Stories from Wednesday, May 17, 2017

BROSELEY, Mo. -- Twin Rivers students will be riding to school this fall on new buses after a unanimous vote Tuesday night by the district's board of education to approve their financing. A couple of board meetings ago, the board approved the leasing of four buses, and "they got the financing taken care of at this board meeting," explained Superintendent Jeremy Siebert...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. - A former Neelyville R-IV high school teacher has agreed to surrender her Missouri teaching license after an alleged inappropriate relationship with a student who attended Neelyville High School during the 2013-14 school year. In a settlement agreement with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Leslie M. Ackman, of Dexter, Mo., agreed to surrender her certificates of license to teach as a result of the allegations...

With the announcement that improvements to Highway 67 could be paid for in half the time expected, community leaders are now looking at another four-lane project they say could be crucial for future development. Members of the Highway 67 Corporation made the announcement at a recent meeting, before signing a new resolution that will be presented today to elected officials in Washington, D.C...

Poplar Bluff junior high students are learning cancer awareness while having some spring fun thanks to a unique organization. Early Recognition is Critical (ERIC) is a non-profit that combines the fun of ultimate frisbee and valuable lessons in recognizing cancer, in order to teach young people awareness...

Thomas M. Birchfield Sr., 71, of Broseley, Mo., died Monday, May 08, 2017 at Puxico Nursing Center, in Puxico Mo. Visitation service was held May 15, 2017 at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk followed by a graveside service was held at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield...

John Mitchell Tilley, 52, of Bloomfield, Mo. died Friday, May 5, 2017 A visitation service was held May 9, 2017 and the funeral service was held May 10, 2017 at the Watkins and Funeral Chapel in Dexter. Rev. Dale Holman officiated. Burial followed in the Bloomfield Cemetery...

Mary McCollumn, 79, of Doniphan, Mo. died Sunday, May 7, 2017 at Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. On May 10, 2017 a visitation service was held at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan with a graveside service following at the Shiloh Cemetery in Shook...

FISK, Mo. -- Gregory H. Elledge, 50, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, April 23, 2017 at The Manor in Poplar Bluff. Visitation was at White-Sanders Funeral Home, Fisk. The funeral service followed in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Rick White officiating...

The Fisk-Rombauer Class of '67 is planning its 50-year reunion. Addresses for members follow; Alma Adams Baldridge, Jean Blanton Paz, Judy Green Penaflor, Nelta Killian Bratcher, Linda Lovelace Hack, James Mondy, Donnie Spencer and Pat Tucker Henson...

No one likes to get a call at midnight for we are afraid it will be bad news--something we do not want to face. Jesus told a parable about 10 virgins among which five were wise and five were foolish. The wise were deemed wise because they had foresight enough to take along some extra oil. ...

Puxico R-8 School will be screening preschoolers on Wednesday, May 24, for the 2017-2018 school year. You must make an appointment to have your child screened if you wish them to be considered for preschool. Completing a screening does not guarantee enrollment in the program.---...

The Puxico High School Graduating Class of 2017 ended its high school career the evening of Friday, May 12, in the Arnold Ryan Gymnasium as each student participated in a commencement ceremony. Guests were welcomed by class president Katelyn Pierre before the seniors marched to their seats...

MALDEN -- Four pitchers combined on a no-hitter and recorded 15 strikeouts as second-seeded Twin Rivers rolled past No. 7 Puxico 7-0 in a MSHSAA Class 3 District 2 quarterfinal Saturday. Jack LeGrand started, struck out four and walked one in two innings to get the win. The senior also went 3 for 4 at the dish with two doubles and two RBIs. David Deken followed suit on the mound with the same line while Zac Hardin pitched two perfect innings with five strikeouts...

The Showstoppers of Southeast Missouri will be hosting a spaghetti dinner and a special performance on the evening of Friday, May 19, in the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church in Dexter. Proceeds from the dinner will help fund the Showstoppers' upcoming annual trip. Doors will open at 5:30 with dinner served at 6 p.m...

May Day celebrations were held all across the fruited plain, with leftist radicals and unionists worshipping the ideals of communism. Communism is an ideology calling for government control over our lives. It was created by Karl Marx, who -- along with his collaborator, Friedrich Engels -- wrote a pamphlet called "Manifesto of the Communist Party." In 1867, Marx wrote the first volume of "Das Kapital." The second and third volumes were published posthumously, edited by Engels. ...

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Standard Democrat Though I am long from jumping ship on the USS Trump, I will admit it is often discomforting to defend his words and actions. I have to keep reminding myself of some critical and telling aspects of this presidency...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN For two years, this writer has been consumed by two subjects. First, the presidency of Richard Nixon, in whose White House I served from its first day to its last, covered in my new book, "Nixon's White House Wars: The Battles That Made and Broke a President and Divided America Forever."...

