Stories from Tuesday, December 18, 2018

County commissioners opened jail expansion financial bids during the Dec. 17meeting from nine different institutions. While the commission did not award a bid Monday, Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis said someone will review the documents for the county and he expects a decision to be made "quickly."...

ST. LOUIS -- At the age of 52, Jose Cervantes-Rocha became a United States citizen. It is something the Wappapello man has worked toward since he was 18. Cervantes took the Oath of Allegiance -- the final step of the naturalization process -- Friday, along with more than 50 other individuals from 24 countries. His wife and young daughter were in attendance at the Thomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse in St. Louis...

GREENVILLE -- When Christina Kime is sworn in Dec. 31 as Wayne County's newly elected associate circuit judge, she will bring four months of judicial experience with her. Kime gained that experience since her August appointment by Gov. Michael Parson to serve out the remainder of Associate Circuit Judge Randy Schuller's unexpired term. Schuller resigned to take a private sector job...

Janiece (Peters) Gill, 73, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., formerly of Puxico, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 14, 2018 at the Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation was held Monday, Dec. 17, 2018 and funeral service was held Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018 at the Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - Max Creighton Shinault, age 79, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018 at Southeast Missouri Hospital, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 20 at Missouri Sate Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with Rev. Terry Scott officiating. Condolences: www.whitesandersfuneralhome.com...

Douglas Edward Robinett, 49, of Bloomfield, Mo., died Dec. 12, 2018 at his residence. Visitation was held Dec. 16, 2018 and the funeral service was held Dec. 17, 2018 at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Rev. Jonathan Rice and Rev. Dales Jones officiated...

MALDEN, Mo. - Ruby Lee Taylor, 83, of Malden, died Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 at Ridgeview Living Community - Malden. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 20 at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. in the Bradshaw Chapel with Rev. Keith Luke officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden. www.bradshawfh.com...

MALDEN, Mo. - Lottie June Joyce, 85, of Portageville, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018 at her residence. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 21 at Bradshaw Funeral Home - Malden. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. in the Bradshaw Chapel with Bro. Larry Gammons officiating. Burial will be in Park Cemetery in Malden. www.bradshawfh.com...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - Edward Hill, 83 of Bell City, Mo. died Friday, Dec. 14, 2018 at his daughter's home in Richland, Mo. Visitation will be after 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 19 at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield until time for services at 1 p.m., with Keith Kinder of Sikeston officiating. Burial will be in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with full military honors...

ROMBAUER, Mo. - Gloria B. Henson, 88, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 at her daughter's residence in Farmington, Mo. Visitation will be at 5 p.m., Tues., Dec. 18 at Rombauer General Baptist Church in Rombauer. The funeral will follow at 6 p.m. in the church with Rev. Jim Schremp officiating. Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Wed., Dec. 19 at Mount Zion Cemetery at Williamsville, Mo. Condolences: www.whitesandersfuneralhome.com...

ELLSINORE, Edward "Leroy" Kindrick, 83, of Ellsinore, died Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 at Westwood Hills in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 20 at McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. The funeral will be at 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 21 in the Funeral Home Chapel. with Rev. Jerry Crowley officiating. Burial will be in the Walton Chapel Cemetery in Butler County, Mo...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - Edward Hill, 83 of Bell City, Mo. died Friday, Dec. 14, 2018 at his daughter's home in Richland, Mo. Visitation will be after 11 a.m.,Wednesday, Dec. 19 at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield until time for services at 1 p.m., with Keith Kinder of Sikeston officiating...

Donald L. Payne died on December 15, 2018. Loving father of Robert Payne, David Payne and the late Twyla Wright; dear grandfather of eight and great-grandfather of six; dear brother of Judy Hillis, Bob Payne and the late Jerry Payne, Randy Desich and Sharon Whitlow...

ELLSINORE, Mo. - Jesse Conn, 68, of Ellsinore, died Saturday, Dec.15, 2018 at his residence in Ellsinore. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 20 at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. in the Funeral Home Chapel...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Ronnie Walker, 59, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018 at St. Francis Medial Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Walker was born on Dec. 17, 1958 in California. He was a 55 year resident of Butler County, Mo. and enjoyed antique cars, his dogs and swimming. Mr. Walker was a member of Greater Vision Worship Center in Puxico, Mo...

The annual Christmas Bird Count in Poplar Bluff is coming up Friday, and organizers are looking for volunteers to help canvass the area. More than 30 years old, the bird count is focused inside a 15-mile diameter circle, centered in Poplar Bluff. The total area, according to count compiler Bruce Beck, is about 177 square miles...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Ruth D. Rice, 89, of Naylor, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018 at Colonial Home in Doniphan, Mo. Mrs. Rice was born on Oct. 26, 1929 in Henderson, Ky. and was a resident of Ripley County since 1981. She was a registered nurse and formerly resided in St. Louis, Mo. On Dec. 29, 1972 Mrs. Rice married James Wibur Rice in Clayton, Mo. He preceded her in death on Jan. 27, 2008...

