Stories from Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Sen. Bernie Sanders may be on the cusp of both capturing the Democratic nomination and transforming his party as dramatically as President Donald Trump captured and remade the Republican Party. After his sweep of the Nevada caucuses, following popular vote victories in Iowa and New Hampshire, Sanders has the enthusiasm and the momentum, as the crucial battles loom in South Carolina on Saturday and Super Tuesday on March 3...

The U.S. Energy Information Administration just announced some spectacular news that should be banner headlines across the country: The price of natural gas has fallen to its lowest February level in 20 years. The data shows that natural gas prices fell to $1.77 per million British thermal units. ...

Two contested races have developed for Butler County offices after only an hour and a half of filing. Incumbents for both coroner and eastern district commissioner will see challengers in the Aug. 4 primary election, county clerk Tonyi Deffendall said...

One man is in intensive care and a second died Monday inside a condemned house where propane heaters and a generator had been in use. Authorities say an unconscious Jason Freeman was pulled from a Valley Street home by Poplar Bluff police officer(s) and emergency-medical-services personnel...

To the editor: The SEMO United Blind Club would like to thank everyone who donated for their 2019 fundraisers. Special thanks to the Lions Club for their support and donation and to the Modern Woodmen for their matching funds donation. SEMO United Blind Club is looking forward to a great year in 2020...

Joyce Hill-Cooley and Molly Ford of Miracle-Ear Centers serving Southeast Missouri recently attended the 2020 Miracle-Ear National Convention in Los Cabos, Mexico. At the convention, Hill-Cooley donated $1,200 to the Miracle-Ear Foundation. “Our staff works hard all year on fitting those in need with hearing aids, free of charge, through the Miracle-Ear foundation,” said Hill-Cooley. “They also do various fundraising efforts through the year to provide for an annual donation to the foundation.”...

Qulin Lion’s Club will have the Lion’s Club dinner Sunday. The menu will include pork steak, fried chicken, potato salad, corn, green beans, mac and cheese, bake beans, dessert and drink. Adults will pay $8, children 5-12 $5 and those 4 and under will not be charged...

Twin Rivers R-10 Preschool screening, kindergarten enrollment, head start, early childhood recruitment will be from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, at Qulin Middle School and Tuesday, March 24, at Fisk Middle School. The screenings will include health, dental, speech/language, vision, hearing and development. Children enrolling in Kindergarten must turn 5 before Aug. 1, 2020...

Authorities suspect multiple rounds fired from a passing vehicle struck a Foley Street home and two vehicles Monday night. “The initial call was around 10:30 (p.m.); it was a report of shots fired in the Foley Street area,” explained Poplar Bluff Police Lt. Josh Stewart...

homas Lloyd Sample, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Feb. 22, 2020 at St. John’s Mercy in St. Louis, Mo. Thomas was born Oct. 11, 1943 to the late Theodore and Ruby Sample in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Thomas was a United States Marine Veteran. He enjoyed everything outdoors from camping to riding his side by side to going to Colorado every chance he could. He had several trades in his life: construction, auto body work, auto sales and auto mechanic...

Velda Jorena Urich, 80, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Monday, Feb. 24, 2020 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Velda was born on July 25, 1939 to the Rev. O.S. and Jerlene Elledge in Poplar Bluff. She was a member of Bluff City Apostolic Worship Center. Velda worked many jobs in her life and made many lifetime friends along the way. She enjoyed arts and crafts and taught many to paint in her classes. Velda was feisty, witty and had an excellent sense of humor...

Eva J. Grady, 103, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Feb. 22, 2020 at her home in Poplar Bluff. Eva was born Jan. 26, 1917 to the late Martin and Ada (McCain) Sauthoff in Bernie, Mo. She married Bernard C. Grady March 9, 1939, in Saint Louis, Mo. He preceded her in death April 1982...

WAPPAPELLO LAKE- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with Peoples Community Bank and Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) will host a Community Roadside Clean-up on Saturday, April 4, 2020, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Participants will meet at the Bill Emerson Memorial Visitor Center at 8 a.m. to obtain safety gear...

A Poplar Bluff man pleaded guilty Tuesday afternoon to a lesser charge in connection to the death of another man, who died as the result of a “fight that got out of control.” Accompanied by his attorney, Ian Page with the Public Defender’s Office, Skylar Thomas Carter pleaded guilty to the Class C felony of first-degree involuntary manslaughter before Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett...

City firefighters responded at 9:01 a.m. Monday, Feb. 24, to a motor-vehicle crash near the intersection of Shelby and Oak Grove roads. According to the report, firefighters checked for injuries and assisted emergency-medical-services in loading one person onto a stretcher and packaging him or her for transport...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL Three Butler County residents were injured in a two-vehicle crash at 1:50 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, on Highway B at Highway Z in Butler County. According to the report, Nicholas A. Barrett, 41, of Poplar Bluff was operating a 2007 Chevrolet pickup northbound when he failed to yield at an intersection and drove his truck into the path of a 2012 Nissan Altima being driven westbound by Lindsay L. Kendle, 20, of Qulin...

By DONNA FARLEY Editor Contested races have developed at the state level for six local offices. Filing opened Tuesday for the Aug. 4 primary election of U.S. representative, state senator, state representative and other state offices. The winners of the primary election will move on to the Nov. 3 election...

The Poplar Bluff R-I School District made movements last week in setting up administration for the new Mark Twain School scheduled to open next school year.

John P. Brown John P. Brown, 54, of Jackson, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020, at his home. He worked nearly 33 years for UPS. Loving survivors include his wife of 26 years, Stacey Cline Brown, and two daughters, Aubrey and Kendyll, all of Jackson; his mother, Mamie (the late Loren) Brown of Doniphan; and three siblings, Ronnie, Steve, and Gail...

One man is in intensive care and a second died Monday inside a house where propane heaters and a generator had been in use. The home had been “placard a nuisance” by city officials and no one was supposed to be living inside.

Three Rivers College cancelled most classes for the rest of the week after a network disruption prompted the school’s closure.