Stories from Thursday, February 2, 2017

By NOREEN HYSLOP SEMO News Service BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- It took a jury of four men and eight women only 30 minutes Monday night to find Verl Cato, 45, of Dexter, guilty on all six charges against him involving child pornography. The Cato trial was slated for Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 30-31 at the Stoddard County Justice Center following years of continuances and delays...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Carden International Circus says to put away the video games and experience an unforgettable event for the entire family next week, when they bring their troupe of awesome performers to Poplar Bluff. The circus will perform two shows, at 6:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, at the Black River Coliseum. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for pre-show festivities, such as performer meet-and-greets, circus skills and animal rides...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer "Home I'll be there tomorrow To the place where distance And the longing touched You You're the only reason that I go To remind me of the roots that I've grown from" Lyrics from '"Return" by Natalie Hemby resonate with the songwriter's passion for her southern roots and for a little town nestled in the heart of Southeast Missouri - Puxico...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The board of Rodgers Theatre has six months to get its finances in order, following a vote by the Butler County Commission. The commissioners agreed Friday to the extension, which is meant to determine if the board can afford to assume all utility, insurance and maintenance costs...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN As the patriotic pageantry of Inauguration Day gave way to the demonstrations of defiance, our new America came into view. We are two nations now, two peoples. Though bracing, President Trump's inaugural address was rooted in cold truths, as he dispensed with the customary idealism of inaugurals that are forgotten within a fortnight of the president being sworn in...

To the Editor: I would like to thank and commend the Editors of the Daily American Republic Newspaper in Poplar Bluff for their editorial on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017, in regards as to some of the actions of Senator Libla. If either of these proposed Senate bills should pass, the majority of the people of our state would be left in the dark as to the operations of the State of Missouri. ...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- In 2013, a college student assigned to research a deadly substance sought help via Twitter: "I can't find the chemical and physical properties of sarin gas someone please help me." An expert at a security consulting firm tried to be helpful, telling her that sarin is not gas. She replied, "yes the [expletive] it is a gas you ignorant [expletive]. sarin is a liquid & can evaporate ... shut the [expletive] up."...

Josh Lewis is not letting a shoulder injury or Poplar Bluff's move to the largest class from changing his goals. "I don't care what class we're in, I'm going to do my best to accomplish what I set out to do," Lewis said. "And so far I'm doing pretty good at it."...

BERNIE -- Chance Wilkerson and Jack LeGrand scored a combined 22 points, 15 of which came from behind the arc, as the Twin Rivers boys basketball team picked up a 50-44 road win over Bernie on Tuesday. Wilkerson scored a team-high 12 points and LeGrand added 10. Jacob Mitchell knocked down a 3 and had nine points while Logan Garrette chipped in eight for the Royals (14-8), who led 30-17 at halftime...

HARRISON, Ark. -- For just the third time in 47 seasons, the Raiders had to play without their stalwart head coach on the sidelines. Aidan Saunders ultimately sank a 3 with 23 seconds left, and with it, Three Rivers College beat North Arkansas College 85-82 in Harrison, Ark...

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- The New Madrid County Central boys basketball team simply had no answer for Willie Lucas, Dominique Hardimon and the rest of Poplar Bluff's offense. The Mules cruised to an 80-60 SEMO Conference win over Central on Tuesday bouncing back from their shocking loss to Cape Central four days ago...

NEELYVILLE -- Neelyville nearly wrote itself off before Wyatt Moon and Marquise West decided to do something about it. Leading by seven at the start of the fourth quarter, Doniphan committed costly turnovers, missed shot after shot and left the door wide open for the Tigers and their relentless duo to sneak back in Tuesday...

Mary E. Kester photo Mary E. Kester, 91, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Sunday, Jan. 29, 2016 at The Manor. Mrs. Kester, the daughter of the late Albert Joseph and Mable Bates Shelton Nohr, was born May 16, 1925 in Princeton, Ind. She was of the Baptist faith and was a homemaker. Mrs. Kester previously worked as a checker for Safeway Grocery Store. She enjoyed crocheting, being a seamstress and sewing...

Bobby Lee Brannum Bobby Lee Brannum, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 at Westwood Hills Health and Rehab Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Brannum, the son of the late David and Mildred Findley Brannum, was born March 9, 1931 in Poplar Bluff. ...

Audrey P. Walker NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Audrey P. Walker, 89, of Fenton, Mo. died Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, at St. Clara Hospital in Fenton. Mrs. Walker was born July 24, 1927, in Harviell, Mo. Mrs. Walker married Luther Walker on March 11, 1946, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He preceded her in death April 6, 2001. A homemaker, Mrs. Walker formerly lived in Harviell and Neelyville. Her hobbies were quilting, reading, church and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren...

By MIKE MCCOY SEMO News Service Voters in four school districts in Stoddard County -- Dexter, Bernie, Advance and Puxico -- will find contested races for school board positions on the April 4 Municipal Election Ballot. School Board positions are for three-year terms...

Dixie Lou Prough DEXTER, Mo. -- Dixie Lou Prough, 79, daughter of the late Ewald Forslund and Vida Baumgarden Forslund was born Aug. 12, 1937 in Webster, S. D. and departed this life Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017 at her residence near Dexter. Dixie was the former Stoddard County Public Administrator and is a member of The Faith Lutheran Church in Dexter...

Nancy Suzanne Katic PIGGOTT, ARK. -- Nancy Suzanne Katic went to be with her Lord on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017 after a long battle with ovarian cancer. She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Marie Webster, and one brother, Robert Webster. She was a member of Brentwood Baptist Church and was actively involved in Jean Hester's Sunday School Class. ...

