Stories from Thursday, October 18, 2018

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Debra Sue (Silvy) Rayfield, 55, of Annapolis, Mo., died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, at her residence. Visitation will be from 5 -7 p.m., Oct. 20, 2018 at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont, Mo. Funeral service will follow at 7 p.m. at the Piedmont chapel...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Charlotte K. Goodon. 59, of Morehouse, Mo., formerly of Malden, Mo., died at her home in Morehouse Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. Visitation will be after 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Mo. until time of services at noon with Mike Coleman of St. Louis and Frank Worthington of Sikeston officiating. Burial will follow in the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter, with Watkins & Sons Funeral Services in charge of arrangements...

Claude Leonard Montgomery, 94, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018 at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Montgomery, the son of the late Ira Franklin and Louise Simmons Montgomery, was born June 10, 1924 in Poplar Bluff. ...

Mary E. Pennington, 81, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018 at Black River Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service.

The Current River Smallmouth Association closed out its 2018 tournament season Saturday with its Classic event at Van Buren, with "King of the River" winner Derek Hampton and Kram taking the win. The pair had 9.28 pounds, boosted by the day's big bass, weighing in at 2.65 pounds...

With cooler temperatures, we all have an abundant amount of outdoor activities to choose from. It is prime time for several activities this time of year that may be quite productive, including fall firearms turkey season, archery deer and turkey season, squirrel season and rabbit season...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Vicky Lynn Helgemo, 54, of Dexter, Mo., daughter of the late James Earl Rodgers and Shirley Annette (Burnett) Rodgers was born on Aug. 21, 1954, and departed this life at her home in Dexter, Mo. Oct. 16, 2018. Vicky was united in marriage to Larry Duane Helgemo March 13, 1974 at Tiptonville, Tenn. To this union was born one daughter, Amanda Lynn Helgemo of Dexter...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS Democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, seeking to represent New York's 14th Congressional District, has called for the abolition of the Electoral College. Her argument came on the heels of the Senate's confirming Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. ...

Anna Pratt, 82, of Poplar Bluff, died on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018 at her residence. Visitation will be Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Moore Funeral Service Chapel...

By MICHELLE MALKIN The metaphors don't get any better (or worse) than this: A van carrying Hillary Clinton, fresh from throwing her #MeToo sisters under the bus this weekend, crashed into a parking garage pillar on the way to a New Jersey campaign fundraiser Tuesday for beleaguered Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez...

CAMPBELL, Mo. ~ William Thomas Downs, 62 of Campbell, died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Visitation will be from noon - 2 p.m., Saturday Oct. 20, 2018 at the Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018 at Landess Funeral Home with Rev. Dennis McGinley officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery...

PUXICO, Mo.-- John "Frank" Cooper, 80, of Festus, Mo., died Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018 in Festus. A grave side service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the Puxico City Cemetery prior to burial. Rev. Ray Placher will officiate. Morgan Sifford Funeral Home of Puxico is in charge of arrangements...

PIEDMONT, Mo.--Debra Sue (Silvy) Rayfield, 55, of Annapolis, Mo., died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, at her residence. Visitation will be from 5 -7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018 at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont, Mo. Funeral service will follow at 7 p.m. also at the Piedmont chapel...

PUXICO, Mo. -- George D. Walton, 75, of Wappapello, Mo. died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will begin at noon Saturday, Oct. 20, at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico followed at 2 p.m. with the funeral officiated by Rev. George Howell...

Kannan Carr's first start for Poplar Bluff was challenging. Not only did the freshman quarterback have a difficult opponent in Chaminade, but it rained heavily the entire game. "The weather bothered him a little bit," Poplar Bluff coach David Sievers said. "I think it was a deal where a more experienced kid might not have been as concerned with it, but he came off the field after that first drive and said, 'My hands are wet. My hands are wet.' I said, 'That's why they make towels.'"...

Jesse Ray "Butch" Dean, 73, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Dean was born March 31, 1945 in St. Louis, Mo. He had been a resident of Butler County since 1987, having previously lived in Naylor, Piedmont and St. ...

CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Betty Douglas, 89, of Eaton Rapids, Mich., died Tuesday, Oct. 9, at her residence in Eaton Rapids. The grave side service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct 20, at Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton, Mo.s

Anna Pratt, 82, of Poplar Bluff, died on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018 at her residence. Visitation will be Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Moore Funeral Service Chapel...

