Stories from Thursday, August 25, 2011

The Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force seized some 90 dogs from property owned by Jerry and Dana Dobbs on Highway Z off of Highway 142 in the Gatewood area. The hoarding situation was first investigated by the Ripley County Sheriff's Department after receiving calls from passersby who reported dogs laying in the middle of the roadway. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Former Carter County Sheriff Tommy Adams is free on bond today after making his first appearance in federal court Wednesday and pleading not guilty to illegally possessing and selling firearms...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Job seekers will have the opportunity Friday to meet with nearly 30 employers at one event in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The 14th Annual Butler County Job Fair, open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Three Rivers College, offers a unique opportunity as unemployment rates for this region remain high, according to organizers. ...

Rachel Thompson of Poplar Bluff was admittedly "bored" on Aug. 6, so she decided to take a trip to a local store "to get a couple Lottery tickets." What happened while walking out of Calhoun's Foods, 505 Sycamore St. in Poplar Bluff, turned her weekend into one she would never forget...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Stoddard County judge has ordered a Bernie, Mo., woman be committed to a mental health facility to determine her competency to stand trial for the brutal stabbing death of another man. Presiding Circuit Judge Stephen Sharp issued an order Monday directing the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department transport Angela McCoy to the Fulton State Hospital, a division of the Department of Mental Health, for "such a period as may be necessary to determine the issue of her mental fitness to proceed ...". ...

After helping to revive the Poplar Bluff football program already, coach Mark Barousse is back on the sideline looking to do the same this fall. Call it Barousse Ball 2.0. Coming off a 1-9 season, the Mules look to reach the playoffs for a second time in three years with a group of 18 seniors and a veteran coach who led Poplar Bluff to its last district championship...

By BILL O'REILLY Coming soon to a bus stop near you may be the president of the United States. Faced with growing criticism of his economic leadership, Barack Obama is following the lead of Willie Nelson and traveling by bus to selected parts of the USA. Obama wants to calm the folks and show them that he is in high spirits. That is a bit different from Willie, who usually leaves off the word "spirits."...

By GEORGE F. WILL TRENTON -- Near the statehouse office of New Jersey's 55th governor sits a sort of shrine to the 34th. Fortunately, Chris Christie is unlike Woodrow Wilson. Christie, who resembles Falstaff in girth and Jack Dempsey in pugnacity, is a visceral politician who thrives on conflict. Wilson -- lean, intellectual and pious, particularly about himself -- regarded opposition as impious...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN President Obama is steadily bleeding away both the support of the nation and that of his most loyal constituency. Several times, his approval rating in Gallup's daily tracking poll has sunk to 39 percent, with disapproval reaching 54 percent. Support for his handling of the economy has dipped to the mid-20s. Only 11 percent of Americans, says Gallup, are satisfied with the way things are going...

It's hard to believe that another summer has come and gone and it's time to start getting the kids ready to go back to school, according to Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley. Some are sending their kids off for the very first time, and others are veterans of the bus stop. Either way, there are lots of simple things that all parents can do to help keep your children safe at school or play...

A 32-foot wooden, gasoline powered paddlewheel boat has been donated to the Doniphan Neighborhood Assistance Program (DNAP) by the Wright family. This unique replica of those supply and passenger boats that ran on Current River in the early 1900s was built for the late Lester Wright in 1994 by Cecil Murray. It will add a new dimension to the river displays held by the Current River Heritage Museum...

Alberta Hamm FISK, Mo. -- Alberta Hamm, 94, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Hamm was born Aug. 28, 1916, in Fisk, Mo. She had lived at the Manor for the past five years. She had lived around Fisk and Rombauer most of her life. She was a member of Rombauer General Baptist Church. She was a former Postmaster at Rombauer and had worked at Stucker and Groves. She enjoyed quilting, sewing and taking care of her family...

Patsy Aldridge Patsy Rhodes Aldridge, 68, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011 in her home. Mrs. Aldridge was born on Jan. 16, 1943, in Holly Ridge, La. She had lived in Poplar Bluff for the last 21 years. Mrs. Aldridge was a retired nurse who enjoyed painting, working in her yard and showering love on her animals...

Silas Crum PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Silas Benton Crum of Piedmont was stillborn Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011, at Poplar Bluff, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home of Piedmont.

