Stories from Saturday, July 30, 2016

By MARK BLISS SEMO News Service U.S. Rep. Jason Smith and all three of his challengers in Tuesday's Republican primary for the Missouri 8th District seat in Congress describe themselves as conservatives who support the right to bear arms and want to lessen the burden of government on small businesses...

By TIARA McCLURE (McClure, 22, works in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and lives in Puxico, Mo. She is a delegate representing Missouri at the Democratic National Convention and is providing a daily journal of her experiences.) Thursday, July 28 Today is the final day of the convention and I am more tired than ever, especially after the UAW (United Auto Workers Union) put on an open bar last night to keep us all up...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer City officials voted Thursday to seek approximately $5 million in additional bonds to move forward with transportation projects in the Highway 67 corridor, including an extension of Shelby Road. Action was taken by the Poplar Bluff Regional Transportation Development District, a special taxing entity set up to be overseen by city and county officials, and a local property owner...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Butler County voters will decide Tuesday during the Republican primary who will serve as their coroner for the next four years. Incumbent Jim Akers is seeking re-election to his third term as coroner. He is being challenged by Andy Moore and Bob Crawford, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Crucial political decisions often concern which bridges to cross and which to burn. Donald Trump's dilemma is that he burns some bridges by the way he crosses others. His campaign depends on a low-probability event, and on his ability to cause this event without provoking a more-than-equal and opposite reaction...

Shirley Maize Tibbs -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Elbert Cozy Carter -- Ellsinore, Mo. Polly Ann Orr -- Clarkton, Mo. Merle Hess -- Bowling Green, Mo.

The House of Representatives, before adjourning for a seven-week vacation, passed several bills intended to block the sale or lease by Boeing of some $25 billion worth of commercial aircraft to Iran Air. It is worth noting that the legislative body did not manage to pass any of the U.S. government-necessary appropriations bills before taking the rest of the summer off...

P'ville mom charged when toddler falls from car SEMO News Service A 3-year-old child fell out of the rear passenger-side door of a moving car as it was turning right onto U.S. 61, Perryville, Missouri, police said. The child fell out in a car seat and rolled about four times, police said...

Merle Hess PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Merle Hess, 104, of Bowling Green, Mo., formerly of Patterson, Mo., died Thursday, July 28, 2016, at Moore Pike Nursing Home. Visitation will be held from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont, Mo. Graveside services will be held at noon at Patterson Cemetery...

Diana Lynn Fiske Diana Lynn Fiske, 60, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Monday, July 25, 2016, peacefully and unexpectedly, at her home. Mrs. Fiske was born Oct. 18, 1955 in Poplar Bluff. She was of the Catholic faith and a member of the Missouri Star Quilters Club. ...

Shirley Maize Tibbs Shirley Maize Tibbs, 84, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Sunday, July 24, 2016 at Cedargate Healthcare in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Tibbs, the daughter of the late Henry and Ethel Lewis Maize, was born Dec. 10, 1931 in Poplar Bluff. In her earlier years, Mrs. Tibbs worked in the accounting department of McPheeters Clinic. She enjoyed spending time with her husband, her mother, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her friends; shopping, reading, sweets, and cooking...

Polly Ann Orr MALDRN, Mo. -- Polly Ann Orr of Clarkton, Mo., 65, was born on Nov. 4, 1950 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. to the late Reginald Bailey and Freida Key Bailey. She died Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at the St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark...

Elbert Cozy Carter ELLSINORE. Mo. -- Elbert Cozy Carter, 74, son of the late Cozy and Samantha (Cates) Carter was born Oct. 18, 1941 in Ellsinore, Mo. and passed from this life to his heavenly home on July 26, 2016 at his residence in Ellsinore, Mo...