Stories from Friday, March 8, 2019

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Laura J. Poole, 81, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died March 7, 2019 at Westwood Hills Health Care Center. A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, March 8 in Caruthersville, Mo. Burial will be in Little Prairie Cemetery. Online condolences: www.fitchhillisfh.com

Area school districts are combatting the latest viral online scare by educating students and parents of the “Momo Challenge” and it’s unfounded existence. The Neelyville R-IV, Twin Rivers R-X and Poplar Bluff R-1 School Districts all sent information to parents explaining the hoax as well as general online safety...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Jesse Hollins, Jr. 56, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Thursday, March 7, 2019 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be Monday, March 11 at Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home Chapel in Poplar Bluff at 11 a.m. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. Burial will be at City Cemetery.

Registered Nursing graduates at the SoutheastHEALTH College of Nursing and Health Sciences have exceeded national averages for an exam required to enter the profession. The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, or NCLEX-RN, is the examination that all nursing school graduates must pass in order to work as registered nurses. ...

Randy Hederer is looking forward to another season of deer hunting. But, just a few months earlier, he wasn’t sure he’d be around to experience it. In August, the Poplar Bluff man experienced sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). SCA claims the lives of 350,000 Americans each year, but Hederer survived because he was prescribed a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD)...

Debra Walker writes from the heart to deal with her Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Poplar Bluff woman didn’t plan to compose a book of poetry. She never dreamed her work would be published, but the book, “If Not Me, Then Who,” is scheduled for release in April...

Authorities say a Poplar Bluff man died of apparent smoke inhalation and his son was treated for the same after their home caught fire early Friday morning. Larry Short, 80, was pronounced dead at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, according to Butler County Coroner Andy Moore, who was notified at about 3 a.m...

GREENVILLE, Mo. ­— Larry D. Short 80, of Wappapello, Mo., died Friday, March 8, 2019 at his residence. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home, Greenville chapel. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com

Cora Fay Deno and Jackson James Theodore Becker have been named as February students of the month for Greenville High School in Greenville, Mo. Cora Fay Deno is a senior and the daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth Deno of Wappapello, Mo. She is active in cheerleading and FCCLA, serving as FCCLA activity director. Cora enjoys photography and doing puzzles...

PUXICO, Mo. — Leroy Hale, 86, Wappapello, Mo., died Thursday, March 7, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. Visitation will be at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 10 at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico. The funeral will be at 11 a.m., Monday, March 11 in the Morgan Sifford chapel with Rev. Steven Hale officiating. Burial will be in the Richmann Cemetery in Wappapello.

ELLSINORE, Mo. — Vivian J. Dyson, 56, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, March 4, 2019 at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 9 at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. A graveside service will follow at 2:30 p.m. in the Carson Hill Cemetery in Ellsinore with Rev. John McCain officiating...

Religious freedom won another victory this week when House Bill 728 passed the House Judiciary Committee. The legislation requires plaintiffs to be named when bringing a lawsuit involving the separation of church and state. I filed this bill after seeing groups like the Freedom from Religion Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union threaten cities for displaying religious symbols, like crosses, in their public spaces or holiday displays. ...

Neelyville students and staff received recognition this week from the Missouri House of Representatives. The district recently celebrated earning 100 percent on the 2018 Annual Performance Report for Missouri public schools. Staff members on Friday accepted a resolution from Rep. Hardy Billington honoring the achievement. It was read Monday on the House floor and passed...

City firefighters responded at 8:42 a.m. Thursday, March 7, to a report of an unauthorized burn in the 800 block of Emma Street. According to the report, firefighters found a man burning the coating off wires behind 810 Emma St. Firefighters used 10 gallons of water to put out the fire...

Sunshine Week begins Sunday and it has nothing to do with moving the clock an hour ahead. The American Society of News Editors launched the first national Sunshine Week in 2005 to go with the March 16 birthday of James Madison, a key advocate of the Bill of Rights...

The Three Rivers College women's basketball team is headed to the NJCAA National Tournament following a 77-59 win over Iowa Western. The Lady Raiders improved to 27-3 on the season and advanced to nationals for the first time since 2004.