Stories from Sunday, December 17, 2017

Law enforcement officers are partnering with medical and mental health professionals to better serve citizens suffering from mental health issues and help get them the treatment they need. That new partnership, known as the Three Rivers Crisis Intervention Team Council (C.I.T), covers seven counties -- Butler, Carter, Ripley, Wayne, Reynolds, Dunklin and Pemiscot, and officers from those counties are becoming C.I.T. certified...

More than 150 area children lined up at the Poplar Bluff Walmart Saturday morning for the annual Fraternal Order of Police's Shop with a Hero event. Some children had the toy catalog in hand while others knew exactly what they wanted. Ten-year-old Savannah Larkins came with a list prepared to ensure not to forget a single item...

Since 2006, the First Midwest GOLD Club has traveled to Grand Rivers, Ky., every November to kick off the Christmas Season. GOLD Club Coordinator Rob Callahan said, "We go there to see a live Christmas show, all the Christmas lights and to enjoy dinner at Patti's 1880's Settlement. The trip almost always sells out early . . . by early, I mean, in August and September."...

BROSELEY -- Doniphan played Greenville's style of game all night, but managed to come away with the win anyway. The No. 7 Donettes slowly but steadily earned a double-digit lead and then held on to beat the No. 10 Bears 47-35 in the first round of the Lady Royals Classic on Saturday...

ELLSTON, Iowa (AP) -- Bargain hunters beware! A four-bedroom farmhouse in southern Iowa listed online for free comes with a catch: The new owner must move the building from the current owners' land. Roger and Linda Dolecheck wrote in a Craigslist ad that the Ringgold County home will be torn down this winter if no one takes up their offer...

Leading by eight with a little over three minutes to play Saturday in the Mules Booster Club Shootout, the Poplar Bluff boys basketball team took its collective foot off the gas. Vianney scored 11 straight points to pull ahead and sank enough free throws in the final seconds to secure a 66-60 win over the Mules...

WEST PLAINS, Mo. -- The Poplar Bluff girls basketball team overcame a 10-point halftime deficit Saturday afternoon as the Mules rallied to beat West Plains 61-59. "The girls made a lot of good adjustments," Mules coach John David Pattillo said. "Bunch of girls stepped up, pleased with them."...

Trailing by 12 in the third quarter Friday night, Poplar Bluff coach William Durden called a timeout. "Coach just said we've got to step it up," Poplar Bluff junior Dominique Hardimon said. The Mules did just that. Using a full-court zone press, Poplar Bluff forced six turnovers and scored 16 straight points over the final three minutes of the quarter. ...

BROSELEY -- Twin Rivers picked up its effort from recent games, and consequently, improved its play on the boards, on defense and in transition. The trio of boosts catapulted the No. 3 Royals to a 57-26 win over No. 14 Malden in the first round of the Lady Royals Classic on Saturday...

CAMPBELL -- Neelyville won the Campbell Christmas Tournament championship holding on in the fourth quarter. The Tigers (9-1) went 9 for 14 on free throws in the fourth quarter to edge Armorel (Ark.) 57-52 on Friday. Wyatt Moon led Neelyville with 23 points. He had eight points in the fourth quarter and was 2 for 2 at the line and 3 for 4 overall on free throws...

KENNETT, Mo. -- Kennett outscored Doniphan by 17 in the second quarter, pulling away for a 70-51 win over the Dons on Friday. Down 20 at halftime, the Dons (2-5) rallied to within 49-40 with 3:10 remaining in the third quarter following Klay Barton's third 3-pointer of the quarter. But Kennett responded with a 6-2 run to finish the quarter and led by at least 11 the rest of the way...

Chester Eugene Hardin Sr. passed away Dec. 9, 2017 at his residence in Park Forest. Ill. He leaves behind his spouse, Thelma Hardin; seven children, Butch, Paula, Gina Hardin, Jerry Johnson of Poplar Bluff, Ginger Walker of Jackson, Mo., Cindi Johnson and Misty Kelley of Chicago, Ill.; two brothers, Melvin, and Tom Hardin of Poplar Bluff...

Services will be scheduled at a later date for Christy Michelle Miller, 45, of Longview, Texas,who died Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. Arrangements are by Lakeview Funeral Home. Mrs. Miller was born June 10, 1972 in Ironton, Ohio and passed away December 14, 2017...

