Stories from Thursday, December 14, 2017

Absenteeism among teachers cost the Poplar Bluff R-1 School District $340,822 last year, an amount nearly $80,000 more than in 2014. The school district pays substitute teachers $70 per day, which means there were more than 4,850 filled absentee requests among a teaching staff of 400...

The community members who help make the annual Badge of Honor Benefit Run possible were recognized Wednesday by organizers. The benefit provides support to three groups which assist first responders who have dedicated their lives to serving residents, supporters say...

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- A former Butler County man was placed on probation Tuesday after pleading guilty to a lesser stalking charge. Accompanied by his attorney, Scott Dale, Henry Marlin Rice Jr. appeared before Presiding Circuit Judge Fred Copeland and entered a plea of guilty to the Class A misdemeanor of stalking, according to docket entries on Casenet...

Two board of trustee seats for Three Rivers College will be up for re-election in April. Filing opened Tuesday for interested parties to run for seats in Sub-district 1, which includes Butler County and part of Stoddard County, and Sub-district 2, which includes Carter County and parts of Butler and Wayne Counties...

Juanita Mae Lee, 89, of Benton, Mo., formally of Poplar Bluff, passed away Monday, Dec. 11, 2017 at Chateau Girardeau, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mrs. Lee, the daughter of the late Holland and Lillie (Hickson) Herndon, was born Aug. 23, 1928 in Marmaduke, Ark. She was a member of the Unity Baptist Church of Benton, Mo. Mrs. Lee was a Department Manager for Wal Mart in Poplar Bluff for over 17 years. She enjoyed spending time with her family and sewing...

By CHRIS REED The San Diego Union-Tribune A new poll by the Public Policy Institute of California says 59 percent of Democrats, 62 percent of Republicans and 72 percent of independents _ and, overall, 64 percent of likely voters _ agreed with the statement that America's two main parties "do such a poor job that a third major party is needed." For those following the Golden State's deep-blue politics who may find this surprising, here's how John Myers of the Los Angeles Times put it in perspective:. ...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Mrs. Wanda Lou (Freeman) Bagwill, 72, of Doniphan, Mo. passed away Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017. She was born on July 14, 1945 in Doniphan, Mo. to the late Kenneth Freeman and Jewell Holland Freeman. She was a member of the Wilson Church of Christ for decades and was a long-standing member of the Doniphan Church of Christ. ...

Ed B. Snider, 89, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017 at his residence in Poplar Bluff. Ed, son of Jennings B. and Fannie Mae Pennington Snider, was born on Friday, Feb. 17, 1928, in Powe, Mo. He was a retired Navy 1st Class Chief Petty Officer Corpsman and worked in Civil Service until retirement. He was a member of the Osborn Baptist Church in Qulin...

Coon Island is a 3,223-acre conservation area located in southeastern Butler County. While there are several recreational opportunities on this area, it is traditionally known for its waterfowl hunting. Coon Island is one of the few walk-in areas left in Southeast Missouri; one which you need no reservation of any kind. Coon Island is located within the South Zone regulations boundary for ducks and is currently open for duck hunting until Jan.28...

PUXICO, Mo. -- George Reed, 75, of Puxico, died at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield. Bro. Buck Cruse of Puxico officiating. Burial will follow at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo. with full military honors. Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Puxico in charge of arrangements...

Alice Brown, 90, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 at her residence. Arrangements are pending with Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

Seventy new cases of chronic wasting disease have been found in Arkansas since deer season opened in September, according to samples collected by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists, taxidermists and veterinarians. Although the number of positive cases is high, no samples from new areas of the state have been found so far. The disease has been found in Boone, Carroll, Madison, Marion, Newton, Pope and Searcy counties since September...

DALLAS -- Just 10 games into an NBA career, former Southeast Missouri State men's basketball standout Antonius Cleveland has apparently left enough of an impression for his coach to crack jokes when his name comes up. When asked about Cleveland, Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle couldn't resist having a little fun with the reporter making the query...

Despite a general lack of water across the region, there still are quite a few ducks hanging around Southeast Missouri, though it appears peak numbers have come and gone. The thing is, while some flooded private lands and deep-water lakes are holding birds, the majority are being found primarily on managed areas with artificial flooding capability...

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m, Monday, Dec. 18, at Dexter Cemetery for Dortha Chrisman Mathews and Betty Lou Chrisman Craig - twin sisters of Guy and Anna Chrisman. Dot passed away on July 19, 2015 in Bastrop, La. and Betty passed away on Oct. 14, 2017 in Pine Bluff, Ark. They were preceded in death by their husbands, A.J. Mathews and Don Craig, and brother, Jean Chrisman...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Marsha Ann Scott, 66, of Pekin, Ind. died Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in St. Vincent Salem Hospital. A visitation will be held at 4 - 8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 13, 2017 at Dawalt Funeral Home in Salem. A second visitation will be held 9 -11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden, Mo. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Campbell, Mo...

It is pretty obvious what Callee Pickrell is at the plate. Tall and strong, she is power bat capable of tape measure home runs from anywhere in the lineup. Defensively, her versatility presents one of those good kind of problems. At Naylor she started as a freshman at third base and, depending on where the team needed her, over time she played first base and some center field as a senior...

Ed B. Snider -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Wanda Lou (Freeman) Bagwill -- Doniphan, Mo. Ethel Marie Tillman -- Doniphan, Mo. Marsha Ann Scott -- Pekin, Ind. George Reed -- Puxico, Mo. Alice Brown -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Dortha Chrisman Mathews -- Bastrop, La. Betty Lou Chrisman Craig...