Stories from Wednesday, July 18, 2018

BLOOMFIELD -- Charges were filed Thursday against three Dexter men for preventing the apprehension of another man who authorities had been searching for in connection with a June stabbing death. Joshua James Koonce, according to earlier reports, had been developed through investigative leads as a person of interest in the death of Jimmy Lynn Casey...

BERNIE -- With temperatures in the mid 90s last Wednesday afternoon, area firefighters were closely watched as they battled a fuel tank fire for four hours. "It was very hot," Puxico Fire Chief Stacy Starnes said in response to providing mutual aid. "Everyone worked well together."...

This past February a medical emergency occurred outside the residence of a Dexter citizen requiring a response from trained responders. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, no certified First Responders were available to assist the family for some twenty minutes. Neighbors did try to assist and are worthy of praise for their effort...

By STEPHEN MOORE One of Donald Trump's more memorable promises on the campaign trail was to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Polls show this issue remains popular with Americans, especially lower-income families, who are worried about high drug prices...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Beginning his joint press conference with Vladimir Putin, President Trump declared that U.S. relations with Russia have "never been worse." He then added pointedly, that just changed "about four hours ago." It certainly did. With his remarks in Helsinki and at the NATO summit in Brussels, Trump has signaled a historic shift in U.S. foreign policy that may determine the future of this nation and the fate of his presidency...

One of the most important decisions a president will ever make is who to nominate to the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court of the United States. Our country places a tremendous amount of responsibility on the nine men and women of the Court, and these justices shape the direction of the country for decades after their confirmation. ...

PUXICO, Mo,-- Two baby contests to be held during the Puxico VFW Homecoming will begin at 10 a.m. Aug. 17, in Veterans Park. One of the contests, the Puxico Baby Contest, will be limited to Puxico residents. The parents of the babies in this contest must be residents of the Puxico R-8 School District for at least three months prior to registration deadline...

Following the opening of the Board of Equalization last week, Bill McBrier of Ameren Missouri appeared before Stoddard County Commissioners to appeal their assessment Monday morning. Commissioners unanimously voted to deny his request since the case involving Ameren is in litigation, Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis said...

The Puxico Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post 7822 will sponsor the Little Miss Puxico Contest Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Puxico Veterans Park during the 71st Puxico VFW Homecoming. Preliminary activities for Tuesday evening will begin at 7 p.m. in the park...

The Puxico Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post 7822 will sponsor the Miss Puxico Contest Aug. 14 at 8 p.m. (or immediately following the Little Miss Puxico) in the Puxico Veterans Park during the 71st Puxico VFW Homecoming. The contestant is open to all girls age 16 to seniors in high school. ...

The Puxico VFW auxiliary wishes to keep the Little Miss and Miss Puxico contests a family centered event by setting a dress code. The dress code is: Should a contestant wear an evening dress that does not meet these standards, she will not be allowed to be in the contest. If a contestant has any questions regarding the new policies, she should contact an auxiliary member or bring the dress with her when she registers for the contest...

Pam Garner is a woman with a big heart. She feels things deeply -- empathy, compassion, gratitude -- and because of that, one of her greatest satisfactions is being able to help those less fortunate. "When you have been on the receiving end of kindness and selfless giving, I think it is only natural to want to repay those gestures," she explains. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The City of Cape Girardeau is spending thousands of dollars to market United Express commuter flights to Chicago, but the biggest marketing strategy may be the $59 one-way fare. Airport manager Bruce Loy discussed boardings and fares at Monday's city council meeting...

By DAVID JENKINSSEMO News Service BENTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston man and woman are facing drug charges after being arrested Wednesday, July 11.According to Scott County Sheriff Wes Drury, deputies executed a search warrant in Miner, Mo., in a motel room...

MALDEN, MO. -- Helen Louise Dority, 71, of Bernie, Mo. died Sunday, July 15, 2018 at The Manor in Poplar Bluff, Mo. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 21, 2018, at the Kingdom Hall in Malden. Bradshaw Funeral Home of Malden is in charge of arrangements...

Victor "Vic" E. Osher, 71, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at Graham Hospital in Canton Ill. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service.

Maci Shearer has put softball on the back burner. Right now she's got to learn how to weld and raise a pig. This past Friday, Shearer got the phone call she was anxiously awaiting. It was Southland School District Superintendent, Thomas Gotsch, offering her a job as the new vocational agriculture teacher and softball coach. She accepted, and will set up her classroom today even though she doesn't officially start until next week...

