Stories from Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Sen. Bernie Sanders said: "I believe that health care is a right of all people." He's not alone in that contention. That claim comes from Democrats and Republicans and liberals and conservatives. It is not just a health care right that people claim. There are "rights" to decent housing, decent food, a decent job and prescription drugs. In a free and moral society, do people have these rights? Let's begin by asking ourselves: What is a right?...

County firefighters responded at 2:06 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, to a structure fire at 6208 County Road 341. According to the report, firefighters found a mobile home that was on the ground upon their arrival. _ County firefighters responded at 7:59 a.m. Wednesday, March 11, to a structure fire at the 195 Rainbird Lane residence owned Cona Dillingar...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL REPORTS Harold C. Williams, 60, of Ellington was arrested at 12:23 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, on a Shannon County warrant for first-degree sodomy or attempted sodomy. He was booked at the Reynolds County Jail. _ Jeffery O. Martin, 43, of Bloomfield was arrested at 8:58 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, on suspicion of DWI. He was booked at the Sikeston Department of Public Safety...

DONIPHAN — The Ripley County Sheriff’s Department has cancelled the endangered person advisory after a missing teen was found. Hannah N. Hamor, 13, was found safe in Ripley County, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol news release. The teen had not been at school since March 5, and her father has not had contact with her for the same amount of time, according to an earlier release. The Ripley County Sheriff’s Department was notified around 1 p.m. Tuesday of the incident...

Nora Jeweline (Stovall) Culbertson, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Feb. 19, 2020 at Sikeston Convalescent Center. Mrs. Culbertson, the daughter of the late John H. and Ella (Rutledge) Stovall, was born June 3, 1934 in East Prairie, Mo. She spent most of her life in Missouri and Southeast Iowa until returning to Southeast Missouri. Mrs. Culbertson enjoyed spending time with her family, arts and crafts...

SIKESTON — The Missouri Department of Transportation plans to replace two Wayne County bridges—the Route A bridge over Small Creek near Greenville, Missouri, and the Route 34 bridge over Black River near Leeper, Missouri. A community briefing will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 31 at the Greenville High School Library, located at 178 Walnut St., in Greenville, Missouri...

Walleyes in the Black, Current, St. Francis and Eleven Point river are fat and healthy, according to Department of Conservation Fisheries management Biologist Paul Cieslewicz, who conducted his annual gill netting and electrofishing survey on the Black last week...

A sensory-friendly film will be shown for the first time in Poplar Bluff on Saturday at the AMC Showplace. Sensory-friendly films means the lights will not be turned all the way off, the movie may not be as loud, and it is OK if those attending want to get up and pace, circle walk, need a break or talk during the movie, said Kelly Fields, president of Autism Accepted...

The Poplar Bluff Police Department’s communications division is nearly back to full staff after recent retirements cut the number of dispatchers in half. Three new communications officers have been hired to replace longtime employees, Kim Johnson, Reva Wilburn and Kelly Skaggs...

Ed Flanigan of Butler County is one of 22 volunteers across the state recently honored with a 2020 Frank Graham 4-H Volunteer Leadership Award by the 4-H Center for Youth Development. He was recognized for commitment and leadership to the University of Missouri Extension 4-H Youth Development program. Flanigan, who has served the Butler County 4-H program for seven years, was nominated by local 4-H Youth Specialist Stephanie Milner...

A spring hunter education skills class has been scheduled in Poplar Bluff for those needing to be certified before purchasing turkey hunting permits. The class, for those age 11 and older, will be held from 5-9 p.m. March 23 at the Poplar Bluff Junior High School...

erome T. Kenner was born April 22, 1933 in Doniphan, Mo. and passed away Feb. 21, 2020 in Campbell, Mo. He was the son of Perry Kenner and Ina Seymore. He married Marie Bower, daughter of Oscar Lee Bower and Roberta Holman, Aug. 8, 1936 in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

Anthony Donald Woodard, 46, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, March 7, 2020. Visitation at 5 p.m., Wednesday, March 11, 2020, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Williamsville. Funeral service Thursday, at 2 p.m, March 12, 2020, also at the Williamsville Chapel. Burial: Holliday Cemetery, Williamsville...

CAPE GIRARDEAU — Saint Francis Healthcare System welcomes Linda M. Hurt, AuD, to Cape ENT Group. Hurt earned her medical education from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences in Mesa, Ariz. in 2005. She earned her Master of Science in Audiology from Southeast Missouri State University in 1983. She is board certified through the American Academy of Audiology...

BLOOMFIELD — A Stoddard County grand jury indicted a retired Catholic priest last week on sodomy and sexual abuse charges. Frederick Joseph Lutz, 76, of Springfield, Missouri, was indicted March 3 on two unclassified felonies of forcibly sodomy and two Class C felonies of deviate sexual abuse, Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver said in a news release...

While those over 18 made their way to polling locations Tuesday, the students and faculty at Poplar Bluff High School received the opportunity to vote in a mock election held at the gym.