Stories from Tuesday, December 26, 2017

This is the first of a four-part series on the events and issues that highlighted 2017 in Poplar Bluff and its surrounding areas. JANUARY 8 - An iconic Poplar Bluff business, Rowland Stollen Bakery & Deli, closes. Joan Rowland opened the business 30 years ago and her stollens became a famous Poplar Bluff pastery...

The weather outside may not be frightful but it sure is cold with frigid temperatures expected to continue through the week producing wind chills at 10 below zero and potential snow flurries today. Butler County Emergency Management Director Robbie Myers said to use caution and common sense until temperatures rise...

By ANDREW MALCOLM Special to McClatchy via Tribune News Service For years, Iran has been accurately labeled as the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism. Now, quietly with little notice beyond the region, the militant regime in Iran has established a major land force in Syria effectively threatening the existence of Israel...

In a Nov. 10 column, the New York Times posted a lineup of more than 40 powerful men who, since Harvey Weinstein's downfall, have been accused of sexual harassment of women. Borrowing a line from the 1975 movie "Network," as one voice women are saying, "I'm mad as hell and I won't take this anymore!"...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Zachary "Zack" Lee Spencer, 36, of Doniphan died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017, at Southeast Health of Ripley County. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017 at the West Point Church with funeral services at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017, the West Point Church with Pastor Chuck Carr officiating, Burial will be in the Spencer Family Cemetery...

By JAMES MARTIN Los Angeles Times via Tribune News Service The minuscule Galilean town in which Joseph and Mary spent their lives and raised their son Jesus was, quite literally, a joke. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" asked one disciple, when he heard where the Messiah was from. ...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Edith Pauline Griffin Parks went to be with the Lord on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017. She was living in Dallas with her daughter and son-in-law, Hermena and Harold Holigan. Edith was born on June 17, 1917, in the country outside of Clarksville, Ark. ...

Leta Lee Whiteley, 89, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away on Friday, Dec. 22, 2017 at Hearthside Senior Living Center in Collierville, Tenn., with her family at her side. She was born on March 10, 1928 to Harrison and Cora (Druly) Snodgrass in Moark, Ark. and graduated from Neelyville High School where she played varsity basketball and, was a very talented concert pianist...

Marvin Edward Pierce, 81, of Poplar Bluff died Friday, Dec. 22, 2017 at San Antonia Regional Hospital in Upland, Calif. There will be a service scheduled after Christmas. Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff, Mo. is in charge of arrangements...

James Rush, 61, of Ellsinore, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 24 at Mark Twain Care Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. No Services are planned at this time. Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff is in charge of arrangements.

Sitting at 4-4, the host Mules enter the 31st annual Poplar Bluff Showdown basketball tournament wanting to show they're better than that record might indicate. "Our record is a little so-so but I feel like it really doesn't show our improvement we've made since the start of the season," Poplar Bluff senior Adrian Webb said. "I think offensively and defensively we've gotten better."...

Teresa Dawn Barker, 55, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Wednesday, Dec. 20,2017 at her home. There will be a memorial service at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017 at the Abundant Life Christian Center, 1888 Bradley S., Poplar Bluff, with Pastor David Thomas officiating...

ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Leonard "Leon" Foster, 75, died Friday, Dec. 22, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. A Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017, at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore, Mo. with the Funeral Service being held Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017 at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel...

When Notre Dame boys basketball coach Paul Unterreiner looks at the top four seeds in the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament, each team appears on equal footing. Sure, the seeds are different, but there isn't much separating the squads. Unterreiner isn't the only area coach that sees talented teams scattered across the field. ...

Wilbert Lee Ball, 88, of Broseley, Mo., died Monday, Dec. 25, 2017 at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. Services are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

Lloyd Laughlin, 55, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born Sept. 30, 1962, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He attended Calvary Community Church and he enjoyed his church. He had served in the U.S. Navy.He married Dorothy Winder Laughlin Aug. 23, 1979 in Poplar Bluff. She survives...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Alice Stone, 75, of Piedmont, died Sunday, Dece. 17, 2017, at her residence. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, at Alive in Christ Church in Piedmont. Pastor Richard Sanders will minister to the family...

Dr. Bob J. Casey, 90, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The arrangements are pending and will be announced when completed by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff, Mo