Stories from Sunday, August 26, 2018

Lee Ann Stith, 58, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018 at Clark's Mountain Care Facility in Piedmont, Mo. She was born on Dec. 23, 1959 to Dr. Ray and Ellen (Martin) Stith in Paragould, Ark. She graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 1978 and obtained a Bachelor's of Nursing from the University of Missouri in 1982...

Lillie J. Montgomery, 92, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 at Westwood Hills Nursing Home. She was born Sept. 30, 1925, to the late Henry C. Boling and Elsie G. Avey Boling. Lillie was a longtime resident of Poplar Bluff. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Harice Sawyer, 89, of Doniphan died Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation was held Saturday at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Sunday in the funeral home chapel with Brother Hubert Payne officiating. Burial will follow in the New Hope Cemetery...

Donald Brady Casselberry, 59, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born on Aug. 8, 1959 to Donald and Gloria (Brady) Casselberry in Gideon, Mo. Brady worked as a carpenter and could repair or build anything. His love of animals was beyond measure. His cat, Whiskers, was one of his top priorities...

WASHINGTON -- Pope Francis's letter to the Catholic faithful this week was remarkable in that the Holy Father apologized not only for the sexual abuses carried out by Roman Catholic priests but also for the coverup of that abuse carried out by Roman Catholic bishops. ...

Terry Dale Henson, 70, of Doniphan, Missouri, died Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, at his residence in rural Ripley County. Mr. Henson, son of Harley Lee and Mable M. (Atkinson) Henson, was born Feb. 14, 1948, in Cairo, Illinois. He was retired from BP Oil as a line spotter and enjoyed bingo and fishing as a hobby. ...

Poplar Bluff teachers displayed "ingenuity" in their recent grant proposals to the Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation, according to officials, bringing home four of seven $500 grants dispersed throughout an 11-county region. Winners and projects included: special education teacher Shalyn Copas of the middle school, with a project entitled 'Eat to succeed! Using life skills and cooking lessons to explore the world; communication arts teacher Hilary Taylor of Junior High with the project 'Reaching gifted minds through robotics; science teacher Karen Harris of PBHS with 'Cell structures and processes; and communication arts teacher Jennie Randolph of the high school - 'Understanding Shakespeare.'. ...

The University of Missouri Extension in Butler County is offering a Boost Your Brain & Memory: Brain Fitness Class. Just as general physical health can be controlled and improved with good habits, so too can the health of the brain -- boosting memory and mental agility, as well as reducing risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease or other dementias...

More than 330 water and wastewater professionals participated last week in a two-day conference at the Black River Coliseum. The 11th annual Bootheel Expo was hosted by the Missouri Rural Water Association. Attendees included industry product and service providers, decision-makers, office professionals, and water and wastewater specialists...

The Cape Girardeau Regional Airport will offer more round-trip flights to Chicago on United Express, starting early next year, airport officials said Thursday. The new flight schedule will take effect Jan. 7, said Joe Hobbs, chairman of the airport advisory board...

STE. GENEVIEVE -- Take away a couple of big plays, and the Dexter Bearcats' defense was solid in Friday night's season opener against Ste. Genevieve. Running back Darien Brown broke loose for a pair of long touchdown runs, and the Dragons beat Dexter 21-0 at Ste. Genevieve High School...

Williamsville will celebrate its 34th annual Labor Day Picnic Friday and Saturday. Nothing represents rural community fun quite as well as the annual picnic, with its family-friendly activities and games, entertainment and food, according to organizers. Proceeds from the picnic, sponsored each year by the Williamsville Lions Club, go to local volunteer fire departments and other worthy causes...

A former Poplar Bluff resident wanted in the alleged rape of two children is in custody following an arrest Friday. Carlos Montez Pawnell, 22, of St. Louis is suspected in the rape of a 4-year-old relative and a 10-year-old relative under an outstanding warrant from Knoxville, Tennessee, according to authorities. The warrant was issued in June...

Story and photos By Caleb H. Swallows MALDEN -- Rice farmers from around the Southeast Missouri area met last week at the Missouri Rice Research Field in Malden to learn from experts and each other. Southeast Missouri State University and the Fisher Delta Research Center were among the organizations providing information, including observations and tests from prior growth season...

FENTON, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff lost to Lindbergh 9-3 to open its season Saturday, then rebounded to beat Francis Howell 7-5 and Festus 14-1 to go 2-1 at the Rockwood Summit Tournament on Saturday in Fenton, Mo. The Mules were limited to two hits in their opener, one each by Lauren Alexander and Savannah Hicks. ...

HOLCOMB -- A seven-run third inning and 13 hits powered Greenville past Holcomb Friday afternoon for a 14-0 win. Tye Huff did it all for the Bears, tossing a no hitter on the mound and driving in three runs at the plate to match Jason Bratton for the team lead. Huff struck out nine batters, walking just two in his five innings on the mound. Greenville left six stranded on base while Holcomb stranded one runner...

David Sievers had to wait 30 years to get his first win as the head coach of Poplar Bluff football. Sumner with Transportation with Law made him wait an extra 90 minutes. Sumner was late getting into town from St. Louis, and the 7 p.m. game didn't kick off until after 8:30 p.m. Meanwhile, the Mules were in the locker room getting worked up...

MALDEN -- The Malden football team showed glimpses of its potential Friday night. But too often, it let its youth show through. Six first-half penalties, a pair of turnovers and an inability to stop a balanced New Madrid County Central offense led to a 50-40 loss for Malden in its season opener at The Swamp...

For a moment, Cabool coach Vince McCrosky sounded apologetic after his Bulldogs played the role of spoilers on a historic night in Doniphan. "I know how tough it is for them right now," McCrosky said. "I have been on that other side forever. It's a good win for us and I'm happy for my kids."...

Hwy. 160 lanes I just read today's Speakout paper, Aug. 14, 2018, and I definitely agree to the person who wrote the Speakout about the Hwy. 160 west. Through Fairdealing and Doniphan and that way. That four lane they added lanes is it they've put on there that is a total mess on the lanes. ...

Stoplight wanted Yes, I'd just like to say if our officials in Poplar Bluff want to do something big and spend tax dollars of our money, they need to put a stoplight over there across from Planet X where Hastings is (was). For cars that like to cross in the turn lane, into other people's lane and almost side swipe them. They can put a stoplight over there and eliminate all that. Thank you...