PUXICO, Mo.-- John "Frank" Cooper, 80, of Festus, Mo., died Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018 in Festus. A grave side service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the Puxico City Cemetery prior to burial. Rev. Ray Placher will officiate. Morgan Sifford Funeral Home of Puxico is in charge of arrangements...

PUXICO, Mo. -- George D. Walton, 75, of Wappapello, Mo. died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will begin at noon Saturday, Oct. 20, at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico followed at 2 p.m. with the funeral officiated by Rev. George Howell...

CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Betty Douglas, 89, of Eaton Rapids, Mich., died Tuesday, Oct. 9, at her residence in Eaton Rapids. The grave side service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct 20, at Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton, Mo.s

Mary E. Pennington, 81, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018 at Black River Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service.

DEXTER, Mo. -- Vicky Lynn Helgemo, 54, of Dexter, Mo., daughter of the late James Earl Rodgers and Shirley Annette (Burnett) Rodgers was born on Aug. 21, 1954, and departed this life at her home in Dexter, Mo. Oct. 16, 2018. Vicky was united in marriage to Larry Duane Helgemo March 13, 1974 at Tiptonville, Tenn. To this union was born one daughter, Amanda Lynn Helgemo of Dexter...

BENTON, Mo. -- With two outs recorded in the top of the ninth inning, it looked as if Kelly was going to have a chance to score the game-winning run, at home, in the bottom half of the inning to advance to the state quarterfinals. East Carter (24-5), though, did not give up one ounce, as it would score two runs and eventually put the finishing touches on the Lady Hawks -- defeating them 5-4 -- to advance in the MSHSAA Class 2 quarterfinals for the first time since 2011. ...

The Poplar Bluff Excel Center will be opening its doors Friday during a grand opening celebration, hosted by MERS Goodwill, for prospective and enrolled students as well as the community to let everyone see all the plans for the new adult education center...

Three Rivers College's program that teaches about mechatronics and robotics is proposing some curriculum changes that could lead to students earning their degree in less time with the same amount of work. Program Manager for the Process and Controls Program Jim Dow came before the TRC Board of Trustees on Wednesday afternoon to report some of the changes within the department since the retirement of the previous manager over two years ago...

By DENISE KINDER and MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Staff Writers Safety precautions were taken Wednesday at Eugene Field Elementary around 11 a.m. after three students reported suspicious activity outside the fenced playground. Poplar Bluff R-I Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill said after the students reported what they saw, teachers cleared the playground and contacted the Poplar Bluff Police Department...

An insurance payment of $430,400 has been received by Butler County officials for vehicles damaged in the first of two fires to strike the highway shed since early September. The county lost six vehicles in an evening fire Sept. 5 and a seventh vehicle in a fire Oct. 4. Fire officials say the fires are not considered suspicious. Final reports on the fires are still pending...

The fourth annual Neelyville Tiger Fest will kick off at 10 a.m. Saturday with a day full of fun and food at the school's campus. "Tiger Fest is a chance for the school and community to intermingle as well as giving an opportunity for fun and fundraising," Neelyville High School cheerleading coach Brandi Lumby said. "The event is open to all. We invite the community and surrounding communities to attend."...

The Poplar Bluff R-I School District received word late Tuesday a high school student had been diagnosed with Hepatitis A. Hepatitis A is a highly contagious viral infection that is typically spread person-to-person within common surface areas, object, food or drinks are contaminated with feces from a person experiencing symptoms...

Richard (Dick) Miller, 78, of Poplar Bluff, passed Sept. 30, 2018 at Baptist Desoto Hospital in Mississippi. He was born Nov. 28, 1947 to Carl and Grace (Scott) Miller of Butler County, Mo. Dick enjoyed golfing and was a lifelong member of the Poplar Bluff Eagles...

Funeral services for Vida Loberg Stanard, who died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, are scheduled for Saturday in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m., followed immediately by the funeral. The Rev. Byron Beck, pastor of Fellowship General Baptist Church, will officiate in the absence of the Rev. David Stewart, lead pastor at First Methodist. Burial will follow in the family plot in Memorial Gardens Cemetery...