Donald "Uncle Don" F. Behnen, 56, of St. Louis, Mo. was born Dec. 16, 1960, in St. Louis, Mo., to Richard F. and Janis R. (nee Dean) Behnen, and entered into rest, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, at Green Park Nursing Center in St. Louis, Mo. He is preceded in death by his father, Richard Behnen; a brother, Jeffrey Behnen; and a sister, Rachael Behnen...

EMINENCE, Mo. -- Doris Jeremiah Knuckles was born May 3, 1933, in Eminence, Mo., to Frank and Janie (Williams) Jeremiah. She passed away Dec. 14, 2017, at the age of 84 years. She was united in marriage to Marvin Knuckles on March 28, 1952, in Salem, Ark., and to this union three children were born...

Mary Belle Divine Smith, 90, of Cartersville, Ga., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, in Cartersville. A graveside service and burial will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wed. Dec. 20, 2017, at Woodlawn Cemetery in Poplar Bluff with the Rev. Jonathan Tipper officiating...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Ronald "Ronnie" Gene Ross, 74, of Piedmont died Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com.

By ADRIANA COHEN Imagine living in a country where the federal government decides whether you're exonerated from criminal wrongdoing or hauled off in handcuffs based on how you vote. Welcome to the U.S. Justice Department, a politicized agency that has become a weaponized arm of the Democratic National Committee...

Clara Nadine Gunter, 86, of Poplar Bluff departed this life to live forever with Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior, Dec. 16, 2017, at her home. Mrs. Gunter was born July 22, 1931, in Poplar Bluff. She was a nurse's aide and took pleasure in helping the sick...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN On Aug. 9, 1974, Richard Nixon bowed to the inevitability of impeachment and conviction by a Democratic Senate and resigned. The prospect of such an end for Donald Trump has this city drooling. Yet, comparing Russiagate and Watergate, history is not likely to repeat itself...

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- William Eugene Freer, age 83, of Arnold, Mo., passed away Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, at his home. He was born May 28, 1934, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., the son of the late Lena Mae (nee Cole) and Charles Henry Freer. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Billie JoAnn (nee Christopher) Freer; a brother Ralph (the late Letha) Freer; a sister Betty (the late John) Clark; and a granddaughter Jessica Freer...

Obviously, the city council does not view the 2018 city budget the way we do. If they did they wouldn't be on the verge of adding to the city's indebtedness. Just one year ago, City Manager Mark Massingham described a possible $1.4 million cash reserve as "critical." No problem there. We agree with him. It should be much higher...

KANEOHE, Hawaii (AP) -- Attorneys for a divorced lesbian couple fighting over child support in a closely watched case agreed Thursday that consent to having a baby together is a crucial issue but disagreed over whether both spouses gave it. A woman wants to sever her parental rights to a child her ex-wife gave birth to while she was deployed with the military and is asking the Hawaii Supreme Court to overturn a family court ruling denying that request...

MALDEN, Mos. -- Marjorie Ann Hicks Handlin of Malden died Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. She was born in Glen Easton, W. V. May 6, 1937. She married the love of her life Edward "John" Handlin March 3, 1956. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, one sister: Marlene and two children: Kathy and Patrick. She is survived by two children: Edward and Sharon and a son-in-law: Kevin Lepski...

Jacob Hershel Hager Sr., 93, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Dec. 14, 2017. He was born Dec. 28, 1923. He is survived by his son, Jacob Hershel Hager Jr., and wife, Ellen, and daughter, Deborah Diane Hager and one grandson, Joseph Hershel Hager III...

CAMPBELL, Mo. - Wanda Janice Penrod, 84, of Malden passed away on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Wanda, daughter of Amos Clyde and Lennie Edith Oliver Baker, was born on Wednesday, May 17, 1933, in Campbell, Mo...

Robin Jo Fisher, 56, of Poplar Bluff passed away Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Robin, the daughter of Sue (Shearon) and Ted J. Fisher, was born Oct. 2, 1961, in Butler County. She was a graduate of Poplar Bluff High School Class of 1980 and a graduate of Patricia Stevens College in St. Louis...

MALDEN, Mo. - Betty Jean Stanley, 86, of Malden, died Thurs., Dec. 14, 2017 at Southeast Health of Stoddard Co. in Dexter, Mo. Visitation will be from noon - 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 17 at the Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m., in the chapel with Mr. James Powell officiating. Burial will be in the Memorial Cemetery in Malden. Landess Funeral Home of Malden is in charge of arrangements...