Stories from Sunday, January 21, 2018

Trips to the annual Ag Expo are a tradition for 6-year-old Aubree Knuckles and her father, Thomas. As the pair learned about peanut butter pine cone bird feeders and plants Saturday from master gardeners, they were among more than 6,000 area residents expected at the Black River Coliseum...

Filing has not yet begun for August's primary election, but former Butler County Emergency Management Agency Director Jeff Shawan formally announced on Friday his plan to campaign for the Missouri House of Representatives District 153 seat. Currently served by Rep. Steve Cookson, District 153 covers portions of Wayne, Ripley, Butler and Carter counties. Cookson will be prevented from running again by term limits. Filing opens at 8 a.m. Feb. 27 and closes at 5 p.m. March 27...

2017 (figures approximate) Cash reserves Total all funds, $6.7 million Increase all funds, $1.6 million Includes General fund, increase $369,700 Road and bridge, increase $746,300 Law enforcement complex, increase $131,700 Eastern district capital, increase $97,700...

Several members of a split Poplar Bluff City Council say they are not ready to walk away from the purchase of Northwest Medical Center and that negotiations with the owners continue. Council members were contacted Friday for a response to reports which detail a number of possible problems (see sidebar) in the proposed site of a new city complex...

Northwest Medical Center, Barron Road Purchase cost: $3,495,000 Renovations: $5,595,000 (Estimate, as of June 2017) Possible layout Basement: Police dept. Ground floor: Majority police dept., and city court. Portion Municipal Utilities Second floor: City hall and Municipal Utilities...

After ending 2017 more than $1.6 million in the black, Butler County commissioners say a raise is possible for employees. The county will hold a hearing at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the courthouse on a proposed 2018 budget. It includes a 2 percent raise across the board for union members of the county's highway department...

PUXICO, Mo. - Elva Juanita King of Puxico, daughter of the late Virgil Henry and Ora Louise Patterson Cookson, was born on April 25, 1930 in the Rockwell area near Puxico and passed away at the St Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau on January 18, 2018 at the age of 87 years, 8 months and 24 days...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN The war for dominance in the Middle East, following the crushing of ISIS, appears about to commence in Syria -- with NATO allies America and Turkey on opposing sides. Turkey is moving armor and troops south to Syria's border enclave of Afrin, occupied by Kurds, to drive them out, and then drive the Syrian Kurds out of Manbij further south as well...

CAMPBELL, Mo. - Mike Hefner, 53, of Campbell, died Thurs., January 18, 2018 at John J. Pershing VA Hospital in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be from 6 - 8 p.m., Sunday, January 21 at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. The funeral will be at 9 a.m., Monday, January 22 at Landess Funeral Chapel in Campbell with Rev. Robert Looney officiating. Burial will be in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo. Landess Funeral Home of Campbell is in charge of arrangements...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Is there anything more depressing than a cheerful liberal? The question is prompted by one such, historian David Goldfield, who has written a large-hearted book explaining that America's problems would yield to government's deft ameliorating touch if Americans would just rekindle their enthusiasm for it...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Mary Helen Woodfin, 93, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 at Oakdale Care Center in Poplar Bluff. Helen, the daughter of the late Monroe and Nancie James Hindman, was born May 13, 1924 in Brownwood, Mo. She was a member of Bethel General Baptist Church in Advance and had retired from the Inland Shoe Company also in Advance. Helen enjoyed spending time with her family, reading her Bible, gardening, cooking and sewing...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Patricia Ann Fletcher, 88, of Gideon, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 19, 2018 at Gideon Care Center in Gideon. Visitation will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018 at First Baptist Church in Gideon. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 22, 2018 at First Baptist Church in Gideon with Rev. Randy DeProw officiating...

CORNING, Ark. -- Mrs. Blanche Nadine Cate, 86, of Greenville, Mo., passed away Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mrs. Cate was born in McDougal, Ark., on Dec. 10, 1931. She had been a long-time elementary and high school teacher, retiring from the English Lab at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo. ...

CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Helen Thompson, 65, of Campbell, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 19, 2018 at NHC Healthcare in Kennett, Mo. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22, 2018 at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018 with Rev. Darrin Baker officiating...

