Stories from Friday, March 16, 2018

From the beauty of watercolor designs to the simple joy of decorating an Easter egg, the Margaret Harwell Art Museum will kick off a series of art classes next week that offer something for all ages and experience levels. "We always like to present as many opportunities for learning as we can," said Steve Whitworth, museum director...

Lake Road Elementary School will extend its class offerings to fourth grade students beginning in the 2018-19 school year after a 5-2 vote by the Poplar Bluff R-1 Board of Education during Thursday's monthly meeting. The decision, which has supporters on both sides of the issue, will allow third grade students to remain at Lake Road during fourth grade instead of moving on to the middle school. ...

KENNETT, Mo. -- A Malden, Mo., woman was sentenced to prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to recklessly causing the death of a 9-month-old boy by shaking him while he was left in her care. Breon Dannielle Lashay Hess, 26, pleaded guilty as charged to the Class C felony of first-degree involuntary manslaughter before Presiding Circuit Judge Robert Mayer, according to Casenet...

Further exploration of a more than $7 million Early Childhood Center was approved in a unanimous vote by the Poplar Bluff R-1 Board of Education at Thursday's monthly meeting. Assistant Superintendent of Finance Rod Priest said the project is viable without undue pressure on the budget, due to the current balance in the district's cash reserves...

A competition has developed in Butler County for the Division II seat currently held by Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth. Attorney Ralph Innes Jr. filed Thursday afternoon for the Aug. 7 primary election, according to the county clerk's office...

(This is the first of two stories on recovery efforts.The second will appear Sunday.) VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Mother Nature plays by her own rules, Robbie Williams explained as he walked through his Hickory Lane home, more than half a mile from the Current River...

By PASTOR FRANK CHLASTAK "Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to every creature.Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved." Ever since Jesus gave that command to the first disciples, the followers of Jesus have tried to follow that command in each epoch to the best of their ability...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Iceland must be pleased that it is close to success in its program of genocide, but before congratulating that nation on its final solution to the Down syndrome problem, perhaps it might answer a question: What is this problem? To help understand why some people might ask this question, today's column is being distributed together with two photographs. ...

The staff and congregation of First Church of God, 3482 S. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, Mo., are reaching out to people in the community to join in the Carry the Cross event from 7-11 a.m. Friday, March 30. The church's press release said, "this is a great opportunity for all believers in Christ to come together and take a stand in support for the gospel message of Jesus. ...

There are people across Missouri who believe that our process of government is broken and beyond repair; that our public institutions are no longer capable of solving big problems and doing good things for the people they represent. These ideas too often bleed into the thought process of hard-working Missouri families, who have been misled by the east coast media into believing rural Missouri is on a steady decline that cannot be reversed. ...

By STEPHEN MOORE Last week, Donald Trump dialed back his earlier call for a punitive and blanket tariff on imported steel and aluminum. Good decision. The financial markets rallied, as the new plan specifically targets countries that are cheating and stealing, such as China and Russia, and provides exemptions for allies...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Ronald Lee "Ron" Eakens, 72, of Risco, Mo., died Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 18, at Bradshaw Chapel in Malden with Brother Mark Powell and Brother Mark McDowell. Burial will be in Rose wood Cemetery in Malden...

PIGGOTT, Ark. -- Doris Erwin, 81 of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Piggott, passed from this life Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born Feb. 11, 1937 in Rector, Ark. to the late Lloyd and Zelma Pearl (Cullum) Dees...

Summer Shockley started both games for the Lady Raiders, and won both games. Three Rivers swept Ellsworth 15-3 in five innings and 2-0 on Thursday at Rains Field, ending a seven game losing streak after Three Rivers opened the season winning nine in a row...

QULIN. Mo. -- George B. Tidwell, 90, of Qulin, Mo., died Thursday, March 15, 2018 at Oakdale Care Center, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Tidwell was born April 26, 1927 in Union City, Tenn., son of the late N.V. and Ethel (Ledbetter) Tidwell. He served in the Army during WWII. He was a farmer and also owned and operated Tidwell's Grocery...

Gene Woodsmall, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Thursday, March 15, 2018 in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be from 10 - 11 a.m. Monday, March 19, 2018 at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. A memorial Service will begin immediately following visitation at 11 a.m. in the Moore Funeral Service Chapel. Burial and Military honors will be held at 1 p.m. at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo...

Vivian Sue Jameson, 69, of Poplar Bluff, passed away March 13, 2018 at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was born Oct. 13,1948 to the late Zephry and Opal (Cook) Lairson at Poplar Bluff. She had worked at Mo Ark Mold in Poplar Bluff. ...

COTTLEVILLE, Mo. -- The Raiders rallied late to salvage a split. Down 6-3 in the seventh inning against St. Charles, Three Rivers scored five runs between the seven and eighth innings to win the nightcap 8-6 after losing the opener 5-3. "It puts us right back in the mix of things. ...

Johnny Edward Stiber, Jr., 66, of Poplar Bluff, died Thursday, March 15, 2018, at his home. Visitation will be between 5-7 p.m. Monday, March 19, at Moore Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff with the memorial service following at 7 p..m. at the funeral home chapel...

Marianne Kirchner, 60, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born on Feb. 14, 1958 to Frederick and Carole (Morrison) Bond in Evergreen Park, Ill. Marianne worked at Office Depot for 17 years and retired in December of 2017. On Feb. 22, 2007 she married John Kirchner in Poplar Bluff...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Barbara Shearrer of Patterson, Mo., died Thursday, March 15, 2018, at St. Louis University Hospital. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont, Mo.

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- John Douglas Taylor Jr. 73, of Corning, Ark., died at his residence Wednesday, March 14, 2018. Visitation will be Saturday, March 17, 2018 in the Fowler & Sons Funeral Home of Neelyville, starting at noon with the funeral starting at 1 p.m. at the chapel. Burial will be in the Coon Island Cemetery near Neelyville with Allen Leutert officiating...