Stories from Thursday, May 4, 2017

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- A former Poplar Bluff, Mo., businessman will stand trial in September in Pemiscot County on charges stemming from a hit-and-run accident that left a local teenager dead. Accompanied by his attorney, Sam Spain, Benjamin J. Ressel appeared before Circuit Judge Fred Copeland on Tuesday...

When the going gets tough, Butler County residents get going. Overwhelming efforts to donate supplies and support for area flood victims led AmeriCorps Director Becky Winters to establish a centralized donation facility at 621 W. Pine, previously home to Doctor's Hospital and near Kneibert Clinic...

Another levee breach was identified Wednesday in southern Butler County as the Missouri National Guard joined sandbagging efforts to maintain sections of the earthen boundary that holds the Black River back from homes and roadways. Work on the levees will continue today and new crest predictions have been issued for Friday for Wappapello and Clearwater lakes following rain overnight of less than 2 inches...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Doniphan, Mo., man appeared in federal court Monday after his recent indictment on multiple felonies, including kidnapping of the mother of his child, who he brought through Arkansas to Missouri where he is accused of sexually assaulting her...

Lewis is ASU honor grad Kaylee Lewis of Poplar Bluff, Mo., was recognized as one of the most outstanding graduating students from the College of Liberal Arts and Communication at Arkansas State University. She was one of many honored as recipients of achievement awards for 2016-17 during the annual Convocation of Scholars reception...

Almost 100 Girl Scouts (children and adults) gathered at Camp Latonka recently to celebrate the opening of its first tree house. The excitement created by this new addition has doubled the number of camp registrations to date for the summer term. Plans are being made to build a second tree house this year...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Gale B. McBride, 87, of Dexter, died Monday, May 1, 2107, at the Missouri Veteran's Home in St. Louis. Visitation will be held from 5 - 8 p.m., Friday, at the Watkins and Son Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, at the Watkins and Sons Chapel in Dexter with Rev. Lonnie Mittag of Dexter officiating...

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Chelsey D. Johnson graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. Johnson earned distinction as an honor graduate. She is the daughter of Reba Johnson of Poplar Bluff, Mo., sister of Ashley McWilliams of McDonough, Ga., and Adrian Johnson and Brooke Johnson of Lexington, Ky. The airman is also the granddaughter of Booker and Lucy Johnson of Memphis, Tenn., and Rosie Johnson of Poplar Bluff, Mo...

CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Ronald Adams, 72, of Campbell died Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at his residence. Visitation will be from noon - 1 p.m., Friday, at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. at Landess Funeral Chapel in Campbell with Rev. Marty Carlisle officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery Landess Addition in Campbell...

9th & Davis 'S' curve dangerous Hey, Speak Out, I'd like to comment of the "S" curves on N. 9th St. and on Davis St. I've almost been side-swiped or hit head-on there on those curves cause people are driving too fast and they cut across the yellow center line. Something needs to be done about it before someone really gets hurt badly...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Attempting comprehensive tax reform is like trying to tug many bones from the clamped jaws of many mastiffs. Every provision of the code -- now approaching 4 million words -- was put there to placate a clamorous faction, or to create a grateful group that will fund its congressional defenders. ...

PIEDMONT, Mo -- Willis Ray White, 82, of Piedmont died Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medial Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont.

The legislative session has entered into its final weeks as the House works to complete priorities before our May 12 deadline. Work to reconcile the House and Senate budget proposals began this week. In addition, the House gave approval to legislation requiring free and fair bidding on public construction projects, reforming our tort system, and providing more oversight of the State Legal Defense Fund. ...

Terry Leo Williams, 62, of Campbell, Mo., died May 3, 2017, in Poplar Bluff, M.. Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, May 5, at the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6, 2017, in the chapel with Mr. Wesley Morgan officiating. Burial will be in Stanfield Park Cemetery in Clarkton...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Nadine Marie Mays, 73, of Doniphan, Mo., died Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at her residence in rural Ripley County. A memorial visitation will take place from 2 - 4 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. Online condolences: @edwardsfunerahome.org...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Jimmy Brock, 69, of Gideon, Mo., died Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at the Gideon Care Center. Visitation will be held from 3-4 p.m. Friday, May 5, 2017, at the Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden. Funeral services will follow at 4 p.m. with Mr. James Powell officiating. Burial will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden. Landess Funeral Home of Malden is in charge of arrangements...

Lexi Hafford's long trek to get back to the top of the podium wasn't to build back up her confidence after an injury that could have ended her track and field career. Rather, it was about healing, part of the process Hafford continues as she tries to overcome one of the toughest years of her life while she prepares to run in college at Lindenwood University...

Ernestine Pennington, 75, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away on Monday, May 1, 2017 at her residence. She was born on June 16, 1941 to Ernest and Onia (Mobley) Morrison in Neelyville, Mo. She graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 1959. On Aug. 27, 1959, she married Rayburn Pennington in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He preceded her in death on Jan. 10, 2016...

MALDEN -- The Malden softball team battled back in the rain to stay on top Wednesday. Facing their first deficit of the week, the top-seeded Green Wave got a fourth-inning, 3-run double from Maci Walker on their way to a 6-2 win over No. 2 Bernie and their fourth straight MSHSAA Class 1 District 3 championship...

Kevin Cyril Compton, 60, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Monday, May 1, 2017 in rural Butler County. He was born on Nov. 26, 1956 to Amuel Compton and Helen Jenkins. He worked for Cash Saver in Poplar Bluff until his retirement. Kevin is survived by his two children, Angela (Nathan) Padgett of Poplar Bluff, Mo. and Daniel (Echo Rudd) Compton of Wappapello, Mo.; two grandchildren, Cole and Courtney Padgett; and one sister, Ronann Luttrell of Chaffee, Mo...

Ronald Adams -- Campbell, Mo. Dr. Alex Hoja -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Willis Ray White -- Piedmont, Mo. Kevin Cyril Compton -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Scotty "Ducky" Frazier, Jr. -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Ernestine Pennington -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Terry Leo Williams -- Campbell, Mo...

In the aftermath of major flooding across the area, the Poplar Bluff athletics department has postponed most of its sporting events in a show of solidarity with the community. Poplar Bluff Athletic Director Kent Keith made the decision shortly after the Black River began rising and breached a levee on the south end of town Monday...

Members of both the Three Rivers baseball and women's basketball teams helped sandbag this week. The five remaining women's basketball players on campus, along with coaches Jeff Walk and Alex Wiggs spent about 2 1/2 hours working Tuesday. The baseball team and its coaches, which begins its Region XVI tournament schedule Saturday, worked Wednesday and spent about the same amount of time...