Stories from Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Residents of northwestern Butler County appreciate having a new bridge over Cane Creek. Everyone involved in the project met on the bridge last week to celebrate completion of the project. "This is the longest bridge we have built with federal funds," said Bill Taylor, who is retiring after 27.5 years as superintendent of the Butler County Highway Department...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Temperatures will be below freezing most of the week in the wake of an arctic blast, prompting freeze advisories in Butler County and across much of the Midwest. According to the National Weather Service, only Tuesday of this week will see above freezing temperatures. Late Tuesday night, a strong arctic high will move southeast from the plains and end up over Southeast Missouri by early Thursday...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor VAN BUREN, Mo. -- The Carter County Sheriff's Department is investigating a report that former prosecuting attorney Rocky Kingree retained files belonging to the county. On New Year's Eve, Sheriff Rick Stephens said, he was contacted by other county officials who reported "several boxes of case files, owned by Carter County, were retained by Kingree. An investigation was initiated."...

Associated Press FERGUSON, Mo. -- Two members of the Missouri National Guard from Poplar Bluff saw masked protesters light an American flag on fire, then drop it to the ground during a rowdy demonstration in Ferguson. Within seconds, the soldiers crossed into the fray and rescued the charred remains...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man made his first court appearance Monday afternoon after being charged earlier in the day with a sex-related felony involving a young girl. Geren William Klusmeier, 23, of the 1100 block of Apple appeared before Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth for arraignment on the unclassified felony of enticement of a child, which had been filed by Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer An autonomous city electric board would look similar to the independent board which runs Poplar Bluff's parks department, according utilities Director Bill Bach. The board would be able to make decisions without city council oversight, but its members would continue to be appointed by the city, Bach explained Monday during a Municipal Utilities Advisory Board meeting...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer As work to expand Oak Grove Road comes to an end, the city is preparing for improvements to begin at the intersection of Oak Grove Road and Westwood Boulevard. Poplar Bluff City Council members approved a motion Monday to close phase III of the Oak Grove Road project, with an approximately $580,000 savings...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer In separate split votes, the Poplar Bluff City Council selected a company Monday to review options for repairing or moving city hall and authorized a permit to sell liquor at a new downtown restaurant. Both votes passed 5-1...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Butler County authorities are searching for an Arkansas man already wanted for violating federal probation in connection with the Saturday night armed robbery of a Neelyville liquor store. At 9:45 p.m. Saturday the clerk at the Stateline Liquor Store in the 21500 block of Highway 67 South was robbed at gunpoint by a white male, according to Butler County Investigator Wes Popp...

By MICHELLE MALKIN Oh, woe is she. In an "exclusive" interview with People magazine this week, first lady Michelle Obama lamented the "sting" of "racist experiences" that she and her husband allegedly still suffer. My message for America's Marie Antoinette? Cry me a river...

By GEORGE F. WILL OKLAHOMA CITY -- Scott Pruitt enjoyed owning a AAA baseball team here, but he is having as much fun as Oklahoma's attorney general, and one of the Obama administration's most tenacious tormentors. The second existential challenge to the Affordable Care Act began here...

Frances Gower Frances Gower, 82, of Poplar Bluff, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Howard Hellums GREENVILLE, Mo.-- Howard Hellums, 93, of Milton, Fla., formerly of Greenville, died at Santa Rosa Health & Rehabilitation Center, Milton. Visitation will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Greenville. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow in Greenville Cemetery...

Verna Hargraves MALDEN, Mo.-- Verna Bee Hargraves, 84, of Gideon, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born June 2, 1930, in Lawrenceburg, Tenn., to Mack and Lynn Mae Clark Yocum, who both preceded her in death. She was a member of the Stanfield General Baptist Church in Gideon...

Byron Von Ledbetter ELLSINORE, Mo.-- Byron Von Ledbetter, 85, of Ellsinore, died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, at his residence. A visitation will begin at noon Tuesday in the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore with a memorial service following at 2 p.m. The Rev. Johnny Gipson will officiate...

Jesse Frank James Sr. FISK, Mo.-- Jessie Frank James Sr., 76, of Poplar Bluff, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Mr. James was born Sept. 18, 1938, in Broseley. He moved to Orange County, Calif., in 1961. He moved back to Butler County in 2004. He had served in the Navy Seabees...

