Stories from Sunday, December 30, 2018

Students in the W.E. Sears Youth Center's "Genesis Group" joined with center staff to offer a special gift to homeless and at-risk veterans in the southern Missouri and northeast Arkansas region this season. "It started when the Sikeston Police Department donated a number of used bikes to the John J. ...

The Poplar Bluff School Foundation recently funded two 'innovative educational projects' valued at more than $3,500 so students can collect data for NASA and participate in group activities using digital microscopes. The foundation board unanimously approved the projects during a meeting held last month as part of the nonprofit's mini-grant program, according to a press release. This program funds proposals based on merit above and beyond regular classroom budgets...

BLOOMFIELD -- Twin Rivers doesn't care about being named the sixth seed in the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament. The Royals want to win it, and with their performance against No. 2 Bernie, they've given themselves that chance. Senior Hayden Thomas and Zach Hargraves stepped up in the fourth quarter after Bernie had cut Twin Rivers' lead to four points. ...

GREENVILLE -- Glenda Faye Warmack, 70, of Williamsville, passed away Friday, Dec. 28, 2018, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau, surrounded by her loving family. She was born Oct. 2, 1948, in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of Edwin Breckle and Oneda (Williams) Breckle-Lary...

Some hope remains that a hospital with emergency room services could operate again in Doniphan. Ripley County Memorial Hospital board has agreed to authorize board president Freddie Leroux to sign an agreement terminating the lease with Southeast Health of Cape Girardeau...

BLOOMFIELD -- What a difference 25 days make. Almost three weeks since the Dexter Bearcats beat Kennett 59-45 in the first round of the SEMO Conference tournament, the Indians bounced back Friday night with a 49-30 victory in a fifth-place semifinal of the 62nd Annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament...

From staff reports New candidates have signed up for elections in Dexter and Qulin. Filing opened Dec. 11 for municipal and school elected positions. It remains open until Jan. 15. The election will be held April 2. The city of Dexter has had four people file for aldermen positions, including one incumbent, the city clerk reported Friday...

August 21, 1924-November 7, 2018 Tony died suddenly on November 7, 2018 from pneumonia while in the UCSF Hospital. During the past two years he had received excellent nursing care from the nursing staff of the Sequoias where he had lived since 2012. Now at peace, he is loved and will always be missed...

For a look back at more of the moments, big and small, our region celebrated or overcame in 2018 view our Facebook videos posting Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

Fayetteville comfortably won the third-place game of the 32nd Annual Poplar Bluff Showdown after high-scoring second and third quarters. The Bulldogs put up 22 points in the second quarter and another 20 in the third to go into the fourth with a 55-37 lead...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. --With time winding down, East Prairie senior Derez Tipler had the ball in his hands, looking to make more magic happen, just as he did against Doniphan in the quarterfinals. Tipler --who made a clutch three to put the Eagles within one point with 12 seconds to go -- was trapped by a pair of Hayti defenders, causing him to lose the ball, as the Indians went on to defeat the upset-minded Eagles 69-67...

Lester Allan Daniels, 67, of Doniphan died Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. A graveside service with full military honors will be at noon Monday at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield. Cotrell Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Beaten up and feeling ill, Poplar Bluff lost all three games at the State Farm Holiday Hoops Invitational in Jefferson City. After giving up a late layup and losing 41-40 to Hickman on Thursday, the Lady Mules lost to Blue Springs South 44-28 on Friday and to Eureka 69-54 on Saturday...

For three years now, I have participated in a special program at the Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center. Once a month, members of the community, like me, go back to school to be a "lunch buddy" with our own table of kindergartners. The lunch buddies may change from month to month as our schedules vary, but the idea behind the Bright Futures program does not...

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Jimmy Hager, 74, son of the late Walter and Vivian (Rice) Hager was born on Jan. 22, 1944 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri and departed this life Dec. 24, 2018 at the Riverways Manor Nursing Home. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Thelma (Brannum) Hager, one son Dr. Tim Hager and wife Lana of Van Buren, Missouri, one daughter Sara Henson and husband Chad of Piedmont. In addition, he had seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren...

Learn to yield Does the word "yield" or "yield sign" mean something different in Butler County, Mo. than it does in the rest of the civilized world? "Yield" means you yield to oncoming traffic. You yield to vehicles already in the intersection. It does not mean they yield to you. ...

PIGGOTT, Ark. -- Curtis Edward Conaway, 94, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, at the Cedargate Nursing Home in Poplar Bluff. He was born Aug. 5, 1924, in Clifton, Tennessee, and was the son of the late John W. and Flora Mae (Wells) Conaway...

George Guinn Guffey, 74, of Poplar Bluff passed into eternity Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, at his residence. George, the son of the late George Francis and Josephine Guinn Guffey, was born May 2, 1944, in Greenwood, Indiana. He was a member of Twin Springs Baptist Church, and had retired from WW Wood Products, Inc. ...

Ask three lawyers about anything and you'll likely get three very different answers. But when asked about retiring Butler County associate circuit judge John Bloodworth, three local attorneys had nearly identical answers. "He treated everyone with respect and kindness," said Danny Moore, a defense attorney...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Marble Hill native and graphite artist Jeanie Eddleman says she's excited to begin her next journey as owner of Jeanie Eddleman Art Studio, within the future location of Painted Wren Art Gallery at 620 Whitelaw Ave. in Cape Girardeau...

Two longtime area presiding commissioners will leave office Tuesday, as new and returning county officials start four-year terms. Ripley County Presiding Commissioner William D. Kennon chose not to seek a new term after 28 years in office. Jesse Roy, a Republican, was selected by voters in November, who kept long-term incumbents in other contested races there. ...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Three Rivers shifted gears in less than 24 hours. The Lady Raiders went from scoring 85 points and dominating the glass against Lewis and Clark Friday to grinding out its first single-digit win of the season. Three Rivers got in a dogfight with Southwest Tennessee and came out on top with a 64-55 win in its lowest scoring game of the season...

The Mules defended their Poplar Bluff Showdown title just as they earned it last year -- with a comeback win over Jonesboro on Saturday night. Down eight, Poplar Bluff scored nine points over the final 108 seconds to win 69-68 at a pack Senior High Gym...

POPLAR BLUFF -- Poplar Bluff's Achilles Heel stayed strong Friday. Prior to the season, Mules coach William Durden said free throws were something they needed to improve upon, that it cost them several games last season. The stat line has been up and down this year and with a four-point lead with a minute remaining, Poplar Bluff needed to make its free throws down the stretch to beat Fayetteville...

Poplar Bluff eyes new city complex Editor's Note: This is the final of a 10-part series looking back on area events reported in the newspaper that highlighted 2018. DECEMBER 2 An Iron County jury convicts a Piedmont man on a lesser charge in connection with the 2013 shooting death of his step-son-in-law, finding him guilty of voluntary manslaughter...

When Kacey Proctor steps into the courtroom Wednesday for his first felony docket as the new Butler County prosecutor, it will be more about getting back to work than learning a new job. "One of my goals was that we didn't have to continue any cases just because I was brand new to the office. ...