Stories from Tuesday, February 20, 2018

A 63-year-old Neelyville, Mo., man was killed in a one-vehicle crash at 9:50 p.m. Sunday on U.S. 67, eight miles south of Polar Bluff, Mo. According to the report, Donald O. Teague was operating a 1995 Chevrolet Corvette northbound when it ran off the left side of the road and overturned several times...

By MARYBETH NIEDERKORN SEMO News Service Southeast Missouri State University's enrollment numbers at the four-week mark are down slightly overall compared to this time in 2017, but that isn't the entire picture, said Debbie Below, vice president for enrollment management and student success at Southeast...

Black history is American history, said Poplar Bluff High School (PBHS) Assistant Principal Sheldon Tyler, who, despite his humble beginnings, attributes family and education to his success as an educator. "I was born and raised in St. Louis, at Delmar and Kingshighway. ...

Oak Grove Elementary Principal Jenifer Richardson traveled to Philadelphia, Pa., last week to attend the National Title I Conference where she and her team were recognized as a National Distinguished Title I School. Oak Grove is one of two Missouri schools selected for the award, and one of 100 nationwide...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Even if, inexplicably, you occasionally think about things other than major league baseball, consider this: Why are many premier free agents, particularly sluggers and starting pitchers, unsigned even while we are hearing the loveliest four words, "Pitchers and catchers report"? The Major League Baseball Players Association angrily says some teams are more interested in economizing than in winning. ...

Rural America is roaring back. A recent report from the Department of Agriculture shows that for only the second time in the last century, we are actually increasing the number of farmers under the age of 35. With the President's leadership, we have been able to deliver tax cuts for American farmers, reduced federal regulations at a rate of 22:1, driven down energy prices and have grown the economy to bring jobs back to rural America...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS Carter G. Woodson, noted scholar, historian and educator, created "Negro History Week" in 1926, which became Black History Month in 1976. Woodson chose February because it coincided with the birthdays of black abolitionist Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln. ...

Wm. Crandall Thornburgh, age 79, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Sunday, Feb., 18, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Thornburgh, the son of the late Benjamin Edwin and Hattie (Robinson) Thornburgh, was born March 30, 1938 in Old Greenville, Mo. ...

GREENVILLE, Mo. - Rev. W. L. Guess, 93, longtime resident of Coldwater, MO, died Sunday, February 18, 2018 at General Baptist Nursing Home, Campbell, MO. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., Tuesday, February 20 at Ruegg Funeral Home, Greenville. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. in the chapel. Burial will follow at Coldwater Methodist Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

WAPPAPELLO, Mo. - Betty Jean Cunningham, age 79, of Wappapello, Mo., passed away Friday, Feb. 16, 2018 at her residence. Betty, the daughter of the late Luther Emerson and Hazel Irene (Waddle) Brown, was born April 26, 1938 in Malden, Mo. She was of the non-denominational faith and was a homemaker. Betty was a Facebook fanatic and enjoyed sewing, cooking, studying her bible and being in the company of her dog Duke...

MALDEN, Mo. - Captain Douglass Van Rice was born June 24, 1948 in Kennett, Missouri to the late Arthur Van "Sonny" Rice, Jr. and the late Iris Fern Douglass Rice. Among the many accomplishments he achieved his proudest was his family, becoming a Captain in the U.S. ...

SEMO News Service SIKESTON, Mo. -- Neal E. Boyd sings the national anthem in February 2009 at the Show Me Center. Boyd is using his difficult rehab from a car wreck as inspiration for his new album to come out next year. Boyd broke many bones and may need a hip replacement...

Alvin Inman, 81, of Poplar Bluff, died on Monday, February 19, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be on Thursday, February 22, 2018 from 10-11 a.m. at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. in the Moore Funeral Service Chapel...

VAN BUREN -- Nothing was easy for the top seeds in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 3 semifinals Monday night. After state-ranked Thayer overcame a five-point deficit in the final three minutes to beat Ellington 47-42, second-seeded Neelyville saw its double-digit lead disappear late...

DEXTER -- Dexter junior Rylee Allen stuck the dagger in Jackson's hopes of winning the SEMO Conference championship Monday. Allen, a 6-foot forward, made a wide-open 3 pointer with 5 seconds left to propel the Bearcats to a 59-56 win at the Bearcat Event Center...

ROBINSON, Ill. -- The Raiders lost their second straight game by one possession. After losing to Mineral Area by two points on Saturday, the Raiders turned around and lost their final road game of the season to Lincoln Trail 85-82 in overtime. Five of the past six games for the Raiders have been decided by three points or less. ...

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- When the pressure started ramping up on the Twin Rivers girls basketball team, the Royals reverted to habits and what they were comfortable doing. That often left Arcadia Valley players open and the Tigers scored 47 first-half points in an 87-64 win in the MSHSAA Class 3 District 2 semifinal Monday...

FARMINGTON, Mo. --Kiley Bess became the eighth Poplar Bluff girls basketball player to reach 1,000 career points Monday night. The sophomore reached the milestone with a shot from the field in the third quarter and scored a game-high 34 points in Poplar Bluff's 68-59 win at Farmington...

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- Doniphan's strong shooting early kept pace with Saxony Lutheran for the first five minutes as the Donettes were tied at 10. It was all Crusaders after that as they went on to win 79-49 and advance to the MSHSAA Class 3 District 2 championship...

BELLEVILLE, Ill. -- Three Rivers coach Stacey Burkey gave the baseball to a pair of freshman pitchers on opening day, and they rewarded him with quality starts. River Hunt and Shelby Quiggins each threw four scoreless innings and allowed one hit each as the Raiders split with Southwestern Illinois on Sunday, winning the first game 2-0, in what was originally schedule to be the Raiders' home opener...