Stories from Sunday, January 10, 2016

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The annual Legislative Breakfast at Three Rivers College Friday was an opportunity for lawmakers to learn how state funds are being spent and to hear appreciation for their support. Participating in the event were state Sen. Wayne Wallingford of Cape Girardeau, state Rep. Tila Hubrecht of Dexter, state Rep. Shelley Keeney Taylor of Marble Hill and Kyle Aubuchon, chief of staff for state Sen. Doug Libla of Poplar Bluff...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, Dale Manning, of Gideon, Mo., ran the last two miles in Memphis, Tenn., on his approach to St. Jude Children's Hospital where he presented a check for $21,514 to Kamisha Wilson, the hospital's volunteer engagement specialist...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A new candidate filed Friday for a seat on the Poplar Bluff City Council. Jim Champion is the first candidate to file in Ward 3. He is an American National Insurance agent on Vine Street in Downtown Poplar Bluff and resides on Adams Street in Ward 3...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer VAN BUREN, Mo. -- The new superintendent of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways sees a year ahead that focuses on perfecting the basics, while changes from a new general management plan are likely years away from implementation...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff schools construction projects saw little if any setback following a storm that resulted in widespread flooding across the area and officials say they are still set to be completed on schedule. Superintendent Chris Hon says all of the district's projects have moved forward well in the past six months...

Holland LeAnn Eakins and Jordan Coy Fowler, both of Poplar Bluff, were united in marriage Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at Black River General Baptist Church in Broseley. Rev. Jim Sanders performed the double-ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Tony and Carlotta Eakins of Poplar Bluff and Donna and Eldie Freeman of Harviell...

The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to make a lifesaving commitment to donate blood to help ensure a sufficient blood supply in the new year, beginning in January with National Blood Donor Month. Upcoming blood donation opportunities: Poplar Bluff...

The Denver Airport was busy on Wednesday night, Dec. 16, as the family of Helen (Sparkman) Brandt of Greeley, Colo. flew in to surprise Brandt on her 90th birthday anniversary, Dec. 17, Mary Spencer of Forsyth, Ill., one of Brandt's two daughters, said, "We had such fun planning and getting this party together when none of us could be together. She was absolutely delighted."...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Numerous people have seen the movie or read the book about "The Bridge on the River Kwai," but a Butler County man walked across the railroad bridge at the Burma/Thailand border 25 years after it was constructed...

Poplar Bluff City Council members recently took on budget matters in a way that felt very familiar, approving approximately $71 million in city and utility budgets while barely asking any questions. A similar silence was heard from the city council table when about $3.5 million in no-bid projects were given to former city manager Heath Kaplan's ISI cronies...

Collecting box tops for schools This is in response to the individual inquiry as to which school collect box tops. I know for a fact Eugene Field would be thrilled to accept them. Be open to suggestions Hello, it's obvious the downtown board doesn't know what to do with downtown. ...

WASHINGTON -- When the Supreme Court contemplates changing its mind, it must weigh the institutional interest in the law's continuity against evidence that a prior decision has done an injury, even a constitutional injury. The court took 58 years to begin, with the 1954 school desegregation decision, undoing its 1896 decision affirming the constitutionality of "separate but equal" public facilities and services. ...

Mary Eubank Hamilton CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Mary Eubank Hamilton, 58, of Chapel Hill, N.C., and formerly Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016 in Chapel Hill. Mary was born and raised in Poplar Bluff - the oldest of four children. As a child, she was active in equestrian showing and the Girl Scouts. Her brothers used to bet their friends they could not win a fight against Mary, and her brothers never lost those wagers...

James Felton Dement FISK, Mo. -- James Felton Dement, 93, formerly of Poplar Bluff died Friday, Jan. 8, 2016 at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Aug. 14, 1922 in Broseley to the late James Francis and Wilma Rice Dement. Mr. Dement was a retired educator with a career of over 34 years. ...

Margaret Ann McQuay DEXTER, Mo. -- Margaret Ann McQuay, 80, of Dexter, died Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016 at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing in Dexter. Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m., Sunday, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m., Sunday in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Alice Fowler officiating...

Alma Foster CORNING, Ark. -- Mrs. Alma Foster, 84, of St. Charles, Mo., formerly of Neelyville, Mo., passed away Friday, Jan. 8, 2016, at SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital in St. Louis. Mrs. Foster was born in Pollard, Ark., on June 12, 1931. She retired from McQuay-Norris Mfg. in St. Louis, Mo., and was a homemaker. She was Church of Christ in faith...

