Stories from Friday, October 27, 2017

SIKESTON -- Having children is a milestone in every parent's life. Thirty-one years after the birth of one of her children in 1986, Lavette Hatcher of Sikeston has a new milestone to celebrate thanks, in part, to her son. "I have two children, and I just always play the year they were born on Pick 4. That's how I won," said Hatcher, who won $24,500 on the Missouri Lottery's Pick 4 Draw Game...

Former Missouri lieutenant governor Peter Kinder has directed more than $500,000 in cuts in administrative expenses of the federal Delta Regional Authority since being appointed to head up the agency two months ago. Kinder, whose official title is alternate federal co-chairman, said he was "horrified" after assuming the leadership post to find 8.6 percent of the agency's $30 million budget was being spent on administrative costs...

Area residents will have the opportunity Saturday to get outside and experience October in Downtown Poplar Bluff during the Black River Heritage Artisans' Fifth Annual Fall Festival. The event will be held from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., at the Historic Train Depot in Downtown Poplar Bluff...

Thank God. Thank Allah, Buddha or the Flying Spaghetti Monster deity of "Pastafarians" who poke fun at religion. Just give thanks for the First Amendment, which could save us from a dangerous ruling last week by two activists on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals...

President Donald Trump has not killed the Iran nuclear deal. Instead, he has asked Congress to fix its worst flaws. Our lawmakers can, and should, work with Trump to redress the gaps in U.S. policy toward Iran _ and they can do so without violating the deal...

By JEFF BERGNER The Virginian-Pilot Via Tribune News Service President Donald Trump's recent executive actions have upended official Washington. He has issued an executive order to terminate DACA, the program that allows immigrants who came to America as children to remain...

Ray Glen Linville, 95, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, at The Cedergate. Visitation will be at noon, Monday, Oct. 30 at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff with the funeral following at 1 p.m. Burial will be in George Cemetery near Aquilla, Mo...

Neelyville Elementary School personnel announces the first quarter honor roll. The students are: A Honor Roll Third Grade: Sydney Barber, Stacie Cannaday, Caleb Cozart, Elizabeth Edwards, Lily Flanigan, Braiden Hover, Dionna Leader, Shamay Leader, Carly Smith, Carson Smith, Jasmine Taylor, Trevor Turner, Hunter Watson, Thomas Watson...

Most people in our community think of October 31st as Halloween, a day when kids of all ages dress up in costumes and trick or treat. But others in our community remember October 31st for something else, and for these people this October 31st is of particular significance...

Hattie Lou Williams, 79, of Poplar Bluff was called home Monday, Oct. 23, 2017 at her residence with her family by her side. Mrs. Williams was born July 29, 1938 in Reeves, Mo., to the late Caleb and Hattie (Thompson) Williams. Throughout her life, Mrs. ...

Patricia "Pat" Louise Sheridan, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Pat, the daughter of the late Elmer and Pansy Irene Reneau Thurston, was born Nov. 30, 1930 in Poplar Bluff. She had retired from Buddy's Cleaners after 37 years. Pat enjoyed spending time with her family, photography, going to yard sales and watching TV...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Kevin E. Morgan, 61, of Patterson, Mo., died Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. in the Piedmont Chapel. Burial will be at Beulah Cemetery near Brunot, Mo...

The Jackson football team enters the playoffs riding high on a three-game winning streak, with its last loss over a month ago. Now the Indians will look to knock off the last team to beat them when they take on Poplar Bluff at 7 p.m. today in a Class 5 District 1 semifinal in Poplar Bluff, Missouri...

In the practices leading up to tonight's MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 semifinal, Poplar Bluff junior Steven Pierce stood in as quarterback Cooper Callis while senior Nic Hampton was the other half of Jackson's backfield as running back Ethan Laster. Poplar Bluff's scout-team offense huddled around a coach holding up a diagram of a play that the Indians had run in past games. After a brief look, the players break the huddle and quickly move into position and run the play...

DONIPHAN, Mo. - Pansy York, 84, of Doniphan, died Wed., Oct. 25, 2017 at the Eagle Crest Nursing Center in Ash Flat, Ark. Visitation will be at noon Sunday, Oct. 29 at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Brother Hubert Payne officiating. Burial will be in the Doniphan City Cemetery...

All the presumptions Southeast Missouri State football coach Tom Matukewicz had about his team's mental toughness were reinforced in last week's loss at Austin Peay. The Redhawks trailed by as many as 28 points early in the third quarter but mounted a furious comeback to climb back into contention, outscoring the Governors 24-10 in the second half of a 38-31 defeat...

FISK, Mo. - Margaret Simpson, age 98, of Poplar Bluff, MO, formerly of Fisk, died Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at Swift Creek Residential Facility, in Poplar Bluff, MO. Mrs. Simpson was born September 12, 1919 in Marion, IL, daughter of the late Carl and Clara (Miller) Sherertz. ...

QULIN, Mo. - George Arnold Owens came into this world by the grace of God on July 1st, 1957. He left this world as he entered: by the grace of God on October 25, 2017. He was a farmer for M&S Farms in Qulin, MO. He was most known for his junking abilities. ...

From Staff Reports Help prevent prescription misuse by cleaning medicine cabinets at least once a year. This is the perfect time since National Prescription Take Back Day is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. In Butler County, drugs may be dropped off at the Poplar Bluff Police Department, 1111 Poplar St., Poplar Bluff...

"This has been very eye opening," Robin Sides with Pyramid Tri-County Hospice said while attending the Missouri Opioid Summit at Mt. Calvary Powerhouse Church in Poplar Bluff. "I knew the issue with fentanyl patches, but I didn't know some of the uses and how pure some of the forms could be."...