Stories from Saturday, February 6, 2016

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A combination of high water in December followed by freezing temperatures may be responsible for the most expensive flooding event in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways for decades. The price tag for damage to facilities, trails and infrastructure is approaching $1 million, according to National Park Service staff...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Nearly two weeks after allegedly eluding officers following vehicle and foot pursuits, a Broseley, Mo., man was apprehended Thursday afternoon in a Texas town west of Austin. Officials with the Poplar Bluff Police Department learned Jeffery Matthew Vest was taken into custody without incident by the Kerrville, Texas, Police Department, according to Sgt. Darron Moore...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man may face charges after allegedly stabbing one man and robbing another early Thursday morning inside a Kinzer Street apartment. At about 3:50 a.m., officers with the Poplar Bluff Police Department were dispatched to Edward Ray Seals' apartment in the 1000 block of Kinzer Street, according to Patrolman Joey Woodruff's report...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Poplar Bluff City Council members are expected to vote Feb. 16 on a permit to locate a men's addiction recovery center in east Poplar Bluff. Crossroads Ministry would like to open a faith based, not-for-profit center with housing for up to six men at 132 N. B St., according to information presented to the council Monday...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS There is a letter titled "Isn't It Strange?" making the rounds in email boxes. It asks questions to which our fellow Americans should know the answers, save for those caught up in modernity. It starts off asking, "Isn't it strange that after a bombing, everyone blames the bomber, his upbringing, his environment, his culture but ... ...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- It's hard to believe that the United States, having resisted the siren song of socialism during its entire 20th-century heyday (the only major democracy to do so), should suddenly succumb to its charms a generation after its intellectual demise. Indeed, the prospect of socialist Bernie Sanders, whatever his current momentum, winning the Democratic nomination remains far-fetched...

The House passed three more pieces of ethics legislation this week; bringing the total to seven ethics bills sent to the Senate. Two weeks ago the House passed legislation that would prevent elected officials from becoming a lobbyist immediately; prohibited legislators from serving as paid political consultants; and updated personal financial disclosure reporting requirements to make them more transparent...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A woman was arrested after authorities say she bit the tip off another woman's little finger at a Sikeston bar. Sikeston Department of Public Safety officers were notified by the emergency-room personnel at Missouri Delta Medical Center of a possible second-degree assault Friday night...

SIKESTON, Mo. (SMNS)-- As the Sikeston Department of Public Safety continues its investigation into allegations of invasion of privacy in the bathroom at the YMCA of Southeast Missouri, authorities are seeking other possible victims. Some of those victims may be in another state, police said...

They may not always be the top seed or the favorite to win it all, but when the Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament rolls around, you can almost always bet the Twin Rivers Royals will be there for the championship. "We have some type of energy every year at this time of the season that seems to push us to want to win it that much more," Twin Rivers junior Chance Wilkerson said. "I don't think you can put your finger on exactly what it is but every year, including this year, I feel it."...

When Becky Hale first took over the Neelyville girls basketball program 15 years ago, the Lady Tigers weren't able to make much noise in the Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament. Now, the rest of the field can hardly shake them and are left with the same burning question year after year: How do you stop them?...

An early 16-point deficit had been cut down to six in the opening minutes of the second half when Poplar Bluff's gas tank was finally empty. Jackson finished the third quarter with a 13-3 run, set the cruise control and beat the short-handed Lady Mules 63-47 in a SEMO Conference game Thursday night...

When the Raiders rolled into State Fair, it was on the end of a three-day road trip and coming off an emotional win at Moberly Area. Three Rivers allowed the Roadrunners to shoot 56 percent, the best of any opponent this season, and lost 97-85. To put 56 percent into perspective, Three Rivers is currently second in the country in opponents' field goal percentage at 37.2. ...

NAYLOR -- The Dexter Bearcats girls basketball team faced one of its tallest tasks of the season in the paint Thursday night. Naylor challenged Dexter inside with 6-foot sophomore Calle Pickrell, 5-11 junior Gracie Gargac and 5-10 senior Kabrien Rogers...

Karis Michelle and Adam Michael Ivie of Poplar Bluff have chosen the name Everett Nolan Ivie for their 7-pound, 8-ounce son who was born at 3:29 pm., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2016, at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Everett was 19 inches long...

Roma Ketchem DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Roma Renee (Staggs) Ketchem, 61, of Doniphan, Mo., departed this world on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, at her residence. She was preceded in death by her father, J. H. Staggs. Roma left behind her husband of almost 40 years, Dennis Ketchem...

Helen Louise Gunter MALDEN, Mo. -- Helen Louise Gunter, 60, of Dexter, died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Visitation will be from noon - 1 p.m., Friday at the Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m., Friday at the Mole Hill Cemetery in Broseley with Mr. James Powell officiating. Burial will be in Mole Hill Cemetery...

HAYTI -- Kedron Rollings darted down the floor to sink a buzzer-beating layup as fourth-seeded Hayti upset top-seeded Malden 80-78 in overtime of a Bootheel Conference Tournament semifinal Thursday night. The Indians advance to tonight's championship game and in the process snapped the Green Wave's 9-game winning streak...

Ivan L. "Bullet" Pulling DEXTER, Mo. - Ivan L. Pulling, 93, of Parma, died Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. - noon, Monday, at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will follow at noon in the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, with Danny Talkington of Essex officiating...

Helen Louise Gunter MALDEN, Mo. -- Helen Louise Gunter, 60, of Dexter, died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Visitation will be from noon - 1 p.m., Friday at the Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m., Friday at the Mole Hill Cemetery in Broseley with Mr. James Powell officiating. Burial will be in Mole Hill Cemetery...

Roma Ketchem photo DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Roma Renee (Staggs) Ketchem, 61, of Doniphan, Mo., departed this world on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, at her residence. She was preceded in death by her father, J. H. Staggs. Roma left behind her husband of almost 40 years, Dennis Ketchem...

Ivan L. "Bullet" Pulling Flag DEXTER, Mo. - Ivan L. Pulling, 93, of Parma, died Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. - noon, Monday, at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will follow at noon in the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, with Danny Talkington of Essex officiating...

Karis Michelle and Adam Michael Ivie of Poplar Bluff have chosen the name Everett Nolan Ivie for their 7-pound, 8-ounce son who was born at 3:29 pm., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2016, at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Everett was 19 inches long...