Stories from Monday, March 20, 2017

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor The 2017 Sarah Jarboe White UCAN Walk will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29, at the Danny Bell Cancer Treatment Center, 2620 N. Westwood Blvd, This will be the sixth fundraiser hosted by United Cancer Assistance Network in memory of Sarah Jarboe White...

Staff Reports Poplar Bluff police arrested a local man on suspicion of marijuana distribution on Wednesday, after finding $10,000 in cash and several small bags of the drug. "This is indicative of the drug problems we have and how pervasive it is, and the amount of money that's involved in this kind of stuff," said police chief Danny Whiteley...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Carol Inman maps the light first as she examines her son's face in a faded snapshot from a family car trip to Oklahoma. She points out how bright sunlight drifts through the windshield to mix with the dark shadows of the car. In the shot, an 18-month-old John chews on a corncob pipe his parents picked up from a roadside gas station...

By MARYBETH NIEDERKORN SEMO News Service Missouri lawmakers gave final approval to a bill increasing fines for illegal use of herbicides resulting in damage to other farmers' crops, the Associated Press reported Thursday. The Missouri House passed the bill Thursday in a vote of 139-18...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Residents who vote at Good Hope United Methodist Church will spend one more election at the Butler County polling place before the 127-year-old church closes. The congregation will hold its final service March 26 (see story on 1C today)...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer After 127 years Good Hope United Methodist Church will close its doors Sunday, March 26, 2017. Rev. J. C. Bryant and the congregation will host a reception from 9 - 10 a.m., Sunday, for people whose lives have been touched by Good Hope. ...

Kevin and Brittney Darlin announce the engagement of their daughter, Shelbie Eileen Darlin, to William Daniel Francisco II, all of Poplar Bluff. William is the son of Billy and Amy Francisco and Travis and Jennifer Slayton, all of Poplar Bluff. Shelbie is a 2016 graduate of Three Rivers College, and is employed by Southern Bank...

Lauren Keith Heuring, marketing and communications manager for The Bank of Missouri, will be the speaker at the Women Aware monthly luncheon starting at noon Friday, March 24, at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. A former TV news anchor and current social media strategist, Heuring will provide 10 social media tips you can use on multiple platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee will question Neil Gorsuch about the judiciary's role. Herewith some pertinent questions: -- Lincoln's greatness began with his recoil from the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act, which empowered residents of those territories to decide whether to have slavery. The act's premise was that "popular sovereignty" -- majorities' rights -- is the essence of the American project. Is it, or is liberty?...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The following students have been awarded scholarships to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 2017-2018 academic year: Kassidy Sentell of Qulin, Mo., has received the University Scholarship and Residence Life Leadership Award. Sentell is the daughter of Kim Johnson of Leachville, Arkansas, and the late Matthew Sentell, and will be a 2017 graduate of Twin Rivers High School...

Who's paying for Trump's lunch Yeah, I'd like to know who's paying for all those lunches that Trump is having at the White House? Everyday. Hundreds of people eating there. Who's payin' for this? Agree with President [MAIL] You probably won't put this in the paper, but I'll try anyway. ...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, but for governments it's not that easy. Once something is given -- say, health insurance coverage to 20 million Americans -- you take it away at your peril. This is true for any government benefit, but especially for health care. There's a reason not one Western democracy with some system of national health care has ever abolished it...

A lack of offensive opportunities meant for a long day for Poplar Bluff's defense and keeper Shelby Sievers in the season opener Friday. Looking to make a statement for the postseason seed meeting, Seckman peppered Poplar Bluff's backfield to beat the Mules 3-0 in the first game at Mules Stadium...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- In their previous three trips to the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown, the Dexter Lady Bearcats were always missing that extra something to end the season on a high note. In 2013 it was a loss in the championship game. The following year it was a fourth place finish...

ELLSINORE -- State-ranked Poplar Bluff opened the season with a reality check. The Mules, No. 5 in the Class 5 preseason coaches' poll, lost to East Carter 3-2 in the season opener for both teams Friday. Austin McIntosh, batting ninth for Poplar Bluff, singled to leadoff the bottom of the seventh inning, and Tyson Cox put down a sacrifice bunt to move him into scoring position. ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- For those involved in high school basketball in Missouri, the season begins at the dawn of November with one dream in mind -- to get to the state finals at Mizzou Arena in Columbia by March. Players fantasize about gracing the same court as some of the best high school products to ever come out of the state. That dream is the same for the third team on the court in any given game -- the officials...

GREENVILLE -- Emilie O'Dell and the Greenville softball team started the season on a perfect note. The sophomore pitcher struck out two and pitched a perfect game as the Lady Bears beat Ellington 10-0 in five innings Friday. O'Dell also drove in a pair of runs and was 2 for 4 at the dish while Siera Bennett hit a double and had two RBIs. Senior Lawren Luke was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI, senior Brianna Brogdon had two RBIs and junior Jaden Francis hit a double...

Robert Coulton "Bob" Becker Robert Coulton "Bob" Becker, co-owner and manager of Rolling Shoals Farm at Williamsville and well-known area church, school and community leader, died March 11, 2017, at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital's Siteman Cancer Center. He had been a patient there for nearly nine weeks. He was a life-long resident of Williamsville...

Janis L. Birdsong Janis L. Birdsong, 67, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, March 16, 2017 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., Monday, at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff, with the funeral service following at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Calvin Bulher officiating. Burial will be in the Black Creek Cemetery in Poplar Bluff...