Stories from Thursday, July 13, 2017

Shoulders for Highway T and Highway PP top a list of Butler County needs for state road improvements, according to a meeting held Wednesday by county commissioners. Butler, Carter, Reynolds, Ripley and Wayne counties are in the process of finalizing their road improvement needs list...

Changes to the landscape of state education funding mean a $4 million reduction in the state assessment budget. Included in this reduction is funding for annual administration of the ACT for all 11th grade students. Though legislators vow to fully fund this year's formula for individual school districts, Poplar Bluff R-1 Superintendent Scott Dill said state-level cuts like this significantly impact local students...

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- A pathologist found a Poplar Bluff, Mo., man died as the result of gunshot wounds he suffered after allegedly brandishing a weapon at a deputy who had responded to a domestic dispute call. Dr. Russell Deidiker performed an autopsy Wednesday morning on Steve Scott, 48, at a Farmington, Mo., hospital...

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- A judge issued an order earlier this week denying a motion filed by a Van Buren, Mo., man who had sought to set aside his 2009 conviction and death sentence for gunning down a Missouri State Highway Patrol sergeant. Circuit Judge Kelly Parker filed his order Monday in Carter County Circuit Court regarding a post-conviction relief motion filed by Lance C. Shockley, 40...

Political signs tell on candidates What is with all these campaign signs going up on highway right-of-ways and public property? Did the candidates get permission from the city or state to put them there? There are only three reasons why any candidate would put a sign up where the rules very plainly prohibit signs from being erected. ...

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Standard-Democrat Given the current state of affairs, it seems the common thread that holds together our national fabric has unraveled. The adage that we have more in common than not seems a quaint vestige of the past...

By STEPHEN MOORE At the Unleashing American Energy event last week, Donald Trump renewed his promise of an era of American global energy dominance. He said that this energy superpower status would be gained by using all of our energy resources. He also noted that in just six months, we've reduced the petroleum share of the trade deficit by 5 percent. What a welcome change from Barack Obama, whose administration took every possible step to stop American fossil fuel development...

Steve Scott, 48, of Poplar Bluff died Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at his residence. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 16, 2017 at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

Barbara Ann Spence, 79, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Saturday, July 1, 2017. Barb, the daughter of Iley Poole and Bessie Blake (nee Harroald) was born Feb. 27, 1938 in Poplar Bluff. Barb was a proud mother of three off-spring: Robert Wayne (husband of Brenda), Steven Neal, and Rebecca Jean (wife of Scott Stringer); wife of the recently deceased Bobbie Jean Spence; sister to eight siblings: Clifton Poole, Roy Dewayne Poole, Bobby Johnston, Paul Douglas Johnston, Jessie Poole, Linda Lea Poole, Sarah Dolly Poole and Sharron Kay Randall. ...

Sharon Kay Fyte, 70, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away on June 29, 2017 at her residence. Born and raised in Hammond, Ind., she received a Bachelor's Degree from Indiana University and entered a lifelong pursuit of excellence in the field of journalism. ...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor As expected, the Missouri Department of Conservation has made some pretty big changes to its hunter education certification program heading into this fall's hunting seasons. New, as of Monday, is an all-online program for those ages 16 and up who need hunter education certification (anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1967)...

Jimmy Bishop, 65, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

Hal Henry Reynolds, Jr., 42, of Wappapello, Mo. passed away Sunday, July 9, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born Oct. 16, 1974 to Hal Reynolds and Rosemary Howton in Blythe, Calif. He graduated from Palo Verde High School in 1992...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Any angler would likely admit it's always fun catching crappie, but it's even better when they can do it with a personal touch. Charles Humphrey, an avid fisherman from Poplar Bluff, is doing just that with custom, hand-tied crappie jigs he creates at home...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Chris Crawford, 39, of Malden, Mo., died Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at his home. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden with the Rev. Danny Spence and Mr. Chris Crawford officiating. Landess Funeral Home of Malden is in charge of arrangements...

Wayne Kearbey and Elvis Williams have both been coaching for more than 20 years and called their teams one of the best teams they've ever had. Kearbey's squad, the McDonald's Outlaws, finished first in the regular season. Their only loss was to Williams' Black River HVAC, which finished second...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Roseanna Porter, 58, of Malden died Saturday, July 8, 2017 at her residence. Visitation will be from noon - 1 p.m., Saturday at Landess Funeral Home in Malden. Funeral will follow at 1 p.m., Saturday at Landess Funeral Chapel with Rev. Leotis Atkins officiating...

O'FALLON, Mo. -- Chance Holden started the final round of the Missouri Stroke Play Championships two shots behind the leader then birdied the first hole at WingHaven Country Club. The Dexter golf, however, couldn't get under par and ended up eighth at 4-over 292 while Brian Whitson of Dexter placed 10th at 296...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. -- Dolly (Wren) Rice, 91, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., formally; of Ironton, Mo. died Wednesday; July 12, 2017, at Ratliff Care Center- Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born on Jan. 20, 1926 in Lilbourn, Mo. Preceding her in death were her parents, Mable (Roberts) Wren and E.T. Wren, her brothers, James, Billy, Donald, Junior Wren and sister, Ardell (Wren) Young...