Stories from Thursday, August 11, 2016

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A half cent law enforcement sales tax passed by Carter County residents and tighter control of accounting procedures may have begun to ease the county's financial burdens. The general fund cash balance grew from less than $20,000 in January 2015 to nearly $158,000 by the end of that year, according to a recently released state audit...

By LINDSAY JONES SEMO News Service JACKSON, Mo. -- High school students in Jackson who participate in certain extracurricular activities will be subject to random drug testing this year under a policy adopted by the school board Tuesday night. Under the policy, students in grades nine through 12 will be required to consent to testing if they belong to any school-sponsored groups regulated by the Missouri State High School Activities Association...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports detection of seven small earthquakes in the past four days in the New Madrid Seismic Zone. Minor quakes are common in the the New Madrid Seismic Zone. None of the series of small quakes caused any substantial damage. Of the seven earthquakes counted since Saturday, four occurred in the Missouri Bootheel region, two in nearby western Tennessee and one in east central Illinois...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Thursday, Sept. 22, a group of women will converge on the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff for the 29th annual Women Aware conference Committee members started planning after last year's event and are putting the finishing touches on this year's conference. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor It has been four weeks since a special prosecutor was appointed to handle the investigation into the alleged involvement of a former prominent, local businessman in connection with a December hit-and-run accident that killed a Poplar Bluff, Mo., teenager...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer A historical Poplar Bluff home formerly on the list of Missouri's Most Endangered Places is poised to resume its former grandeur thanks to property owner Matt Chatman. Chatman purchased the home in 2014, shortly after an article about its potential demolition was published in the Daily American Republic...

Rev. Charles Hanna Rev. Charles Calvin Hanna, 85, of Poplar Bluff passed away Aug. 2, 2016 at The Manor in Polar Bluff. Services were held Aug. 5, 2016 at the First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff. Dr. William Vail officiated. Burial followed in Memorial Gardens Cemetery...

Elton Dunlap Elton Dunlap, 81, of Harviell died July 30, 2016 at his residence. Services were held August 4 at Bluff City Apostolic Worship Center. Rev. Ted Elledge and Rev. Leroy Murray officiated. Burial followed with full military rites in the Kinsey Cemetery near Harviell...

By KITTYE HALL Master Gardener University of Missouri Extension Our summer program with the Sierra Girls has ended for another year and everyone agrees it was a successful learning experience for everyone involved. Many field trips were enjoyed by the girls as well as the Master Gardeners. They visited large farms, greenhouses, vegetable and fruit gardens, landscaped yards and had a picnic and swimming party to wrap things up! Plans will be decided for next year's program in the coming months...

Students looking to start classes at Three Rivers College should act quickly to enroll before the Fall registration deadline, according to officials at the college. Online and on-site registration will close at end of day Aug. 12 at the Poplar Bluff campus, as well as the locations in Sikeston, Dexter, Kennett, Malden, and Cape Girardeau. The Fall semester starts on Monday, Aug. 15...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Like shipwrecked mariners clinging to a floating mast, many Republicans rationalize supporting Donald Trump because of "the court." This two-word incantation means: Because we care so much for the Constitution, it is supremely important to entrust to Trump the making of Supreme Court nominations. Well...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- Donald Trump, the man who defied every political rule and prevailed to win his party's nomination, last week took on perhaps the most sacred political rule of all: Never attack a Gold Star family. Not just because it alienates a vital constituency but because it reveals a shocking absence of elementary decency and of natural empathy for the most profound of human sorrows -- parental grief...

Wayne Lewis BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Wayne Lewis, 93, of Bloomfield, died Monday, Aug. 8, 2016, at the Missouri Veteran's Home in Cape Girardeau. Visitation was held at 9 a.m., Wednesday, at the First General Baptist Church in Bloomfield. Funeral services followed at 11:00 a.m. at the church with Rev. Ronnie Stevens of Bloomfield officiating...

Dallas Jean Weakley MALDEN, Mo. -- Dallas Jean Weakley, 68, of Malden, died Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 1 -2 p.m., Saturday, at the Community Center in Malden. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. at the Malden Community Center with Pastor Floyd Wade...

