Stories from Thursday, June 23, 2016

By NOREEN HYSLOP SEMO News Service BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A 41-year-old Dexter man is being held without bond at the Stoddard County Jail following an investigation that led authorities in the fall of 2015 to charge him with Abuse or Neglect of a Child (Mental Injury). ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer In the wake of a loss of funding that ended its traditional summer school, Neelyville R-IV is instituting a new part-time program to address learning loss among K-6 students. Dubbed "Tuesday Tutoring," the program is in full swing at Hillview Elementary for the next several weeks. It utilizes two teachers and a number of high school A+ program students to engage students in educational activities...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Veterans share a bond that goes deeper than age, race, gender, religion or wage, according to John Cooper, who was recently named the first African American commander of Poplar Bluff's AMVETS Post 29. They carry the same experiences, knowledge so deeply ingrained, it isn't lost to time or distance, according to Cooper...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., mother may face endangerment charges after authorities found her children allegedly living in a home with nearly 20 dogs Tuesday. At about 11:55 p.m., Animal Control Officer Dan St. Lawrence was on patrol when he saw several small dogs running at large in the 600 block of Don Street...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., businessman appeared in court Tuesday morning on charges he allegedly defrauded three banks by defaulting on loans and a construction company by failing to complete paid-for work. The alleged losses totalled nearly $525,000...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A Poplar Bluff man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 40 years on Tuesday for robbing and killing a St. Louis hotel clerk in January 2015 that netted him less than $100. Joseph Bowens, 45, of the 600 block of Lindsay, was found guilty of first-degree murder and robbery in April in the death of 50-year old Scott Knopfel. ...

Margie Gaskins Margie F. Gaskins, 67, of Puxico passed away Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at her home. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Morgan Sifford Funeral Home of Puxico in charge of arrangements.

Timothy Harbin Timothy Scott Harbin, 50 of Puxico died near Fisk, Mo. Mr. Harbin was born February 3, 1966 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was a member of the Christian Family Fellowship in Puxico as well as the Labor Union 1104 in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Survivors include his mother, Janet Metcalf and his stepfather, Carl Metcalf; one son, Aaron Harbin; one daughter, Austin Harbin, both of Puxico; two brothers, Brad Cookson of Puxico and Scott Cookson of Granite City, Ill., and one sister, Becky Siegler of Puxico.. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH SEMO News Service FISK, Mo. -- Authorities say it is probable a Butler County man drowned after his truck apparently ran off of Highway 51 in early April and became submerged in a pond. A 1999 Ford pickup and a body, later identified as the truck's registered owner, Timothy Scott Harbin, reportedly were found Friday afternoon submerged in a pond located on the south side of U.S. 60 and on the northbound side of Highway 51...

By DONNA FARLEY SEMO News Service WAPPAPELLO LAKE, MO. -- As a child, James Gracey's father farmed cropland that butted up against the St. Francis River in northern Arkansas. Every day, that water passed through a dam in Missouri, the elder Gracey often told his son...

Norma Lou Hayes SKIATOOK, Okla. -- Norma Lou Hayes, 74, of Skiatook, Okla. died Friday, March 25, 2016, at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, Okla. Norma was born June 12, 1941, in Jungland, Mo. to Joe Edward Ward and Rose Spradling. She received her primary schooling in Jungland and Fisk, secondary schooling in Poplar Bluff, and her Associates Degree from Three Rivers Community College. ...

1SG (Ret.) Gerald Keith Moore ADVANCE, MO. -- 1SG (Ret.) Gerald Keith Moore, 67, of Poplar Bluff, passed away surrounded by his loved ones Monday, June 20, 2016 at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Sept. 15, 1948 at Zalma, the son of Gay Hershel Moore and Geraldine Smith McCullough...

Glennon Hugo Hasheider DONIPHAN, MO. -- Glennon Hugo Hasheider, 74, of Doniphan, passed away Sunday, June 19, 2016, at the Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. Mr. Hasheider, son of the late Hugo and Neoma (Borrenpohl) Hasheider, was born May 29, 1942, in St. Louis. Glenn was retired from the U. S. Air Force and he continued supporting the military by performing military honors at funerals. He enjoyed his family, grandchildren and golf...

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Standard Democrat There's a pivotal scene in the Wizard of Oz when the "wizard" - far from a "wizard" in reality - is caught hiding behind a curtain and his real identity is about to be discovered. The "wizard" warns Dorothy and her band of followers not to pay attention to what's going on behind the curtain. Of course, Dorothy ignores his warning and uncovers the truth...

Carol D. Hess Carol D. Hess, 71, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Tuesday, June 22, 2016, at the Villages of Jackson Creek in Independence, Mo. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff, Mo.

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN If the cliches hold -- nothing succeeds like success, the past is prologue -- this generation will not likely see an end to the jihadist terror that was on display at Pulse in Orlando on Sunday. For terrorism has proven to be among the most cost-effective and successful strategies of war that the world has ever seen...

Three Rivers College has announced the promotion of Justin Hoggard to Dean of Instruction, where he will be responsible for all of the college's for-credit academic and career education classes. Hoggard, who was previously Chair of the Social Science Department and Title III Director, will assume his new position on July 1...

By GEORGE PARRY The Philadelphia Inquirer via Tribune News Service In the wake of the Orlando, Fla., nightclub atrocity, President Barack Obama has admonished us to "do some soul-searching" about how "easy" it is in this country to obtain firearms. Just so. But if we are to do an honest examination of conscience, we must begin with the facts...

Eupha "Mae" Estes GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Eupha "Mae" Estes, 82, of Williamsville, Mo., passed away on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at Southeast hospital, Cape Girardeau, Mo., from cardiac problems and other illness, with her family by her side. She was born April 7, 1934, in St. Louis, Mo., to the late Clarence and Ida Marie Jordan. She attended Greenville high school in Greenville, Mo...

It's been more than 20 years since Jeremy Jackson played basketball at Twin Rivers, but the memories haven't faded much -- even the one that's still tough to take. Jackson recalls the days when the Royals could barely reach the .500-mark, let alone compete for conference and district trophies. But by the time 1995 began, Twin Rivers was on everyone's radar...

1Sgt. Gerald Moore -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Glennon Hasheider -- Doniphan, Mo. Carol D. Hess -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Eupha "Mae" Estes -- Williamsville, Mo.