Stories from Friday, November 3, 2017

The Dream Construction Organization's Fall Festival featured Officer Dustin Barks of the Poplar Bluff Police Department in an effort to spread police awareness and support throughout the community. The event was held Oct. 28 at Wheatley School where Barks answered questions for more than 200 attendees including questions about body cameras and safety...

Butler County authorities drained a lake earlier this week in their continued search for a local man whose family reported him missing more than two years ago. Connie Goodwin, the mother of Edward Acie Goodwin, reported her 32-year-old son missing on July 5, 2015. Investigators have verified Goodwin was last seen on June 29, 2015...

Poplar Bluff will lose one of its top 10 retailers in the New Year. The local Kmart is among more than 60 store closings announced Thursday by Sears Holdings as part of an effort to "right size" the company's store footprint. The locations are expected to remain open through the holiday season and close in late January. Liquidation sales are set to begin as early as Monday, according to corporate officials...

An opening reception will be held from 1-4 p.m. Sunday for the 64th Annual Poplar Bluff Artists' Guild Regional Juried Art Exhibit. Held at the Margaret Harwell Art Museum, prizes will be awarded at 3 p.m. Cookies and cider punch will be served. The show will be on display through Nov. 26...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Needing a victory to validate their majorities, congressional Republicans have chosen not to emulate Shakespeare's Henry V before Agincourt. He advocated stiffening the sinews, summoning up the blood and lending the eye a terrible aspect. The Republicans would rather define victory down...

Perhaps you've heard a little something about President Donald Trump fighting publicly with members of his own party. The media loves these he-said-then-he-said stories of political conflict. They're so easy to cover and self-destructive to the GOP cause. So they're churned out day after day, enabling this president to manipulate coverage through mere tweets and dominate consecutive news cycles...

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The U.S. Census Bureau is preparing for its next constitutionally mandated national head count, to be held in 2020. Unfortunately, the Bureau's 2020 Operation Plan reveals that an actual enumeration of the population -- the only thing constitutionally permitted -- will be but a small part of the overall effort...

Dennis R. Berry, 80, of Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017 at his residence. He was born Dec. 30, 1936, in Poplar Bluff, to Dennis L. and Barbara (Strange) Mack. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War. Mr. Berry was an Electronic Repairman, an over the road truck driver, but his most cherished occupation was being Chaplin for the Salvation Army in St. ...

Charles Raulston, 71, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017 at his home surrounded by loved ones. Mr. Raulston was born July 31,1946 in Poplar Bluff. He attended New Home General Baptist Church. He was a master carpenter and baled hay...

Donald Ray Sawyer, 81, of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017 in Poplar Bluff surrounded by his family. He was born Feb. 29, 1936 in Kennett to the late Ed and Imogene Sawyer. Mr. Sawyer attended Mt. Zion Church. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and the outdoors. He was a truck driver...

Verla Mae Davis of Poplar Bluff, MO passed from this life at the age of 91 on November 1, 2017 at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House at St. Bernard's in Jonesboro, AR surrounded by her loving family. Verla was best known for her superior culinary skills at the Broadway Café in Poplar Bluff that she co-owned and co-managed during the 1950s and 1960s. ...

PIEDMONT, Mo. - Marvie J. Gray, 72, of Annapolis died Thurs., Nov. 2, 2017 at the St. Anthony Medical Center in St. Louis. Arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont.

The Three Rivers men's basketball team opens the season with one of its toughest opponents on the calendar. Tallahassee (Fla.), ranked 13th in the preseason NJCAA poll, will visit the Bess Activity Center at 7 p.m. Friday in the season opener for both teams...

The counties of Carter, Wayne and Ripley are taking a "huge first step" in improving emergency response time thanks to a grant funding 911 addressing in each county. "We applied for the grant funds through the Delta Regional Authority through the Ozark Foothills (Regional) Planning Commission," explained Wayne County Presiding Commissioner Brian Polk. "We received the grant for all three counties...

Missouri Lottery players took home more than $68.2 million in prizes during the month of October. Of the total $68.2 million awarded, more than $7.7 million were prizes of $1,000 or more. Winners of $1,000 or more in October include the following: Club Keno winners:...