Stories from Thursday, March 30, 2017

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Young women from 17 area schools visited Three Rivers College Tuesday to explore science and technology careers. The fourth annual Big Bang Theory for Girls conference offered students a chance to participate in several informative sessions ranging from business administration to biology. The event aimed to spur an interest among women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) career paths...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer Hail, straight-line winds and maybe even tornadoes are possible starting tonight and into Thursday, according to Robbie Myers, director of the Butler County Emergency Management Agency. Myers said local first responders, emergency officials and storm spotters are gathering this afternoon for a conference call with the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., to learn more information...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Local teachers associations pitched audience-submitted questions on Tuesday to candidates vying for Poplar Bluff school board. Representatives of the Missouri State Teachers Association and Missouri National Education Association host the annual forum, which, organizers say, offers the public a chance prior to the election to hear opinions and qualifications of those running...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN The big losers of the Russian hacking scandal may yet be those who invested all their capital in a script that turned out to be based on a fairy tale. In Monday's Intelligence Committee hearings, James Comey did confirm that his FBI has found nothing to support President Trump's tweet that President Obama ordered him wiretapped. Not unexpected, but undeniably an embarrassment for the tweeter-in-chief...

The number one responsibility of your government is to keep you and your loved ones safe. Energy security - knowing we can put gas in our cars and heat our homes - is a major part of that safety and security. But for too long, the government has been dependent on Middle Eastern countries supplying us with oil, sitting back and waiting for them to provide our energy resources - leaving us with a hefty price tag...

Nationally, black junior high and high school students are suspended at a rate more than three times as often as their white peers, twice as often as their Latino peers and more than 10 times as often as their Asian peers. According to former Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan, the "huge disparity is not caused by differences in children; it's caused by differences in training, professional development, and discipline policies. ...

Dr. Gene H. Leroux DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Dr. Gene Hoover Leroux, 88, of Doniphan, departed this life Saturday, March 25, 2017, at his residence. Dr. Leroux, often referred to as "Doc", was born Aug. 16, 1928, in Ripley County to the late Arthur and Mary (Crook) Leroux. ...

Doris Ann Davis Doris Ann Davis, 77, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Wednesday, March 22, 2017, at her home. The daughter of Winston and Virginia (Jameson) Kiser, Doris was born May 11, 1939, in Poplar Bluff. She was of the Methodist belief. Mrs. Davis was a retired elementary school teacher and member of Xi Delta Xi Sorority. She enjoyed ceramics, gardening, flowers, and traveling, cooking and spending time with her family...

Dora Loretta VanHuss ELLSINORE, Mo. - Dora Loretta VanHuss, 84, daughter of the late Franklin and Lilly Augusta "Gus" (Johns) Ford, was raised by her aunt and uncle, Easter Laney Keeling sand Henry Ray Keeling from the age of 10. She was born Aug. 4, 1932 in Darnell, Ark., and departed this life on March 26, 2017 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. --Poplar Bluff won five events Tuesday at the East Prairie Invitational. Jackson edged the Junior Mules by 35 points, winning with 170.5 points, while Poplar Bluff's girls placed fifth as a team. The Mules won the 400-meter relay in 49.78 seconds and placed second in the 800 relay at 1:48.85. ...

Shelbey Johnson scored five times and assisted another goal, Sophie Rowland had three assists and a goal while Neida Grimaldo scored twice and had an assist in Poplar Bluff's 10-0 win at West Plains on Tuesday. Johnson scored her 12th goal in four games, netting nine in consecutive nights, as the Mules (2-3) outscored their opponents 16-0 for consecutive wins. ...

COTTLEVILLE, Mo. -- Wiley Lowry picked up a win and a save against St. Charles on Tuesday. Three Rivers College's No. 1 pitcher allowed three hits in an 8-3, complete-game win in the opener, then pitched the final three innings to get her first save of the season in the nightcap that the Lady Raiders won 8-7...

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Mo. -- Spencer Burnham, Todd Wilcoxen and Quentin Perkins combined on a no-hitter as Van Buren trounced Liberty Mountain-View for a 12-0 win in five innings Tuesday. Burnham earned the win for Bulldogs. He pitched two innings and struck out six. Wilcoxen threw two innings with four Ks while Perkins added a strikeout in the final inning to finish off the victory...

From Staff Reports Puxico city election ballots will include the name of three candidates who are running unopposed for city office. Voters may write in a name for a fourth position, Alderman for Ward 2. Rick McLean is seeking a third term as mayor and he also is running for another term on the Stoddard County Ambulance District board. ...

By MIKE MCCOY SEMO News Service The Stoddard County Ambulance District (SCAD) had 558 ambulance runs in February, a record number of monthly runs in the district. The previous high was 554 runs in December 2014. SCAD Manager Dave Cooper noted that the district was 232 runs above last year for the first two months of 2017. The district had 549 runs in January. He also noted the district has been above 500 runs for the last four months...

Robison, a lifelong resident of Puxico, said, "Originally, I was encouraged by several folks in the community to run for the board of education. It has been an honor to serve the past three years on the board and be a part of our school and its continued success. We have a great school. As far as public education goes it is my belief that we need less federal control and a shift to more state and local control."...

Peoples Community Bank recently was recognized as the No. 10 performing bank in the country by SNL Financial, a top banking publication. The top 100 performing community banks under $1 billion in assets were published on March 10. This list is released annually and measures community banks on overall performance, including efficiency, earnings and past due loans. ...

Lucky Kirby Lucky Kirby, 78, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at his home. Arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

MALDEN, Mo. - Donald Ray Strickland, 66, of Campbell, Mo., formerly of Risco, Mo. died Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 30, at Bradshaw Chapel in Malden. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday, March 31, at Bradshaw Chapel in Malden with the Rev. Gary Teel officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden...

Kenneth Lee Peppers, 58, of Puxico dies Tuesday, March 21, 2107 at his residence. Services were held March 25, 2017 at the Rainey Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Rev. Hubert Robinson officiated.

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...

By MARYBETH NEIDERKORN SEMO News Service ADVANCE, Mo. -- Two victims of a fatal house fire Monday, March 20, in Advance likely died of smoke inhalation, according to preliminary autopsy results. Stoddard County Coroner Kenny Pope said Wednesday, March 22, afternoon preliminary results of autopsies performed on victims Andrea Carlisle, 43, and Hercheal Stephens, 41, both of Advance, suggest the cause of death is carbon-monoxide poisoning because of smoke inhalation...

FISK, Mo. -- Jimmy Don Kennedy, 63, of Wappapello, Mo. died Friday, March 24, 2017 at his residence. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Online condolences: www.whitesandersfuneralhome.com

Twila Hope Dunscombe, 80, of Wappapello passed away March 19, 2017 at her daughter's residence in Imperial, Missouri surrounded by her loving family. Services were held March 25, 2017 at Wappapello Cotrell Funeral Chapel. Rev. Louie Robinson officiated. Interment followed at Shook Cemetery...