Stories from Thursday, September 15, 2011

The images Americans witnessed on Sept. 11, 2001, as the Twin Towers fell and the Pentagon smoldered following terrorist attacks, are something not even time can wash away, Missouri Speaker of the House Rep. Steven Tilley told those gathered Saturday at the 9/11 Memorial Banquet...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor A grandfather's love for reading inspired his granddaughter not only to love books, but also to encourage students in her hometown to develop a love for reading. Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, native Poplar Bluffian and writer of the hit show, "Designing Women," started the Charlie Classics reading program 20 years ago in honor of her late grandfather, Charles Bloodworth, who was an avid reader, judge and newspaper editor. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The City of Greenville's high water situation was the topic of conversation Wednesday when U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt stopped at the town during an information tour of the area. "Everyone is working together to determine the various elements that may have come together to create this problem for the community," Blunt said following the meeting with city and county officials. "Everyone is excited about Highway 67, but there is one big question, did everything work?"...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Altrusa Club will sponsor its Fourth Annual Tablescapes Contest from 1 - 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 10 in the Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church, 500 N. Main St. Tablescapes is a fancy name for tables ornately decorated with a theme. The contest is open to professionals and amateurs. Whether you are a professional designer or someone who simply enjoys beautifying your surroundings, Altrusa Club encourages your participation...

ALTON, Mo. -- A landowner's trail camera has confirmed a mountain lion sighting in Oregon County. The camera image, which was of the back-portion of a mountain lion, was sent to Conservation Agent Brad Hadley on Aug. 29. Hadley forwarded the image on to the Missouri Department of Conservation's (MDC) Mountain Lion Response Team. ...

From behind the smoke of cannon fire, Union and Confederate encampments perform drills used to prepare soldiers for battle. Nearby, the calvary demonstrates horse and saber techniques while women in period clothing make traditional crafts. Civil War Days at Fort Benton in Patterson, Mo., will bring to life on Friday and Saturday a critical part of Wayne County's history...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Butler County Commission awarded a $3,618,174 contract Wednesday to R.L. Persons Construction Inc. for the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park Bypass Road. Construction is expected to start in late October and be completed within one year, according to Greg Bell and Steve Hicks, engineers with Smith & Co...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor An ordinance relocating a portion of South 11th Street between Cherry and Oakwood streets was unanimously approved by the Poplar Bluff City Council Tuesday night after an agreement was reached on increasing the sight distance for drivers backing out of a parking lot...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor DUDLEY, Mo. -- Stoddard County authorities seized about 600 suspected marijuana plants Wednesday from what is described as one of the larger outdoor-grow operations found in the county. The plants, which ranged in height from around 8 to 12 feet tall, were spotted from the air and subsequently eradicated by Stoddard County deputies, who were assisted by members of the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, in a "multijurisdictional effort," according to Sheriff Carl Hefner.. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Briggs & Stratton Corp. today announced 202 workers will be laid off at its Poplar Bluff plant, beginning Oct. 14. "Due to economic conditions and the seasonal nature of our business, we need to adjust production schedules to manage finished goods inventories to planned levels," said Dave DeBaets, vice president of North American operations for Briggs...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer School looked a little different for Grandin Head Start students, who began classes Sept. 6. After a May 25 tornado damaged the program's facilities in the old Grandin school building, staff began moving into Head Start's current location, the First General Baptist Church in Ellsinore, Mo. While staff await fire safety approval for the facility to house students, teachers are visiting each student in individual 90-minute home visits...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor DONIPHAN, Mo. -- After being in custody for nearly 15 months, a preliminary hearing date was set Wednesday afternoon in the case of a Doniphan teenager accused of murdering an elderly couple found dead inside their burned home...

By TOM UHLENBROCK Missouri State Parks (EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the third in a random five-part series about the Civil War in Missouri.) A large cannon guards the entrance to "Civil War Missouri: A House Dividing," a new exhibit at the Missouri State Museum on the first floor of the Capitol in Jefferson City. But it's a much humbler-looking weapon inside that Julie Kemper, the museum's curator of exhibits, picked as her favorite among the artifacts on display...

