Stories from Monday, July 4, 2016

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Participants are needed Thursday to help create a living pink ribbon at Poplar Bluff Junior High as area residents try to compete in a national competition to raise money for a local cancer charity. The living ribbon will be part of a 90 second video entered in the annual Pink Glove Dance competition, said Amber Christian, marketing manager for Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Officers with the regional Street Crimes Task Force converged on Poplar Bluff, Mo., Friday stopping more than 20 vehicles and arresting nearly 15. Poplar Bluff Chief Danny Whiteley described the joint operation, which included officers from the Poplar Bluff and Cape Girardeau police departments, Sikeston Department of Public Safety and Missouri State Highway Patrol, as a "huge success."...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Superintendent Scott Dill took the reins of the Poplar Bluff R-I school district on Friday, replacing long-time leader Chris Hon who retired in June. Dill served as superintendent of the Houston, Missouri, school district since 2012. He began his career in Houston as middle school principal and for a decade prior was employed as a library media specialist at Mack's Creek Schools in Central, Missouri...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- When Brady Barke was introduced as Southeast Missouri State's athletics director June 7, he alluded to Redhawk coaches becoming so successful that major universities would seek them out. Coaches moving on to bigger and better things would be a sign that the department and its programs were "doing something right."...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The progressive drive to broadly define and thoroughly eradicate political "corruption" has corrupted politics. But discord is not altogether pandemic in Washington, and last week a unanimous Supreme Court, in this term's most important decision, limited the discretion prosecutors have to criminalize politics...

Mikel Eugene Crafford Mikel Eugene Crafford, 61, of Fisk, died Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Mr. Crafford was born Nov. 3, 1954 at Fisk, son of the late John and Ida Crafford. He was a farmer and especially enjoyed raising watermelons, cantaloupes and tomatoes. ...

Cindy Lou Redd Cindy Lou Redd, 62, of Fremont, Mo., died Saturday, June18, 2016 at her residence. A Memorial Service will be announced at a later date. McSpadden Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

WAPPAPELLO, Mo. - Forrest (Jack) Marvin Jarvis Sr., age 84, of Port Richey, Fla., formerly of Wappapello, went home to meet his Lord and Savior, May 18, 2016 at his home. He died of natural causes. Born Oct. 21, 1931 in Oka, W. Va. to Cyrus and Bessie Lloyd Jarvis who preceded him in death along with eight siblings and one daughter; Mary Jarvis...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff City Council is expected to discuss and vote Monday on an extension of the current city manager's contract. Mark Massingham took over as city manager in July 2015, under a one year contract. Massingham has worked for the city for more than 25 years, serving previously as finance and personnel director and assistant city manager...

Jackie Radene Townsend Jackie Radene Townsend, 88, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Friday, July 1, 2016 at her residence surrounded by her family and loved ones. Mrs. Townsend, the daughter of the late Raymond and Mary Spencer Doty, was born Sept. ...

The donations grew almost daily leading up to Saturday's 38th annual Poplar Bluff Downtown 5K, and the runners came out in full force. Race director Gary Croy said interest blossomed this year with 117 participants, which was 12 more than last year despite overcast conditions...

Kenneth and Patricia Grady of Poplar Bluff announce the engagement of their daughter, Melanie Nicole Grady, also of Poplar Bluff, to Russell Taylor of Springdale, Ark. Frank and Laura Taylor of Springdale, Ark. are the parents of the bridegroom-to-be...

The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center accepted a $5,000 donation to the Homeless Veterans Program from the third annual "SSGT Eric W. Summers Play-For-Honor" golf tournament. The tournament, established in memory of fallen Marine hero, Eric Summers, has sponsored such worthy causes as a new flag pole at the golf course, the Veterans' Wall in front of the Black River Coliseum, and now the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center's Homeless and At-Risk Services for Veterans...

Shelby Annett Joplin of Grandin, Mo., and Brandon Lee Cox of Poplar Bluff, Mo., were married Saturday, May 21, 2016 at the Elks Lodge in Poplar Bluff. Rev. John Knott performed the double-ring ceremony. Gene and Kelly Joplin of Grandin are parents of the bride...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Poplar Bluff High School students Diontay Cochran, son of the late Vicki Cochran, and Angelica Oesterreicher, daughter of Paul and Linda Oesterreicher, received proclamations from Missouri House of Representatives, signed by Speaker Todd Richardson, celebrating their achievement of being Butler County's first participants in the Missouri Youth Leadership Forum, which is hosted by the Governor's Council on Disability and Paraquad...

By DANIEL GRISWOLD Tribune News Service When America's Founding Fathers declared their independence more than two centuries ago, they not only claimed freedom for themselves and their fellow countrymen but they also claimed it for those who had yet to arrive at our shores--the waves of future immigrants and their descendants...

Amelia Elizabeth Shell and Perry David Salyer, both of Columbia, exchanged vows Saturday, April 30, 2016, at the First Baptist Church in Columbia. Rev. Tim Carson performed the double-ring ceremony. Charles and Wendy Shell of Columbia are parents of the bride. Parents of the bridegroom are Clinton and Teresa Salyer of Poplar Bluff...