Stories from Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Stoddard County commissioners unanimously approved to hire Dale Rogers of Robert Stearns and Associates, Inc., to prepare request for bids for the demolition of the old Methodist Church in Bloomfield during the Nov. 26 meeting. Documents for the demolition of the church, located at 201 E. Court Street, will be available in the county clerk's office once the request for bids is published in the newspaper...

Candidate filing dates for the 2019 Puxico municipal election were discussed at the Nov. 15 Board of Aldermen meeting. The following offices will be open for filing: Mayor, two-year term; Collector, four-year term; Marshal, four-year term; Judge, two-year term; Alderman, Ward I, two-year term; and Alderman, Ward II, two-year term. Filing for all open offices will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, and end at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019...

The Puxico Police and Fire Departments Christmas Toy Drive is on going. Boxes have been place around town at different locations. The locations are Puxico Police Department. Dollar General-Puxico, Holloway Gas Mart, Bill's Market and Southeast COOP Gas Mart. Monetary donations will also be accepted at these locations...

From Staff Reports Insurance woes, the audit and routine reports kept the Puxico Mayor and Board of Aldermen busy Nov. 15. During a closed session, they appointed firefighters and hired a maintenance worker. Puxico's insurance agent is searching for a new company to provide coverage for the city since its present company has decided not to renew the policy...

James David Tompkins, 69, of Broseley died Nov. 23, 2018 at the John J. Pershing Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Services were held Nov. 25, 2018 at the White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. Pastor Jimi Waggoner officiated. Burial was in the Brown Chapel Cemetery in Broseley...

Ronnie Dale Clark, 58, of Fisk died Nov. 22, 2018 at his residence. Services were held Nov. 26, 2018 at the White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. Rev. Jim Sanders officiated. Burial was in the Shain Memorial Cemetery in Fisk. Condolences to the family may be sent to www.whitesandersfuneralhome.com...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- For weeks Missouri linebacker Terez Hall has talked about playing a bowl game in a tropical climate, usually Hawaii -- never mind that the Southeastern Conference doesn't have a bowl game in Hawaii. So when the news came Sunday that the Tigers (8-4) will play Oklahoma State in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn., on New Year's Eve -- and not in Florida, notably the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville -- Mizzou fans around the state might have shared a sigh of disappointment...

ST. LOUIS -- After hitting 18 3-pointers and playing a nearly perfect game against North Arkansas Saturday, the Raiders had no answers to sway the momentum in their favor against Southwestern Illinois on Sunday. Sophomore Tristan Jarrett's fourth 30-point game of the season wasn't enough to boost Three Rivers in a 98-77 loss to SWIC in St. Louis...

Legal pot is wrong I hope you print it because last time my call didn't get no answer in the paper about it. I think our federal government is really screwing up big time by legalizing marijuana. We got enough trouble out here on the highway with drunken driving let alone out here on drugs high on marijuana. I think our government is really screwing up big time. And thank you for Speak Out I sure hope you put this in the paper because it's wrong in what they're doing...

Poplar Bluff girls swimming dove right into its first home meet and racked up the wins. Out of 12 events at the Black River Coliseum on Monday, the Mules won eight of them. As the wins piled up, a deep Poplar Bluff squad finished first in the team standings with 402 points, 109 above Notre Dame, which finished second...

My first encounter with George H.W. Bush, leader of the free world? At a barbecue for press photographers on the South Lawn of the White House in 1989. As we chatted, out came First Dog Millie. He didn't just greet her. He started to roll around on the grass with her. Clearly this man -- this president -- was different. Bush died Friday at the age of 94...

The media, including magazines that purport to empower women, are behaving as "mean girls" when it comes to their deplorable treatment of first lady Melania Trump, who is a class act by any standards. Women's magazines that never missed an opportunity heap lavish praise upon Michelle Obama, lionizing the former Democratic first lady on at least a dozen magazine covers -- including three Vogue splashes -- have noticeably shunned Melania Trump. ...