When is Roxie Road reopening? When will Roxie Road reopen at the new Shelby Road? Thank you. Old bowling alley viable city hall site Dear Speak Out, I'm probably too late with this idea. I was just wondering if any our-love-spending-others'-money council members have thought about the property the old Main Street bowlin' alley sits on? I know the building is old but they could probably tear it down, design and build what they wanted, uh, for less than the dollars they would spend on the other building. ...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- James W. "Jimmy" Cruse, 66, of Jonesboro, Ark., died Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 at St. Bernards Hospital in Jonesboro, Ark. Visitation will be Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018 from noon until service time at 2 p.m. at Fowler & Sons Funeral Home in Neelyville, Mo...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Faye O. Sullivan, age 93 of Piedmont, passed away Friday, Jan. 19, 2018 at the Clark's Mountain Nursing Center in Piedmont. She was born Aug. 22, 1924 at Mill Spring, Mo., the daughter of Bill Thompson and Martha (Montgomery) Thompson. ...

CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Chris Collins, 61, of Holcomb, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 19, 2018 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Visitation will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018 at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018 with Justin Huber officiating...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Martha Ann Scarlet, age 66, of Qulin, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 19, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mrs. Scarlet was born Wednesday, Dec. 26, 1951 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was formerly married to Raymond Neeley Sr. ...

The Designing Women Foundation would like to say thank you to the following sponsors for their investment in the Designing Women, Power of the Purse: Ozark Federal Credit Union, Dr. Lance Yeoman of The Dermatology Office and Rejuv Esthetics, Rita Bridges with her delicious Abbie Cakes, Kelly Shearrer Spradling of Farmers Insurance, Scobey Collision, Thom and Lynn Cookson from Puxico, Amy Jo's Photo's, Whitworth's Jewelry, Creating Fun Times for their balloon art, Subrina Berger for her Etiquette class, The PB POM (Princess) Squad, and Precision Glass! And a special thank you to all who attended or donated purses. ...

BROSELEY -- Taylor Harlow picked the perfect time to knock down his only shot Friday night. The Neelyville senior sank a go-ahead 3-pointer when Marquise West found him wide open in the corner with 4 1/2 minutes remaining and the Tigers held on to spoil a Hawaiian-themed homecoming at Twin Rivers...

BLOOMFIELD -- Senior Connor Goodwin scored a game-high 20 points as the Cardinals threw a wrench in the SCAA and eked out a 61-60 win over the Wildcats to come away with their second conference victory in as many days ahead of Monday's opening round of the conference tournament...

BERNIE, Mo. -- The Mules became more aggressive on offense after halftime, both individually and schematically, and turned a six-point lead into a running clock. After a slow start, Bernie steadily took more and more control against Puxico. The Mules held the Indians to six points in the fourth quarter, outscored them 44-19 in the second half as Weston Zoll's three-point play in the final seconds capped Bernie's 81-50 win Friday...

WEST PLAINS, Mo. -- Three Rivers beat MSU-West Plains twice by three points last season. The Grizzlies returned the favor with a point to spare. Three Rivers was down most of the second half but cut West Plains' lead to two points late. The Grizzlies' made two crucial free throws and held on to beat the Raiders 102-98 on West Plains' homecoming night...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Raegan McAtee qualified for the MSHSAA swimming state championships in an individual event for a third straight year and helped Poplar Bluff's medley relay earn a spot Saturday at the City of Roses Invitational. Taylor Norwood qualified for state in her fourth individual event and lowered her time in another, finishing second in the 500-yard freestyle, as the Mules placed 10th as a team...

NEOSHO, Mo. -- The Lady Raiders are tired of being on the road, and they're tired of losing. Three Rivers lost at Crowder 91-73 on Saturday in the last of six straight weeks of road games. "Now everybody has to come to us," Three Rivers coach Jeff Walk said. "We are definitely road tested."...

flag Charles H. Newman Jr., 67. of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. A visitation was at 11 a.m., Monday, January 22 at Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. The funeral followed at noon with Elder Robert Duckett officiating. ...