Thomas Traughber MALDEN, Mo.-- Thomas Traughber, 78, of Malden, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at his residence. The visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Landess Funeral Home of Malden. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home chapel with Carter Grindstaff officiating. Burial will be in the Rosewood Cemetery, first addition. SClB...

Wantona Ferguson Wantona Ida "Toni" Withrow Ferguson, 88, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Sunday Jan. 4, 2015, at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Ferguson was born July 6, 1926, in New Madrid County, Mo. to the late Leo L. and Helen Henson Spencer. She was a member of Trinity Southern Baptist Church, and had retired from the H. W. Gossard Garment Factory. Mrs. Ferguson loved spending time with her family, quilting, gardening, flowers, cooking and attending church...

Kaplan unprofessional Hello, Speak Out. This morning, Tuesday, Dec. 16th, on KWOC radio on Brittany on the Bluff program, Mr. Kaplan, Poplar Bluff City Manager, was running down our local newspaper, the DAR. He stated that they only printed tabloids. C'mon, that is unprofessional!...

Claud W. Walk PUXICO, Mo.-- Claud Wesley Walk, 88 of McGee, Mo. died Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, in the Missouri Veteran's Home in Cape Girardeau. Mr. Walk was born Sept. 11, 1926 in McGee. His Alonzo and Maymie Walk preceded him in death. He was a lifetime farmer. He enjoyed hunting with family and friends throughout his lifetime...

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Standard Democrat On the way to the office this morning, I saw a sign on a local business that said: "We live in an era of smart phones and stupid people." In addition to the obvious humor, there's more than a grain of truth in that small sign...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS There is no question, though it's not acknowledged enough, that black Americans have made greater gains, over some of the highest hurdles and in a very short span of time, than any other racial group in mankind's history. What's the evidence? If black Americans were thought of as a nation with their own gross domestic product, they'd rank among the 20 wealthiest nations. ...

The members of the Lake Wappapello United Methodist Church will be hosting the GriefShare Program beginning at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at the church. This is a free 13 week class and is nondenominational. Everyone is welcome and to start whenever they want...

As a new year dawns and a new decade opens its portals, bidding harried mankind to enter, we dare not try to envisage what the next ten years may bring. Rather let us accept the challenges each day may bring with courage and trust as a child of God. ...

PBPD issues fraud alert The Poplar Bluff Police Department recently has received several fraud complaints, which involve a suspect trying to coerce the victim into paying money for a (nonexistent) bond. In the most recent complaints, the suspect identified himself as "Deputy Jeff Rolland with Butler County," and threatened to arrest the victims if they did not pay an $800 bond using prepaid credit cards...

Angel Kennon-Spencer of Doniphan is the new Puxico Postmaster. Her assignment became effective Dec. 27 and an installation ceremony will be held Jan. 15. The press release provided by the US Postal Service said, Angel began her postal career as a transitional employee on an auxiliary route in Gatewood in December 2000. ...

CAMPBELL -- Naylor started 2015 just like it ended 2014. With a tough loss to Campbell. This time around, the Eagles played short two starters in the first half and a late second-quarter run by Campbell was pretty much the game. The Camels won by 12 points the last time in the Senath-Hornersville Christmas Tournament consolation final Dec. 18 and earned a 65-55 Monday night over the Eagles...

A Dec. 30 matchup between Southeast Missouri and William Woods featured a quartet of Bootheel players appearing on the same court. Coming off the bench for SEMO was former Dexter 1,000-pointer scorer Hannah Noe and Three Rivers alumna Erin Bollmann. Against them and starting for William Woods (8-3) were longtime teammates Dennisha Rice and Marissa Webb, who played together at both Poplar Bluff High School and Three Rivers College...

After Monday's game, Three Rivers coach Gene Bess said there are three main things in basketball -- playing hard, playing smart and playing together. The Raiders have got the first down and the locker-room chemistry needed for the third while working on the second...

Marvin Ray Powell Sr. Marvin Ray Powell, Sr., 74, of El Paso, Ark., formerly of Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, at Little Rock, Ark. He was born Jan. 1, 1940 in Poplar Bluff. On April 8, 1958, he married Thelma (Costin) Powell in Poplar Bluff. She survives...