By NOREEN HYSLOP SEMO News Service DEXTER, Mo. -- When a local law officer was assaulted Monday night, there were several witnesses on the parking lot on Business U.S. 60 where the incident occurred. Many of them scattered when the officer was struck by one of the individuals involved in a fight that brought police to the scene initially...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor PIEDMONT, Mo. -- A Kennett, Mo., woman remains in a Cape Girardeau, Mo., hospital after she was seriously injured Saturday afternoon when she fell off the jet ski she was riding on at Clearwater Lake. The accident happened at about 4:20 p.m. on the Black River arm of Clearwater Lake, approximately one mile from Bluff View, in Reynolds County, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol Cpl. Terry Richardson, with the patrol's Water Division...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor DEXTER, Mo. -- Nearly $117,000 in money stolen from the Dexter Public Schools last month has been recovered as authorities continue "diligently" investigating the crime. The investigation surrounds funds, which were "illegally accessed through electronic transfer," Dexter's superintendent, Dr. Thomas Sharp, said earlier...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Students returning to Oak Grove Elementary School this year got a surprise--an outdoor classroom! A few months ago, an outdoor classroom was merely a dream of Kim Murphy, the art teacher at Oak Grove. As she talked it over with friends, Murphy was encouraged to pursue her dream. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor State and federal investigators are investigating an early morning fire that could have destroyed the Grand Avenue Baptist Church had an alert motorist not intervened. Just before 5 a.m. today, the Poplar Bluff Police Department was notified by Bill Clifford that the church, located at 822 N. Grand Ave., was on fire...

By MELISSA MILLER SEMO News Service Missouri business leaders say the state is being outgunned by its neighbors when it comes to competing for new jobs, but local lawmakers aren't sure the Made in Missouri jobs package is the solution. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, presidents of the state's three largest chambers of commerce and the president of the AFL-CIO urged support for the Made in Missouri Jobs package earlier this week, and Gov. ...

SUMMERSVILLE, Mo - A landowner in Texas County shot a mountain lion on Sept. 5 after encountering it on his property. The landowner then called Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) regional offices to report the incident. Shannon County Conservation Agent Justin Emery responded to the incident and conducted an investigation. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Poplar Bluff R-I schools will hold the first of eight shortened school days Wednesday as staff members begin a new program designed to provide more time for collaboration and improve the curriculum they bring to students...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Property owners along Highway 142 and County Road 314 object to a proposed agreement to relieve flooding in the NORDYNE parking lot in the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park. Jerry Lee Dicken of Sikeston, Mo., who owns land on the south side of Cravens Road, has agreed to allow the city of Poplar Bluff, Butler County and NORDYNE to discharge stormwater during high flow and flooding events into his field ditch...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- A text message sent to the wrong person tipped authorities off to search a Perryville home where officers reportedly discovered drugs. Amy R. Horman, 24, mistakenly sent a text message to a Perry County Sheriff's Department employee and offered drugs for sale, said Perry County Sheriff Gary J. Schaaf...

By SCOTT MOYERS SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Cape Girardeau's growing deer population has city leaders willing to take another look at the idea of urban deer hunting in hopes of curbing ravaged landscapes, car collisions and irritated residents...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Lightning struck a 69KV transformer in the Municipal Utilities substation on Morrison Road, knocking out power to 1,275 customers in the north part of Poplar Bluff, Mo., at 7:49 a.m. today, according to MU Distribution Superintendent Lyndell Coleman...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer More than 400 people are expected to attend Women Aware's 24th annual conference, which began this morning at the Black River Coliseum. Conference Director Sabrina Ridings believes the experience this event offers is as big a draw as the well known keynote speakers who take the stage each year. This event features Carolyn Kepcher, a successful business woman who also appeared as a top executive of Donald Trump's in the television series "The Apprentice."...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer More than 400 people are expected to attend Women Aware's 24th annual conference, which began this morning at the Black River Coliseum. Conference Director Sabrina Ridings believes the experience this event offers is as big a draw as the well known keynote speakers who take the stage each year. This event features Carolyn Kepcher, a successful business woman who also appeared as a top executive of Donald Trump's in the television series "The Apprentice."...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor DUDLEY, Mo. -- Stoddard County authorities seized about 600 suspected marijuana plants Wednesday from what is described as one of the larger outdoor-grow operations found in the county. The plants, which ranged in height from around 8 to 12 feet tall, were spotted from the air and subsequently eradicated by Stoddard County deputies, who were assisted by members of the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, in a "multijurisdictional effort," according to Sheriff Carl Hefner.. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Butler County Commission awarded a $3,618,174 contract Wednesday to R.L. Persons Construction Inc. for the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park Bypass Road. Construction is expected to start in late October and be completed within one year, according to Greg Bell and Steve Hicks, engineers with Smith & Co...