FISK, Mo. - William Delane Conner, age 58, of Puxico, Mo., died Sunday, December 2, 2018 at his son's residence in Patterson, Mo. Mr. Conner was born May 17, 1960 in Dudley, Mo., son of the late Carl and Wanda Conner. He had a passion for fishing, being outdoors and enjoyed playing cards. ...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Phillip Branson Garrett, 70, of Neelyville, died Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 at his home. Visitation will be from 5 - 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 4 at Fowler & Sons Funeral Home in Neelyville. The funeral will be at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 5 at the funeral home with Gene McElhaney officiating. Burial will be in Eaton Cemetery in Naylor, Mo...

SIKESTON -- At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Poplar Bluff's Dominique Hardimon held the ball near half court for a solid 3 minutes. The Mules didn't attempt a shot for 4 minutes in a classic display of old-time basketball. They were clinging to a two point lead, Jackson went to a zone defense, and Poplar Bluff waited, and waited, and waited some more for that zone to extend. ...

ELLSINORE, Mo. - Eva Pauline (Cates) Bayless, 93, died Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 at River Mist Assisted Living in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 5 at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with Ron Cates officiating. Burial will be in the Joplin-New Hope Cemetery in Ellsinore...

MALDEN -- Hannah Burk knocked down a pair of free throws after being fouled in the paint with nine second remaining to seal a 52-50 road victory for Holcomb at Malden Monday. Malden pushed the ball the length of the floor after the made free throws. Arionne Ross attempted a 2-point shot that was blocked out of bounds by Holcomb with about five seconds left...

CORNING, Ark. - Leo Laverne Hefner, 61, of Corning passed away Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018 at home surrounded by family. Born March 8, 1957 in Poplar Bluff, Mr. Hefner was retired from Baker Implement where he was a service manager. He enjoyed gardening, computers, collecting, and spending time with his family and friends...

The Centers for Disease Control has delivered sober news -- average life expectancy at birth in the United States has declined for a third straight year due to extremely high rates of death from drug overdoses and suicide. As The Washington Post reports, this is the longest sustained decline in life expectancy since the early 20th century. ...

Chester L. Stroud, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Dec. 3, 2018 at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service.

PUXICO, MO. - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will soon complete the Golden Anniversary Wetlands Initiative renovations at Duck Creek Conservation Area (CA) as the final phase of the multi-year project begins. These renovations will help area managers control water levels on the area, decrease disturbance of waterfowl on the area, and improve public access...

Norman Wayne Bostic, 75, of Poplar Bluff, died Sat., Dec. 1, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be from noon - 2 p.m., Friday, Dec. 7 at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. The funeral will immediately follow visitation at 2 p.m. in the Moore Funeral Service Chapel. Burial will take place in the Woodlawn Cemetery...

FISK, Mo. - Eva Bell Toole, age 97, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 at her residence in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Toole was born May 30th, 1921 in Neelyville, Mo. She was a member of Black River General Baptist Church. She enjoyed fishing, vegetable and flower gardening and going to church. She formerly was married to Charles G. Bell. He preceded her in death Dec. 11, 1966. She later married Harrison Toole. He preceded her in death on April 30, 2001...

At the same time God pronounced the curse on Satan for having deceived Eve into eating the forbidden fruit, He gave a veiled promise of a Redeemer, saying, "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise his heel." Genesis. 3:15...

A groundbreaking will be held Friday for an $8 million addition to John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. It will relocate urgent care to the south side of the VA and more than triple the space used for this program, according to officials. The groundbreaking will be held at 1 p.m., with light refreshments served...

The Poplar Bluff High School Beta Club has joined a list of nationally recognized clubs by being named a 2018-19 National School of Distinction. National Beta announced the achievement, which required a 10 percent increase membership. Poplar Bluff Beta Club's membership jumped 468 percent...

Poplar Bluff City Council members expect to pass a nearly $15.4 million budget Dec. 17 that includes $3 million for the completion of a Shelby Road extension and the salary of the director for Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc. The budget was a workshop item Monday for the council...