Stories from Saturday, January 16, 2016

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Butler County officials have asked the public defender's office to move to a cheaper building following a proposal from the state, which would halt about $20,000 a year in rent subsidies to four area counties. The size and quality of this building is important to residents, because it can have a direct impact on how many attorneys are assigned to District 36, and ultimately how quickly criminal cases are handled, according to discussions by officials...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor The Butler County Sheriff's Department saw nearly a 50-percent increase last year in the number of new concealed-carry permits it issued. After the CCW law went into effect in 2004, there was "huge influx" of people applying for the permits, said Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs, who estimated about 300 permits were issued during that abbreviated year...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered every year in Poplar Bluff for his dream that "all men and women would be treated fairly and equally regardless of creed or color." This year marks the 30th anniversary of the first national celebration of King's birthday...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A local orthopedic surgeon may face charges after authorities found nearly one-half pound of suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside his home earlier this week. As officers with the Poplar Bluff Police Department, SEMO Drug Task Force, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Butler County Sheriff's Department were serving grand-jury indictments in the Poplar Bluff, Mo., area late Wednesday afternoon, they reportedly went to an address in the 200 block of Kaylee Circle.. ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Sacred Heart Catholic Church will celebrate two important milestones this year - the 125 year anniversary of the church and the 100 year anniversary of the parochial school. "We are proud of the fact that the church and the Catholic community has survived and the teachings of the apostles are still with us," said deacon David Farris. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor QULIN, Mo. -- Both lanes of Highway 53 near Qulin reopened at about 10:30 a.m. Friday after having been blocked for more than two hours as the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated a fatality crash. The accident, according to Sgt. Clark Parrott, happened at about 8 a.m. on Highway 53, about one-half mile south of Qulin...

By MONA CHAREN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA -- At a time and day -- 8:30 a.m. on a Saturday -- when most Americans are sleeping in, the Kemp Forum on Expanding Opportunity convened in the capacious Columbia, South Carolina, convention center. Even at 8:15, it was tough to find a seat...

Hillview Elementary School first semester principal and honor rolls PRINCIPAL ROLL Second Grade: Maggie Adams, Nicole Akers, Reign Coston, Zak Cowley, Tucker Edmundson, Parker Ernst, Ruger Fisher, Shane Fisher, Leslie Guthery, Andrew Hall, Jaden Kinkade, Madelyn Lumby, Darrion Mann, Miah Martin, Brooklyn Piroli, Landen Rush, Emma Sheehy and Corey Shipp...

Greenville High School students earning places on the honor roll are: Ninth Grade Katherine (Kate) Bangert, Jackson J. T. Becker, Jason P. Bratton, Damion Zane Burkett, Angelica M. Carver, Alexus N. Cowsert, Jasper Lane Cravens, Cody A. Crutchfield, Jonathan T. ...

Qulin Middle School honor and merit roll for the second quarter includes: Honor Roll 5th Grade: Hannah Bader, Kaydence Bequette, Jasmine Byrd, Jagger Crismon, Emma Head, Tucker Hequembourg. Charly Johnson, Matthew Johnson, Carter Lewis, Hannah Patterson, Jaden Rodewald, Rachel Rommel, Sarah Tanksley,...

Students at Eugene Field Elementary School earning places on the A and B Honor Roll Second Quarter include: A Honor Roll Third Grade: Logahn Bristol, Owen Burkhead, Dereck Burton, Patiance Cochran, Alexis Danner, Triston Dixon, Lacy Fleming, Hunter Kearbey, Hannah Kee, Nicholai Lane, Lucas Longhibler, Kailey Manis, Isaiah Marshall, Jodi McElhaney, Reece Prenger, Aaron Shaw, Jesse Thurner, Kayden Walker...

Ellsinore school collects box tops This is in reply to the person asking in last weeks DAR if any local schools participate in the Box Tops for Education Program. Our school, East Carter Co. R-2 in Ellsinore participates in the Box Tops for Education Program as well as Campbell's Labels for Education Program, the Prang Power Program, Tyson A+ Labels Program, and the Prairie Farm Lids for a Cause Program. ...

Chief Danny Whiteley and the Poplar Bluff Police Department provided the following guidelines to help you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips:...

Sacred Heart School student of the month are: Lauren Bourd is Sacred Heart's fourth grade student of the month. Lauren's family includes her parents Kyle and Shelly, a younger sister Palyn a horse Princess Peach and her cat Boo. She enjoys talking with others when she's lonely. ...