Edna Aslin DEXTER, Mo. -- Edna L. Aslin, 83, of Dexter, Mo., died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. She was born on Sept. 29, 1927, at Clairfield, Tenn. Survivors include her two sons, Tim Aslin of Dexter and Keith Aslin of Barnhart, Mo.; three grandchildren; and one brother, Charles Teague of Hamilton, Ohio...

Dustin Blake Slone and Terra Ellen Hanley of Poplar Bluff have chosen the name Addisyn Ruchelle Slone for their 7-pound, 6-ounce daughter born at 1:24 p.m. Friday, July 22, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Grandparents include Dale and Billie Slone and Shane Hanley and La Kathy Norman, all of Poplar Bluff. Great-grandparents include Judy Slone of Boyne City, Mich., Steve and Betty Joe Hanley and Eugene Norman, all of Poplar Bluff...

Friday, Aug. 26 is the registration deadline for individuals whose property suffered damage as a result of the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding between April 19 and June 6. Registration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. may be completed online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by smartphone at m.fema.gov or by calling FEMA's toll-free registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). ...

Phillip Jackson Phillip Antonio Jackson, 61, of Poplar Bluff died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

Cledis Gaultney PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Cledis Lee Gaultney, 65, of Williamsville, Mo., died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011, at Poplar Bluff, Mo. Funeral services are pending with Ruegg Funeral Homes of Piedmont, Mo.

Helen Richardson MALDEN, Mo. -- Helen Agnes Richardson, 88, of Clarkton, Mo., died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mrs. Richardson was born on April 4, 1923, at Cooter, Mo. She was a member of Lynn Oak General Baptist Church in Clarkton and the Women's Missionary Society...

AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary to Post 29 met Monday, Aug. 1, with dinner at 6 p.m. Pat Danner presided. Chaplain Shirley Clark opened the meeting with prayer. She sent several greeting cards and also flowers to Minnie Davis who has been hospitalized. Jewell Scholl, secretary, read the minutes, which were approved. All officers were present...

Cayenne, Cherry, Cubanelle, Anaheim, Jalapeno ... peppers, anyone? Local gardeners are now harvesting their sweet and hot peppers. They are members of a family of plants that includes eggplant, potato, tomato, and tamarillo. Do you know peppers are very nutritious? They're excellent sources of many essential nutrients, especially vitamin C. ...

The Broseley Senior Center will be holding a ground-breaking ceremony for the new building at noon Friday, Sept. 2, at the project site at 2470 County Road 650, Broseley, Mo. The Senior Center has received two state/federal grants totaling $550,000 to construct a 4,800 square foot facility. Local officials and agency representatives will be in attendance to mark the occasion...

Dustin Dewayne Hillis, son of Kevin and Deborah Hillis of Broseley, Mo., was awarded the 2011 Don Hilton Memorial Scholarship. Hillis is a 2011 graduate of Twin Rivers High School. He participated in the band, Future Farmers of America, A+ Program and was president of the Music Boosters Club his senior year. ...

Southeast Missouri State University has named 897 students to the Dean's List for academic achievement during the 2011 summer session. Students named to the list earned at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and completed at least six degree credit hous during the summer session...

There are two bass tournaments this weekend for area anglers. The Current River Smallmouth Association will have their tournament, fished from Doniphan, Mo., on Aug. 27. The Angler's Choice circuit will have their bass tournament Aug. 28 at Lake Wappapello...

By JIM LOW Mo. Dept. of Conservation DEXTER, Mo. -- People who want to hunt but hesitate because of mobility impairments can put aside their worries and pick up their shotguns. The Conservation Department (MDC) and the National Wild Turkey Federation are sponsoring a special event for disabled hunters Sept. 2 at Otter Slough Conservation Area in Stoddard County...

By JIM LOW Mo. Dept. of Conservation GAINESVILLE, Mo. -- "You're not going to believe this until you try it." According to Bruce Cunningham, that is what his brothers said when trying to persuade him to go fishing with them in June. Brad and Brock Cunningham had discovered the excitement of catching striped bass at Bull Shoals Lake, and they wanted to share it with their older brother...

By JOHN PRATT Mo. Dept. of Conservation If you are a squirrel hunter, this is the time of year you have been waiting for. The squirrels are starting to get active and hunting is getting good. It appears the acorn crop is very good for white and red oak species. I believe the squirrel hunting will be good and continue to get better this fall...