Stories from Saturday, December 6, 2014

SEMO News Service The story of the hunt and harvesting of Cape Girardeau's popular albino buck is grabbing attention nationwide. The Washington Post is the latest to pursue the story. A writer for The Washington Post talked with hunter Jerry Kinnaman on Thursday. The hunter reiterated what he told a Southeast Missourian reporter about receiving death threats because of the kill, though he believes the threats are mere posturing...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The possibility of obtaining funding to improve storefronts was discussed during the Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc. board meeting Tuesday. Raynesha Hudnell, the city grant coordinator, said she will submit a community development block grant application to the Missouri Department of Economic Development...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Margaret Harwell Art Museum will celebrate a Victorian Christmas with the opening of its newest show Saturday. Decorated for the holidays, the museum has brought out its rarely-displayed collections of 1800s quilts, Victorian clothing, toys and buttons...

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Standard Democrat Hillary Clinton, the heir apparent to the throne, may not find smooth sailing as many thought she would. The former first lady, secretary of state and senator has long been expected to walk into the Democratic presidential nomination with nary a concern...

WASHINGTON -- In 2010, Plymouth, Conn., was awarded $430,000 for widening sidewalks and related matters near two schools. This money was a portion of the $612 million Congress authorized for five years of the federal Safe Routes to School program intended to fight childhood obesity by encouraging children to burn calories by walking or biking to school. Really...

Cure for woes in Wayne Co. As a taxpayer in Wayne County, I am commending the Wayne County Health Center Board of Trustees and administrator on their solution to financial troubles. They voted to give the office staff 2 1/2 days off for Christmas! Give PBRMC...

The Downtown Churches of Poplar Bluff, Mo., will hold an Advent Walk beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday. The walk will start at the historic Holy Cross Church, 420 N. Main St., and continued to First Presbyterian Church, Main and Oak streets, then on to Brown Chapel AME, to First United Methodist Church, 500 N. Main St., and end at Lively Stone, 522 Relief St...

The newest swimmer at Poplar Bluff's practices this season just happens to be a three-time state qualifier. And she may not be the fastest Mule in the pool. Cassidy Harris, who split time playing basketball while becoming Poplar Bluff's first-ever state qualifier in swimming, chose to focus on one sport for her senior year...

VAN BUREN -- "It was the longest first quarter of my life," Twin Rivers coach Kelly Westerfield said. "I thought the half was over when the first quarter was over." In the Lady Dawg Classic semifinals Thursday, Neelyville shutout the Lady Royals in the first eight minutes. Completely and totally denied everything while scoring 29 points themselves. Twin Rivers didn't even have a free-throw attempt. Eight minutes off the clock, 29-0 in a tournament semifinal...

Mary Ella Hill Mary Ella Hill, 79, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Grandview, Wash. died Saturday Nov. 22, 2014, in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Hill was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was creative in every detail of her life. ...

The Raiders are nationally ranked for the first time since November 2011. After opening the season 11-1, the Raiders are sitting 12th in this week's NJCAA poll. "That's something to live up to. That's a good thing for our team, but that is a lot to live up to, especially as much as we've gone through the last two, three years," Three Rivers coach Gene Bess said. "Any kind of rankings like this is just a raw guess to begin with...

HOLCOMB -- Even though it's a couple hours outside of Memphis, the blues will be playing once again Friday night in the Holcomb Invitational championship. Both teams with the primary color of blue in their uniforms won their semifinal games Thursday night as top-seeded Bernie beat Puxico 45-37 and No. 3 Twin Rivers followed with an upset of No. 2 Bloomfield 58-49...

Sharon Dowd Sharon Kay (Warren) Dowd, 65, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, at Festus, Mo. She was the beloved mother, daughter, sister and friend. She was born Sept. 18, 1949 to the late Ed Warren and Wanda (White) Jennewein. Survivors were her children: Steven Buchanan (Nancey) of Sugar Creek, Mo., and Jason (Melissa) Dowd of Poplar Bluff; her mother, Wanda Jennewein of Hillsboro, Mo., and a sister, Carolyn (Garry) Caldwell of Pevely, Mo.; five grandchildren: Dexter Moore, Amanda (Lance) Parker, Drew, Mackenzie and Samantha Dowd; one great-grandchild, Christian Parker; a nephew, Darrell (Debbie) Caldwell of Hillsboro; two nieces: Regina (James) Abrams of Columbia, Mo., and Gayla (Dennis) Mchawes of Festus, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.. ...

Ronald Bilbrey Ronald Wayne Bilbrey, 64, of Fisk, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Katy Lane. Funeral will follow at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Dunkin Cemetery near Williamsville, Mo...

Westley D. Bridgeman, 33, of Poplar Bluff, was arrested at 7:55 p.m. Wednesday on a Butler County failure to appear warrant for driving while intoxicated. He was booked at Butler County jail. _ Marcus A. Martin, 25, of Poplar Bluff, was arrested at 11 p.m. Wednesday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, possession of synthetic narcotic and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked at the Butler County jail...

Virginia Brewer CAMPBELL, Mo.--Virginia Brewer, 86, of Fenton, Mo., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, at the Delmar Gardens of Meramec Valley of Fenton. Mrs. Brewer, daughter of Harvey H. and Beulah M. Lucas Whaley, was born on Aug. 31, 1928 in Holdenville, Okla...

Steven Paunker, of the 400 block of Sage Creek, reported sometime between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday someone broke in his home and stole a television that doesn't work, two tablet computers and a jar of change. _ Darrin Travers, of the 100 block of Arrowhead Ridge, reported sometime on Sunday a 2014 Polaris Razor all terrain vehicle was stolen from his garage...

Glen W. Medler Glen W. Medler, 97, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 3, in Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Mo.

Martha Stewart, of the 600 block of Hazel, reported sometime between 1 and 5 p.m. Monday someone stole eagle lights and a stuffed bear from her porch. _ Derek W. Whitworth, 22, of the 2300 block of Mangold, was arrested 8:13 a.m. Monday on County Road 604 on a Butler County warrant for suspicion of resisting arrest, a Butler County failure to appear warrant for driving while revoked and a Malden warrant for suspicion of contempt of court. He was booked at the Butler County jail...

Four subjects from the rural Puxico, Mo. area were arrested Tuesday on illegal drug activity. According to the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department's the result of an ongoing drug investigation, Stoddard County Deputies Gary Brady, Keith Haynes and Brent Stidham, along with members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, went to a residence located in the 2300 block of Billyville Lane, Puxico...

The annual Christmas parade, sponsored by River Radio, and scavenger hunt, sponsored by Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc., scheduled for tonight has been rescheduled due to predicted rain. It will now be held at 7 p.m. Thursday. Persons 18 and older must find the following 10 items on the floats in the parade and write their answers on a form available at River Radio or at the Farmers Market pavilion in the Black River Coliseum parking lot from 5-7 p.m. Thursday...

BRANSON -- After building an early 10-point lead, the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules managed just one second-quarter bucket Thursday night. Branson scored 15 unanswered points to end the first half then pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Poplar Bluff 52-40...

FARMINGTON -- Dexter junior Dakota Reynolds hit a tiebreaker 3-pointer and made six straight free throws to fuel a fourth-quarter comeback. The Lady Bearcats scored the final 22 points to upset Jackson 57-48 in the Farmington Invitational on Thursday...