Stories from Wednesday, August 24, 2016

By PAUL J. WEBER Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A federal judge in Texas has blocked the Obama administration's order that requires public schools to let transgender students use the bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their chosen gender identity...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The long red abrasions on Drawdenn Ray's arms and face weren't real. The 11-year-old Poplar Bluff boy wasn't really waiting in a medical field tent to find out if his parents survived a 7.7 earthquake, a natural disaster that could devastate all of Southeast Missouri and large portions of the surrounding states...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man is accused of seeking revenge by setting a subletted bedroom in his duplex on fire Sunday with his girlfriend and her young sons inside. Christopher Lee Ward, 31, was charged Monday afternoon with the Class B felony of first-degree arson and the Class C felony of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child by Butler County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Paul Oesterreicher...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff, Mo., parolee recently was indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple felonies in connection with a July armed robbery at a Highway B convenience store. Danny Ross Smith, 22, was indicted Thursday on the felonies of robbery of a business affecting interstate commerce, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and felon in possession of a firearm, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Sorrell...

VA police, give 'em some love Well, just got my newspaper on the back page is a whole page of the Poplar Bluff Police Department being thanked and congratulated and which they should by all means, but they aren't the only police department here in Poplar Bluff. ...

What direction should Downtown Poplar Bluff take for the future? Public meetings have been set to determine just that. Were some of the previous goals unrealistic and, if so, what would be more logical course for the future? Three meeting dates have been set for next month with noon and early evening times for all three days...

Logan's Roadhouse files for bankruptcy SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Yet another chain restaurant with Southeast Missouri locations has filed for bankruptcy protection. Logan's Roadhouse Inc. has filed petitions with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the District of Delaware seeking reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer A Poplar Bluff landmark has been demolished after being purchased on July 7 by Mocarrico LLC, an investment and redevelopment company based in St. Louis. The site at 1880 N. Westwood Blvd. is the former home of Snider's IGA, Farmers Cash True-Value hardware store, Bojangles night club, and most recently Tool-A-Rama...

It Costs How Much?? The other day I got to wondering how much it costs to have a Senator or Representative in Washington D.C. So, of course, I "Googled" it. The results were/are mind boggling. Starting salary of $174,000 per year for each. It goes up with committee appointments and years on the job. No wonder they run so hard to get elected...

Louisa F. Holsapple Louisa F. Holsapple, 91, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016 at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Holsapple, the daughter of the late John F. and Rosa Staggs Bristol, was born July 19, 1925 in Ravenden, Ark. She was of the Pentecostal faith and was a homemaker. Mrs. Holsapple enjoyed going to church, working in her yard, sewing and gardening, but what she cherished most was spending time with her family...

William E. "Bill" Sargent PIEDMONT, Mo. - William E. "Bill" Sargent, 80, of Lowndes, Mo., died Sat., Aug. 20, 2016 at his home. Visitation will be at 10:30 a.m., Wed., Aug. 24 at the Brush Creek Baptist Church near Arab. The funeral will follow at noon in the church with Rev. Gary Burns and Bro. Gary Burchett officating. Burial with military honors will be in the Twidwell Cemetery near Clubb. Online condolences may be made at: www.morrisonworleychapel.com...

As the fall semester begins, parents, students, taxpayers and donors should be made aware of official college practices that should disgust us all. Hampshire College will offer some of its students what the school euphemistically calls "identity-based housing." That's segregated housing for students who -- because of their race, culture, gender or sexual orientation -- have "historically experienced oppression." I'd bet the rent money that Hampshire College will not offer Jewish, Irish, Polish, Chinese or Catholic students segregated housing. ...

George W. Varner George W. Varner, 89, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, at Westwood Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center. A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, at First Christian Church of Leroy, Kan. A graveside service with inurnment of ashes will follow at 1 p.m. at High Prairie Cemetery of Altoona, Wilson County, Kan...

By JOHN R. STANARD Read, Read, Read Your Book, All Around The Bluff. (To the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat!") That's what Municipal Library Centennial organizers are urging people to do as the celebration focuses on The Boys in the Boat, the New York Times number one best-seller that tells the inspiring story of the U.S. eight-man rowing team that won gold against all odds in the 1936 Berlin Olympics...

Jerry Lynn Jones DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Jerry Lynn Jones, 75, of O'Fallon, Mo., died Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, at Jonesburg Nursing Center in Jonesburg, Mo. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. at the Wilderness Church in Wilderness, Mo., with Rev. Scott Andrews officiating. Burial will be in the Wilderness Cemetery...

By MARGARET SHACKLEFORD As part of the partnership with the Vietnam War Commemoration for the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, the Poplar Bluff Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution announces Ralph W. Freer as a Vietnam Veteran of the Month for August...

'Santa' gets 12 yrs. for abusing girl, age 6 By BEN KLEINE SEMO News Service Judge Fred Copeland on Monday found a Jackson man guilty of sexually abusing a 6-year-old girl in the Jackson area and sentenced him to 12 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections...

William "Bill" Sargebt -- Lowndes, Mo. Louisa F. Holsapple -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. George W. Varner -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Jerry Lynn Jones -- O'Fallon, Mo.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republicans stepped up their attacks Monday on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server and pointed to newly released messages to allege that foreign donors to the Democratic presidential nominee's family charity got preferential treatment from her department...

The tennis courts behind the new Senior High School are still taking shape as the Poplar Bluff Mules opened their season Monday across town. "It's familiar so that makes it nice," senior Jazlyn Barnes said of playing at the old high school courts. "We're excited for the new courts but it's home. It makes it nice being there for a little bit."...

Last year is history for the Poplar Bluff volleyball team. Same for the year before when the Mules lost in the district championship match for the third time in five years. In fact, throw out all the years of postseason frustration. It's a new era for the program, moving into a new gym at the new Senior High campus on Oak Grove Road, and the Mules are hoping that it helps end the district drought...

DEXTER -- Sunday's practice was bad. Dexter volleyball coach Carmen Morgan said everyone might as well have stayed home. Junior Krysten Garrison likened it to the first practice of the season, not the final tune-up before a season opener. Taking the floor against Arcadia Valley on Monday, nobody knew what to expect...

WINONA -- An impressive two-way performance from Peyton Hobbs led the Neelyville Tigers to a 17-4 win over Winona on the road in their season opener Monday. Hobbs was 1 for 1 with four walks and three RBIs at the plate. He also held Winona to one hit and struck out four during his two innings of work to get the win...