Stories from Saturday, September 20, 2014

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The legal battle over the Poplar Bluff City Council's challenge of former city manager Doug Bagby's contract continues to be fought with a variety of recent filings by both sides. No date has been set for a hearing on motions pending in Butler County Circuit Court...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor An appellate court denied Rocky Kingree's request to dismiss the civil suit brought against him by the Butler County Prosecuting Attorney's office challenging his qualifications to become Division II associate circuit judge...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Tammy Marler knows it will be difficult, but she has decided to be an independent write-in candidate for Butler County Collector in the Nov. 4 general election. "I feel I am very qualified for that position," Marler said. "I have worked with the public for the 23 years I have been in county government. I have the solid background needed to be a good collector."...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Conditions would improve for Poplar Bluff bus drivers under proposals made Thursday to the Board of Education, which is also considering a new policy requiring schools to teach the meaning of Veterans Day. An incentive plan rewarding good performance and an improvement committee comprised of drivers and administrators are among the suggestions from newly named interim transportation director Brenda Resnik...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Twin Rivers R-X school community has some new faces in key administrative positions. Superintendent Jeremy Siebert and K-8 Principal Seth McBroom took over those positions at the start of the school year. Both educators are Twin Rivers High School graduates, a fact they say played heavily in their decision to return to the district. ...

By EMILY PRIDDY SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Like his fictional counterpart, the owner of a downtown Cape Girardeau business used as a set for the film "Gone Girl" is facing allegations of criminal activity. Also like his fictional counterpart, he will be exonerated, his attorney said Thursday...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The agent for Poplar Bluff schools sold more than $42.7 million in lease participation certificates for the district in 90 minutes Thursday morning. The funds will be available by Oct. 9, board members learned at their monthly meeting Thursday evening...

The nuts who text and drive To the person who talked about bad drivers in Thursday, Aug. 28th--c'mon, don't be hard on them that are texting while driving. How can they see a small car when they have to watch their phone? You know it would be hard for you to see if you were reading a newspaper much less a little, bitty cell phone text...

NBC's Chuck Todd got a good deal of attention for warning that "(Obama's) on the precipice of doing Jimmy Carter-like damage to the Democratic brand on foreign policy." As distasteful as it is to defend Jimmy Carter, this isn't fair to him. Carter, it's true, earned a reputation for weakness, but he wasn't blind to reality. ...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- In his Islamic State speech, President Obama said many of the right things. Most importantly, he finally got the mission right: degrade and destroy the enemy. This alone will probably get him a bump in the polls, which have dropped to historic lows. But his strategic problem remains: the disconnect between (proclaimed) ends and means...

Three Rivers College will host an ALS ice bucket challenge Sept. 29. The event will begin at 12:15 p.m. in front of the Bess Activity Center at the Poplar Bluff campus. There will be a $5 charge for students to douse faculty and staff and a $10 charge for faculty/staff members to douse other employees...

Eva Grace Murphy is the name chosen by Jerrod and Beth Murphy of Poplar Bluff, Mo., for their 7-pound, 14-ounce daughter born at 7:59 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Eva Grace was 20 inches long. Grandparents are Robert and Sue Scott, Jerry and Sandra Murphy all of Poplar Bluff...

Christopher Lloyd FISK, Mo. - Christopher Kirk Lloyd, 27, of Broseley, Mo., died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014 at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. He was born March 11, 1987 at Poplar Bluff, Mo. He loved spending time outdoors, hunting, fishing and spending time with his loving father, grandparents and cousins...

SIKESTON - With an early second-half goal from senior Audie Hay, the Sikeston Bulldogs were in prime position Thursday to hand visiting Poplar Bluff its first district loss of the season. Jeff Hardin had other plans, however, as the Mules sophomore scored twice in the final 20 minutes to hand Sikeston its second straight loss, 2-1...

Glenna Meadors Montgomery NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Glenna Marie Meadors Montgomery, 49, of Doniphan, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014, at Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was born June 24, 1965, at Wichita, Kan. to Lawrence (Sonny) Meadors and Sharon Hope Wilson. On Sept. 20, 2011, at Pocahontas, Ark., she was married to Steve Montgomery. He survives...

Willard Leon Libla GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Willard Leon Libla, 97, of Greenville died Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014 at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The arrangements are pending at this time. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

Poplar Bluff ended a 13-inning scoreless streak without putting the ball in play Thursday and also got an out for a batter that didn't step up to the plate. Calli Gerber broke a tie twice and had a career-high three hits Thursday as the Mules beat East Carter 7-3 at Bacon Park to end a three-game losing streak...

Jackie Wood PIEDMONT, Mo.,--Jackie L. Wood, Jr., 53, of St. Clair, Mo., formerly of Patterson, Mo., died Monday, Sept. 15, 2014, at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo. A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Chrome on the Creek Campground in Patterson...

Lillie Mae Foster DEXTER, Mo. -- Lillie Mae Foster, 66, of Dexter died Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014, at Southeast Missouri Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter. Visitation will be from 10-11:45 a.m. Saturday at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. A graveside services will be held at noon Saturday at the Essex Cemetery in Essex, Mo. with Rev. Kenneth Biggs of Dexter officiating. Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements...

GREENVILLE -- The Lady Bears got their kills, but it was the setup beforehand that put them over the top. Greenville passed the ball more consistently and was able to defeat Doniphan 25-23, 25-22 Thursday. When the Lady Bears were able to string together two clean passes with either Samantha Rainwater or Kenzy Smith on the end of the attack, they caused problems for the Doniphan defense...

Bobby Stone DEXTER, Mo.--Bobby W. Stone, 65, of Dexter, died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014 at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter. Visitation will be from 1:30 - 3 p.m. Saturday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. A memorial service will be follow at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Ed Dunivan officiating...

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. -- Isaiah Williams placed seventh Thursday at the Parkway Central Invitational while Cassidy Harris and Katie Sliger earned medals for the Poplar Bluff cross country team. Williams finished the 3.1-mile course in 17 minutes, 36 seconds as the Mules placed 12th out of 22 teams...