Stories from Saturday, April 9, 2016

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff R-I school community celebrated on Thursday the completion of the first phase in a $50 million district-wide construction project with a ribbon cutting at the new Junior High FEMA safe room addition. Superintendent Chris Hon opened the ceremony by thanking the people who over the years worked on the district's construction plan and the voters for supporting the tax levy that provided funding...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Family members of a De Soto, Mo., man who committed suicide while being held in the Butler County Justice Center in 2013 have filed a federal lawsuit against Butler and Stoddard counties, as well as officers in each county and a local bail bondsman...

Is there a problem Seems the county road workers have a problem. Some are blind because they never look back to see what kind of job their doing. Some only have one leg because they using their tools to lean on. And the rest are all sitting in the office with the boss wondering how to get out of work that day. Thank you...

Heather Lynn and Donald Richard Jones, Jr. of Dexter have chosen the name Journey Rae Lynn Jones for their 8-pound 13 oz. daughter born Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016 at Saint Francis Medical Center's BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Journey was 20.5 inches long...

Cara Elizabeth Royer and Dallas John Kelley of McGee have chosen the name Hannah Grace Kelley for their 7-pound 6 oz. daughter born Friday, March 25, 2016 at Saint Francis Medical Center's BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Hannah was 20.3 inches long. Grandparents are David and Jean Royer of Fredericktown and Mark and Debbie Kelley of McGee...

From Staff Reports Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. a breaking bread community meal will be served at the Bread Shed Distribution Center at 203 N. D St., Poplar Bluff. Anyone in the community is welcome to attend. According to Bread Shed volunteers, the community meal is the latest answer to prayers to help those in need in the area...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN After winning only six delegates in Wisconsin, and with Ted Cruz poaching delegates in states he has won, like Louisiana, Donald Trump either wins on the first ballot at Cleveland, or Trump does not win. Yet, as that huge, roaring reception he received in his first post-Wisconsin appearance in Bethpage, N.Y., testifies, the Donald remains not only the front-runner, but the most exciting figure in the race...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- Yes, the big Wisconsin story is Ted Cruz's crushing 13-point victory. And yes, it greatly improves his chances of denying Donald Trump a first-ballot convention victory, which may turn out to be Trump's only path to the nomination...

The application deadline of May 1 is approaching for the Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff. "We still have slots available in this year's cohort, but prospective students will have to act quickly," said Dionne Thompson, MLT instructor for the college. "The Medical Laboratory Technology program can be a gateway to great career opportunities, and we want to give students every chance to apply."...

Poplar Bluff youth wrestling just completed our 2016 season and would like to take this opportunity to thank our supporters. First, we would like to thank all the coaches, referees and table workers who gave of their time to make the season a success, without their contributions this would not be possible...

Gary Neal Groves Gary Neal Groves, 64, of Williamsville, Mo. died Tuesday, April 5, 2016, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo.. He was born Sept. 24, 1951 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was a member of the Apostolic Worship Center. Mr. Groves served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was a computer specialist at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. His hobbies were spreading the word of God, motorcycles, hunting and fishing and spending time with his grandchildren...

East Carter R-II Middle School third quarter honor roll includes the following students: Sixth: Avory Alexander, Willow Anderson, Molly Berry, Samantha Conaway, William Cooley, Elizabeth Crowley, Jaci Douglas, Billy Emerson, Reagan Friedline, Kendrick Gholson, Preston Golden, Holden Hahn, Connor Hollis, Kathrynne Martin, Eli Marvin, Sarina McGavock, Jordan Moore, Brittany Neal, Rylee O'Dell, Kaydee Owen, Kailee Politte, Payton Raymer, Luke Roark, Cassidy Sullivan, Conner Sullivan, Madison Thurman, Emma Whittom, Jake Wilder. ...

By EVAN HOLLEY Staff Writer Coach, teacher, coordinator, mentor - according to his colleagues those are just a few of the "hats" worn by Poplar Bluff Junior High Teacher of the Year for 2016, Michael Berry. A Poplar Bluff native, Berry graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 2001. ...

The second time through the lineup, a team is supposed to have more success against the pitcher. Then even more the third and fourth times through. The Lady Raiders saw East Central pitcher Shelby Friend as many as seven times, but couldn't quite figure her out enough in the nightcap and split the doubleheader, winning the opener 2-1 before losing 3-1 on Thursday at Rains Field...

Needing to win one of the final three matches Thursday, the Poplar Bluff tennis team got a boost from its senior. Isaac Laseter shook off a tiebreaker loss in doubles play and a previous loss to Dexter's Zach Potts, winning 8-6 to clinch a 5-4 Mules win...

Winfred Earl Webb ELLSINORE, Mo. - Winfred Earl Webb, son of the late Noah and Nokie (Wilson) Webb was born September 23, 1940 in Qulin, Mo., and departed this life on April 3, 2016 at Cedergate Nursing Home in Poplar Bluff. He had attained the age of seventy-five years...

Terry O'Neal Roark DONIPHAN, Mo. - Terry O'Neal Roark, 64, of Doniphan, Mo., died Wed., April 6, 2016, at St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau. A memorial service will be at 5 p.m., Sat., April 9, at Current River Baptist Church in Doniphan.

BLOOMFIELD -- The Bernie baseball team took a giant leap toward the No. 1 seed in the upcoming SCAA Tournament Thursday night. The Mules scored all six of their runs off of left-handed starting pitcher Tim Hector before the fifth inning and led wire to wire in a 6-2 win over Bloomfield...