Sam Kearbey reunion Sept. 3 The descendents of Sam Kearbey will be hosting a reunion on Saturday, Sept. 3 at Wappapello State Park Pavilion #4 (this side of the spillway). All are welcome. Bring a covered dish. Soft drinks will be provided. Contact: Eva Dowd 686-3002...

Firemen collecting coats Once again Poplar Bluff Firefights, Local 2543, seeks to make a difference with "Operation Warm," by providing brand new, American-made coats for local children living in need. Operation Warm is accepting donations now and will continue to accept donations through the end of September. ...

Weekly activities at Twin Towers Start your week by joining the Monday P.A. C. E. (People with Arthritis Can Exercise) class at 9 a.m. in the Assembly Room or play Bingo at 9 a.m. in Altrusa Room. Tuesday, 11 a.m., Bill Anderson will entertain in the dining room. Church is held at 6 p.m. in the Assembly room...

IRVING, Texas - Aaron Henderson of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, graduated from the University of Dallas in May. Henderson earned a MA in Theology during the university's spring 2016 Commencement Ceremony. The University of Dallas, located in a metropolitan area of nearly 7 million people, is a leading Catholic university widely recognized for academic excellence by well-known publications, organizations and accrediting bodies. ...

Show appreciation, comp a cop Lets recognize our police officers. We need to acknowledge our appreciation with them everywhere we go. They are underpaid and certainly under siege as evidenced by the almost daily reports of police attacks by thugs. Demonstrate your appreciation by purchasing their refreshments, lunch, dinner, etc. when you can and are financially able. Some police departments do not allow this, but your gesture will let the officer know how much you appreciate them...

EPHRATA, Washington -- The Wayne County Lumberjacks avoided elimination with a big win Tuesday night in the Senior Babe Ruth World Series. Stephen Carter finished 3 for 4 and scored the go-ahead run in the fourth inning as the Lumberjacks fended off Blue Lick, Kentucky for a 9-4 victory at Johnson-O'Brien Stadium...

Delois V. Conner Delois V. Conner, 77, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Monday, Aug. 8, 2016 at The Manor in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Conner, the daughter of the late McKinley P. White and Mary E. (Weatherford) Cochran was born July 6, 1939 in Poplar Bluff. ...

Lynn Keller-Stine Lynn Keller-Stine, 66, of Poplar Bluff, died on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at her residence. A burial will be held in Bedford, IN. A full obituary will follow. Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com...

John Earl Brinker DONIPHAN, Mo. -- John Earl Brinker, 67, of Doniphan, passed away unexpectedly at his home doing the things he loved with his wife Sunday August 7th, 2016. Born May 7th, 1949 he is survived by his loving wife Rowana Brinker of 43 years...

Tamera Lynn Hickson Tamera Lynn Hickson, 56, of Poplar Bluff, died Tues., Aug. 9, 2016 in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Hickson was born on March 8, 1960 in Aurora, Ill. On Jan. 25, 1995 she married Steven Hickson in Campbell, Mo. He preceded her in death. Mrs. ...

Wilma Faries Wilma Faries, 85, of Williamsville, Mo., died on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at Mark Twin Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 4 p.m. at the Williamsville United Methodist Church. A full obituary will follow. Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff is in charge of arrangements...

Ruby J. Darby MALDEN, Mo. -- Ruby J. Darby, 89, of Clarkton, died Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, at her residence. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday at the Lynn Oak General Baptist church in Clarkton. Funeral will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, at the Lynn Oak Baptist Church in Clarkton with Mr. Kenny Wilson officiating...

Dean Trout MALDEN, Mo. - Carroll "Dean" Trout, 72, of Malden, died Monday, Aug. 8, 2016 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be at 6 p.m., Wed. Aug., 10 at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m., Thurs., Aug. 9 at Bradshaw Chapel in Malden. Burial will be in Rosewood Cemetery in Malden. www.bradshawfh.com...

Ronald Eugene Gilliland Ronald Eugene Gilliland, 68, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Monday, Aug. 8, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Gilliland was born Sept. 18, 1948 in Nevada, Mo. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Poplar Bluff and was a retired educator. ...