Stories from Wednesday, December 6, 2017

State Rep. Donna Lichtenegger wants to change term limits in Missouri government to allow lawmakers to serve longer in the House and Senate. Lichtenegger has introduced legislation that seeks to amend the Missouri Constitution to allow a maximum of three four-year terms for state representatives and two six-year terms for senators...

Stella Faye Lewis, 89, of Fisk died Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017 at the Puxico Nursing Center in Puxico. Services were held Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017 at the White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. Rev. Jim Sanders officiated. Burial followed in Memorial Gardens in Poplar Bluff...

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Missouri Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Richard Fordyce reminds producers FSA offers specially targeted farm ownership and farm operating loans to underserved applicants as well as beginning farmers and ranchers...

At the same time God pronounced the curse on Satan for having deceived Eve into eating the forbidden fruit, He gave a veiled promise of a Redeemer, saying, "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise his heel." Genesis 3:15...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis weighed in on the recent decision by the Stoddard County Sheltered Facilities Board (SB 40) to not renew the contract with the County Sheltered Workshop at the regular meeting of the County Commission recently...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission voted to make final payment and close out the contract for repairs and renovations at the Justice Center and the installation of security features at the Justice Center and two other county buildings. The total cost of the projects was $1,304,901.62...

From Staff Reports The Puxico board of aldermen accepted the fire chief's resignation, voted on sewer rates, and learned the library roof was leaking during the Nov. 16 meeting. Puxico Fire Chief Rusty Parker turned in a letter of resignation and Mayor Rick McLean stated the city appreciated his work...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Stoddard County Sales tax receipts remained flat so far in 2017 with only an additional $4,106.46 collected compared to the same period in 2016. County sales tax revenue was 162,371.41 in October 2017, which is $5,674.22 less than in October 2016...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Why did Gen. Mike Flynn lie to the FBI about his December 2016 conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak? Why did he not tell the FBI the truth? As national security adviser to the president-elect, Flynn had called the ambassador. Message: Tell President Putin not to overreact to President Obama's expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats. Trump will be president in three weeks, and we are committed to a new relationship...

Gov. Eric Greitens completed his quest to oust Missouri's commissioner of education, Dr. Margie Vandeven. Though he hasn't stated outright his intentions, over the course of six months, Greitens has appointed five new members to the state Board of Education whose ideologies are in line with his own...

This week, President Trump returned to the place where he started his push for historic tax cuts three months ago, right here in Missouri. This time, the President spoke in detail about the proposal which I had recently helped advance through the U.S. House of Representatives known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act - our plan to allow American families, small business owners and farmers to keep more of what they earn and more of what they deserve...

By STEPHEN MOORE Whenever I'm asked if the Trump tax cut is for the rich, I say yes. It is a tax cut for the rich. It is a tax cut for the middle class. It is a tax cut for small businesses. It is a tax cut for the Fortune 100. If you pay federal income taxes, you will, in almost all cases, be getting more take-home pay come Jan. 1...

Greenville High School has selected its November Students of the Month. Hailey Alissa Brown, daughter of Tim and Gina Brown, of Wappapello. Hailey is active in FBLA, FCCLA, Beta, ETS, Art Club, Spanish Club, ECHO Student Ministries, National Honor Society, and Drama Club, She attends Cornerstone Tabernacle...

FISK, Mo. -- Billy Joe Rucker Sr., age 80, of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017 at his residence, in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Rucker was born, Sept. 18, 1937 in Egypt, Ark., the son of the late Tommie Cecil and Lela Dora (Sims)Rucker. He was a farmer and also was a cook at Wyatt's Cafeteria in Jonesboro for over 20 years. He enjoyed being outdoors spending time hunting, fishing and spending time with his family...

PIEDMONT, Mo. - Michael W. Marler, 48, of Piedmont died Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 7 at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. in the chapel. Burial will be in Mill Spring Cemetery...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Lewis "Bud" Fliney, 83, of Campbell, Mo. died Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Piggott, Ark., Visitation will be at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, in the chapel with Rev. Rick Ethridge officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden with Military Rites...

Bertha Hodge, 71, of Poplar Bluff passed away Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017 at The Cedargate in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was born Nov. 5, 1946, in Poplar Bluff. She was of the Baptist faith. A homemaker, she was a member of American Legion Post 630 and AMVETS Auxiliary 29. She was a dedicated volunteer in the community. She loved to play bingo and to cook...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Cape Central boys basketball team found a way to win. Poplar Bluff found a way to lose. In the end, the result sends the Tigers to the SEMO Conference Tournament semifinals for the first time since 2012. Fourth-seeded Central rallied from a nine-point deficit and took the lead for good on an Austin Parker layup with 1 minute, 27 seconds remaining to sink fifth-seeded Poplar Bluff 46-41 in an offensively-challenged quarterfinal Tuesday night at the Sikeston Field House...

BROSELEY -- Malden coach Andrew Halford wanted to do anything he could to shut down Twin Rivers' Hayden Thomas and Jamie Robards. The Green Wave did that and more as they didn't allow the Royals to score more than 10 points in any quarter and won 56-33 on Tuesday night...

DONIPHAN, Mo. - Mavis Lucille Riley Ingram, 84, of Doniphan, Missouri, died Sunday, December 3, 2017, at her residence in rural Ripley County. Mrs. Ingram, daughter of Walter C. and Lou (Cole) Hudson, was born October 22, 1933, in Warm Springs, Arkansas. She had been a housewife. Mrs. Ingram enjoyed sewing, quilting, fishing, singing, gospel music, animals, church, cooking and being with her family, especially her grandchildren. Mrs. Ingram was a member of the Handy Church...

Leading by a point with under 90 seconds to play, the Three Rivers women's basketball team got a pair of defensive stops Tuesday night. Then the Raiders survived the final 15 seconds for a wild 73-72 win over John A. Logan College at the Bess Activity Center...

DONIPHAN -- Klay Barton set the Doniphan High School single-game scoring record Tuesday night with 51 points in a 92-52 win over the East Carter Redbirds. Barton's big night surpassed the previous record of 49 points set during the 1993-94 season by Brock Littles...

NAYLOR -- Eathan Brown had a great night at the free-throw line, regardless of what the percentages say. Brown, who was 5 for 12 on foul shots, sank two free throws with 2 seconds left to put Naylor in front for the 57-56 win over visiting Puxico. "I love the grit, determination and resiliency I'm seeing from our guys," Naylor coach Jim Carrier said. ...

Members of the Poplar Bluff school community will soon have an opportunity to engage with the superintendent, become up to date on current events around the district and voice concerns regarding education in an environment where thoughtful dialogue is encouraged...