Stories from Saturday, May 17, 2014

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Winona, Mo., man pleaded guilty Wednesday to making threatening telephone calls to the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. Markel Abbey, 57, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of threat by interstate communication before U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A lesson learned in the first grade helped drive the Poplar Bluff High School valedictorian to the top of her class, while the 2014 salutatorian says he found success in the knowledge perfection isn't everything. Allison Huskey and Landon Jones were ranked first and second, respectively, in this year's graduating class...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Farmers Market operated by Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc. will open at its new location at 8 a.m. Saturday. Vendor booths will be set up in the Black River Coliseum parking lot along Moran Street and south of the Moark Regional Railroad Museum...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The most inspirational student in the 2014 graduating class of Poplar Bluff High School is a teen remembered for his sacrifice. The family of Kyle Curtis Dicken was presented at the end of graduation ceremonies Thursday with a white gown signed by all of his classmates. Dicken was chosen as the most inspirational student by a vote of the class...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Two men, including one from Dexter, Mo., were sentenced to federal prison Wednesday for illegally possessing firearms in cases originating out of Stoddard and Carter counties. Quenten T. Martin, 22, was sentenced to 57 months in prison on one felony count of being a previously-convicted felon in possession of a firearm by U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr., according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office...

By MICHELLE MALKIN All politics is local. So Republican politicians with national ambitions better pay attention to what grassroots parents are saying and doing about the federal education racket known as Common Core. In bellwether Indiana this week, anti-Common Core activists won a pair of pivotal electoral victories against GOP Gov. Mike Pence...

To the Editor: The Xi Kappa Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi would like to take this opportunity to thank those who supported their efforts to raise funds for United Cancer Assistance Network (UCAN). Xi Kappa has made their flower sale an annual event and this was their fifth year. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "What Would America Fight For?" That question shouts from the cover of the Economist. It is, asserts the magazine, "the question haunting its allies." While most agree that America would fight to defend her treaty allies and to protect vital interests if imperiled, the question is raised by President Obama's reticence in Crimea, Ukraine and Syria...

Wenzel Bradley Wenzel Allen Bradley, 73, of St. Peters, Mo. died April 30, 2014 in St. Peters. He was born Nov. 19, 1940 in Fagus, Mo. His parents were the late Edward and Edna Bradley. He is survived by his brother, Darrell (Pat) Bradley and sister, Almereda (Glen) Tompkins, all of Qulin, and his beloved children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren...

Charles Mitchell Jr. MALDEN, Mo. -- Charles Lavalle Mitchell Jr., 84, of Malden died Wednesday, May 14,2014, at Malden. He was born Jan. 15, 1930, at Memphis Tenn. His parents were Charles Mitchell Sr. and Helen Stokes Mitchell. He married Jackie Chadsey Mitchell May 27, 2000, in Malden and she survives...

Just how competitive is the upcoming MSHSAA Class 2 District 3 baseball tournament? The team riding a 15-game winning streak, has just three losses on the spring that also boasts a state ranking the final Class 2 poll is merely the third seed. That's the resume of the Bernie Mules...

Five things to watch for at area MSHSAA baseball district tournaments starting this weekend: Can the Neelyville end the district losing streak? The Tigers have advanced to the district championship game four years running, but have come away empty-handed in each. Winning the Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament back in October for the first time since 1989 was a giant leap in the right direction...

County has a new first lady Has the new lady mayor replaced the presiding commissioner's wife as the new first lady of the county? Ask for public view on Bagby In your Opinion column, why don't you ask Poplar Bluff citizens how many agree or disagree with the firing of city manager, Doug Bagby...

Jimmy Leisure POTOSI, Mo. -- Jimmy Dale Leisure of Arnold, Mo., departed this life May 14, 2014, at St. Anthony Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. He leaves his wife, Pat, of 46 years; one daughter, Gena Early; and two grandchildren, Sara and Ben. Jimmy was born Aug. 28, 1948, in Clarkton to John and Zencie Leisure...

Neva Blackwell Neva V. Blackwell, 104, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Thursday, May 15, 2014. She was born July 9, 1909, in the rural Williamsville area. She attended the one room Black River School near Keener through 8th grade, then came to Poplar Bluff, where she attended one year of high school. She joined First Baptist Church of Poplar Bluff in 1947...

THAYER -- The No. 5 Ellington Whippets took the first upset of district play Thursday afternoon as they defeated No. 4 Van Buren, 5-4, in MSHSAA Class 2 District 2 first round game. Hunter Hathcoat played hero for the Whippets as he launched a 2-run homer in the top of the seventh to take a one-run lead to the bottom of the inning...

Florence Nichols Florence Marie Nichols, 65, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, May 13, 2014, at The Manor. A graveside service will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at City Cemetery. Cotrell Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements. Condolences: cotrellfuneralservice.com...

Amy L. Hastings NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Amy L. Hastings, 39, died Thursday, May 15, 2014 at her home near Doniphan, Mo. Visitation will begin at noon Saturday and the funeral will be at 1 p.m. at Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville. Burial will be in the Shirley Cemetery near Doniphan...