Duke Haney DONIPHAN -- Duke Haney, 70, of Doniphan, died Friday, Jan. 8, 2016, at Southeast Health Center of Ripley County. Visitation will begin at noon Wednesday followed by the funeral at 1 p.m. in Edwards Funeral Home at Doniphan. Burial will be in Pine Cemetery...

Davine Conover, business development specialist for the Ozark Federal Credit Union, will talk about mentoring and helping others grow and develop at the Women Aware monthly luncheon meeting at noon Thursday in the Grand Ballroom at the Holiday Inn in Poplar Bluff...

Mary Wilson FISK -- Mary Ellen Wilson died Friday, Jan. 8, 2015, at Jonesboro Health Care Center in Jonesboro, Ark. A gathering of family and friends will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk with a memorial service following at noon in the funeral home chapel with Rev. David Tharp officiating...

Gary McQuitty WILLIAMSVILLE -- Gary Ray McQuitty, 66, of Williamsville, formerly of Macon, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be at 5 p.m Monday at Ruegg Funeral Home in Williamsville and 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at Greening-Eagan-Hayes Funeral Home at 401 N. Rollins St. in Macon...

Donna Lenderman DONIPHAN -- Donna Jean Lenderman, 66, life-long resident of Doniphan, died at her home Friday, Jan. 8, 2016. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Alan Wilson officiating...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Three weeks after a prominent, local businessman was arrested for allegedly being the second driver in a hit-and-run accident that killed a Poplar Bluff, Mo., teenager the investigation remains open. Ben Ressel, 38, of the 2700 block of Willowbrook Lane was arrested Dec. 18 on suspicion of the felony of leaving the scene of an accident in connection to an alleged hit-and-run crash, which left Heavenly Grace Hafford dead...

BROSELEY -- A little over a month into the season, the Doniphan boys basketball team was still in search of its first signature win. The Dons dabbled through a mediocre first third of the season with a 5-6 record to show for it. Against Ozark Foothills Conference rival Twin Rivers, they finally got the big one...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- He walked to the middle of the court and looked a bit uncomfortable doing so. He kept brushing his hand down his hair, even though it didn't need it and stood with a sheepish grin as Bloomfield coach Jason Karnes read aloud his current accomplishment...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff's 200-yard freestyle relay qualified for the state meet Friday as the Mules won the Rec Relays. Raegan McAtee, Morgan McAtee, Kaylee Harris and Taylor Norwood opened the meet by winning the 200-freestyle relay in 1 minute, 45.6 seconds, breaking the meet and pool record in the process...

MALDEN -- Trevor Ison scored 24 points and Shamaudre Barber added 14 as Malden picked up a 59-49 win over visiting New Madrid Central on Friday. The Green Wave (10-4) fell behind 22-20 at halftime, but outscored Central 21-12 in the third quarter. Ison scored 13 points in the third alone...

Students on the second quarter honor roll and merit roll For Twin Rivers Fisk Elementary (2015/2016 School Year) incude: Honor roll First grade Ashley Baysinger, Chalyn Bell, Lilly Burris, Hope Conner, Raychel Copeland, Kaitlyn Deaton, Davis Dingle, Caitlyn Edwards, Adysen Elsworth, Tye Emmons, Levi Goble, Lily Gray, Keaton Hicks, Dayten Hill, Hunter Hopkins, Kranston Jones, Kelysey Kee, Ashton Law, Will Parker, Cheyenne Qualls, Jonathan Ray, Ruby Sandy, Adam Shaver, Reagan Thomas, Ashlee Vinson, Kaylee Webb, Lucas Wilkerson.. ...

SEDALIA, Mo. -- The Raiders had a chance to start each of its rivals with an 0-1 record in Region XVI play. After beating MSU-West Plains, Mineral Area and Moberly Area, to begin each of those teams' region schedule, the Raiders lost to State Fair 97-85 on Saturday...

SEDALIA, Mo. -- The new year has been one tough trip for the Lady Raiders. State Fair, in its first game in nearly a month, beat Three Rivers 97-71 Saturday. State Fair made a 3 on four straight possessions in the last two minutes of the first quarter to build the first double-digit lead...