Register now for the Ag Expo Beauty Pageant, which will be held at the Ag Expo 2019 on Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The divisions include: 9:30 a.m. Baby Girl, birth to 11 months; 10 a.m. Toddler Girl, 1 year to 23 months; 10:30 a.m, Petite Miss, 2 to 4 years; 11 a.m., Little Miss, 5 to 7 years; 11:30 a.m., Junior Miss, 8 to 12 years; noon, Miss Ag Expo, 13 to 18 years...

Betty Jo Ferguson, 89, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Sunday, December 16, 2018 at her residence. Mrs. Ferguson, the daughter of the late Finis and Marie (Freeman) Rollman, was born Dec. 26, 1928, in Kennett, Mo. She was an owner and operator of Service Printing Company. ...

Linda Kaye Cross, 74, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Sunday, December 16, 2018 at Cedargate Healthcare. Kaye, the daughter of the late Lon and Velma (Derryberry) Bowen was born August 11, 1944 in Marysville, Ca. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Kaye was a R.N. and a previous Director of Home Health for Corning, Ark. and Salt Lake City, Utah. She enjoyed spending time with her family, genealogy and cooking...

The current administration in the White House has a phrase everyone is used to hearing these days: "Fake news." There is some fake news circulating Poplar Bluff and the Daily American Republic's coverage area since Friday evening. The rumor mill has been working overtime the past few days...

Betty Ann Tanner, 87, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., completed her earthly pilgrimage and was received by God as she entered Heaven on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018 at Mark Twain Caring Center. Betty, the daughter of the late Terry and Mary Saracini Milster, was born April 5, 1931 in St. ...

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Dr. Shelton'Butch'Eugene Smith, 73, of St. Louis, Missouri passed away December 13, 2018. He was surrounded by family and friends. Dr. Smith dedicated his career to education. He was a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University earning multiple degrees. ...

We have many beautiful songs written about the birth of our Lord and Savior that inspired us to have faith in him and to love and serve him. Many of our deepest feelings can be expressed best in poetry and song. Such was the case in announcing the birth of Jesus who was to become our Savior...

Be considerate Back in September, I went to the Black River Coliseum and purchased two front row floor and four bottom row bleacher tickets for the Gary Allan concert in November. Everyone working at the Coliseum was super nice, helpful and considerate. ...

Butler County Publishing is changing the way Puxico-area residents will receive their news. In an effort to strengthen overall coverage of Stoddard County, starting with the Jan. 2 issue, Puxico Press subscribers will begin receiving The Dexter Statesman...

Staff Reports GREENVILLE -- Wayne County residents celebrated a bicentennial birthday Tuesday, Dec. 12. The county, which has been celebrating its Bicentennial all year, was organized on Dec. 11, 1818. Members of the community, the Wayne County Bicentennial Committee and the Historic Greenville Community Center, Library and Museum co-hosted the historic birthday celebration at the county courthouse...

A spending plan of more than $60 million passed Monday by the Poplar Bluff City Council will see the utility operate in the black in 2019, with a slight deficit for the general fund. Municipal Utilities projects gains of more than $1.3 million under a $46.6 million budget...

BERNIE -- Bernie senior Cymber Arnold's choice to play volleyball at John A. Logan College was about more than the sport. Arnold plans to major in environmental engineering, and she was concerned the class load would be too much for her to continue playing volleyball...

BERNIE -- Bernie senior Cymber Arnold's choice to play volleyball at John A. Logan College was about more than the sport. Arnold plans to major in environmental engineering, and she was concerned the class load would be too much for her to continue playing volleyball...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- It's only fitting that a season full of twists and turns for Missouri's tight ends ended with an unexpected coaching change. When position coach Joe Jon Finley left Barry Odom's staff for the same job at Texas A&M earlier this month, it was just another adjustment for a group that endured one change after another during the season...

BROSELEY -- Neelyville is one win away from its sixth straight appearance in the championship game of the Lady Royals Classic. The second-seeded Lady Tigers dominated seventh-seeded Kelly 72-41, led by 35 points from Murray State commit Jentri Worley...

Jan. 18 - 19 will mark another installment of the Heartland Agriculture and Natural Resources Expo (Ag Expo), which will be held at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Ag Expo has continued to grow and add new events each year to bring something fresh to the public. This event is in support of and sponsored by the Butler County University of Missouri Extension Council and the Ag Club of Three Rivers College...

It has become an article of faith in some quarters on the right -- well, most -- that Robert Mueller's investigation has found no evidence of collusion with Russia and has accordingly shifted gears to process crimes like lying to the FBI or obstruction of justice. Having decided that this must be true, many have called for Mueller to wrap it up...

Last week, I did something that USA Today's executive leadership apparently hadn't done lately: I read the newspaper's "principles of ethical conduct for newsrooms." It's pretty highfalutin. The media manifesto of virtue, posted online, applies to all employees "working with any news platform, including newspapers, websites, mobile devices, video, social media channels and live story events." Whether writing online or covering breaking developments, USA Today's journalists are supposedly committed to:. ...