Stories from Thursday, January 28, 2016

BY PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) says the new Missouri Learning Standards are in the final stage of development. The standards define what K-12 students must know to "graduate college and be career ready." The subjects of math, English, science and social studies and are being rewritten following the passage of Missouri House Bill 1490 in April 2014...

The University Of Missouri Extension Council of Butler County elected eight people for a two-year term according to County Program Director Phyllis Flanigan. They are Betty Schalk, Jill Spargo Lynxwiler, Laura French Dowd, Faye Smody, Brandon Woolard, Pam Sullivan, Jack Altman and Marissa Willcut Day...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Poplar Bluff City Council members voted Tuesday to repay a multi-million dollar loan that has been outstanding for more than a decade. The city will transfer $3 million from its general fund to Municipal Utilities. With this vote, it will likely be at least two years before officials can break ground on either a new city hall or police department...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor QULIN -- The Missouri Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, in the Qulin Middle School to discuss constructing a new bridge over the St. Francis River on Highway 53 at the Butler/Dunklin county line...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Butler County health inspectors cannot definitely confirm that tainted products never reached Poplar Bluff R-I kitchens from the Chartwells R-I warehouse, saying that is a question for school administrators. "I don't know that I can confirm that myself," said Butler County Environmental Public Health Specialist Chris Grider during a Tuesday interview. "The people who can confirm that would be the people at the school system."...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Feb. 2 is the first day for Missouri voters to cast absentee ballots in the presidential preference primary election, according to Butler County Clerk Tonyi Deffendall. The deadline for Missouri residents to register to vote for this election is Feb. 17. The Butler County clerk's office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Poplar Bluff city street department workers will receive a 2 percent raise in 2016, with contract negotiations expected to begin this summer to decide future salary and benefits. City council members voted Tuesday to accept the agreement, also approving the sale of two pieces of property...

To the Editor: As 2015 draws to a close and 2016 comes upon us your Carter County Sheriff's Office continues to work towards providing you with superior law enforcement services. Many exciting and progressive things have occurred this past year, within your Carter County Sheriff's Office. As we continue working diligently to ensure your safety and security are maintained, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation for allowing me the opportunity to serve you and your families...

City should sue New Wave I cannot believe that the City of the Poplar Bluff does not sue this cable company that is the worst piece of junk -- this New Wave Cable Company --that I have ever seen in my lifetime. They make all of these excuses about what they are gonna do. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Is the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, a RINO -- a revolutionary in name only? So they must be muttering around the barracks of the Iranian Republican Guard Corps today. For while American hawks are saying we gave away the store to Tehran, consider what ayatollah agreed to...

More than $6.6 million in prizes of $1,000 or more were awarded to Missouri Lottery players during December. Thousands of other prizes of less than $1,000 also were awarded during the month. Area winners of $1,000 or more in December include the following:...

By LAURA FORD SEMO News Service KENNETT, Mo. -- What is it like and what does it take to be a participant on a national game show such as the "The Price is Right"? Just ask Clara Harris of Kennett. She had a chance, took it and won. Harris, her husband, Ron, and family members and friends gathered at the her home Monday to watch her win the game show's Showcase Showdown -- a 55-inch television, a trip to Miami and a 2016 Volkswagen Beetle...

Betty Lou Padgett Betty Lou Padgett, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., a resident at Mark Twain Care Center, went home to be with The Lord on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Betty was born March 19, 1930 in Fredericktown, Mo., to Lealon and Myrtle Bollinger. She married Arthur A. Ryan in 1945. They had two sons: James (Bonnie-Ryan of Poplar Bluff and Ronald (Brenda) Ryan of Jefferson City, Mo. whom survive...

DEXTER -- The seeded Bloomfield Wildcats outscored sixth-seeded Puxico by single digits in each of the first three quarters on its way to a 71-51 victory in a quarterfinal of the SCAA Tournament on Tuesday night. Blooomfield's largest lead in the first quarter was 15-7. Puxico narrowed the margin to 23-18 with 3:30 left in the half. But the Wildcats ended the first half with an 11-0 run capped off by a 3-pointer by Tyler Battles at the buzzer...

Grace Elledge Grace C. Elledge of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016 at Westwood Hills Health Care. Arrangements are pending with Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home.

GREENVILLE -- Greenville nearly wrote itself off before Grant Miller decided to do something about it. Leading by 10 midway through the fourth quarter, Naylor committed costly turnovers, missed shot after shot and left the door wide open for the Bears and Miller to sneak back in...

Gaylin Ellis Thompson DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Gaylin Ellis Thompson, 74, of Doniphan, Mo., departed this life Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, at Southeast Healthcare of Ripley County in Doniphan. Mr. Thompson, son of Elvis Ray and Maurice (Hooper) Thompson, was born July 21, 1941, in the Shiloh community of Ripley County, Mo. ...

VAN BUREN -- The Bulldogs have been spending an hour a day in practice working on their press to get ready for the Big Spring Conference Tournament. Van Buren, the hosts and the No. 3 seed, had Bunker in the first round. It was the third time the two teams faced each other this season...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- With four seconds left in overtime, J.R. Perryman knocked down his only bucket of the game, sending Twin Rivers to a slim 92-91 victory over East Prairie Tuesday night. The Eagles ensuing inbounds play and chance to win the game came to a hault when technical difficulties forced officials to call the game in an unconventional way...