Stories from Friday, April 11, 2014

By EMILY PRIDDY SEMO News Service A Cape Girardeau man convicted of the 1996 murder of Michael Sanders finally has an execution date, the Missouri Supreme Court announced Wednesday. Russell Bucklew, 45, is set to be put to death May 21, exactly 18 years and two months after Sanders' death...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Butler County had the highest turnout among the seven area counties in Tuesday's election with 27.68 percent of the active registered voters. "I'm tickled with the turnout," said Butler County Clerk Tonyi Deffendall, who was happy to see the number of voters exceeded her expectation of 25 percent...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Wayne County man ordered to serve 27 years in prison for violating his probation was among five area residents sentenced this week. Billy Joe Hancock Jr., of Hiram, Mo., appeared Tuesday in Iron County before Circuit Judge Kelly Parker after the state filed a motion to revoke the 27-year-old's probation...

Easter egg hunts, new Easter clothes, white shoes, church, and big family meals are parts of my past that I like to pass on to my grandkids. I love to dye Easter eggs! I don't think you ever get too old for an Easter egg hunt! If you like to decorate hard-cooked eggs for Easter, remember to practice food safety. ...

Twin Rivers High School has released its third quarter honor and merit rolls for the 2013-2014 school year. Students named to those lists follow. Honor Roll Seniors: Ayla Bean, Brandi Brooks, Brittany Brooks, Trey Crites, Thomas Crites, Merideth Davis, Haley Doyle, Jacklyn Eagle, Jasa Fiske, JD Harmon, Kailee Hicks, Brittany Johnson, Jakob McGowen, Jacob McKuin, Josie Pijanowski, Eric Ray, Mariah Rush, Hannah Sadler, Brayden Sentell, Maci Shearer, Mikayla Stewart, Luke Voyles, Tiffany Wagner and Sara Ward.. ...

E. Carter M. School honor roll East Carter R-II Middle School has released its honor roll list for the 2013-2014 school year. Students named to that list are: 6th Grade: Morgan Bales, Melissa Biernacki, Audrey Carter, Naomi Crowley, Macy Cyr, Jordan Douglas, Colby Duckett, Jayla Eudaley, Jacob Farris, Kaitlyn Gholson, Paytin Gholson, Payton Golden, Isaac Gore, Haven Hahn, Ashten Hayman, Sarah Herold, Alex Kearbey, Tori Kearbey, Cathrynrojean Ladnier, Emily Million, Makenna Moore, Natalie Ochoa, Brett O'Dell, Shelby Orchard, Mea Phelps, Connor Powell, Kaitlyn Risby, Trace Robinson, Dalton Rudd, Betsy Scott, Emalyn Tanksley, Rachel Taylor and Kennedy Thies.. ...

By BEN CARSON Divide and conquer is an age-old strategy, effectively used by many in positions of power to ensure that they retain their wealth and authority. During the dark days of slavery in America, there were many geographic areas where the number of slaves significantly surpassed the number of whites and slave owners. ...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The human kindling that makes up the flammable Republican base may soon burst into flames, again. Portions of that excitable cohort are looking -- some with fawn-like eyes filled with hurt, others with sparks shooting from eyes narrowed like gun slits -- askance at other Republicans urging Jeb Bush to seek the 2016 presidential nomination...

Donald Williams GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Donald Junior Williams, 84, of Silva, Mo., died Monday, April 7, 2014, at his residence. A graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m. today with burial at the George Twidwell Cemetery in Silva with Ruegg Funeral Home in charge of arrangements...

The problems with President Obama's healthcare mandate never seem to end. Families and individuals in Missouri are experiencing huge increases in their monthly premiums. The doctor-patient relationship that is so essential for quality care is being harmed by bureaucratic hurdles and increasing paperwork. ...

A truck driver from Naylor claimed an $80,000 Show Me Cash jackpot at the Missouri Lottery office in Springfield on March 31. Bryan Emerson, 49, said he buys one Show Me Cash ticket with EZ Match and one Powerball ticket every Friday. His Quick Pick Show Me Cash ticket matched all five winning numbers on March 15, and Emerson won $80,000...

PIEDMONT -- A nice little pep talk after 3 1/2 innings was the pick-me-up that the Clearwater Tigers needed. After a sluggish start Wednesday against the Bernie Mules, the Tigers fell behind but scored eight unanswered runs. The Mules threatened in the top of the seventh, but the deficit was too much as the Tigers won 8-5...

Lee O'Dell Jr. ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Harold "Lee" O'Dell Jr., 71, of Ellsinore died Wednesday, April 9, 2014, in Paducah, Ky., after doing what he enjoyed the most - fishing. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. today in the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home with the Rev. Curtis Crowley officiating. Burial will follow in the Gresham Cemetery...

Doris Wright CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Doris Goldsmith Wright, 86, of Kennett, Mo., passed away on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at her residence in Kennett. Mrs. Wright, daughter of James Luther and Molley Hamm Goldsmith, was born on Sept. 21, 1927, in Clarkton, Mo. She was a homemaker and was a member of the South Canaan General Baptist Church...

Doris Haywood KENNETT, Mo. -- Doris Lavada Haywood, 68, of Wappapello, Mo., died Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at Barnes-Jewish Hosptial in St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. Haywood, daughter of the late Elton Crawford and Lillian Beatrice Edmundson Haywood, was born on Jan. 5, 1946, in Holcomb, Mo. She had previously worked as a hairdresser in her own shop, Doris' Beauty Shop in Kennett, for 35 years and had been a member of Modern Woodmen of America...

ST. LOUIS -- Taylor Friend allowed just two baserunners as Three Rivers beat St. Louis 5-0 in the opener of a doubleheader. In the nightcap, the Lady Raiders hit three home runs, to of them in the fifth inning, to win 5-2. Friend has won her last five starts and his not given up more than three runs in a game since March 15. She has a 1.57 ERA in 120 innings...

DONIPHAN -- Kaleb Thomley came through in the clutch as his RBI hit in the top of the eighth inning stood Wednesday as the Bloomfield Wildcats remained unbeaten with a 4-3 win over Doniphan. Noah Vandiver got aboard in the eighth with a double for the Wildcats (5-0). Thomley then smashed a ball to the outfied that bounced in and got away from Don fielding the ball...