Judy C. Bennett PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Judy C. Bennett, 68, of Piedmont died Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, at Troy, Mo. Visitation will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 18. Funeral Services will follow at 1 p.m. Monday at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

Area lottery winners in November More than $4.7 million in prizes of $1,000 or more were awarded to Missouri Lottery players during November. Thousands of other prizes of less than $1,000 also were awarded during the month. Winners of $1,000 or more in November from this area include the following:...

Izora Rankins Izora Rankins, 80, formerly of Poplar Bluff, died Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016 at Golden Living Center in Jefferson City. Visitation will be at 11 a.m., Saturday at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. Funeral will follow at noon at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home...

Wilma Jean LeGrand DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Wilma Jean LeGrand, 80, of Doniphan died Wednesday, Jan. 13 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Visitation will be held from 5 - 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, at the West Point Pentecostal Church. The funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday in the church sanctuary with Pastors' Carr officiating. Burial will be in the Towles Cemetery...

POCAHONTAS, Ark. -- Poplar Bluff beat Cabot (Ark.) twice in the final race as the Mules clinched a 3-point victory Thursday. Haylee Dragon, Samara Kilgore, Lexi Vaughn and Lily Soeter won the 400-meter freestyle relay while teammates Megan Adams, Hannah Earley, Macy Johnson and Katie Huskey were fourth with Cabot following in second and fifth...

West Plains missed a chance to take down the Mules at the end of regulation and Poplar Bluff made the Zizzers pay for it. Marcedus Leech broke a tie midway through overtime with a 3-pointer and the Mules sank six free throws in the final half minute to win 59-55 Thursday night at Peters Gym...

Maurice Eugene Moss Maurice Eugene Moss, 83, of Mill Spring, passed away Monday, Jan. 12, 2016, in Jonesboro, Ark. Mr. Moss was born Dec. 11, 1933, in Mill Spring, to the late Clarence and Kathryn Moss. He was a Jehovah Witness and loved ministry work. He was a distributor for Rainbow Vacuum Co. He enjoyed fishing, and loved being with his family and wife...

Gerald "Sonny" Vandermark CHAMPAIGN, Ill, -- Gerald "Sonny" Vandermark, 82, died on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016 at C/U Regional Rehab, Savoy, Ill. He is most recently from Broseley, Mo., although he spent much of his life in Rockford, Ill. and Galena, Ill. Sonny was the ninth of 16 children born to Ross and Bell Vandermark on April 9, 1933. His sisters, Yvonne and Sue, survive...

Time is running out to see the success of Three Rivers College alumni recognized, as nominations for the college's 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award will close on Jan. 29. The award recognizes the accomplishments and achievements of the college's graduates and former students. The award will be given out at a recognition banquet hosted by the college in the spring...

GREENVILLE -- Twin Rivers didn't want any part of a close game three days after dropping one to Butler County rival Poplar Bluff. Jaysea Morgan made sure that didn't happen Thursday night. Trailing by two points with 18 seconds remaining in the third quarter, the senior knocked down a 3 from the left corner to give the Lady Royals the lead for good and all the momentum on their way to a 60-47 victory at Greenville...

When the Three Rivers Raiders went to New York in late December, it was the first time on an airplane for three players. Demetrius Cornell, Sadaeys Miller and Camron Reedus were nervous. Their friends, teammates and family didn't help much. They got jokes about disaster movies like "Snakes on a Plane." Would-you-rather questions about what they would do when they crash. There was talk of turbulence and terrorists...

DEXTER -- Dexter girls basketball coach Chad Allen wanted his shooters to attack the basket more frequently in the second half after they made just 7 of 34 shots to start Thursday night. The offense came thanks to the Lady Bearcats' defense in a 55-41 win against Neelyville at the Bearcat Event Center...

Dronald Kernodle DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Corby Dronald Kernodle, 86, of Frenchtown Township, Monroe County, Mich., died Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, at the Promedica Monroe Regional Hospital in Monroe City, Mich. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel and burial will be in the Oak Ridge Cemetery with full military honors...

David Lynn Davis PUXICO, Mo. -- David Lynn Davis, 63, son of the late Alfred and Essie Cookson Davis, was born in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Feb. 2, 1952, and passed away at the Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016. Mr. Davis had lived most of his life in Puxico, Mo. ...

NEELYVILLE -- Dalton King's 3-pointer with 4 seconds left gave Puxico a 50-49 win at Neelyville on Thursday night. The Indians finished the game with a 21-8 run after falling behind 41-29 heading into the fourth quarter. The Tigers led 15-6 after one quarter...