The Poplar Bluff volleyball team was aggressive from the start Tuesday night. The Lady Mules jumped out ahead of Bell City early in the first game with tough play at the net and beat the visiting Lady Cubs, 25-22, 25-23, 25-19, at Peters Gym. "The games were a little tighter than I had hoped," Poplar Bluff coach Mike Berry said...

JACKSON -- Allison Huskey and Anna Crescitelli finished second and third as the Poplar Bluff took the sophomore division at the Jackson Invitational cross country meet Saturday. The Mules placed fifth in the senior division led by Luke Pelton's 11th place finish while Bailey Davidson was fourth in the sophomore race...

Miscues and mistakes left both Poplar Bluff and New Madrid County Central searching for a first win heading into Friday night when the two football teams meet at Morrow Stadium. Coming off a 2-point loss, the Mules will look to avoid extending a losing streak to double digits against the last team they beat...

DEXTER -- Poplar Bluff's tennis team had its undefeated season end Tuesday by the slimmest of margins. Dexter edged the Lady Mules 5-4 by winning a doubles match 8-6 and three singles matches by an 8-5 score while Poplar Bluff won two tiebreakers on the road...

In a blink of an eye, one play can turn momentum and a game. For the Poplar Bluff football team so far this season, those big plays have gone the other way. The Mules are averaging more rushing yards per attempts than their opponents, picking up just as many first downs and forcing more turnovers...

A tight match turned on an elbow Tuesday night. Poplar Bluff closed out the opening game with a 6-1 run that featured kills from four different Lady Mules, a block and a save by Danielle Farmer's elbow. Jackson never recovered and, after a 10-2 run in the second game, the Lady Mules cruised to a 25-20, 25-14 win at Peters Gym...

WEST PLAINS -- The Poplar Bluff Junior High cross country team got two big wins Tuesday. Isaiah Williams won his second straight race while the Lady Mules beat the host by placing four in the top 10 at the West Plains Invitational. Williams won the 1.5-mile race in 7 minutes, 59 seconds...

PIEDMONT -- Chasity Fowler had three RBIs for Van Buren as it upset Clearwater, 5-3, on Tuesday. Brittany Hager had two hits and scored two runs while Gavy Cipponeri had a home run in the win for the Lady Dawgs (5-4). "It was a big win for us," Van Buren coach Jeff Lindsey said. "Clearwater is a good team, it was good to go on the road and play a tough opponent and get the victory."...

Thanks to the defense, Poplar Bluff needed just one snap and 1-yard to take the lead Friday night. The Mules scored on their first offensive play after turning the first of three fumbles by New Madrid County Central into points. Poplar Bluff also returned a kickoff for another score in a 20-0 win at Morrow Stadium, overcoming a rough night on offense to end a nine-game losing streak...

NEELYVILLE -- Dairan Elam-Pyles had a home run and three RBIs for Clearwater as it a got a comeback win over Neelyville on Tuesday, 15-13. Lexi Morris and Leigha McKinney each had three hits while Hannah Rowold had three RBIs. With her team down 13-11, Carrie Adams hit a three-run home run to put her team ahead for good in the seventh...

BROSELEY -- Home has been sweet so far for the Twin Rivers volleyball team but it hasn't been easy to stay unbeaten there. Greenville never led in the first game and put the pressure on in the last game Tuesday night but the Lady Royals got the win, 25-20, 27-25...

SIKESTON -- When Mark Barousse left Poplar Bluff after a successful five-year run in 2001, Sikeston fans were probably not too sad to see him leave. That's because in Barousse's time as head coach, his Mules never lost to the Bulldogs. Now, 10 years after leaving Poplar Bluff to coach in his hometown of Lafayette, La., Barousse is back...

