Stories from Tuesday, July 18, 2017

An alleged assault over the weekend sent a local man to a St. Louis, Mo., hospital for treatment of skull fractures, as well as bleeding in his brain. At about 5:45 p.m. Sunday, Butler County Deputy Tom Burns was sent to a location in the 2300 block of Highway B regarding a man who had been assaulted and was going in and out of consciousness. Burns also reportedly was told the suspect(s) had left westbound on Highway B in a green SUV...

Ron Nall is a musical man. On Wednesday evening in the midst of the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band concert at the band shell in Capaha Park, longtime band director Nall was presented a proclamation from the City of Cape Girardeau and Mayor Harry Rediger for his service to the band and community. Two shiny blue balloons reading "2" and "5" hung near the rear of the shell, signifying Nall's 25th anniversary leading the city's historic musical group...

A city trail project to connect McLane Park and Shelby Road is expected to finish under budget. The majority of work is complete, with about $44,000 left from the original $563,400 budget, the Poplar Bluff City Council learned Monday. This connection allows runners, bikers and pedestrians to travel safely between two popular trails, according to Clark Allen, park department director...

Bids for a railroad overpass at Poplar Bluff Industrial Park have come in approximately $700,000 over budget, causing another snag for the project. The Butler County Commission is expected to discuss the matter at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning. The apparent low bidder for the project is Robertson Contractors of Poplar Bluff at nearly $3.4 million. Six bids were received and opened Friday. Approximately $2.6 million in funding has been secured from state and federal partners...

To the Editor, In recent weeks I have seen a number of images on social media promoting the idea that "Patriotism is Racism". Before I continue, I want to state I not only understand but fully support every American citizen's right in this country to express his or her opinion under the First Amendment. However, under that same amendment, I would like to express my opinion that the idea "Patriotism is Racism" is a load of crap...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Bonnie E. Vent, 77, passed away Wednesday, July 12, 2017, at her home in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Born July 9, 1940, in Canalou, Mo., to the late John and Vearnies Landers Tharp. On May 17, 1970, in Canalou, she married Phillip Stephens who was the love of her life...

By MONA CHAREN One column cannot accommodate the list of things you must believe if you trust that Donald Trump is truly the victim of a baseless witch hunt. Consider this a mere stab. 1) Donald Trump Jr., Paul Manafort and Jared Kushner did nothing wrong by meeting with a Kremlin-connected Russian offering dirt on Hillary Clinton. ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Brian Goodrich of Butler County has been named to the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources dean's list at the University of Missouri for the spring 2017 semester. Goodrich is an agricultural systems management student from Fisk, Missouri...

SILVA, Mo. - Rev. William "Bill" Paton, 72, of Missionary Acres near Silva, Mo., died Friday, July 14, 2017 in Terre Haute, Ind. A memorial service was held at 3 p.m., Tues., July 18 at Evangel Baptist Church near Silva with Pastor Mark Hunsberger officiating. Memorials may be made to Evangel Baptist Church. Online condolences may be left at www.morrisonworleychapel.com...

Gary G. Hester, 69, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Saturday, July 15, 2017 at his residence. Gary, son of the late Riley and Wilma Robinson Hester, was born Sept. 20, 1947 in Idalia, Mo. He was a graduate of Bloomfield High School class of 1966, and proudly served his country in the U.S. ...

Patricia Ann Horton, 76, of Poplar Bluff, died Monday, July 18, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending with Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

Puxico Junior High Supply includes: Mrs. Hindman (Ms. Mathis)-LR English/LR Math/AE Pencils (NO MECHANICALS), Two pocket folders, One package loose leaf paper (college or wide ruled), erasers and index cards. Mrs. Bowling-Sixth Grade Science & PAL Classes-...

Dean Greenwood, 55, of Fisk, died Friday, February 14, 2017 at his residence. Arrangements are pending with Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

Despite the delays and postponements Mother Nature threw at them, the Southern Bank Slammers found a constant to carry them through. Backed by timely hits and heads-up baserunning from his teammates, Dalton Gatewood dazzled on the mound with a no-hitter in Southern Bank's 4-1 victory over Xtreme Family Fun in the Poplar Bluff Park Department Pony League Tournament championship Monday at McLane Park...

For the second time in as many years, Pack's Do-It Center found itself hoisting the Park Department Babe Ruth League championship trophy once again Monday night. Much like the rest of its summer run, Pack's made its championship win look easy, taking down PB Outdoor Power Sports 16-1 in three innings at McLane Park...

Some area residents are trying to figure out if they will be effected by changes in the Missouri Rx (MORx) program which were made by the Missouri legislature in the recent session. The changes were made at the recommendation of Gov. Eric Greitens, who cited the need to cut the budget due to a shortfall of revenue. Critics of the change say it left 63,396 older Missourians without access to assistance for prescription drugs sJuly 1 the beginning of the current fiscal year...

Hitting second-to-last in the batting order, Ethan Sandus broke a late tie Monday night. His grounder to the left side of the infield brought home the go-ahead run in the fifth inning before Simmons Tire broke open a tight Park Department Little League Tournament final in the last inning of a 9-2 win over Strike Zone at McLane Park...

The rain last week made the road to the Park Department Junior League Tournament title tougher for Marble Slab and Mossy Oak-Slama. Marble Slab, which upset regular-season champion Sunset Pools in the semifinal Wednesday, didn't have its ace pitcher when the final was postponed by rain...

To go from last place in league play to tournament champion, the Dr. Fox Orthodontics Sub-Junior softball team just needed to get into a swing. After belting 10 hits, half for extra bases, in a 7-0 semifinal win, Dr. Fox scored nine runs in the second inning of the final to beat Ozark FCU 14-2 Monday at McLane Park...

After falling behind in the first inning without allowing a hit, NALC's Whittany Williams quickly tied it following a leadoff triple Monday. Three more runs crossed the plate in the same fashion as Williams, who stole home after a pitch to the backstop, before a 10-run third inning sent NALC to a 15-3 win over Windy City Hotdog in the Park Department Senior League Tournament championship game at McLane Park...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Jim Mayo, with the Stoddard County Historical Society, asked the Stoddard County Commission to preserve the exterior appearance of the Trust Building on the courthouse square as remodeling begins for new offices for Sheriff Carl Hefner and to place an antique table in a prominent place for public viewing. Mayo addressed the commission at its regular meeting July 10...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Puxico father and son, Garey and Wesley Faries, are scheduled to appear before Judge Robert N. Mayer on Wednesday, Aug. 2, for case reviews. The pairs cases were continued July 2. The senior Faries faces the charge of hindering prosecution of a felony. ...

Anyone who wants to nominate a teacher to the Puxico Alumni Association Teacher Hall of Fame may do so by writing a letter of recommendation on why her or she wants to nominate this special teacher. A committee will review the nominations and select who will be honored at the Puxico Alumni meeting on August 11, 2017...

A recent influx of millipedes has been a cause of frustration for many area residents this summer. Nine-year-old Kate Scott, Poplar Bluff, said she has noticed the pests on her front porch, driveway and in her garage because her cat, Oreo, likes to play with them...

FISK, Mo.-- Mary Caudel Scheuerman, 92, of Oakland City, Ind., died Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at Amber Manor Care Center in St. Petersburg, Ind. Visitation and funeral were Saturday, July 15, 2017 at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk with Rev. Calvin Buhler officiating. Burial was in Shain Memorial Cemetery in Fisk, Mo...

Hal Henry Reynolds Jr.,42, of Wappapello passed away July 9, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Services are pending with Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservices.