Stories from Friday, September 1, 2017

PIEDMONT, Mo. - Piedmont resident Vinnie Clubb has announced his candidacy as a Republican for state representative of Missouri's 144th Legislative District. The current officeholder, State Rep. Paul Fitzwater, can't run due to term limitations. Clubb describes himself as a Christian conservative who vows to be a true voice of the constituents of a district where businesses continue to close their doors and leave behind a wake of empty buildings...

Poplar Bluff city leaders say they need to simplify the current policy for how employees spend money. The city council is expected to look at a new set of rules Sept. 18 for how much can be spent before city council approval or advertised bids are needed...

Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley was in the fourth row Wednesday as President Donald Trump spoke at a invitation-only stop in Springfield, Mo., where he talked about overhauling the country's tax policy. Whiteley was among about 1,500 selected to attend the event at the Loren Cook Company, which designs and manufactures fans, blowers, gravity vents, laboratory exhaust systems, and energy recovery ventilators...

Ordinary citizens with extraordinary community spirit have been a bright light amid the dark clouds and devastation wreaked by Hurricane Harvey in Texas. "Mattress Mack," the furniture store owner offering shelter to evacuees, the "Cajun Navy" volunteer search-and-rescue crews and countless others with generous hearts have reminded us during a time of political turmoil that this nation is mighty because a crisis unites us...

In 1979, Capt. Tom Shanahan, commanding officer of the USS Canisteo, did something no U.S. Navy officer had done since the Revolutionary War. He refused to take his ship to sea. It wasn't mutiny. Shanahan declined to certify the ship and crew as seaworthy. The Canisteo was short-staffed, its crew inadequately trained...

The 87th Annual Mo/Mid-South Gospel Singing Convention, hosted by Heart to Heart, will be held at 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15-16, at First Baptist Church, Dexter, Mo. Pre-show beginning at 4:30 p.m. each evening with over 36 premiere, award-winning groups and artists, direct from Branson and Nashville, providing exciting, powerful gospel music...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Wednesday morning, Nov. 9, 2016, Republicans awoke to learn they had won the lottery. Donald Trump had won the presidency by carrying Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. All three states had gone Democratic in the last six presidential elections...

Keith Eugene Rosson, Sr., 62, of Poplar Bluff passed away Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, at his home. Mr. Rosson was born Feb. 7, 1955 in Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Rosson was the former pastor of Apostolic Assembly of Jesus Christ. He served in the United States Army from 1972-1973...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Robert E. Martin, 91, of Wappapello, Mo. died in his home Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017. There are no services scheduled at this time. Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences: www.watkinsfuneralhome.com...

Elinore Lyons, 78 of Poplar Bluff passed away Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mrs. Lyons was born Feb. 10, 1939 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. to the late Junie Carl and Elsie (Frederickson) Carl. Mrs. Lyons was a homemaker and she enjoyed sewing, crafts and bingo. She was married to Francis Lyons and he preceded her in death...

Bloomfield showed up to the Poplar Bluff Senior High Gym a little nervous. It was the undefeated team's toughest test of the season and its nerves showed in the first game. Steadily, those nerves settled and the Wildcats got better in Game 2 and better again in Game 3, eventually beating Poplar Bluff 23-25, 25-21, 25-16...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- It's early in the season, there are still kinks to work out and, for some teams staying busy at early-season tournaments, there are already bumps and bruises for which to be accounted. But on Thursday night, Dexter walked in the door at the Notre Dame VolleyballFest and announced it's gunning to defend its tournament title from a year ago...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Notre Dame SoccerFest and the Poplar Bluff Mules are sore subjects for the Sikeston soccer team. The Bulldogs haven't had much success in or against both recently and their unlucky streak on each front continued Thursday at Notre Dame High School...

In a few hours, hundreds of Mules fans will toss on maroon and white before heading to the stadium for tonight's varsity football game against the St. Charles Pirates. Football season is in full swing, as are boundless opportunities to display hometown pride. ...

MARION, Ark. -- The Poplar Bluff Junior High football team opened its season Thursday in the rain with a 6-6 tie. The Junior Mules trailed after a 15-yard fumble return for a score but pulled even late on a 60-yard touchdown run by Justin Mitchell. Poplar Bluff fumbled the ball on the point-after attempt and also lost a fumble, one of many on both sides, in the closing minute inside the 10-yard line...

KENNETT, Mo. -- Kennett became the latest victim of the undefeated Malden Green Wave on Thursday night. Malden got eight ace serves, eleven kills and three blocks as it pounded its way past Kennett 2-0 (25-14, 25-17). "Malden played a great game," Kennett volleyball coach Laurie Vaughan said. ...