Stories from Monday, January 30, 2017

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Chartwells K-12 is doing more than providing students breakfast and lunch - the Poplar Bluff schools food provider is now making sure students have something to eat on the weekends as well. Local ministerial organization the Bread Shed previously administered a program that offered students a bag of food items to take home on the weekends, but funding issues led the organization to move to a pantry-based distribution system in November 2016...

Developers of a controversial housing project will need a higher degree of city council support to win a rezoning request, following a successful petition drive by opponents of the low income apartment complex. City officials have certified that at least 30 percent of the property owners within 185 feet of the Eugene Boulevard project signed petitions against rezoning...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor FAIRDEALING, Mo. -- Two young children died Thursday as the result of gunshot wounds authorities say were caused by their mother, who then shot herself in a double murder/suicide. Ripley County Coroner Mike Jackson identified the victims as Gunner Coleman, 2, and his 4-year-old sister, Maycie Harris. Also dead is the children's mother, Laura E. Coleman, 32...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer School choice has gained new momentum in the 2017 legislative session. While the concept is supported by several lawmakers and private schools, those in public education have expressed a number of concerns. At its simplest, school choice is attaching tax-allocated education dollars to a student rather than his or her resident district. Parents in school choice states can send their children to private schools or charter schools through various funding mechanisms...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "Something there is that doesn't love a wall," wrote poet Robert Frost in the opening line of "Mending Walls." And on the American left there is something like revulsion at the idea of the "beautiful wall" President Trump intends to build along the 1,900-mile border between the U.S. and Mexico...

Cane Creek Community Club met Wednesday, Jan. 11, in the Snyder Room at Twin Towers. The meeting was called to order by Marie Boxx with six members present who recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The thought for the day: We're all human. We're all broken and we all need Jesus...

Kill you or make you sick? [MAIL] Once again the people of Poplar Bluff have received a letter stating back in 2015 our water had a problem if you have an immune problem or have an infant or, if your elderly. I would say that's about 1/2 of PB. My question is: why hasn't this been #1 priority with the city instead of spending on everything else including spending 50,000 on someone else to give you ideas on downtown...

Makayla Medlock VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Makayla Rose Marie Medlock, 11, of Ellsinore, died Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017, at her home with her family by her side. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Online condolences: www.mcspaddenfh.com

Hardy Barker Jr. NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Hardy Barker Jr., 85, of Doniphan, passed away Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017 in the John J. Pershing V.A. Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born Sept. 14, 1931 at Advance to the late Hardy Barker Sr. and Rhoda Hendrickson Barker...

Julie Jane Reynolds Uhrhan Julie Jane (Reynolds) Uhrhan, 62-year-old resident of O'Fallon, Mo. departed this life Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 at her residence. Mrs. Uhrhan was born July 1, 1954, in Doniphan, Mo., to the late HSand Jane (West) Reynolds. She was a Christian and loved her grandbabies, gardening, and being outdoors...

By EDDY JUSTICE This past Presidential Election Cycle was like nothing I have ever seen. From a huge field of GOP Candidates, to a far left self-proclaimed socialist giving the Democratic Candidate a run for her money, it truly was a sight to behold. From Super Delegates, to email servers, FBI reversals and twelve-year-old videos, the news media was never at a loss for something to report, whether fake or real...

Margie Chatman Margie A. Fox Chatman, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away peacefully with the Lord and loved ones by her side on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017 at The Manor in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Chatman, the daughter of the late James Franklin and Ellen Baxter Fox, was born Sept. ...

Jay Averhart Jr. NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- James "Jay" Averhart Jr., 71, of Naylor, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, at his home. Mr. Averhart was born Jan. 23, 1946, in Bay, Ark., and formerly lived in Long Beach, Miss. An auto mechanic, he had lived in Ripley County since 1989. ...

Donald Wayne Norwood Donald Wayne Norwood, 84, of Little Rock, died on January 25, 2017. He was born February 18, 1932 in Springfield, Ark. He was one of seven children. He graduated from high school in Knoble, Arkansas. Donald was a proud Army veteran and was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas. ...

Norma Barnes Norma Barnes, 75, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 at the Westwood Hills Healthcare Center. Mrs. Barnes was born Feb. 18, 1941 in Fisk. She was a member of Bluff City Apostolic Worship Center and retired from the Poplar Bluff School system as a cook. She enjoyed reading, sewing and being with her children and grandchildren. She was married to Curt Barnes in November 1958 in Poplar Bluff. He preceded her in death in November 2009...

