Stories from Wednesday, February 28, 2018

The Neelyville cheerleaders took the court on Homecoming night to perform their routine like any other game. Announcing the squad onto the court, Cheer Coach Brandi Lumby told the crowd, "The dance you are about to see was chosen to be performed at the Final Four."...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The famous Budweiser Clydesdales will visit the city in April. The Budweiser Clydesdales have been the trademark of St. Louis-based brewery Anheuser-Busch since 1933, and April 2 through 8, the famed horses will enjoy a weeklong stay with multiple stops in Cape Girardeau thanks to the requests of River Eagle and Drury...

The four-story brick building on the corner of Vine and Broadway has watched over the historic heart of Poplar Bluff for more than a century. It was built by a blacksmith who arrived in the city in 1877 with a box of tools and 65 cents to his name. Today the Begley building is home to Hays Music, owned by a family dedicated to preserving the legacy of those who helped build their hometown...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff, Mo., woman preempted her upcoming federal trial by pleading guilty Monday to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine after authorities intercepted a shipment being sent to her. Jo Anna Woley pleaded guilty to the felony of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine before U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr., according to Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Willis...

NEW YORK (AP) -- Macy's broke out of its three-year sales funk, reporting a healthy sales gain at existing stores for the holiday period as it benefited from an improving economy and its own initiatives like an overhauled customer loyalty program. The department store chain also posted sharply higher earnings for the fourth quarter, boosted by the sale of certain real estate assets. It issued an upbeat outlook...

Beginning today, First Midwest Bank customers will experience a new rewards program unlike anything in the area with the launch of the First Midwest Buzz Points reward program. Similar to rewards programs offered by national banking institutions and credit card companies, the Buzz Points program allows customers to earn points every time they use their debit cards. Points can then be used at local and national retailers or can be redeemed as monetary donations to local charities...

NEW YORK (AP) -- Another company, FedEx, has become embroiled in an intensifying discussion about guns in the United States after the school massacre in Parkland, Florida. While more than a dozen major U.S. companies have ended business partnerships with the National Rifle Association, FedEx says it's sticking with the group and has not asked to be removed from the NRA website where members are offered corporate discounts...

Members of the Missouri House gave final approval to a bill meant to protect the state's unemployment system from insolvency in the event there is another economic downturn. Supporters say the bill is necessary because Missouri is the only state that has been forced to borrow money from the federal government to pay for unemployment benefits during each of the last five economic downturns. ...

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Standard Democrat I can add neither perspective nor wisdom to the Florida school shooting issue. I can add only my sincere condolences and extreme sadness at the tragic and life-changing senseless slaughter that unfolded...

Jessica Lynn and Ervin O'Brian Nance Jr. of Poplar Bluff, Mo. announce the birth of their daughter, Rylee Faith Nance. Rylee was born at 1:28 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018 at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau, Mo. weighing in at 7 pounds 8 ounces and was 20.25 inches long...

By ADRIANA COHEN As almighty as the government thinks it is, it can't legislate hate away. It can't eradicate mental illness, undo a bad childhood or make an evil person good. But what it can do in the wake of the horrific school shooting in Parkland -- the worst in Florida's history -- is implement a series of common-sense measures to keep our kids safe in school. ...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Mildred Jean Wright, 89, of Campbell, Mo. died Monday, Feb. 26, 2018, in Campbell. Visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. A graveside service will follow at 1:30 p.m. in the Rosewood Cemetery with Rev. Jim Davis officiating. Burial will be in Rosewood Cemetery in Malden...

Lucille Irene Gamble, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Monday, Feb. 26, 2018 at Oakdale Care Center in Poplar Bluff. Lucille, the daughter of the late Freddie and Nellie Magdaline Kilgoure McMillin, was born Feb. 22, 1932 in Poplar Bluff. She was a member of Collins Chapel Church where she served as a Sunday School teacher for many years. ...

How do we stop school shootings? Obviously, there is no sure-fire solution to any problem. But, problems can be greatly minimized through certain procedures. It isn't feasible to expect schools to create fortresses with patrolling armed guards. For one thing, they can't afford it...

CORNING Ark. -- Helen Marie Banks, 78, of Corning passed away Feb. 26, 2018 at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Mrs. Banks was a homemaker and seamstress who enjoyed flower gardening, taking care of her pets, and spending time with her grandchildren. She was a member of Grace Missionary Baptist Church, Corning...

WEST PLAINS, Mo. -- The Raiders lost to MSU-West Plains by two points and by four points during the regular season. They never got that close in the second half Tuesday night. Down six points at halftime, Three Rivers fell behind by as much as 23 and lost 102-86 in the Region XVI Tournament quarterfinals. With a 12-18 record, it is Three Rivers' first losing season in 48 years under coach Gene Bess...

CEDAR HILL, Mo. -- The Mules are hitting their stride at the perfect time as they advanced to the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 championship game and a rematch with rival Jackson. Poplar Bluff was nearly perfect in the semifinal tune-up, beating Fox 68-39 Tuesday night at Northwest High School...

WEST PLAINS, Mo. -- Raiders coach Gene Bess has suffered his first losing season in 48 years at Three Rivers. With Tuesday's season-ending 102-86 loss to MSU-West Plains, Three Rivers finished 12-18 for the year, the first losing season for the program since 1968-69...

DEXTER -- The underdog Dexter Bearcats landed an early punch against top-ranked Sikeston. The fourth-seeded Bearcats trailed by only four points after one quarter before the Bulldogs kicked into gear to win the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 semifinal 62-32 Tuesday night at the Bearcat Event Center...

The Lady Raiders used a pair of big innings for a pair of comeback wins to open their season. After rain pushed back their season opener, Three Rivers finally took the field Tuesday and beat Dyersburg State 4-2 and 10-7 to open the season. Of Three Rivers' 14 runs, 13 came in two innings...

Dennis Soice, 66, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Monday. Feb. 26, 2018 at his home. There will be military rites at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018 at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo. Fowler Sullivan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

Mary Helen Mays, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018 in Poplar Bluff. Helen, the daughter of the late Roscoe and Flora Griffith White, was born Feb. 10, 1935 in Chaonia, Mo. She was a homemaker and attended Faith Baptist Church. ...

Three men and a puppy walk into a store and buy some Scratchers tickets. It may sound like a good intro to a funny joke, but it was no joke when they uncovered a $10,000 prize playing the new "$5,000,000 Bankroll" Scratchers ticket. The men, who are related - Terry Head of Wappapello, and Trever Head and Zackery Head, both of Poplar Bluff - all decided to put in $100 each to buy a total of $300 worth of Scratchers. The deal was simple: They would split whatever they won three ways...