Stories from Friday, August 18, 2017

Poplar Bluff City Council members will tackle changes next week to the city's concealed carry firearm rules, but officials say the matters are routine. The city is only updating its policies to match changes put in place by the state in 2016, said city attorney Mark Richardson...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- An Arizona man and a Poplar Bluff, Mo., woman appeared in federal court last week after their recent indictment on drug-related offenses stemming from an intercepted shipment of suspected methamphetamine. Gregory John Sanders, 54, of Phoenix was arrested Aug. ...

"I'm pretty emotional," Brandi Moore said as she prepared to take her son, Van Moore, into his first day of kindergarten at Qulin Elementary. "That's my baby!" Van looked around the parking lot wide-eyed as students began to file into the school. Brandi said he was excited about his first day and added father, Robby Moore, was handling the milestone day "fine."...

This beautiful and talented darling of country music -- who is married to Sikeston native Austin Marshall -- is living the dream. Maggie Rose was named one of CMT's Next Women of Country 2017 and has been busy this summer with the release of her new EP "Dreams > Dollars," which she has been promoting by touring with acts such as Kip Moore, Hunter Hayes and Martina McBride...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- It took Jamie Patterson's dogged determination and the courts to get Mack back. Patterson's 5-year-old boxer-mastiff mix was returned to her Tuesday after a lengthy legal battle with the owners of an animal shelter that was decided by a state appeals court...

The Neelyville R-IV Board of Education unanimously set the annual property tax rate slightly higher than the previous year during its monthly meeting. According to Superintendent Brad Hagood, the proposed tax rate was set at $2.9347 last year and rose to $2.9617 (per $100) this year...

PIEDMONT, Mo -- Kenneth "Kenny" Allen, 80, of Piedmont, died Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be held from 5-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont, Mo. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, also at the Piedmont Chapel. Burial will be at New Liberty Cemetery. Bro. Harold Adams will minister to the family. Donations can be made to New Liberty United Baptist Church...

It's been a summer of good energy news for American consumers: Memorial Day gas prices averaging $2.36 and Independence Day gas prices at 12-year lows. Americans have been hitting the road in record numbers, reaping the benefits of the U.S. energy revolution...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS Google fired software engineer James Damore for writing a 10-page memo critical of the company's diversity policy. The memo violated the company's code of conduct by "advancing harmful gender stereotypes" by suggesting that biological factors were part of the cause for the male/female gap in the tech industry...

Do you know someone who is elderly or disabled, owns their home, and could use a little help with some projects around their house like minor repairs, window washing, gutter cleaning, trimming hedges, and things like that? Members of the First United Methodist Church and volunteers from the community will participate in SERVE2017 and plan to work on Saturday, Sept. ...

The Agee Community Club met at Ryan's Steakhouse for its noon luncheon Friday, Aug. 11. Cathy Womack, president, called the meeting to order, and the members repeated their club motto. Nadine Johnaon gave the invocation. Womack was the August hostess and she paid for the women's luncheon for the door prizes...

GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Billy Barks of Bloomfield, Mo. died Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, at his residence. Visitation will be held at 6 p.m., Saturday, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Greenville. Funeral Services will be at 2 p.m., Sunday, also at the Greenville Chapel. Burial will be at New Prospect Cemetery. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

Bonnie Absheer Knowles, 100, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., went to be with her Lord, family and friends, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017 at Mark Twain Caring Center. She was born to the late Charles Robert and Gelina Smith Absheer on July 22, 1917, on the family farm in Wayne County near Piedmont, Mo. ...

Approximately 10 percent of the world population is left-handed, studies have found, but more than a third of the Poplar Bluff volleyball team's varsity roster hits with their left hand. "We have three left-handed girls on varsity this year, that never happens," Mules coach Amanda Lance said...

Dexter volleyball got its first piece of adversity in the first game of its first summer camp in early June. Krysten Garrison went up for joust at the net and landed on the foot of the other player. The New Mexico State commitment tore her ACL and is out for the season...

When a soccer program graduates 12 players, naturally the junior varsity team moves up the following year. This time that includes the coach for the Poplar Bluff Mules. Rusty Crafton takes over the program for a second time this fall after Steven Edwards stepped down after four years that included a state quarterfinal appearance...

BLOOMFIELD COACH: Hailey Silman, first season LAST SEASON: 21-8-5, lost to St. Pius X-Festus in Class 2 sectional RETURNING: Kaley Roper, sr., Nicole Roper, sr., Jewel Chisom, sr., Cayla Mayberry, sr., Bailey Below, jr., Lilly Warrick, jr. SEASON OUTLOOK: There's a new coach on the bench but not much has changed for the Wildcats...