Billye Randazzo Billye Jean Randazzo, 83, of Grandin, passed away Monday, Jan. 05, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Hospital. Mrs. Randazzo was born Feb. 22, 1931, in Hannibal. She was married to John Phillip Randazzo. He preceded her in death in 1972...

Julie Smith DONIPHAN, Mo.--Julie Marie Smith, 43, of Doniphan, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at her residence in rural Ripley County. A private family service will be held. Edwards Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences: family @ edwardsfuneralhome.org...

Patrick Taylor DONIPHAN, Mo.-- Patrick Mark Taylor, 46, of Doniphan, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Mr. Taylor, son of Martin Taylor and Georgia (Faith) Kaiser, was born March 2, 1968, in Fenton, Mo. He had been self-employed as a computer technician. Patrick enjoyed spending time with his family...

Vida Fletcher DONIPHAN, Mo.-- Vida Marie Fletcher, 102, of Doniphan passed away Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, at the Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. Mrs. Fletcher, daughter of the late Chesley and Cora (Reed) Brewer, was born Aug. 4, 1912, in Myrtle. She enjoyed gardening, quilting, canning and tending to her flowers. Mrs. Fletcher was of the Baptist faith...

Berbage D. Bryant DEXTER, Mo.-- Berbage D. Bryant, 95, of Dexter, died Monday, Jan. 5, 2015 at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Visitation will be from 12:30 - 2 p.m., Wednesday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Tim Russell officiating. Burial will follow in the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL Rev. Wiley McGhee of Puxico will celebrate his 102nd birthday this week. McGhee, the second of six children of Jim and Lillie McGhee, was born Jan. 13, 1913, northwest of Bloomfield. He said he enjoyed the outdoors as a young boy...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL Incumbent municipal judge David DeVaughn will seek re-election April 7. According to Puxico City Clerk Alice Patrick, DeVaughn, who also serves as municipal judge for Advance and Bloomfield, filed his declaration of candidacy Dec. 31, 2014. As of this report, no other candidate had filed for the two-year term...

From Staff Reports Jan. 1, 2014 Puxico City Clerk Alice Patrick announced Betty Glenn donated $18,500 to the Berry-Glenn Historical Museum. The Puxico High School Indians advanced to the consolation final of the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament. Jan. 8, 2014...

Danny Gregg DEXTER, Mo.--Danny Gregg, 60, of Dexter died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015 at the Cancer Treatment Center in Tulsa, Okla. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Stella Peters PUXICO, Mo.-- Stella Peters, 96, of Puxico, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Mrs. Peters was born June 26, 1918 in Arkansas. She was a 1936 graduate of Puxico High School, and a self-employed homemaker. She attended the Egypt Church...

Laverne Dubois Laverne Roy Dubois, 87, of Piedmont, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. He was born Dec. 1, 1927 in Dalton, Ark. Survivors are his children: Debbie Rock, JoAnn Dubois, Steve Dubois and Tammy Standford; two sisters: Dorothy Atwell and Jessie Helderman; two brothers, Ben Dubois and Darrell Dubois; eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren...

ELLSINORE -- The Van Buren Lady Bulldogs grabbed an 18-point lead by halftime and took home a 56-35 win over their county rivals the East Carter Lady Redbirds Monday night. Van Buren (3-6) had seven girls make the score sheet with Summer Shockley leading the way with 17 points scored. Amber O'Dell added 10 points while Logan Hayworth had eight...

By SAVANNA MAUE SEMO News Service Even after living out of the United States for half of her life, Mary Catherine Frazier can't escape her Southern roots. She has spent decades devoted to volunteer work, teaching English, publishing books, consulting with international schools on six of the seven continents and even teaching a world religious leader. Her knowledge of teaching English and understanding the way a language is taught and processed has lead her to write two books about it...

SEMO News Service The Puxico Girls Basketball Team beat seventh seed host Delta at the Delta New Year's Tournament Monday night. Delta waged a frantic fourth-quarter rally before falling 47-45 to No. 2 Puxico. The Bobcats outscored the Indians 20-12 in the final quarter after netting just 25 points in the previous three periods...

Larry Hufford MALDEN, Mo.-- Larry Eugene Hufford, 65, of Poplar Bluff died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. He was the son of Dessie Belle Ratlift Hill and the late Lloyd Hufford. He born Nov. 6, 1949, in Waxahachie, Texas. He was a U.S. Army Veteran...