Stories from Friday, July 13, 2018

A local high school student recently spent three days immersed in the world of science and technology at a summer camp for future professionals held at an East Coast university. Heaven Burpo, 16, traveled to Boston during the last week of June to attend the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists' Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders...

L ove has come a long way. Almost without fail, the first definition given of the term "love" is that of an emotion or feeling. Without a doubt, love certainly has the aspect of emotion and feelings associated with it. However, the scriptures teach us that love is so much more than just feelings. Our feelings can change from one moment to the next, depending on what is going on around us...

WASHINGTON (TNS) -- Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump's nominee for the United States Supreme Court, is a bad choice for most Americans. His political, legal and judicial career is littered with activist ideological opinions out of step with the American majority and established law. His views on executive power related to legal issues alone are enough to reject his nomination...

Once again the race for the Semoball Cup was as close as it could get -- closer than last year when Notre Dame claimed its third Cup title. The Bulldogs are once again among the top 10 finishers and one of seven area programs to claim a state championship this past school year...

WASHINGTON -- As President Trump put Germany and other allies on notice for the harm they are doing to NATO with their failure to spend adequately on our common defense, Democrats in Washington came to Germany's defense. "President Trump's brazen insults and denigration of one of America's most steadfast allies, Germany, is an embarrassment," Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a joint statement...

WASHINGTON (TNS) -- What can we expect of Brett Kavanaugh if he's confirmed as Justice Anthony Kennedy's successor on the Supreme Court? Kavanaugh's record and background show he will be a fair, impartial and principled justice -- and that's precisely what our nation needs...

Tracy L. Smith, 49, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Thursday, July 5, 2018 at her residence. Visitation will be 11 a.m. Saturday July 14, 2018 at Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home Chapel. The funeral will follow at noon at Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Ronnie Webb will officiate. Burial will be at Memorial Gardens Cemetery...

What once appeared to be a blowout ended with the tying run at the plate. ProTech Pest Control led 10-1 going into the bottom of the fifth inning, but struggled with throwing strikes late in the summer heat and had to hang on for a 10-7 win against Fox Auto Body in the Parks Dept. Senior League Tournament championship...

Down 7-3 after three innings, the girls on Century 21-Rick Lansford weren't optimistic about their chances. Poplar Bluff Realty hadn't lost all season. It looked like another sure victory. "We told the girls to stay calm, stay focused, and they came through, and they won the game, and it was awesome," Century 21 coach Kathy Lightner said...

Godfather's Pizza left McLane Park Thursday night with the Parks Dept. Babe Ruth League Tournament championship trophy following a dismantling of Xtreme Family Fun. After four innings of play, Godfather's staunch defense and fierce offense forced a run rule to win the title 11-1...

Members of Poplar Bluff's residential housing advisory board asked Thursday, at their second meeting, why the city has more than 3,900 outstanding warrants on its books. Some board members requested the city judge and city attorney attend an Aug. 9 meeting at the city council chambers to provide a better understanding of how the Municipal Court system operates...

The Butler County Genealogy Society met June 28 at the First United Methodist Church with 16 members attending.Most genealogists have encountered the brick wall that is the infamous 1890 Census. Nearly all of the 1890 Census records were completely destroyed in a tragic fire. ...

Gamblin Lumber Company overcame an early 7-0 deficit to force a run-rule and defeat Endeavor Home Care for the Parks Dept. Junior League Tournament championship 21-11. Endeavor's 7-0 lead in the top of the first inning came off of doubles from Pamela Richards and Mia Hicks and a triple from Tylar Brookreson...

Altrusa International of Poplar Bluff, Inc. held its first board and club meeting of the 2018-19 year, June 2 in the Altrusa Room at the Twin Towers. The meeting was called to order by the newly elected president, Ashley Robertson, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance...

A majority of dispatchers with the Poplar Bluff Police Department cast ballots Thursday to become members of a union. Negotiations on the first contract will begin after a 10-day waiting period and final certification of the votes, said union representative Mark Baker with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 702. The election results can be challenged by either side during the waiting period, he said...

The Neelyville R-IV School District saw an increase in its annual school bus inspection score by nearly 10 percentage points. The Missouri State Highway Patrol released inspection results last month, scoring Neelyville at 73.3 percent. "I'm happy we improved from last year, but obviously our goal is to have 100 percent," Neelyville Superintendent Brad Hagood said...

BLOOMFIELD -- Charges were filed Thursday against three Dexter men for preventing the apprehension of another man who authorities had been searching for in connection with a June stabbing death. Joshua James Koonce, according to earlier reports, had been developed through investigative leads as a person of interest in the death of Jimmy Lynn Casey...