Stories from Friday, March 9, 2018

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Metal detectors at an Alabama high school were not in use the day a 17-year-old student was killed in a shooting on campus, the district's superintendent said Thursday. Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Lisa Herring said the school system is reviewing security measures and protocols that were in place Wednesday, when Courtlin Arrington was fatally shot in a classroom at Huffman High School...

Center Stage will perform the psychological thriller "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $10, $5 with TRC ID, and are available at the Poplar Bluff Chamber and the Three Rivers Student Accounts office. Tickets also will be sold at the door...

A local storm spotter group is asking for the community's help in purchasing vital radio equipment. The Poplar Bluff Severe Weather Response Team needs to raise $3,500 to upgrade an antennae that allows members to communicate across Butler County during potentially dangerous weather events, said director Craig Meador...

Poplar Bluff Parks Department Director Clark Allen stated, "the Poplar Bluff Parks Department 2018 Recreation Guide is available online: http://www.poplarbluff-mo.gov/174/Program-Guide; Hard copies are available at the office located at 430 North Second Street."...

Theater needs to advertise movies Yes I was calling about the movie theaters not puttin' the movies back in the paper. A lot of don't have computers where we can't pull it up to see what the shows are gonna be and since it's not in the paper we have no idea what's gonna be showing. ...

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Standard Democrat I'm greeted with a report first thing in the morning from the Southern Poverty Law Center that says Missouri has 18 active hate groups operating in our state, which actually represents a decline from last year's 24 hate group census...

During Red Cross Month in March, the American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to join in its lifesaving mission by giving blood. Make an appointment by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)...

By MARC A. THIESSEN WASHINGTON -- The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is ostensibly a public worker union. In truth, it is nothing more than an appendage of the Democratic Party. One hundred percent of its political contributions go to Democrats, and it works tirelessly to increase government spending and stop Republicans who want to reform state government...

By MONA CHAREN I don't know about you, but when I hear the phrase "drain the swamp," I associate it with clean government, transparency, ethics and such like. In 2016, it became, along with "Lock her up," a favorite Donald Trump campaign slogan. Trump was not the first to use the metaphor. ...

Two students from Dexter and Essex have been awarded scholarships to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 2018-2019 academic year: Taylor Wells of Dexter has received the Residence Life Leadership Award. Wells is the daughter of Gary and Christy Wells of Dexter, and will be a 2018 graduate of Dexter High School...

The Poplar Bluff Lions Club will hold its second annual fundraising concert "Roarin at the Rodgers" Saturday, April 14, at the Rodgers Theatre. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. This year's noted entertainers will be Matt Stell, the Brothers Walker and The Stiff Riffs...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Neelyville has beaten five consecutive state ranked opponents. It needs to beat one more. Neelyville defeated defending state champion and top-ranked Skyline 63-57 to advance to the MSHSAA Class 2 championship game for the second time in three years...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Lucille Pinkley, 89, of Malden died Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at her son's residence in Malden. Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden with the funeral following at 3 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Rev. Corey Godsey officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park in Malden. Landess Funeral in Malden is in charge of arrangements...

ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Delores Marlene Shepherd, 84, of Poplar Bluff Mo., died Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at her daughter's residence in Poplar Bluff, Mo. with her family by her side. Visitation will begin for the public at 6 p.m. Friday, March 9, 2018, at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore, with the funeral services being held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 10, 2018 in the Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating: Rev. Devin Black Burial: New Hope Cemetery in Ellsinore, Mo...

David Perry, 70, of Poplar Bluff, died Thursday, March 8, 2018 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Arrangements are pending with Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) -- Omar Ndiaye strokes in long 3-pointers with a flick of his wrist alongside the rest of Northern Arizona's players. Ndiaye has the same springy legs as his teammates, is just as quick off the dribble and has a wicked crossover...

DEXTER -- Dexter and Miller Career Academy mirror each other in many ways. The Bearcats and the Phoenix will meet at 1 p.m. Saturday in a MSHSAA Class 4 quarterfinal at Jefferson College in Hillsboro. The winner will advance to the Show-Me Showdown, which is set for March 16-17 in Springfield...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Chester W. Crockett, 70, of Piedmont, Mo., died, Thursday, March 8, 2018, at his residence. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com

Paul H. Million, 74, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, at home after battling lung cancer. He was born June 12, 1943 to Henry and Oma Million at Poplar Bluff. He was united in marriage to Connie Million Aug. 6, 1983 in Poplar Bluff. Paul was a Poplar Bluff High School graduate. He served in the U.S. Navy. He retired from Chrysler Corporation after 33 and one half years of employment in 2002...

The Three Rivers softball team will take its unbeaten record to Joplin, Missouri to face three nationally ranked opponents after a tune-up sweep Thursday against Williams Baptist College. Allison Law hit a go-ahead home run in the fifth inning of the opener as the Raiders rallied for an 8-2 win before exploding for six runs in the second inning in a 10-2 five-inning win at Rains Field. Gracie King drove in five runs in the nightcap...