JEFFERSON CITY - There's no better way to develop leadership skills than to practice, practice, practice. That is exactly what Aaron Taylor, rising sophomore student at Poplar Bluff High School, will find out this summer by attending the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Leadership in Practice program...

Will D. Williams, 78, of Wappapello, Mo, died Monday, May 15, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. There will be a memorial service at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 20, 2017 at Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Dexter with Rev. Dale Holman officiating...

SEARCY, Ark. -- More than 1,300 students were included on the Harding University dean's list for grades achieved during the spring 2017 semester. William Hagerman, Spanish and French major from Doniphan (63935) Tyler Stevenson, exercise science major from Dexter (63841)...

Judy Ann (Pierce) Turner, 64, of Ellsinore, Mo., died Saturday, May 6, 2017. Arrangements will be at a later date. McSpadden Funeral Home. Online condolences: www.mcspaddenfh.com

ELLSNORE, Mo. -- Norma Hampton, daughter of the late Clyde Ottis and Thelma Edith (Raymer) Norman, departed this life on May 15, 2017. Norma was raised in Ellsinore, Mo., and she loved to travel, explore and she especially loved new experiences. Her travels took her from Missouri to Illinois and then to Arizona. ...

JOPLIN, Mo. --Nathan Woolard tied for the lowest round Tuesday to close out the MSHSAA Class 4 championships and earn a second all-state medal. The Poplar Bluff junior shot 1-over-par 73 for a two-day total of 6-over 150 to finish tied for fifth. It was the highest finish for the Mules since 2011 when Carr Vernon was runner-up...

IMPERIAL, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff's season ended just as it started Tuesday. The Mules suffered a 3-0 loss to host Seckman in the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 semifinal after opening the year with a similar loss to the Jaguars. Poplar Bluff ended the season 8-10 but loses just one senior in Lauren Rowland...

Hadley Andrew Barber, 79, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away at his home on Monday, May 15, 2017. Mr. Barber was born June 27, 1937 at his parents' home in Butler County, Mo. and his life was transformed by the Holy Spirit in 1993 when God changed his life to serve the Lord...

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Donald L. Julian, 81, of New Madrid died Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at St, Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday at Richards Funeral Home in New Madrid followed by the funeral service at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Officiating will be Dean Wallace. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery...

FARMINGTON, Mo. --The Mules got a preview of their quarterfinal opponent in the MSHSAA Class 2 individual sectional playoff Tuesday afternoon. Poplar Bluff's Humza Siddiqui lost to Blaise Fagan of Kirkwood for the second straight year while Ben Stewart and Nathan Smith also suffered a straight-set loss in doubles play to Lindbergh's Brett Kim and Jack Faris...

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- Bloomfield junior Peyton Bell went into round 2 with a one-stroke lead in the MSHSAA Class 1 state golf championship at Silo Ridge Golf and Country Club. His second round didn't go as well, and Bell finished tied for fourth after shooting 74 and 82 for a 12-over 156. On the bright side, he was offered a scholarship to Southwest Baptist University, located in the same city as the tournament, in the process...

MALDEN -- David Deken and Jack LeGrand received their Twin Rivers High School diplomas over a week ago despite an incomplete project. The pair, along with two other senior teammates, were busy Tuesday evening tending to the unfinished business, and to the delight of the newly knighted Twin Rivers alums, they have more work before they can officially say goodbye to their alma mater...

Relay for Life team captain meeting Thurs. Relay for Life of Butler County will hold a committee meeting and a meeting for team captains Thursday at River Radio, 1015 W. Pine St. The committee will meeting will be held from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Team Captain meeting from 6:30 - 7 p.m...

TRC's graduation at Coliseum In yesterday's story "Berry Accepts TRC Honor as Alumni of the Yr.," it was mistakenly reported that Three Rivers College's commencement ceremony will be held at the Bess Activity Center. TRC's graduation ceremony will actually take place at 6 p.m. Friday at the Black River Coliseum. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the error...

Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley asked a court to revoke the bond of Cory Hutcheson, who has been removed as Mississippi County Sheriff after being charged with 18 criminal counts in April, according to a news release. The request to a Mississippi County circuit court comes after a Hawley's office began an investigation into the death of an inmate at the Mississippi County Jail on May 5...

Poplar Bluff voters approved a one-half cent sales tax in 2005 to pay for 50 miles of highway improvements. The money created a four-lane highway between Poplar Bluff and Fredericktown. The tax was not expected to generate the full $43.6 million cost owed by the city of Poplar Bluff until 2035. This represents just under 28 percent of the full $159.7 million project...