Stories from Wednesday, December 27, 2017

A Poplar Bluff teenager was arrested Tuesday morning after mental health officials intercepted a third letter she had written threatening to kill Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth. Kyle King, a care coordinator at the SEMO Behavioral Health, reported to Poplar Bluff Police Patrolman Rick Adams that Charity Alexis Bostic-Green had made death threats in a letter to Bloodworth...

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a ... 6-foot-tall bicycle? Commuters and pedestrians may have noticed a rather tall road bike making its way across town in the last several months. In fact, spectators at the Parade of Lights last month may have seen several like it there...

Filing for two seats on the Poplar Bluff City Council remains stagnant more than two weeks into the allotted time frame, as still no candidates have come forward. Filing opened Dec. 12 for the Ward 2 spot currently held by Mayor Ed Degaris, and the Ward 4 position of Philip Crocker. Neither councilman plans to seek re-election. Filing will remain open until Jan. 16 for the April 3 election. Term length for both seats is three years...

By STEPHEN MOORE The unsung hero of the GOP Christmas gift of a tax cut is Arthur Laffer -- the Reagan economist who helped devise the Gipper's tax reductions. Those tax cuts rebuilt the U.S. economy in the 1980s and pulled us out of the mini-depression of high inflation and unemployment in the late 1970s...

ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Lee Edward O'Dell, 65, of Ellsinore died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017 in Ellsinore. Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017 at the General Baptist Church in Ellsinore, with the funeral service being held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017 in the church chapel. Rev. William McDowell and Rev. Bill Pennington will be officiating. Burial will be in the Gresham Cemetery in Ellsinore, Mo. McSpadden Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS My recent columns have focused on the extremely poor educational outcomes for black students. There's enough blame for all involved to have their fair share. That includes students who are hostile and alien to the educational process and have derelict, uninterested home environments. ...

Cane Creek Community Club's December meeting was in the home of Wilma Rains with five members present. Rains served a delicious lunch of soup, salad and pecan pie as dessert. The meeting was opened by Rains, the new president. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited by a members, Rains asked for the November minutes. Marie Boxx read the minutes prepared by Glenda Phillips. Rains gave the treasurer report...

Dr. Bob J. Casey, 90, a prominent retired Poplar Bluff dentist, passed away Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Bob, the son of the late John and La Doskie (Allen) Casey, was born June 29, 1927 in Poplar Bluff. He was a graduate of Poplar Bluff High School class of 1945. ...

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Helen Louise Chronister, 85, of Van Buren, Mo., since 1981 and formerly of Gillespie, Ill. died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017 at the Mark Twain Care Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, at the Liberty Baptist Church in Van Buren with the funeral service following at 1 p.m. in the church chapel. Rev. Bill Orr will be officiating. Burial will be in the Van Buren City Cemetery in Van Buren...

NEW YORK (AP) -- Papa John's founder John Schnatter will step down as CEO next month, about two months after he criticized the NFL leadership over national anthem protests by players -- comments for which the company later apologized. Schnatter will be replaced as chief executive by Chief Operating Officer Steve Ritchie on Jan. ...

Last week, instead of letting the status quo in the swamp continue - taxing folks until the cows come home - I joined President Trump at the White House to mark passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It is very simple, this new law will allow you to KEEP MORE of what you earn by SENDING LESS of what you make to Washington. In fact, if you're a family of four making less than $55,000 a year your new tax rate will be ZERO percent...that's right, you won't pay a single penny in federal income tax...

FISK, Mo. - Leon Pierce, age 84, of Poplar Bluff, MO, formerly of Broseley went to be with the Lord Monday, December 25, 2017 at his residence, in Poplar Bluff, MO. Mr. Pierce was born January 4, 1933 in Broseley, son of the late Johny Vester and Kathryn Rachel Pierce. ...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Charles Perryman, 70, of Malden, died on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau Mo. Visitation will begin at noon Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017 at Landess Funeral Home in Malden. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. in the chapel with Rev. James Hamlett officiating. Burial will be in Rosewood Cemetery in Malden...

BLOOMFIELD -- A little "Christmas dinner" fatigue wasn't enough to keep Doniphan's depth down. With help from some extra bodies in the second half, the No. 6 Dons successfully pressed No. 11 Puxico and turned a five point halftime deficit into a 64-51 win in the first round of the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament...

BLOOMFIELD -- Dushawn Butler scored 16 of his game-high 20 points in the first half Tuesday to help fourth-seeded Malden build a nine-point halftime lead, and the Green Wave used a trio of runs in the second half to beat the 13th-seeded Twin Rivers Royals 60-39 in a first-round matchup in the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament...

Denise Giambelluca, 63, of Columbia, Mo., formerly of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, December 26, 2017 at Bluff Creek Terrace. Arrangements are pending under the direction of Parker-Millard Funeral Service and Crematory; 12 East Ash Street, Columbia, Missouri, 65203; (573) 449-4153. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.ParkerMillard.com...

BLOOMFIELD -- The hosts of the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament turned a day filled with expected outcomes on its head. Tenth-seeded Bloomfield outlasted No. 7 Portageville 63-55 in double overtime Tuesday to give the first round of the 61st annual tournament its first upset...

QULIN, Mo. - Mary W. Reed age 84, of Qulin, MO, died Tuesday, December 26, 2017 at her home in Qulin, MO. Mrs. Reed was born January 02, 1933 in Cave City, AR to the late Elmer and Ruthel (Pinkston) Mobley. She was a gardener and homemaker. She was never happier than when she was surrounded by all of her family. ...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Willa "Bo" Gardner, 92, of Essex, Mo., died at her son's home in Ashland City, Tenn. Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017. Visitation will be held after 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, until time for services at 1 p.m. at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter with Bishop Michael Comer officiating. Burial will be in the Walker Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo. with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter is in charge of arrangements...

ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Leonard "Leon" Foster, 75, died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017, at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore with the funeral following on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017 at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel...

Jimmie Dean Hampton, 59, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Sunday, December 24, 2017 at his residence. He was born on January 25, 1958 to Thomas and Lucille (Starns) Hampton in Flint, MI. Jimmie worked as a farm hand his entire life. On August 12, 1987 he married Susan England in Poplar Bluff, MO...

Fidel "Poncho" Aquino, 82 of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at his residence. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

DONIPHAN, Mo. - Michael Paul Adkins, 64, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, December 23, 2017 at his residence. Graveside services for Mr. Adkins will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, December 27 at the Mt. Olive Cemetery in Doniphan. Brother David Grubbs will officiate...

Lloyd Laughlin, 71, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born Aug. 23, 1946, 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...

DONIPHAN, Mo. - Mr. Acel Woodrow Price, 99 years, 2 months & 18 days, of Doniphan, Missouri, died Monday, December 25, 2017 at his residence in Ripley County. Mr. Price, son of the late Elvie & Myrtle (Eagan) Price, was born October 8, 1918, in Ripley County, Missouri. ...