Stories from Monday, January 16, 2017

The University of Missouri Extension Council of Butler County will elect seven people for two-year terms, according to County Program Director Sarah Denkler. Fourteen candidates have filed for the seven two-year terms. Voting continues through Saturday, Jan. 21...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Two Poplar Bluff, Mo., men remain in the Cape Girardeau County Jail as they await sentencing in federal court after recently pleading guilty in unrelated cases. Leslie Bryan Clark, 50, of the 700 block of North Riverview Drive pleaded guilty to the felony of possession of child pornography as it was charged in his indictment on Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr., according to Assistant U.S. Attorney John Koester...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Work started Monday to replace the roof of the historic Butler County Courthouse. The $109,000 project is expected to take two weeks to complete, after any weather delays. Just under 70 percent of costs will be paid for with a grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The remaining $32,700 is paid by the county, said county clerk Tonyi Deffendall...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff park department has secured funding to construct a pedestrian bridge on Kanell Boulevard, part of a plan to continue extending the city's trail network. The approximately $422,200 project will receive 80 percent of its money from Federal Transportation Alternative Funds, said park department director Clark Allen. The grant will cover just under $338,000, with the remaining cost coming from park money...

A home baking contest will be offered at Ag Expo on Friday, Jan. 20, and Saturday, Jan. 21. Bakers may enter their goods any time between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday. Judging will be held on Saturday morning and exhibits must be left in place until 2 p.m...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer When the congregation of Holy Cross Episcopal Church, 420 N. Main St., Poplar Bluff, learned of the passing of Rev. Richard A."Dick" Bamforth, of Augusta, Maine, two members of the congregation reminisced about the six years when Rev. Bamforth served as their rector at Holy Cross...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Hearthel Miler's friends use words like jolly, spiritual and close to God to describe the Poplar Bluffian who will celebrate her 90th birthday Saturday, Jan. 21. Her children Freddy and Brenda (Douglas) invite her friends to celebrate from 1-3 p.m. at the dining hall of the United Gospel Rescue Mission, 400 S. Broadway, Poplar Bluff...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "Fake news!" roared Donald Trump, the work of "sick people." The president-elect was referring to a 35-page dossier of lurid details of his alleged sexual misconduct in Russia, worked up by a former British spy. A two-page summary of the 35 pages had been added to Trump's briefing by the CIA and FBI -- and then leaked to CNN...

Paul and Connie Taylor, lifelong residents of Poplar Bluff, Mo., celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family cruise to the Bahamas. The Taylors were married Jan. 14, 1967 at First Baptist Church. Taylor was a financial advisor with Smith Barney before retiring. Mrs. Taylor had a wood crafting business. They attend First Baptist Church...

The Butler County Extension Council is hosting its third annual Prepared Public Speaking Contest during the Annual Ag Expo event. Students from FFA and 4-H Chapters will have the opportunity to compete at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, at the Black River Coliseum...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- The shortest honeymoon on record is officially over. Normally, newly elected presidents enjoy a wave of goodwill that allows them to fly high at least through their first 100 days. Donald Trump has not yet been sworn in and the honeymoon has already come and gone...

Vet misses volunteer [MAIL] To All Concerned Veterans I am contacting Speak Out about the Veterans' Administration Volunteer Services Department and the patients and visitors' at the VA Medical Center. As a veteran and patient and also formerly a volunteer at this VA facility it is with a sad and heavy heart that I would have to contact the Speak Out column in your newspaper...

Soybean Crop Management Conference for Missouri Soybean District 7 will be Wednesday at the Miner Convention Center, Miner, Mo. Registration: will begin at 8 a.m. with the program starting at 8:30 a.m. CEUs will be applied for. Agriculture Extension Calendar of Meetings & Events...

By ERIC ADLER The Kansas City Star KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The lights of the oncoming car drew closer, swerving across the Warrensburg roadway and into their lane. "What is this guy doing?" an alarmed Air Force Staff Sgt. Jevon McBride said. The lights bore down. All that Jevon and his pregnant wife, Julie, had wanted to do that night, just after 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 7, was get a bite to eat at Wendy's, The Kansas City Star (http://bit.ly/2iveZ3e ) reported...

BROSELEY -- Poplar Bluff returned two starters from injuries Friday night while Twin Rivers lost two during the annual Battle of Butler County rivals. Marcedus Leech played for the first time since the season opener for the Mules while fellow sophomore Dominique Hardimon returned after missing a game. The pair combined for 30 points while senior Willie Lucas led with 20 in Poplar Bluff's 70-42 win over the host Royals...

MOBERLY, Mo. -- The Raiders spent all Saturday trying to chase down the Greyhounds. Moberly Area Community College sank six of their eight 3s in the first 5 minutes and never trailed as it beat Three Rivers College 88-77 on Saturday night. Delfincko Bogan buried four of those 3s to race out of the gates with a 13-point lead after 5 minutes of play. Three Rivers got as close as four points late in the first half, but never led...

