Stories from Friday, December 28, 2018

VAN BUREN -- Carter County will receive $8.6 million through a federal pilot program for what has been a controversial decision to replace the courthouse damaged by a historic flood in April 2017. Funds will also pay for a new sheriff's department and jail, which were also lost to high waters...

BLOOMFIELD -- No. 5 East Prairie found itself in a big hole in the first half against No. 4 Doniphan. After trailing by as many as 17 points in the first half, the Eagles dug deep and dug themselves out of that hole. With an adjusted game plan and an offense that caught fire at the perfect time, East Prairie put itself in position for Derez Tipler's go-ahead 3-pointer with under two minutes left in the game. ...

JEFFERSON CITY -- It's a frustrating refrain for Poplar Bluff coach John David Pattillo. The Lady Mules suffered a second half lull, followed by a close loss to a good team. This time, the Mules went from scoring 19 points in the first quarter to scoring four in the fourth and lost to Columbia Hickman 41-40 at Jefferson City...

Much is made about observed differences between sexes and among races. The nation's academic and legal elite try to sell us on the notion that men and women and people of all races should be proportionally represented in socio-economic characteristics. ...

BLOOMFIELD -- Twin Rivers junior Brent Trout hadn't scored a point all night, but he got open under the basket in the closing seconds to send the sixth-seeded Royals into the championship semifinals of the 62nd Annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament...

By LAURA HOLLIS Nine days ago (at this writing), Iraq War veteran and triple amputee Brian Kolfage launched a GoFundMe page to help build the wall on the United States southern border with Mexico. In a week and a half, Kolfage has raised over $17 million (toward his stated goal of $1 billion) with gifts from over 285,000 people...

"Just say no." As a kid in the '90s you heard that phrase over and over again. It was when every year a DARE representative would come in and tell you the dangers and shortfalls of drugs and alcohol. We were taught to "just say no" in order to live lives that were productive and fulfilling...

As a kid in Las Vegas chasing playing time wherever he could find it, Drew Robinson had to learn to play almost every position because of the one position he was least likely to play. Athletic but "undersized" compared to his peers in youth baseball, he said, Robinson usually would cover the position left open by the teammate pitching...

George G. Guffey, 74, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018 at his residence. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service.

Ivan Leon Allen (Mickey), 84, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018 peacefully at home. Ivan was born on April 28, 1934 to Chester and Blanche (MaGhee) Allen. Ivan worked as an Insurance Agent for Shelter Insurance for over 20 years. On Oct. 17, 1955 he married Margaret LeFevre in Wichita, Kan. Ivan and Margaret resided in Poplar Bluff...

Poplar Bluff has been in this situation a few times this year. They were in this situation in the Poplar Bluff Showdown championship game last year. And just before, a gritty group rallied for a close win. The Mules trailed by four points with 1:25 left in the game and Memphis Central trying to kill the clock. Poplar Bluff only put Memphis on the line once late while forcing several turnovers to win 63-58 in the opening round of the 32nd Poplar Bluff Showdown...

Former Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel likes to say the 2015 season didn't come with a survival manual. Coming off back-to-back appearances in the Southeastern Conference championship game, the Tigers won their first three games -- and then disaster unfolded...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Bernie won each of the first two quarters by five points to build a 25-15 lead by halftime and hung on to beat Kennett 52-47 in a championship quarterfinal of the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament. "This one was a real grind for us," Bernie coach Brad Botsch said. "Some of the shots we normally make didn't fall and we really had to grind it out. Kennett made a run at the end but we were able to do enough to pull out a victory."...

By MARC A. THIESSEN When news broke last week that a federal judge had ruled a New York law banning possession of nunchucks unconstitutional, I felt vindicated. You see, as a teenager growing up in New York City in the 1980s, I was arrested and thrown in jail for illegal possession of nunchucks. Really...

BLOOMFIELD -- Twin Rivers junior Brent Trout hadn't scored a point all night, but he got open under the basket in the closing seconds to send the sixth-seeded Royals into the championship semifinals of the 62nd Annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament...

BLOOMFIELD -- Twin Rivers junior Brent Trout hadn't scored a point all night, but he got open under the basket in the closing seconds to send the sixth-seeded Royals into the championship semifinals of the 62nd Annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament...

BLOOMFIELD -- Twin Rivers junior Brent Trout hadn't scored a point all night, but he got open under the basket in the closing seconds to send the sixth-seeded Royals into the championship semifinals of the 62nd Annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament...

BLOOMFIELD -- Twin Rivers junior Brent Trout hadn't scored a point all night, but he got open under the basket in the closing seconds to send the sixth-seeded Royals into the championship semifinals of the 62nd Annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament...

BLOOMFIELD -- Twin Rivers junior Brent Trout hadn't scored a point all night, but he got open under the basket in the closing seconds to send the sixth-seeded Royals into the championship semifinals of the 62nd Annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament...

BLOOMFIELD -- Twin Rivers junior Brent Trout hadn't scored a point all night, but he got open under the basket in the closing seconds to send the sixth-seeded Royals into the championship semifinals of the 62nd Annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament...

BLOOMFIELD -- Twin Rivers junior Brent Trout hadn't scored a point all night, but he got open under the basket in the closing seconds to send the sixth-seeded Royals into the championship semifinals of the 62nd Annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament...

BLOOMFIELD -- Twin Rivers junior Brent Trout hadn't scored a point all night, but he got open under the basket in the closing seconds to send the sixth-seeded Royals into the championship semifinals of the 62nd Annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament...

BLOOMFIELD -- Twin Rivers junior Brent Trout hadn't scored a point all night, but he got open under the basket in the closing seconds to send the sixth-seeded Royals into the championship semifinals of the 62nd Annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament...

BLOOMFIELD -- Twin Rivers junior Brent Trout hadn't scored a point all night, but he got open under the basket in the closing seconds to send the sixth-seeded Royals into the championship semifinals of the 62nd Annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament...