Stories from Wednesday, January 27, 2016

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Doniphan, Mo., man may face charges after he was caught allegedly stealing from a local taxidermy shop and then brandished a rifle at an employee who followed him as he fled toward Stringtown, Mo., in a suspected stolen truck...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Describing a man with strong commitments to faith, family and community, the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce honored Steve Whitworth as the 2015 Citizen of the Year during a banquet Saturday. Longtime City Council member Betty Absheer, completing her final term, and Volunteer of the Year Debby Norris also were recognized during the event at the Black River Coliseum. Nearly 500 people attended...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Local authorities continue to search for a Butler County man already wanted in Texas, who they say led officers on vehicle and foot pursuits, which resulted in an officer fracturing his leg. At about 4:30 p.m. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man was taken into federal custody Monday morning on an indictment alleging he illegally possessed a rifle and empty cartridges, which were used to ring in the new year...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff R-I Board of Education has called a special meeting to discuss, and launched an investigation into, a recent rodent infestation at school lunch provider Chartwells' R-I warehouse. According to the agenda, members will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Board of Education Room, 1110 North Westwood. The meeting is open to the public...

Just follow the Constitution Beware America. There is a movement afoot in the USA to call for the convention of the states. Shawn Hannity, and many others are pushing hard for a convention. If this takes place it will be the end of our Constitution as we know it...

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Standard Democrat There was once a time when politicians courted newspapers in search of an editorial endorsement of their candidacy. Long before technology overwhelmed society with a minute-by-minute news cycle, the public would often rely on newspapers to give them an inside view of issues and candidates to help guide their votes...

John U. Roach, Sr. Retired CWO John U. Roach, Sr., 86, of Puxico passed away Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016 at his home. Mr. Roach, son of the late Albert and Ruth (Ullom) Roach, was born June 29, 1929 in Warren, Ohio. He joined the United States Army in July 1946. John was united in marriage to Loretta (Vardell) Aug. 16, 1952 in Puxico, Mo. during Puxico Homecoming. John was a career Army man serving in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He retired from the service in February 1973...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- China produces an astonishing number of astonishing numbers, including this: In the 20th century, America made automobiles mass-consumption items, requiring prodigious road building. China, however, poured more concrete for roads and other construction between 2011 and 2013 than America did in the 20th century. ...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- President Obama's Tuesday night address to Congress was less about the state of the union than the state of the presidency. And the state of this presidency is spent. The signs of intellectual exhaustion were everywhere. ...

Do you have a budding baker in your household between the ages of 10 and 13 (5th through 8th grade)? Can't tear him or her away from Cake Boss when it's on TV? Are you looking for a fun way for your little pastry chef to learn new and important skills in the kitchen?...

By JILL BOCK SEMO News Service RISCO, Mo. -- Ten years later, and the family of Teresa Butler still waits to discover the fate of a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother. Ten years later, New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens still is searching for the answers...

Edna Mae Bruce Edna Mae Bruce, 82, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff. Services and burial will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at Kerns Chapel in Stringtown. Online condolences: www.fowlersullivanfuneralhome.com...

Carl Hester BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - Carl Hester, 90, of Bloomfield, died Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, at the Golden Living Center in Bloomfield, Mo. A visitation was held at 5 p.m., Monday, Jan. 25 at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield. The funeral will be at 11 a.m., today, Jan. 26 at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield...

James "J.D." Metcalf BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - James "J.D." Metcalf, 83, died Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at his home near Bloomfield. Visitation will be at 5 p.m., today, Jan. 26 at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield. The funeral will be at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 27 at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield...

DEXTER -- The seventh-seeded Bernie Mules kept pace with the Dexter Bearcats for most of the first half but came up short in its bid to secure an upset at the SCAA Tournament on Monday night. Dexter scored the final 17 points of the half to build a commanding lead and secured an 80-54 quarterfinal victory over the Mules...

Carl Hester BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - Carl Hester, 90, of Bloomfield, died Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, at the Golden Living Center in Bloomfield, Mo. Visitation was at 5 p.m., Monday at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield. The funeral was at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 26 at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield...

DONIPHAN -- The Doniphan girls basketball team proved it could handle a little winter weather last week. The two snow showers that delayed games across the region didn't keep the Donettes off the court entirely, and it showed in their first game back in over a week...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer On the heels of a profitable event last week with the Globetrotters, the Black River Coliseum has plans for a new summer concert and reports strong ticket sales for next month's Price Is Right showcase. A contract should be signed this week to host the Newsboys, a Christian band that has performed in Poplar Bluff before, coliseum director Bobby Godwin told advisory board members Thursday...

Lyman C. Hale PUXICO, Mo. -- Lyman C. Hale, 84, of Wappapello, Mo. died Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at The Manor in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. tonight at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Morgan Sifford Chapel. The Rev. Terry Scott will officiate. Burial will be in the New Hope Cemetery in McGee, Mo...

Terry Joe Johnson MALDEN, Mo. - Terry Joe Johnson, 48, of Kennett, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in Jonesboro, Ark. Visitation was at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Bradshaw Chapel - Malden with the funeral following at 2 p.m. in the chapel. Burial will be in Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton, Mo...

The Raiders swept Moberly Area last year, too. It was the first time it had happened since 2009, in fact. It was a good time for Three Rivers. Then the Greyhounds turned around and ended Three Rivers' season in the Region XVI Tournament. Jemeereo Spain still lingers on that loss, as do each of the four Raider sophomores...

Ben Laxton PIEDMONT, Mo. - Ben Laxton, a 83, formerly of Piedmont, died Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 at the Great River Medical Center in Blytheville, Ark. Visitation was at 11 a.m., Tuesday at the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. in the chapel with Bro. Paul Gonnella officiating. Burial will be in the Mill Spring Cemetery...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Josh Lewis reached the championship match at the SEMO Conference wrestling tournament Saturday night as Poplar Bluff finished fifth as a team. Lewis was trailing 3-1 in the third period when Farmington's Devin Savage earned a pin, capping a team title for the Knights...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Saxony Lutheran senior Raegan Wieser had been waiting months for Monday night's game to finally come, so she concluded her debut in vigorous fashion. The 5-foot-11 Wieser, who tore her ACL just before the start of volleyball season and underwent surgery in August, contributed a little more than four minutes of playing time, including an electric 55 seconds late in the fourth quarter...

Edna Mae Bruce Edna Mae Bruce, 82, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Bruce was born in Butler County, Mo. on Jan. 11, 1934 to Harry and Agnes Davidson. She was a lifelong resident of the county and worked as a CNA at both Doctors Hospital and Bluff Manor Nursing Home. ...

James "J.D." Metcalf BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - James "J.D." Metcalf, 83, died Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at his home near Bloomfield. Visitation will be at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 26 at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield. The funeral will be at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 27 at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield...

Carmen York Carmen York, 81, of Poplar Bluff, formerly of Wayne County, Mo., died Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are currently pending with Ruegg Funeral Homes, Inc. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

KOSHKONONG, Mo. -- With 23 seconds left in overtime, consecutive misses at the free-throw line didn't doom Naylor. Jacob Rich tracked down the offensive rebound and scored to put the Eagles up for good on their way to a 54-51 victory Monday night at Koshkonong...

Brenda Elaine Leibowitz DEXTER, Mo. -- Brenda Elaine Leibowitz, 66, died Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016 at SoutheastHEALTH in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be from noon- 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter followed by funeral services at 2 p.m. at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Michael Kohlbaker officiating. Burial will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery...