Stories from Wednesday, December 24, 2014

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The end of 2014 will mark the last day on the job for the superintendent of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Bill Black is retiring after three years in the Ozarks and four decades with the National Park Service. The park service is in the process of selecting an acting superintendent, who will serve in a temporary capacity until the permanent position is filled, said Dena Matteson, public information officer...

By SAMANTHA RINEHART SEMO News Service A Poplar Bluff construction company has been cited for 13 serious safety violations, according to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) after the June 17 death of a 16-year-old worker...

Abby DeBoard PIEDMONT, Mo.-- Thomas Albert "Abby" DeBoard, 82, of Des Arc, Mo., died Monday, Dec. 22, 2014, at Landmark Hospital, Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. Services will follow at 2 p.m., at the chapel. Burial will follow at Mt. View Cemetery, Des Arc, Mo...

To the Editor: A big thank-you to all the people who helped collect children's books for us to give away to youngsters at this year's SantaLand event Dec. 9 at the Black River Coliseum: The Poplar Bluff Public Library, The Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce,...

Current mess is voters' fault I like how people are complaining about the new city manager. It's the voters fault!! They decided to elect the Becker clan into the council. Vote out Pearson, Tinsley, Johnson and Rushin. Get rid of them and we can get our city back!!...

The recent release of a Senate report commissioned by Democrats regarding torture of terrorism suspects in order to obtain vital information was a waste of $40 million of taxpayer money. It already had been documented extensively that three suspects were waterboarded and that sleep deprivation and other such techniques were used to extract vital information from terrorists. ...

Nova Inez Curd DEXTER, Mo.-- Nova Inez Curd, 85, of Dexter, departed this life on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, at Golden Living Center in New Madrid. A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at Chalk Bluff Cemetery in Dexter with Rev. Joe Payne officiating. Interment will follow in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery...

Dorothy Rigby Dorothy Eloise Rigby, 89, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

A Williamsville woman was injured in a single-vehicle accident at 12:38 p.m. Sunday on Highway 49 south of Williamsville. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, Chelsea S. Cathey, 23, was westbound in a 2002 Oldsmobile Alero when the vehicle ran off the side of the roadway, over corrected and struck a tree...

BROSELEY -- Dexter's dominating run at the Lady Royals Christmas Classic rolled on Monday. The Lady Bearcats used a 15-2 run early in the second quarter to finally shake off host Twin Rivers and cruised into the final with a 79-61 semifinal win. "One thing, I thought we had a lot of energy tonight," Dexter coach Chad Allen said. "I thought we were moving well and had a lot of energy. With that said, we got into a little bit of foul trouble."...

Pansy Alexander NEELYVILLE, Mo.--Pansy M. Alexander, 93, of Harveill, Mo., departed this life on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014 at the Black River Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Alexander was born May 22, 1921 in Ash Hill. On Nov. 9, 1939 at Piggott, Ark., she married Frank M. Alexander. He preceded her in death on Feb. 1, 1993...

BROSELEY -- As the missed shots and turnovers started piling up for Naylor, the Neelyville Lady Tigers kept getting further and further ahead. Neelyville allowed one bucket in the opening quarter Monday and rolled to a 70-35 win over the Eagles to reach the championship game of the 28th Lady Royals Christmas Classic...

Donald Raney Donald Eugene Raney of Poplar Bluff, left this Earth peacefully on Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, at the age of 64. Mr. Raney was born Nov. 9, 1950, to the late Harold Raney and Mable Micks in Mt. Vernon, Ill. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, having actively served in the Vietnam War...

Gene Williams Ersell Eugene "Gene" Williams, 49, of Poplar Bluff, departed this life on Saturday Dec. 20, 2014, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Friday in the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren, with the funeral service following at noon. Burial will be in the Huddleston Cemetery in Alton, Mo. with committal service beginning at 2:30 p.m. The Rev. Melba Duncan officiating...

Angelete N. Sanford, 21, of the 800 block of Sanders, was arrested at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the 700 block of Mill on Poplar Bluff failure to appear warrants for assault and possession of marijuana. She was booked at the Butler County jail. _ Kali N. Malone, 19, of Poplar Bluff, was arrested at 4:42 p.m. Saturday at a business in the 300 block of South Westwood on suspicion of shoplifting and a Poplar Bluff failure to appear warrant for shoplifting. She was booked at the Butler County jail...

VAN BUREN -- In a matchup of winless teams, the Doniphan Dons broke its losing streak. After trailing by two to Van Buren after the first quarter, the Dons got hot offensively and cruised to a 69-46 win Tuesday night. The Dons (1-6) made 11 3-pointers with Brad Eddens hitting four. He totaled a game-high 24 points. Klay Barton made two 3s for nine points while Tanner Buck made two from long range and had eight...

Butler County firefighters responded at 11:01 a.m. Saturday to a furnace explosion at 5004 Linwood. No injuries were reported. Damage was centered around the bathroom and ductwork. A cause was not determined. _ City firefighters responded to an unconscious person at 4:37 p.m. Saturday at 309 South Broadway. Fire personnel assisted with CPR until paramedics arrived...

Stephen C. Benton, 43, of Qulin, was booked at the Butler County jail on Saturday on suspicion of third-degree assault and suspicion of felonious restraint. _ Terra M. Eldridge, 34, of Bernie, was booked at the Butler County jail Saturday on a Wayne County failure to appear warrant for no valid license...

BROSELEY -- The Lady Bears pulled rank on another opponent at the Lady Royals Christmas Classic. Greenville, the 11th seed, advanced to the fifth place game by edging seventh-seeded Kelly 51-50 Monday night. The Bears will face ninth-seeded Kennett at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday after the Indians held off Doniphan 45-36 Monday...

A Park Hills man was killed in a collision at 3:49 p.m. Monday in Bollinger County. A Bollinger County deputy coroner pronounced Mark A. Lindsey, 29, dead at the scene at 4:14 p.m. His body was transported to Hutchings Funeral Home in Marble Hill. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Lindsey was westbound on Highway 34 two miles west of Grassy when his 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt crossed the centerline and was struck by a 1993 Chevrolet truck. Reports indicate he was wearing a seatbelt...

_ A burglary was reported at 1:47 p.m. Monday in the 600 block of Park. According to police, suspects entered a business and broke into two vending machines. A bottle of Jack Daniels was also missing. _ Holy Cross Church in the 400 block of North Main reported at 11:50 a.m. Friday a stair rail broken in a suspected act of vandalism...