BLOOMFIELD -- Friday the 13th turned out to be especially lucky for Malden. The Green Wave could see the light at the end of the tunnel but could never quite get out of several nightmare scenarios Bloomfield kept throwing their way. Not until the final 2 seconds of the game, when Tray Stevenson got a second chance...

BERNIE -- Bernie gave visiting Dexter all they wanted Friday night, but ultimately the Bearcats survived with their undefeated conference record intact. Junior Gabe Jackon led Dexter with his second double-double of the week as the Bearcats avoided a fourth quarter collapse to their neighboring rivals with a 62-59 win...

WEST PLAINS, Mo. -- The Mules are dialed in from long range heading into SEMO Conference play. Poplar Bluff sank a season-high 11 shots from 3-point range a day after hitting 10, as five different players found the bottom of the net from beyond the arc in an 80-40 win at West Plains on Saturday afternoon...

SEDALIA, Mo. -- Three Rivers sophomore Gabe Grant had his best game in a month as Three Rivers College beat State Fair Community College 81-72 on Friday afternoon. "He was our second best player. He forced some stuff, but he's really cooperative and I think he is going to get better and better," said Three Rivers coach Gene Bess...

MOBERLY, Mo. -- Three Rivers College coach Jeff Walk got cupcakes and a win for his birthday. Three Rivers extended its winning streak to 15 games with a 59-54 victory at Moberly Area on Saturday. It was the first time Walk has won at Moberly Area in his nine seasons with the program...

SEDALIA, Mo. -- Joya Smith went into the season without ever having made a game-winning shot. Now she's got two. With 18 seconds left, Olivia Crane made a pair of free throws for Three Rivers College to tie State Fair Community College for the 14th time...

NEELYVILLE -- On a night when games across the area were cancelled due to weather Friday night, Neelyville took the court and cruised to a 76-36 win over Holcomb on Homecoming. Peyton Hobbs poured in a game-high 27 points and Wyatt Moon added 24 to lead Neelyville, which scored over 20 points in the first three quarters and held Holcomb to single digits in two of four...

Brenda Miles PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Brenda Sue Miles of Iron County, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Homes. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com.

Martina K. Scott MT. HOREB, Wis. -- Martina K. Scott, 108, from Mt. Horeb and Puxico, Mo., died on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017 at Ingleside Manor. Martina was born on April 25, 1908 in Mt. Horeb, Wis. to Leo and Theresa Sutter. She graduated from Mt. Horeb High School in 1927. On April 10, 1935, she married William A. Scott. They owned and operated W.A. Scott Manufacturing in Puxico, Mo. for more than 60 years...

Tinou Hampton MALDEN, Mo. -- Long-time Malden resident Tinou Hampton, 95, died Monday, Jan. 9, 2017 at Ridgeview Nursing home in Malden. Tinou was born Valentine LeDenmat at La Guincendiere, April 14, 1921 in Feings, Normandy, France to Jean LeDenmat and Agnes Blampain LeDenmat. Tinou immigrated to the U.S. to marry her WWII soldier, David Hampton, in 1946. They immediately made their home in Malden...

Linda Priscilla Harrison MALDEN, Mo. -- Linda Priscilla Harrison, 67, of Clarkton, died Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 at her residence. Visitation was held at 6 p.m., Saturday at Bradshaw Funeral Homes, Inc. in Malden. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, at Bradshaw Chapel with Brother James Mills officiating. Burial in Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton...

J.T. Culbertson PUXICO, Mo. -- J.T. Culbertson, 84, of Puxico died Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico, followed by the funeral at noon with the Rev. Glen Epps officiating. Burial will be in the Rock Point Cemetery at Puxico...

Gloria Robinson DEXTER, Mo. -- Gloria Kathreen Robinson, 88, of Dexter died Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Watkins & Sons Funeral Service in Dexter. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Dean Williams officiating...

Lawrence "John" Buhler NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Lawrence "John" Buhler, 90, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville until service time at 1 p.m. at the chapel. Burial will be in Black Creek Cemetery, Poplar Bluff, Mo...

Whitney Elizabeth and Justin Lee Vinyard of Poplar Bluff have chosen the name Oliver Mikel Lemuel Vinyard for their 9-pound, 11-ounce son born at 9:29 a.m., Friday, Jan. 6, 2017, at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Oliver was 19 1/2 inches long...

Six new Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers will begin patrolling the roadways of Southeast Missouri when they report for duty Jan. 17. As members of the 103rd recruit class, the troopers were among 39 were commissioned during a ceremony on Dec. 30 in Jefferson City, Mo...