault charges involving his estranged wife. Doyle William Turner, 46, of the 900 block of Cleveland Street appeared before Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett for arraignment on three Class B felonies of first-degree burglary, the Class C felonies of second-degree domestic assault and first-degree tampering, five unclassified felonies of armed criminal action (ACA), the Class B felony of kidnapping, the unclassified felonies of forcible rape and forcible sodomy and two Class C felonies of unlawful possession of a firearm.. ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer During its annual meeting on Tuesday, Ozark Ridge Golf Association pitched questions to parks and recreation officials on how ongoing restoration efforts will affect play during the upcoming season. The course, once considered one of the finest public courses in the Midsouth, has faced considerable scrutiny in recent months due to unplayable greens and other maintenance issues. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer An agency that helps communities match dollars to needs in one of the poorest congressional districts in the nation celebrates 50 years of service this month. Members say the work of Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission has touched the lives of nearly all of the more than 82,000 residents in the five-county area, whether they realize it or not...

James Randall Williams James Randall Williams, 73, Strafford, Mo., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, March 19, 2017 at his home. Memorials may be made to Mahan Cemetery or to an animal shelter in your area, in lieu of flowers. Online condolences: www.evansfh.com...

Herschel Phillip Stephens -- Advance, Mo. James Randall Williams -- Strafford, Mo. James Acinelli -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Vivian Yarber -- Doniphan, Mo. Doris Ann Davis -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. William "Bill" Wallace, Jr. -- Wappapello, Mo. Alma "Ruth" Patterson...

By STEPHEN MOORE Everyone in Washington hates Donald Trump's new budget. So it must have something going for it. This is a budget plan that will surgically remove trillions of dollars of wasteful spending from the obese $3.9 trillion federal budget. Many agencies will have to live with cuts of 5, 10 and 30 percent, while other outdated, duplicative or unproductive programs will go to the graveyard...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The progressive mob that disrupted Charles Murray's appearance at Middlebury College was protesting a 1994 book read by few if any of the protesters. Some of them denounced "eugenics," thereby demonstrating an interesting ignorance: Eugenics -- controlled breeding to improve the heritable traits of human beings -- was a progressive cause...

By SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writer WASHINGTON (AP) -- The frigid top of the Earth just set yet another record for low levels of sea ice in what scientists say is a signal of an overheating world. The extent of floating ice in the Arctic hit a new low for winter: 5.57 million square miles (14.42 million square kilometers). ...

Wayne County woman is missing Wayne County authorities continue their search for a woman, who has been missing now for more than a month. Rebecca "Becky" Alsup, 34, was last scene in the Williamsville, Mo., area between Feb. 15 and Feb. 17, according to a news release from Wayne County Sheriff Dean Finch...

UNION CITY, Tenn. --Ronin Rice kept hitters off-balanced and took a shutout into the seventh but a hit batter and an error proved costly. Poplar Bluff stranded seven runners in scoring position, including the tying run in the bottom of the seventh, in a 2-1 loss to Ft. Smith (Ark.) Northside on Thursday afternoon at the L.H. Ladd Memorial Tournament...

The 39th Annual Old Greenville Black Powder Rendezvous will be held April 22 and 23 at the Greenville Recreation Area. This event is the longest consecutive rendezvous in Missouri. A family tradition for many area residents, it offers something for all ages. ...

Sioux District Pinewood Derby will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at New Covenant Fellowship. Any business, club, civic group or other organization can build or sponsor a Pinewood Derby car and compete in this community event. Early bird rate of $197 are payable online by Thursday, March 30. Regular rate of $225 are payable online after Thursday, March 30. After April 13 a fee of $250 will be paid at the door. The fee includes the Official Pinewood Derby Car Kit...

With three starters back, including state qualifiers Nathan Woolard and Justin Capps, the Poplar Bluff golf team looks to make it a team trip to Bolivar and the MSHSAA state tournament this spring. The Mules missed the cut for only the second time in eight years but got four players into the sectional playoff where they finished eighth, 12 strokes from advancing as a team...

Humza Siddiqui tossed the ball into the air, ready to serve Thursday in his doubles match, but instead let it fall to the ground. The Poplar Bluff senior went through his pre-serve routine again before this time blistering a shot over the net. Siddiqui's decision not to hit that first serve attempt came in a split second, but it was important with wind gusts playing with the path of every serve or volley...

HILLSBORO, Mo. -- The Lady Raiders were shutout for the first time this season, and the second time. Three Rivers College failed to score twice against Jefferson on Thursday and lost 8-0 in the five-inning opener and 1-0 in the nightcap. Carleigh Burnett (3-7) took the loss in the nightcap after allowing five hits and a walk with one stirkeout over six innings...

OAK RIDGE, Mo. -- Standout senior Trey McDaniel had a big day at the plate and on the mound, blasting a two-run home run in the fourth inning and hurling 18 strikeouts, as the Greenville baseball team blanked visiting Oak Ridge 8-0 on Thursday. McDaniel, who has committed to play baseball at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale next season, gave up just one hit for the Bears, who improved to 2-1 with the win...

William "Bill" Wallace, Jr. WAPPAPELLO, Mo. William "Bill" Wallace, Jr., 64, of Wappapello, died Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Cotrell Funeral Service at Wappapello is in charge of arrangements.

Vivian Catherine Yarber DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Vivian Catherine Yarber, 93, of Doniphan, died Wednesday, March 22, 2017, at The Village of St. Peters, Mo. Visitation will begin at noon Saturday, March 25, 2017, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Pastors Larry Earl and Bob Featherston officiating. Burial will be in the Doniphan City Cemetery...

James Acinelli James Acinelli, 62, of Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at his residence. He was born Aug. 17, 1954 in St. Louis to the late Oreste Acinelli and Laura M. West Acinelli. He moved from St. Louis and has lived in Butler Co. for about a year. James was of the Catholic faith...

Bailey Ann and Eric Jon Lundstrom of Cape Girardeau have chosen the name Ezra Corbin Lundstrom for their 8-pound, 14-ounce son born at 8:41 a.m., Monday, March 13, 2017 at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Ezra was 20 1/4" long...

Alma "Ruth" Patterson PIEDMONT, Mo. - Alma "Ruth" Patterson, 85, of Festus, Mo., formerly of Wayne County, Mo., died Wednesday, March 22, 2017, at Mercy Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. Visitation will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, March 24, 2017, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont, Mo. Services will follow at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, March 25, 2017, also at the Piedmont chapel. Burial will follow at Duncan Cemetery near Piedmont...

Herschel Phillip Stephens Herschel Phillip Stephens, 41, of Advance, Mo. passed away at his home with his wife Andrea Carlisle Stephens, 43, on Monday, March 20, 2017. Herschel was born Feb. 29, 1976, in Idabell, Okla. He was the son of Bonnie Vent of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Phillip Stephens Sr. of Broken Bow, Okla...

William "Bill" Asher PIEDMONT, Mo. - William "Bill" Asher, 79, of Piedmont, Mo. died, Wednesday, March 22, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, MO. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 25, 2017, at Patterson Cemetery. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...