Stories from Sunday, August 20, 2017

Bids ranging from $420,000 to nearly $1.2 million have been received for repairs to State Highway HH, which was damaged during record high water at Clearwater Dam. The bids were opened Friday by the Missouri Department of Transportation. An award is expected Sept. 6, at the next meeting of the state highway commission, said area engineer David Wyman...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Parma, Mo., man was sentenced Friday morning to a combined total of 120 years in prison in connection with break-ins at eight Dexter, Mo., businesses. Edward D. Lusk, 50, appeared before Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis for sentencing after having pleaded guilty in June to six Class C felonies of second-degree burglary and the Class C felonies of first-degree property damage and second-degree arson, according to news release from Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver.. ...

Shelly White and Colter Gaebler, along with their parents, announce their engagement. The couple plans to be married Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, at Keener Springs. Shelly is the daughter of Greg White and Janea White of Poplar Bluff. Colter is the son of Tim and Cindy Gaebler...

PUXICO, Mo. - Join Mingo National Wildlife Refuge staff for coffee and conversation from 8:30 -10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 31 at the Visitor Center, located at 24279 State Highway 51 one mile north of Puxico. Have a question about the refuge? Interested in how staff manages the refuge for wildlife? Wondering about recreation opportunities? The open house is the perfect opportunity to chat with Mingo staff and learn more about this unique resource. ...

By MONA CHAREN This year will mark my 30th anniversary as a syndicated columnist. During these years, I have written more words than I would have preferred about race. But race is America's great moral stain and unending challenge. I've tackled school choice, affirmative action, transracial adoption, crime, police conduct, family structure, poverty, free-enterprise zones and more...

For the seventh year, the University of Missouri Extension Center along with Aging Matters will host a Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at the First United Methodist Church, 500 N. Main St. in Poplar Bluff. This conference is also for others who are raising children who are not their own...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "They had found a leader, Robert E. Lee -- and what a leader! ... No military leader since Napoleon has aroused such enthusiastic devotion among troops as did Lee when he reviewed them on his horse Traveller." So wrote Samuel Eliot Morison in his magisterial "The Oxford History of the American People" in 1965...

As the twisting angles of "Fluss Ewig," wrap visitors in light and shadow, it brings to life what designer Coulton Becker hoped to capture in this memorial for his father, Bob Becker. The German name translates as "flux eternal," a phrase meant to convey that change is eternal, 21-year-old Becker explained, standing Thursday next to the recently completed structure...

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) -- A police officer in Florida died from his injuries Saturday, a day after his colleague was killed when a suspect fired at them during a scuffle while they were on patrol. The suspect was later arrested at a bar. Sgt. Sam Howard died Saturday afternoon at a hospital where he had been taken following Friday night's attack in Kissimmee, Florida, located south of the theme park hub of Orlando...

FISK, Mo. -- Betty Irene Roberts, 57, of Doniphan, died Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017 at her home. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m., Monday, at White Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Bill Orr officiating...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Jerry Arlon Edwards, 74, of Risco, Mo., died Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be at 6 p.m., Saturday at Pleasant View General Baptist Church in Risco. The funeral will be at 2 p.m., Sunday at Pleasant View General Baptist Church in Risco with Brother Mark Powell, Brother Mark McDowell, and Brother James Hamlett officiating...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Richard Dean Freeman, 52, of Hunter, Mo., formerly of Springfield, died Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017. Visitation was held Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, at Midwest Cremation and Funeral Services, 2026 W Woodland St, Springfield. Graveside services were held at 3 p.m., Friday, in the Liberty Cemetery near Fellows Lake, Springfield. Arrangements have been entrusted to Midwest Cremation and Funeral Services, Springfield...

MALDEN, Mo. - Diane Wagner, 69, of Bernie, Mo., died Friday, Aug. 18, 2017 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. - noon Tuesday, Aug. 22 at the First Assembly of God Church in Malden. Funeral services will follow at noon with Pastor Mark Thrasher officiating. Burial will be in the Rosewood First Addition Cemetery in Malden. Landess Funeral Home of Malden is in charge of the arrangements...

QULIN, Mo. - Johnnie Heber Hill, 87, of Qulin, died Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017 at his residence. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22 at White Sanders Funeral Home in Qulin. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23 in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Jim Sanders and Rev. Marlin Rice officiating. Burial will be in Brown Chapel Cemetery in Broseley, Mo., with full military honors...

Locations for a Poplar Bluff city hall and police department will once again be a topic of discussion for the city council, which has added the matter to their agenda for Monday's regular meeting. City council documents released Friday say options for city hall will be discussed, but do not provide other information concerning what those options may be...

Monday morning, 19-year-old Justin Darnell drove along Three Rivers Blvd., preparing for his last first day of school as a Raider. He was pulling into the parking lot when it began to sink in that he will receive his associate's degree in December and in January, embark on the last leg of his path to earning a bachelor's degree in organizational communication at Arkansas State University...

To the Editor, Thank you to the Poplar Bluff Superintendent Scott Dill for putting the kids first and fixing an issue in record timing. Our kids were excited to start school and be a PB Mules fan. So when we moved here we went to the school website to see what school district we would be in. ...

Monday, Missourians will experience the wonder and power of nature for the first time in 148 years when a total solar eclipse occurs throughout parts of the state. While it will be a rare and exciting experience, safety is of the utmost importance during the "magical" event...

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- There may be new faces calling plays on the Malden sideline. But the results remain the same. Under the leadership of new head coach Kevin Collier and offensive coordinator Charlie Vickery, the often run-heavy Green Wave added a new wrinkle to their offensive playbook Friday night...

Life after high school presents a lengthy list of unknowns for many 9th-12th grade students. The question "Should I go to college," is one of the most common. When the correlating answer is yes, then "Where and how will I pay for it," surely follow...

The Mules couldn't find their footing on offense early in the season-opener Friday night and found themselves trailing. That changed in the span of 76 seconds. Chris Barker pounced on a pair of fumbles to set up short touchdown runs by Brett Barousse, spurring Poplar Bluff to a 34-14 win over Riverview Gardens at Mules Stadium...

A meet and greet will be held from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at the Colton's Steak House annex to introduce a new Fellowship of Christian Athletes representative to the area. Longtime representative Bill Ray is retiring from the organization, after 11 years serving the Three Rivers area in Southeast Missouri...

SULLIVAN, Mo. -- Following a nearly perfect start to the season Friday with three wins, the Poplar Bluff softball team lost twice Saturday to place fourth at the Sullivan Back to School Classic. Shelby Sievers, who broke the team record for hits and RBIs in a career earlier in the tournament, hit a tying home run in the semifinal against Camdenton. The Lady Lakers, however, got a two-run, go-ahead homer from their No. 9 hitter in the order and beat the Mules 4-2...

Neelyville While many high school students may not be thinking about money to assist with college, Neelyville High School senior Hana-Kate Cassinger utilized an available resource through her high school. Cassinger said she decided to enroll in the A+ program because of the financial benefits and the opportunity to work with children...

NAYLOR -- Alyssa Urich tossed a three-hitter and Callee Pickrell went 3 for 4 as the Naylor softball team opened the season with a 9-1 win over Cape Central on Saturday. The Lady Eagles scored six runs in the third inning on six hits, including a two-run single off the bat of Aribi Pruett. Pickrell, Faith Sullivan, Emma Moman and Maddy Cagle each added hits in the inning...

DEXTER -- On the two biggest plays of the night, neither Dexter player realized what was happening until after they reached the end zone. In a scoreless game just before halftime, safety Seth Rogers read the Ste. Genevieve quarterback, picked off a fourth-down pass and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown...