Stories from Sunday, May 13, 2018

SIKESTON -- The second-seeded Kennett Indians scored five first-inning runs and two more in the second to take a commanding lead to beat Dexter 11-1 in the first round of the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 baseball tournament Saturday. Marshall Brown picked up the win, allowing one run on one hit with one strikeout and one walk in 3 1/3 innings...

Malden's Aylexus LeShay, Robert Wilson, Broddric Annesser and the girls' 400 relay team advanced to the MSHSAA Class 2 state meet. The Green Wave finished second in the girls' 400 relay in 51.05 seconds with Jaycie Jones, Jada Criglar, LaShay and Arionne Ross running...

GREENVILLE -- Spencer Morrow doubled, and Nathan Gargac singled him home with the game-winner in the 10th inning, and the third-seeded Doniphan Dons beat Twin Rivers 7-6 Saturday in the first round of the MSHSAA Class 3 District 2 Baseball Tournament at Greenville...

GREENVILLE --The third out proved to be the toughest for host Greenville in the MSHSAA Class 3 District 2 quarterfinal Saturday. Clearwater scored all of its runs with two outs in a 15-2 five-inning win over the host Bears. "We're a pretty good two-out hitting team," Tigers coach Cole Sheets said. "We don't ever give at-bats away. We try to come out and we're aggressive in the zone. If we see a pitch we like we're going after it."...

Audrey Harmon, 90, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. A memorial visitation will be held Thursday, May 17, 2018 beginning at 10 a.m. at Fellowship General Baptist Church followed by a memorial service beginning at 11 a.m...

Mary Agnes Fortenberry, 90, of rural Butler County passed away Saturday, May 12, 2018 at Cedargate Healthcare. Mrs. Fortenberry was born in Odessa, Mo., on May 18, 1927. She retired from Montgomery Wards after 26 years of service. Mrs. Fortenberry enjoyed playing the piano at Fairview Baptist Church, where she was a member. ...

Ruby Jane Batson, 88, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, May 12, 2018 at Mark Twain Caring Center. She was born September 17, 1929 at Greenway, Ark. to the late Guy McGhee and Ida Boyd McGhee. She was a long time resident of Poplar Bluff. She was a member of the First Baptist Church...

It is one of the most terrifying situations a parent could imagine. Watching your child be airlifted to a hospital hundreds of miles away with a life threatening illness, while you have to follow hours behind by car. Leah Casteel has lived that more than once...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer I've never been what I consider a 'kid person.' I never dreamed of growing up to have a herd of babies following me around, getting peanut butter on my door frames or spilling grape juice in my car. I still don't really like it when children I've never seen before touch me...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Gary Lynn Greenlee Sr. died at his home in Poplar Bluff, Missouri Thursday, May 10, 2018. Visitation was at noon Saturday, May 12, 2018, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service was at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Brother Steve Sanders officiating. Burial followed in the Hunt-White Cemetery in Doniphan...

Crystal Jones has been named assistant director for Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission, according to a press release. In this role, Jones will function as the region's primary economic development planner. She will join commission Director Felicity Ray, Transportation Planning Coordinator Andrew Murphy and Special Initiatives Coordinator Samantha Rodgers as they work with member communities to develop projects improving the quality of life in the Butler, Carter, Reynolds, Ripley and Wayne Counties, according to the commission.. ...

The Poplar Bluff FBLA chapter recently was recognized at the Missouri State Leadership Conference in Springfield and several individual students medaled, one of whom will go on to compete nationally. Adeesh Mishra, a senior, placed first in client leadership, qualifying for the National Future Business Leaders of America competition this summer in Baltimore. ...

Marjorie M. Owens stepped into eternity on May 5, 2018 at the age of 96. Marjorie was born in Poplar Bluff, Mo., the daughter of Alfred and Helen Hillis. She was one of six children that survived into adulthood and was the last living member of that generation of the Hillis family...

By JOHN R. STANARD Cooperation among city departments and citizen volunteers has saved an ancient Eastern Redcedar tree in the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery. The tree, situated along the north side of Gray Street about 100 feet west of the cemetery office at North Main and Gray, is estimated to be well over 200 years old. About 5 feet above the ground, the tree divides into two trunks and has begun to split apart. The trunk nearest Gray Street eventually would have fallen across the street...

Three area students have been awarded scholarships to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 2018-2019 academic year: Kira Heathington of Poplar Bluff, has received the Outstanding Community College Scholarship. Heathington is the daughter of James and Patricia Heathington of Poplar Bluff. She is a 2014 graduate of Poplar Bluff High School and will be a 2018 graduate of Three Rivers College...

Three senior volunteers honored Thursday have treated giving back to the community like a full-time job for more than 20 years. Betty Montgomery, Mazie Fowler and Barbara Phillips have each donated more than 10,000 hours of their time to the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program...

Lauren Croy and Jonathan Goodwin were united in marriage Saturday, April 14, 2018 at the Forest Event Center, Lake Wappapello, Mo. The bride is the daughter of Gary and Angie Croy of Poplar Bluff. She graduated from St. Louis College of Pharmacy receiving her Doctorate Degree in Pharmacy and is employed at Physicians Park Pharmacy in Poplar Bluff...

WASHINGTON -- The path to today's problems with Iran passed through the University of Chicago squash court where on Dec. 2, 1942, for 4.5 minutes physicist Enrico Fermi, making calculations on a slide rule, achieved the controlled release of energy from an atomic nucleus. Historian Richard Rhodes says that Fermi and his colleagues were risking "a small Chernobyl in the midst of a crowded city."...