Stories from Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Artic air and winter-weather systems will return to the area this weekend. The brief interlude of above-freezing temperatures the region has experienced in the last few days likely will relapse into single-digit temperatures, frozen precipitation and icy roads...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Southeast Missouri State University will cut 35 to 40 vacant and filled staff positions over the next five months to balance its fiscal 2018 budget and cover known budget needs for fiscal 2019, school president Carlos Vargas-Aburto announced Tuesday...

With temperatures dipping into the single digits last week and more cold air predicted to return by the end of the week, many in the area have kept their warm coats, gloves and hats within reaching distance. But what should individuals do to protect their pipes from freezing and bursting during the latest round of arctic air?...

The nearly century old Butler County Courthouse is going green with upgrades that could reduce some lighting expenses by nearly 80 percent. LED lights will be installed throughout the courthouse, the Butler County Justice Center and the Butler County highway shed...

Doniphan High School student Thomas Hawks doesn't lack confidence when it comes to academics. He walked in to take the ACT test in early December with that confidence, knowing he could ace the exam. The high school junior found out two weeks later he did just that, scoring a perfect 36 on his ACT...

By STEPHEN MOORE I remember when I was in fifth grade and kept losing tennis matches to a kid I despised. After one match I slammed down my racket and fumed to my mother that my nemesis was a really terrible tennis player. She brought me back down to earth by placing her hands on my shoulders, looking me in the eyes and saying: "How bad can he be, if he keeps beating you?"...

Anyone interested in the restoration of the Poplar Bluff Historic Depot is invited to attend the annual membership committee meeting to be held at noon on Friday, Jan. 19, in the Altrusa Room of Twin Towers. Committee membership is open to anyone. Annual membership fee is $10. New members may join any time prior to the meeting...

I encourage you to keep in touch with the legislative process through the Internet. You can both read about and view video clips of the latest Legislative happenings at: www.house.mo.gov. House plans to work quickly to pass priority legislation House leaders made it clear on the opening day of session that they plan to work quickly to pass several priority pieces of legislation. ...

Carl Lewis Ray, 68, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018 at his residence. Carl was the son of the late Harold and Anna Pearl Eichler Ray. He proudly served his country in the U. S. Army during the Vietnam War and was disabled. Carl enjoyed walking and visiting with his many friends around town...

With two swimmers out due to illness, Poplar Bluff coach Beth Lewis-Muse was scrambling to fill spots prior to Tuesday's meet with Cape Central. Tigers coach Dayna Powell had no such trouble. Central won 8 of 11 races, sweeping the relays while five different swimmers won individual events to beat the Mules 101-68 at the Black River Coliseum Aquatic Center...

NAYLOR -- Naylor coach Jim Carrier knows how much he runs his team in practice. After falling behind early, he told his players to trust their endurance. Fresh off scoring his 1,000th point, Naylor junior Zeke Ward led a come-from-behind win as the Eagles beat East Carter 68-59 on Tuesday...

BLOOMFIELD -- The Bloomfield Wildcats challenged anyone other than Dexter's Gabe Jackson to beat them on Tuesday night, and the Bearcats responded. The Wildcats held Jackson to 10 points, including only two in the second half, but the Bearcats countered with a balanced scoring effort to win the Stoddard County Activities Association matchup 68-43 at Bloomfield High School...

WAPPAPELLO, Mo. -- Carolyn D. Morgan, 73, of Wappapello, Mo., passed away peacefully on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018 at the Puxico Nursing and Rehab Center. From her birth on April 4, 1944, until her death on Monday, she nourished everyone around her with endless love and laughter. She was born in St. Louis, Mo. to Jesse and Stella (Ketchum) Gallamore and was the oldest of three children. She attended school at Fremont in St. Louis...

DONIPHAN, Mo.-- Nova Jane Brock, 89, of Doniphan, died Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, at her residence. Visitation will be held 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will start at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, in the Edwards Funeral Home chapel with Brothers Monty Flanigan and her nephew, Danny Miller officiating. Burial will follow in the Pine Cemetery...

MALDEN, Mo. - Lori Ann Bailey, 49, of Malden, died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018 at Southeast Health of Stoddard County - Dexter, Mo. Visitation will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 13 at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will follow at noon at Bradshaw Chapel in Malden...

Our father Chester E. Hardin, passed away on Dec. 9, 2017 at his home in Park Forest, Ill. with his family. He was 78 years old. There were no funeral services at that time, so we are having a short gravesite memorial service with his family and friends on Jan. 13, 2018 at noon in Ashcraft Cemetery...

FISK, Mo. -- Sandra Faye Hesselrode, 71, of Fisk, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018 at Westwood Hills Health Care Center, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mrs. Hesselrode was born June 12, 1946 in Broseley, Mo., daughter of the late Edsel and Violet Baldridge. She was a LPN and retired from John J. Pershing VAMC. She enjoyed watching her grandson at his wrestling matches and gardening...

A Celebration of Life service for Denise Giambelluca will be held from 2-4 p.m. Saturday at the Poplar Bluff Holiday Inn. A time of remembrance will be held at 3 p.m. Interment will be private for the family. Denise died Dec. 26, 2017, at Bluff Creek Terrace Assisted Living in Columbia after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 63...

NAYLOR -- The Royals held Naylor without a field goal in the third quarter and pulled away with 15 points of their own as Twin Rivers won 52-34. Catey Hester led Twin Rivers (9-5, 2-0 OFC) in the third with all seven of her points while Naylor focused on slowing down Twin Rivers leading scorer Katelyn South, who finished with 25 points...