Stories from Wednesday, August 9, 2017

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- The former operations director of the Ozark Family Resource Agency at Doniphan was to appear in court this morning after he was charged earlier this week with stealing from the agency. Bronson J. Frost, 38, of Doniphan was to appear before Associate Circuit Judge David Swindle for arraignment on the Class C felony of stealing by deceit...

Given the chance to "Back the Blue" along with other city and county employees and services, city voters narrowly rejected a use tax at the polls Tuesday. The measure failed by just 12 votes within Poplar Bluff wards, while county voters refused the tax by nearly 60 percent...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Upgrades in the works at SoutheastHEALTH include construction of a 10,000-square-foot facility in Jackson, acquisition of robotic surgical equipment and a new cardiac pavilion in the Cape Girardeau hospital. The Cape Girardeau and Stoddard County Industrial Development Authorities approved SoutheastHEALTH to issue up to a total of $107 million in new bonds to fund the projects...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS August is the month when parents bid farewell to not only their college-bound youngsters but also a sizable chunk of cash for tuition. More than 18 million students attend our more than 4,300 degree-granting institutions. A question parents, their college-bound youngsters and taxpayers should ask: Is college worth it?...

The Barton family has been serving the area's furniture needs for five generations, and the new business name says just that. Generations Furniture was the official new name of the establishment as of May 1, after being Ashley Furniture HomeStore since October 2001...

Rep. Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, recently led a hearing on Capitol Hill about free speech on American campuses. Freedom of speech and thought are at risk in colleges and universities. But congressional intervention is a nonstarter. At the hearing, conservative commentator Ben Shapiro said that in speaking on college campuses, he's "encountered anti-free-speech measures, administrative cowardice, even physical violence."...

Robert E. Guffey, 66, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017 at his residence. Robert was born July 15, 1951 in St. Louis, Mo. He was of the Baptist faith and previously had worked as a vendor at Bush Stadium in St. Louis. Robert enjoyed spending time with his family, Cardinal baseball and the Club House...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Joe Lee Woolard, 84, of Naylor, Mo., died Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Woolard was born on December 15, 1932 in Naylor. On May 7, 1953 he was married to Zuna White in Pocahontas, Ark. She survives of the home. Mr. Woolard was a farmer and was a member of Naylor Church of Christ where he served as treasurer. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, farming and his boat...

Following are the winners of door prizes during Ozark Border Electric Cooperative's annual meeting held Saturday. 40" TV, M & A Electric, Betscie-Anne A Oho of Doniphan, Mo.; $75 Walmart Gift Card, Ozark Border Electric Cooperative, Richard Adiar of Poplar Bluff, Mo.;...

SEMO News Service SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo has always been a part of Blake Wethington's life. As a child, his mother, Kim Alley, would bring him to see the rodeo action, to laugh at the clowns and to listen to the music. Even then he said he wanted to be a part of it...

MALDEN, Mo. - Bobby Lee Brown, 81, of Malden, died Monday, Aug. 7, 2017 at his residence. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., Thurs., August 10 at Bradshaw Chapel-Malden. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. in the chapel with Rev. Gene Lancaster and Rev. Cory Godsey officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden. www.bradshawfh.com...

Theresa Sanders Monroe, 62, of Fort Myers, Fla., formerly of Fisk, Mo., died at her residence Monday, Aug. 7, 2017. Arrangements are pending with Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

CLARKTON, Mo. - Velma Jean "Ham" Fortin, a two-year resident of Chester, Va., formerly of Murfreesboro, Tenn., died Sunday, July 23, 2017 at her residence. She was born on July 28, 1939 in Flint, Mich. On March 28, 1964, she married Lester Edwin Fortin in St. Louis, Mo. He preceded her in death. Mrs. Fortin was a member of the Southwest Church of Christ in Chesterfield, Va. She enjoyed fishing, gardening and travel...

Theresa Jean Thiele, 61, of Silva, passed away on Sunday, July 30, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born on February 23, 1956 to Philip and Velva (Christian) Hawkins in St. Louis, Mo. She graduated from Ritenour High School in St. Louis in 1973. On June 21, 1974 she married Millard "Junior" Thiele in Overland, Mo...

Ronnie Jay Thomas, son of Thelma Walker and the late Willie Grant, was born January 15, 1960, in Poplar Bluff. He passed away at 9:55 a.m. Friday, August 4 at the John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps...

PUXICO, Mo. - Charles "Chuck" Siler, of Puxico, died Wed., Aug. 9, 2017 at his residence. Arrangements are pending with Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico.

Jesse Glen (Buck) Hicks, Sr. passed away August 8, 2017 at John J. Pershing Veterans Hospital. He was a lifelong resident of Poplar Bluff. He was born Feb. 14, 1934, in Poplar Bluff to the late Walter Ira Hicks and Nola Janice Wilson Hicks. Jesse served in the United States Army. He retired from the Florsheim Shoe Co....

DONIPHAN, Mo. - Earl Lavell Mobley, 85, of Fairdealing, Missouri, departed this life Monday, August 7, 2017, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Mr. Mobley, son of Elvis and Bethel (Dobbs) Mobley, was born March 9, 1932, in Oxly, Missouri. ...

When it comes to educational neglect and truancy, Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth and Poplar Bluff R-1 Attendance Officer Misty Dodson know firsthand the underlying causes. They say many times attendance issues are rooted in problems within the home, whether the cause is drug use, physical abuse, or simply the result of overwhelmed parents who can't gain control...