James Excellent "J. T." Thomas, 51, of Parma, died Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, at the Ridgeview Nursing Center in Malden, Mo. Visitation will be after 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017, at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Parma followed by services at noon at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Parma with Rev. Floyd Wade of Charleston and Rev. William Johnson of Malden officiating...

Joyce Jean Livesay Joyce Jean Livesay, 80, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017 at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Livesay, the daughter of the late Clifford and Anna Green Crawford, was born April 22, 1936 in Rector, Ark. ...

Brandon Jamal Barnett MALDEN, Mo. -- Brandon Jamal Barnett, 20, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017, in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be held Friday, Feb. 3, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. till 4 p.m. at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden.

Nella Mae Walker Malone OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. -- Nella Mae Walker Malone, 88, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. Nella was born in Piggott, Ark. and was a longtime resident of Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was formerly employed with Doctors Hospital in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She and her husband, Ed, were faithful members of the First Assembly of God Church in Poplar Bluff...

Mary E. Kester Mary E. Kester, 91, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Sunday, Jan. 29, 2016 at The Manor. Mrs. Kester, the daughter of the late Albert Joseph and Mable Bates Shelton Nohr, was born May 16, 1925 in Princeton, Ind. She was of the Baptist faith and was a homemaker. Mrs. Kester previously worked as a checker for Safeway Grocery Store. She enjoyed crocheting, being a seamstress and sewing...

Liddie Wilkerson FISK, Mo. -- Liddie Wilkerson, 102, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Jan. 30, 2017, at her daughter's home in Poplar Bluff. Born May 10, 1914 in Arkansas, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Ella Johnson. She married John Franklin Summerlott, he preceded her in death. She later married Leo Wilkerson; he also preceded her in death...

Laura and Gunner Coleman and Maycie Harris DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Laura Ellena Coleman, 32, her daughter, Maycie Dove Harris, 4, and her son, Gunner Lee Coleman, 2, of Fairdealing, Mo., departed this life Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017, at their residence in rural Ripley County...

Kenneth Hite Ellis FISK, Mo. -- Kenneth Hite Ellis, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 30, 2017 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. There will be a graveside service at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 3, 2017, with full military honors at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo. with Pastor Terry Scott officiating...

Iris McCord Smith MALDEN, Mo. -- Iris McCord Smith, 83, of Risco, Mo. died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017 at her residence. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will be at 10 a,m, Friday, Feb. 3, at Pleasant View General Baptist Church in Risco with Rev. Mark Powell, Rev. James Hamlett and Mr. Mark McDowell. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden...

Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) wildlife biologists on the feral hog strike team have tallied up numbers for 2016. The year yielded a total of 5,358 feral hogs removed by MDC, partner agencies, and private landowners, which is a significant increase over efforts the previous year. In 2015, 3,649 feral hogs were removed from the landscape...

This spring, the Shelter Insurance Foundation will award a $2,000 scholarship to a graduate of Puxico High School. Local agent Mark Crisel sponsors and partially funds this scholarship. A committee of local high school officials and community leaders will select the local recipient. ...

By MIKE MCCOY SEMO News Service The mapping of address points by Spatial Data Research, Inc. (SDR) has been completed in Stoddard County with over 15,000 home and 2,500 landmark points established, according to Stoddard County 911 Administrator Carol Moreland. Moreland updated the County 911 Board at its regular monthly meeting. The board contracted SDR for the mapping at a cost of $36,000 for the first 11,200 new address points, with address points above that at $3 per address...

Naomi M. Gosnell, 94, of Poplar Bluff died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 at The Manor Care Center. Services were held Jan. 24, 2017 at the Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. Rev. Melburn Deaton officiated.

By MIKE MCCOY SEMO News Service The filing period for the April 4, 2017, Municipal Election closed on Jan. 17 and the only contested race in Stoddard County was in the City of Bernie. Two candidates filed in Bernie for both the Ward II and Ward III positions...

By MIKE MCCOY SEMO News Service The Stoddard County Sheriff's office helped raise funds to replace the radio repeater tower used by rural fire departments in the county, Stoddard County 911 Administrator Carol Moreland said recently. Battles Communications has been contracted to replace the repeater tower and co-axial cable at a cost of $3,800. ...

Puxico High School's Second Quarter Honor Rolls include: Highest Honor Twelfth Grade Mallory Clark, Bradley Clark, Alexandra Crabb, Mariah Fowler, Jackie Griffith, Richard Julius, Emma Parsley, Hannah Pierce, Katelyn Pierre, Mikayla Smith, Blake Smith, Caleb Swallows and Cayla Templemire...

Tyler Dale Doublin, 28, of Puxico died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 at St. Francis Medical center in Cape Girardeau. Services were held Jan. 21, 2017 at the Morgan Sifford Funeral Chapel in Puxico. Burial followed in the Fagan Cemetery near Puxico.

Gordon L. Long, 70, of Poplar Bluff died Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 at his residence surrounded by his family. Services were held Jan. 23, 2017 at the Cotrell Funeral Chapel. Rev. Bruce Powell officiated. Burial followed in the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery...

Thomas Wilson, 51, of Dexter died Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017 at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Services were held Jan. 28, 2017 at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Rev. Jeff Roth and Chuck Clark officiated. Burial followed in the Dexter Cemetery...

"O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." Jeremiah 10:23. This wise observation of the great prophet Jeremiah is a lesson modern man needs sorely to relearn. The great man of God was trying desperately to turn his people from their sins and idolatry unto God. ...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Former Stoddard County Public Administrator Dixie Lou Prough, 79, died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017 at her residence near Dexter. Visitation will be from 5 - 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 3, 2017 at Rainey Mathis Funeral Home. The funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017 in the Faith Lutheran Church with Rev. Justin Sponaugle officiating. Burial will follow at the Sadler's Chapel in Dexter...