Stories from Wednesday, May 8, 2019

A trip on a local river almost turned tragic when a group of college students decided to ignore closures over the weekend. Rangers with the Ozark National Scenic Riverways responded to an emergency call around 2 p.m. Saturday to a stretch of the Jacks Fork River about 15 minutes east of Mtn. View, near Blue Spring. It would be the first of three water rescues required over the weekend...

The Poplar Bluff City Council could be ready to choose a direction for a new city complex by August, under a proposal currently before officials. The council is expected to vote May 20 on an agreement with Navigate Building Solutions, which would serve as an owner representative for city hall and police department projects...

Do the flowers along the walkway need to be thinned? Are the blossoms smaller this year from overcrowding? Do you want to add different plants to your garden but the cost is not included in the budget? The Green Thumb Garden Club members have the solution. Each year they have an annual plant swap. This year, it will be from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 18, at the Poplar Bluff History Museum, the old Mark Twain school, on Main Street...

The new head of the local Missouri Department of Natural Resources office believes in the agency’s mission of protecting the state’s environmental resources. “I really do believe in our mission; I think the work we do is important, protecting water quality, protecting air quality, making sure the people in Southeast Missouri have the same opportunity to enjoy the natural resources we have,” explained Arthur “Art” Goodin, who took over as director March 11. ...

Sacred Heart Catholic School in Poplar Bluff has announced its fourth quarter honor rolls. ‘A’ Honor Roll First Grade: Eva Ashcraft, Lily Clausen, Caden Coleman, Lydia Crihfield, Addison Littrell, Diego Martinez, Thomas Njoh, Zachary Pestillo, Brendan Popp, Ella Pry, Waylynn Slavings, Mavrik Tabanera, Cooper Tinsley...

Outstanding students, faculty and staff were honored May 3 at the annual Student Life and Leadership Awards program at Southeast Missouri State University. The awards honor students, student organizations and University professionals who support the intellectual, professional, personal, social and cultural needs of the campus community...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Larry E. Hunter, 75, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died May 5, 2019 at Delmar Gardens Nursing Home. A memorial service is being planned. Place, date and time will be posted on Facebook. Online condolences: www.fitchhillisfh.com

Missouri’s spring turkey hunters squeaked out a small 6-percent increase in the harvest over last year, but overall, the total for the season which ended Sunday still is the second lowest in 22 years. “What helped us this year was better weather,” said Missouri Department of Conservation Resource Scientist Jason Isabelle. “We started out stronger than last year, which had poor weather.”...

The 2019 spring turkey season is now officially history and “in the books” as they say. Gross numbers statewide were up about 8% from last year, including the youth season. You can probably attribute this to slightly better weather conditions from last year overall (warmer and less rain equals better hunting) and an increase in harvest from more northern counties...

As the weather warms, many people may begin to think more about enjoying the outdoors. One of the biggest attractions is fishing. Crappie anglers should be aware of the new regulations for Wappapello Lake. The new regulation states that anglers can keep 30 crappie total, but only 15 can be 9 inches or longer...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Linda Sue Benton, 71, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died on May 8, 2019 at her home in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be held on Friday May 10 from noon-1 p.m. at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev.Vernon Wolverton officiating.

MALDEN, Mo. — Joyce A. Pikey, 68, of Lilbourn, Mo., died Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 10 at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. at Bradshaw Chapel in Malden...

CAPE GIRARDEAU — A Poplar Bluff man was sentenced Tuesday in federal court after earlier pleading guilty to failing to register as a sex offender. Aaron J. Posadny, 30, was sentenced to six months of incarceration on the felony of failure to register as a sex offender by U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office...

A Poplar Bluff man is to appear in court Friday afternoon after recently being charged with 12 sexual-related felonies involving a young girl. Thomas William Mosley, 40, of the 100 block of County Road 4415 is to appear at 1 p.m. before Associate Circuit Judge Joe Satterfield for a preliminary hearing on four unclassified felonies of first-degree statutory sodomy, six Class E felonies of incest and two counts of the felony of first-degree statutory rape. ...