Frances Elaine Hamilton Frances Elaine Hamilton, 83, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017 at the Oakdale Care Center. Frances was born June 6, 1933 in Gideon, Mo. to Melvin and Millicent Gibson. Both preceded her in death. She was a member of South Poplar Bluff General Baptist Church (where she taught Sunday school for many years), ADK, and Missouri Retired Teachers Assoc. ...

Mary Jane Ault HOLLISTER, Mo. -- Mary Jane Iva Ault, of Branson, formerly of Poplar Bluff, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. Mary was born Oct. 21, 1936, in Jamaica, Ill., the daughter of Bert and Bessie Phillips. Mary enjoyed bird watching and crafting. She was a faithful member of Highland Church of Christ in Poplar Bluff and retired from General Electric. Mary was a lovely woman who will be missed by all who knew and loved her...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A pair of team records fell Saturday while Poplar Bluff swimmers qualified for the state championships in two events. Taylor Norwood broke her own mark in the 100-yard backstroke, qualifying for state in the process, and also won the 100 butterfly while Raegan McAtee qualified for state in the event in placing third at the Springfield Invitational...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer January 1968, 49 years ago, Mary Delphia (nee) Bell Leach of Van Buren, completed boot camp at Parris Island, S. C. Earning the coveted globe, which signifies the USMC service around the world, and the anchor, which represents Naval traditions of the Corps, was the proudest moment of her life. When talking with Mary it is obvious she loves the Marine Corps as much, if not more today, than she did in August 1967 when she enlisted...

Rev. Vernon and Nancy Wolverton will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary Saturday, Feb. 4. They were united in holy matrimony Feb. 4, 1967, at Qulin, Mo. They are lifelong residents of Butler County and pastors of New Day Ministries in Poplar Bluff...

Sylvester Lindsey CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Sylvester Lindsey, 89, of Campbell died Friday at his home. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. today at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Monday at Calvary Baptist Church in Campbell. Burial will be in Bethany Cemetery...

Robert Ziegler Robert Ziegler, 69, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Jan. 26, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. A graveside service will be held following the visitation at 2 p.m. at the Bloomfield Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo...

MALDEN -- There wasn't much downtime for the Malden Green Wave on Friday night. In a game that featured made bucket after made bucket in what seemed like a blur, Malden ran the floor at a rapid pace and put up its third-highest point total of the season in a dominant 77-45 victory over Doniphan...

MALDEN -- The second-seeded Malden Green Wave eliminated Senath-Hornersville 75-38 in the quarterfinal Saturday at the Bootheel Conference Tournament. Malden jumped out to a 25-10 lead and maintained a double-digit advantage after the first quarter...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Drew Church knew what to expect. With his Cape Central boys basketball team hosting SEMO Conference rival Poplar Bluff, the 11th-year coach prepared his players for a rough-and-tumble fight. When he watched tape of the Mules, their physicality stood out. Church didn't want his team to get intimidated...

BLOOMFIELD -- Disco was still cool the last time Advance won the Stoddard County Activities Association Tournament. The Hornets held off a late rally from Dexter and avoided a three-quarter court heave to force overtime to win 54-51 for their first SCAA title since 1978...

The Raiders came back from being 17 points down in the first half against a top-10 team, but they didn't come all the way back. Three Rivers College lost 77-74 to Moberly Area College on Saturday at the Bess Activity Center. With the loss, Moberly Area (20-2, 3-1 Region XVI) has swept Three Rivers (16-7, 2-3) in the regular season for the first time since the 2013-14 season, when the Raiders went 16-13 overall...

Two weeks ago, Three Rivers coach Jeff Walk won at Moberly Area for the first time in his nine seasons. He'll have to wait yet one more season to try for a season sweep of the Lady Greyhounds. Three Rivers College lost to Moberly Area 62-57 in overtime Saturday at the Bess Activity Center. It was the No. 25-ranked Lady Raiders' first region loss of the season but they still hold first place in the region standings...

BLOOMFIELD--The odds were stacked against fourth-seeded Bernie in their Third Place Game against the third-seeded host Bloomfield Wildcats Friday night at the SCAA Tournament. The Mules had already lost at home against Bloomfield a week ago; the re-match was on the Wildcats' home court; their leading scorer, junior forward Nate Dillinger, watched most of the game from the bench in foul trouble; and their second-leading scorer, junior forward Michael Suiter, was playing on one leg with a badly sprained ankle and also in foul trouble.. ...