DONIPHAN, Mo.-- Theresa Ann Patterson, 65, of Doniphan, Missouri, died Thursday, July 12, 2018, at her residence in rural Doniphan. Visitation will begin at noon Saturday, July 21, 2018, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel and burial will be in the Union Cemetery. Online condolences: edwardsfuneralhome.org...

Phyllis Y. Williams, 71, of Dexter, Mo., formerly of Qulin, passed away Saturday, July 14, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Ms. Williams, the daughter of the late William and Marie Barker Williams, was born July 22, 1946 in Dagenham, England. Over the years she worked as a waitress and as a chef. Ms. Williams enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and cooking...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Randall Ramsey, the long time mayor of Parma, died Monday, July 16, 2018. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. Friday, July 20 at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 21 at the funeral chapel. Burial will follow in the Dexter Cemetery with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements. Memorial may be made to the St. Francis Healthcare Foundation, 211 St. Francis Dr., Cape Girardeau, MO 63703...

PIEDMNT, Mo.-- Melba J. Moss, 81, of Pevely, Mo., formerly of Mill Spring, Mo., died Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at Crystal Oaks Assisted Living, Crystal City, Mo. Visitation will be held Friday, July 20, 2018, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont, Mo. Services will follow at 1 p.m. at the chapel. Burial will be in Mill Spring Cemetery...

Shirley E. Elliott, 69, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at St. Francis Healthcare in Cape Girardeau. Shirley, the daughter of the late Roscoe Mondy and Irene Holder Mondy, was born July 11, 1949 in Humboldt, Tenn. She was a member of the New Covenant Fellowship Church. ...

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. -- Donald (Don) Eugene Killian, 76, of Lake Ozark, Missouri passed away Friday, July 13, 2018 at Lake Regional Health System in Osage Beach, Missouri. Don was born May 27, 1942 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He was the son of James Arvil and Ellen (Stout) Killian...

Marcus and Jordanna Walk Robison of Ste. Genevieve, MO, announce the birth of their 8lb. 12oz. son, Porter William Robison. Porter was born at 1:30 p.m., July 5, 2018 at Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital and was 20 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Jeff and Robin Walk of Poplar Bluff, MO. Paternal grandparents are Rick and Debbie Robison of Poplar Bluff. Porter was welcomed home by his big brother, Jamison...

The City of Sikeston is showing its support to further efforts of getting Interstate 57 built, which would run from Chicago all the way through Arkansas. At Monday's special city council meeting, a resolution was approved supporting construction of a new interchange at the intersection of South Ingram Road and Highway 60/future I-57 in Sikeston. ...

By MARYBETH NIEDERKORN Southeast Missourian JACKSON, Mo. -- A new justice center is planned in Jackson to house court functions for the 32nd Judicial District and Cape Girardeau County, and after the Jackson Board of Aldermen granted a special-use permit for the structure at Monday's regular meeting, the project can move forward...

Staff Reports Three new Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers assigned to the roadways of Southeast Missouri reported for duty earlier this week after their recent graduation from the patrol's Law Enforcement Academy. As members of the 105th recruit class, the troopers were among 26 who graduated June 29 after completing a 25-week training course...

DONIPHAN - A Doniphan woman and her five children were taken into custody Tuesday afternoon in Oregon County, nearly 48 hours after abandoning their disabled vehicle following a pursuit by law enforcement. Danisha R. Price, 26, was booked at the Butler County Jail. Bond was set at $100,000. She was set to appear for arraignment this morning in Ripley County Circuit Court...

ELLSINORE -- Carter County authorities continue to search for an Ellsinore man they consider armed and dangerous who has been on the lam for more than 24 hours after allegedly fatally shooting another man. Jason E. Roberts was charged Tuesday with the Class A felony of first-degree murder and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action by Carter County Prosecuting Attorney Amanda Oesch...

El Acapulco Authentic Mexican Restaurant & Cantina is a place where the staff knows the names and food choices of its regular customers. "We are very family oriented; I would say 90 percent of the staff is family," said Tonya Raymond, who along with Fernando Palma, manages the 2260 N. Westwood Blvd. restaurant. "A lot of our customers say that because we are so family oriented, our staff is so friendly...

PUXICO, Mo. -- Rev. Dayna Zoll-Cookson of Puxico went home to be with the Lord on Monday, July 9, 2018 at her home surrounded by family at the age of 41 years. Dayna was born Nov. 26, 1976 at Poplar Bluff, Mo. and had lived in Dudley, Dexter, New Mexico, St. Louis and Puxico. She graduated from Puxico High School in 1995, attended Three Rivers Community College, SLCC and acquired her Master of Arts degree from Lindenwood University in 2011 in Counseling...