The Jackson boys soccer team overmatched Poplar Bluff on all levels Tuesday evening. The Indians' 7-0 win provided the evidence. The Mules (0-1) struggled to contain Jackson in their opening game of the season. "Jackson, I think, definitely their starting 11 and they got a few bench players that are pretty solid," Poplar Bluff coach Jamie Waddell said. ...

By JOHN WILLEY Staff Writer The son of a share-cropper, U.L. Smith grew up on a Bootheel farm outside of Cardwell, Mo. The final years of his high school determined how the rest of his life would turn out. At age 17, while still in high school, Smith took a part-time for Dolph Riggs Jr. in the Riggs Hardware store in Cardwell...

Plans are underway for a new scholarship to be made available to graduates of Neelyville High School. The Sandra Arrington Memorial Scholarship will be given annually in memory of Sandy Arrington, a community activist in the Naylor-Neelyville area. She was a dedicated nurse and volunteer in many programs throughout the area...

The Neelyville Harvest Festival Pageant will be held Saturday, Sept. 17, in the Neelyville City Park. Registration will begin at 11 a.m. The pageant will start at noon. There will be no delays between pageants, incuding the Miss Tau Psi category of girls, ages 14-18 years of age...

J.C. Penney is renovating its Poplar Bluff, Mo., store as part of the Company's continued investment in its existing stores. Upon completion of the project in November, the 515 S. Westwood store will have the look and feel of a new J.C. Penney store...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Three bids for the construction of the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park Bypass Road were opened Friday during the Butler County Commission meeting. R.L. Persons Construction, Inc. of Poplar Bluff, Mo., submitted the apparent low base bid of $3,485,000. The owner, Randy Persons, also bid $62,095 on the first alternate and $71,079 on the second alternate, making the total bid $3,618,174...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associated Editor The 1992 murder of a Poplar Bluff, Mo., woman found dead in her Cherry Street apartment will be featured nationally later this week. Viewers tuning into "Nightmare Next Door" on Investigation Discovery at 9 p.m. Thursday will see an episode entitled "Midwestern Malice."...

Three fishing tournaments and a UKC show and hunt highlight the outdoor news this week. Results of the Take A Kid Fishing event showed that the kids also know how to land the big ones. Two of the big bass winners weighed over five pounds and the third was almost that weight...

By FRANK CAMPA Mo. Dept. of Conservation Hopefully, everyone will have remembered to purchase not only a small game permit, but also a migratory bird permit. Both are required for hunting doves in Missouri. If you have a lifetime small game permit for Missouri, you are also covered for the Missouri migratory bird permit...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- On Dec. 8, 1951, the day after the 10th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, The New York Times' front page made a one-paragraph mention of commemorations the day before, when the paper's page had not mentioned the anniversary. ...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- In that fleeting interval between earthquake/hurricane and the president's 57th (or so) major national address next Thursday, I can finally devote a summer column to the finest efflorescence of that season this city has to offer: the Washington Nationals...

By PAT BUCHANAN The Hurricane Irene story ought to, but won't, shed light on our prejudices regarding science. The favored liberal Democratic narrative -- we've seen it trotted out against Rick Perry in the past two weeks -- goes like this: Democrats are the party of the enlightenment. ...

To the Editor, The Wappapello Civic Center Board of Directors would like thank everyone for their attendance and participation at our Modern Woodman Matching Funds Fundraiser for making this event a success. The proceeds raised from this project will be used to purchase new tables, a dehumidifier and repair and replace windows...

Christians please vote The nuts or nutty people in this country are trying to take away everything pertaining to Christianity. People! If you are a registered voter, express your right. If you are not a registered voter, why not? If you are a Christian. Pray. If you are not a Christian, why not?...

By SHARON RANDALL Sometimes when you least expect it, life opens a door you never dreamed you'd enter. It's enough to make you want to wake up each morning just to see what will happen next. Anything is possible as long as you keep waking up. Some months ago, a reader of my column (a man I've not met but hope to do so) sent me a story from The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer by columnist Kay McSpadden, about an unusual book club that meets each week at the main branch of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.. ...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS At one of last month's Congressional Black Caucus-sponsored "job fairs," Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., told the audience: "This is the effort that we're seeing of Jim Crow. Some of these folks in Congress right now would love to see us as second-class citizens. ...

