Stories from Thursday, February 8, 2018

Neelyville High School began the journey to be named an Exemplary Professional Learning Community (PLC) school in 2011. Seven years later that goal was achieved when NHS was one of 21 schools in the state to receive this distinction and one of only two high schools honored...

Opioid and heroin overdoses caused one in every 66 Missouri deaths for approximately 908 lives in 2016, according to the state's department of health and senior services. The prescription opioid epidemic has become a crisis across all races, genders and age groups nationwide. ...

Options for prospective nurses are plentiful at Three Rivers College, which offers certificate and degree programs aiming to propel students into a career in their field of choice. At TRC, students can study to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), or complete the necessary coursework to bridge the gap from LPN to RN before entering the work force or pursuing a Bachelor's of Science in nursing (BSN)...

Regularly getting enough quality sleep every night is essential to optimal performance during the day. Alternatively, not getting enough sleep can be detrimental, not only to a person's daily life, but also to their health, according to Reggie Westerfield, lab manager and technologist at Southern Missouri Sleep Center (SMSC) in Poplar Bluff...

The Wappapello Civic Center has released its dance schedule of events for February and March. The Civic Center is located just north of the Lake Wappapello dam. Dance 6:00 - 9:00 P.M. / Smoke and alcohol free facility / Concessions Available / $5.00 per person / Children age 12 and under FREE...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor The Bluff City Mallards chapter of Ducks Unlimited is gearing up for its 2018 banquet, set for Feb. 17 at the Black River Coliseum. The event will kick off with a social hour at 5:30 p.m., with several games, raffles and a silent auction to be offered...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Crappie fishing remains above average at Wappapello Lake, with a lot of limits being taken. "It's been good," said Jason Jenkins, who caught quite a few big fish, including a 17-incher, last week. "Most averaged about 10 inches."...

The PARC Fitness and Rehab added an innovative new service in 2017, making it the first facility in Poplar Bluff to offer Functional Dry Needling, a technique designed to reduce pain and restore normal neuromuscular function. "It's another tool in the tool belt," said Doctor of Physical Therapy Justin Emfinger, who is certified to perform dry needling...

Butler County Missouri Retired Teachers and Retired School Personnel will meet Wednesday, Feb. 21, at 10 a.m. in the Altrusa Room at Twin Towers. Persons concerned about protecting their PSRS or PEERS pension should plan to attend. There are factors that could substantially reduce benefits upon retirement. Current retirees can also be effected. Retirees are encouraged to stay informed and to stand up as a group...

By MARC A. THIESSEN WASHINGTON -- President Trump once boasted that his base was so loyal that he "could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters." Now he's putting that claim to the test with his immigration proposal. ...

By ADRIANA COHEN In Everytown, USA, the local fire department exists to put out fires; it doesn't exist to extinguish residents' uncomfortable feelings. The same notion should apply to colleges and universities throughout the nation -- as they exist to educate students, not to protect their delicate feelings du jour...

Pauline G. Haas, 88, died at Oakdale Residential Care Center, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service.

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN That memo worked up in the Intel Committee of Chairman Devin Nunes may not have sunk the Mueller investigation, but from the sound of the secondary explosions, this torpedo was no dud. The critical charge: To persuade a FISA court to issue a warrant to spy on Trump aide Carter Page, the FBI relied on a dossier produced by a Trump-hating British spy, who was using old Kremlin contacts, while being paid to dig up dirt on Donald Trump by Hillary Clinton's campaign...

FISK, Mo. -- Wanda Lee Conner, 79, of Puxico, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018 at Puxico Nursing and Rehab in Puxico, Mo. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018 at White-Sanders Funeral Home, Fisk. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Wayne Street officiating. Burial will be in Little Brushy Cemetery at Wappapello, Mo...

Vernon E. Hart, 100, of Shreveport, La. went home to his Heavenly Father on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018 in Shreveport surrounded by his loving family. He was born on Sept. 23, 1917 in Paragould Ark. Vernon is predeceased by his parents William Thomas and Callie Belle Hart, as well as his sister Geraldine Stacey, and his beloved wife of 54 years, Mardrie Mozell Hart, all of Paragould, Ark...

Another year, another group of superb performances by area student-athletes, the most outstanding of which are being recognized. On Wednesday, 55 individuals were announced as fall sport finalists for the 2018 Semoball Awards. The selections were presented during a live radio show on SEMO ESPN Radio...

By FRANK CAMPA Mo. Dept. of Conservation Wednesday marked the beginning of Missouri's light goose conservation order, and it stays in effect through April 30. What exactly is this conservation order? It is a special order issued year by year that allows for snow, blue and Ross's geese to be taken in liberal numbers and more liberal ways. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- There are needs, and then there are urgent needs. When it comes to the Southeast Missouri State football team, consider the quarterback position part of the latter. The Redhawks officially announced the addition of 22 players to their roster on Wednesday's National Signing Day, with three quarterbacks joining the program in hopes of vying for an opportunity to take over as the team's starter...

John Lumsden, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away Tuesday,Feb. 6, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born Dec. 5, 1931 to Charles and Ora (Wilmurth) Lumsden in Matthews, Mo. He graduated from Canalou High School and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from The University of Missouri in Columbia. John worked as a self-employed farmer all of his life. On May 25, 2003 he married Barbara Graham...

Kathryn Eddington, 70, of Wappapello, Mo. died Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018 at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

Jennifer Marie Jones, 37, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born Sept. 24, 1980 in Poplar Bluff to Bruce Allen Cobb and Janet Lee Fuller Cobb. Jennifer was a long time resident of Poplar Bluff. She was of the Baptist faith...

PIEDMONT -- Twin Rivers and Doniphan mirrored each other for much of the game. Hot at the same time, cold at the same time. The Royals maintained a slight lead throughout the second half and went 13 for 17 at the foul line in the fourth quarter to hold off some late Doniphan 3-pointers and win 66-59 in the Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament semifinals...

PIEDMONT -- It took Naylor 16 minutes to work up the courage to attack some Tigers, and by then it was too late. Neelyville held Naylor to four points in the second quarter and nearly tripled its lead before eventually winning 66-36 in the Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament semifinals...

The sun was just peaking over Oak Grove Road when 84-year-old John Uebelein stepped onto a treadmill on a recent Wednesday morning. His view from the seventh floor of Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center reaches all the way to Wappapello on a clear day, but that's not what keeps bringing Uebelein back...

Misconceptions plague the field of mental health more so, it seems, than any other, according to Dr. Jayne Niskey, a counselor and psychotherapist serving the Poplar Bluff area. To help pinpoint what is truth versus fiction, Niskey compiled a list of what she considers the most common mental health myths she encounters on a regular basis. She said mental health is necessary for the body to function happily and healthily...