To the Editor, With all the political wrangling going on around our country, with the war on terror, with our nation's debt spiraling out of control, and with the debate on the constitutionality of universal healthcare, one might think that any of these issues could very well be the greatest enemy facing our nation. ...

To the Editor, For who could hold more concern for the future of Poplar Bluff than those of us preparing to start our careers and families? As a university student nearing graduation, the question I face is whether or not to return to Poplar Bluff after graduation. ...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Liberal certitudes continue to dissolve, the most recent solvent being a robust new defense of a 1905 Supreme Court decision that liberals have long reviled -- and misrepresented. To understand why the court correctly decided Lochner v. New York and why this is relevant to current arguments, read David E. Bernstein's "Rehabilitating Lochner: Defending Individual Rights against Progressive Reform."...

The seventh Annual UCAN 5K Run/Walk will be held Saturday, Sept. 24, at McLane Park. The run/walk will begin at 8 a.m. Each participant will receive a free T-shirt. In addition, trophies will be awarded for the first two finishers in each age division...

TOPS (Tops Off Pounds Sensibly) MO 734 was called to order at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 31. Leader Linda Morgan opened the meeting with 19 TOPS and four KOPS members in attendance. Lou Ann Wrather read the secretary' report and said report stands approved...

The Butler County Genealogy Society met Sunday, Aug. 28 at Twin Towers. In attendance were 23 members and guests. President June Allen called the meeting to order and called for the secretary's and treasurer's reports. Both were read and approved. Katie Findley reported that a set of books was placed in the public library in memory of Sylvia Hodge...

Poplar Bluff Garden Club held the annual Senior Citizen's Plant Show at the Twin Towers Sept. 7-8 with 26 people entering 57 plants to be judged. Best of Show was won by Bernice Wright with a beautiful cactus. Visitors to the show found two unusual plants, a Wonder Egg plant and a Partridge/Quail plant very interesting...

Bobby Horn DEXTER, Mo. -- Bobby Dean Horn Sr., 68, of Dexter, Mo., died Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Mr. Horn was born on Aug. 23, 1943, in Strawberry, Ark. He was a truck driver. On Sept. 12, 1964, he was married to Sharon Sue Alberson. She preceded him in death on Sept. 11, 2009...

Chan and Regina Gray of Poplar Bluff, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Sarah Gray to Matthew Ryan Marshall, also of Poplar Bluff. The bridegroom-to-be is the son of Randy and Lisa Marshall of Harviell, Mo. The bride-to-be is a 2006 graduate of Neelyville High School and earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Central Methodist University. She is employed by Kraft, Miles and Tatum in Poplar Bluff...

Herschel and Pauline Rains will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at Westwood Hills Health Care Center, Business 67 S at Warrior Lane. All friends and relatives are invited to attend the celebration hosted by their children, Sue, Joe, Lynn and Ray...

Laurence and Jacquelyn Robinson of Chicago, Ill., announce the engagement of their daughter, Danyetta Unique Hollings of Poplar Bluff, Mo., to Kenneth Swopes, also of Poplar Bluff. The bridegroom-to-be is the son of Sylena Swopes of Chicago and the late Roger Moore...

Kari Massey DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Kari Ann Massey, 35, of Gatewood, Mo., died Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, at her residence in Gatewood. Ms. Massey was born Oct. 8, 1975, in Marion County, Ind. She had worked at Vitronic in Doniphan. On Oct. 28, 2000, she married Gerald Massey in Gatewood. He survives...

David Scott DONIPHAN, Mo. -- David Allen Scott, 53, of Doniphan, Mo., died Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, at his residence in Doniphan. Mr. Scott was born Nov. 20, 1957, in St. Louis, Mo. He was an over-the-road truck driver. Mr. Scott attended Bethel Missionary Baptist Church and was a veteran of the U. S. Army...

Nevaeha Bryant Nevaeha Sharonmae Bryant of Poplar Bluff was stillborn on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, in Poplar Bluff. Survivors include her mother, Tracy Bryant of Poplar Bluff; grandparents, Viola Bryant and John Posey, both of Poplar Bluff; great-grandmother, Sharron Lemons, Cadet, Mo...

Jessica Lauren Breece and Baron Ray Fritts of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Raylin Ann Fritts for their 5-pound, 7-ounce daughter born at 2:22 p.m. Monday, July 25, 2011. She was 17 and one half inches long. Grandparents are Rachel Gotiear of Lawton, Okla., Barry Fritts of Poplar Bluff, Helen and Ron Retherford of Qulin, Mo...

Paul Pauls PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Paul Thomas Pauls, 68, of Silva, Mo., died Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, at his home near Silva. Mr. Pauls was born Sept. 3, 1943, in Piedmont. He was a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard. He worked as a carpenter for many years in St. Louis, Mo...

Billie Bowman PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Billie Herald Bowman, 72, of Piedmont, Mo., died Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Piedmont. Mr. Bowman was born Dec. 11, 1938, in Clovis, N.M. He joined the U.S. Navy in the 1950s. After the military, he went to Phoenix, Ariz., where he married and raised his family. ...

Brandon Groves Brandon Carl Neal Groves, 29, of Williamsville, Mo., died Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Groves was born Nov. 4, 1981, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was a concrete construction worker, and enjoyed fishing, hunting, and being with his children. He had formerly lived in Eldon, Mo. and Springfield, Mo. He attended Cornerstone Tabernacle Church in Poplar Bluff...

Thelma Russell MALDEN, Mo. --Thelma Omega Russell, 95, of Malden, Mo., died Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. Mrs. Russell was born Sept. 30, 1915, in Malden. She was a member of New Prospect Baptist Church in Malden...

Gerard Saracini Gerard Leo Saracini, Jr., 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011, at Oakdale Care Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Saracini was born Oct. 26, 1927, in Poplar Bluff. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a member of Knights of Columbus. Mr. Saracini was former co-owner of Saracini and Breeden Insurance and Real Estate Co. and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He enjoyed spending time with his family, golfing, bird hunting and fishing...

Brenda Collins DEXTER, Mo. -- Brenda Collins, 66, of Dexter, Mo., died Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, at her home. Mrs. Collins was born June 21, 1945, in Bernie, Mo. She was non-denominational and enjoyed the Lord and spending time with her family. She previously married to Caroll Sweet. She later married Lynn Collins on July 26, 1997, at Anna, Ill. Mr. Collins preceded her in death on Dec. 27, 2004...

Delmar Clark FISK, Mo. - Delmar "Tobe" Willis Clark, 89, of Broseley, Mo., died Sunday Sept. 4, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Clark was born Dec. 18, 1921, at Bernie, Mo. He had lived in the Broseley and Poplar Bluff, Mo., areas all of his life. He was of the Baptist faith. ...

Beulah Bocek Beulah Louise Bocek (Rickman) was born Aug. 07, 1922, near Poplar Bluff, Mo., in the Ten Mile Creek Community, to Joseph Edward Rickman and Maud Lee Rickman (Mowery). She graduated high school from the Poplar Bluff school system and moved to St. ...

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) MO 734 met at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 7 at the First Presbyterian Church at the corner of Main and Oak Streets. Linda Morgan, leader, called the meeting to order with 21 TOPS and three KOPS members present. Lou Ann Wrather read the secretary's report, Pam Kane, the treasurer's report and Ruth Fisher, the exercise report. All reports were approved...

MALDEN, Mo. -- The 81st Annual Missouri-Mid/South Gospel Singing Convention will be held 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23-24, at the Malden Community Center on Business Hwy. 25 in Malden, Mo. Master of ceremonies will be Brother Gene Peacock, KMHM-FM radio personality. The concert is free; however, a love offering will be taken...

When Scarlett Halifax decided to sleep in on the last day of a vacation to New York City, she didn't realize it was a choice that would save her life and those of her two sisters. Ten years later, the Poplar Bluff, Mo., woman still finds it difficult to speak of the morning nearly 3,000 Americans were killed...

NEW YORK (AP) -- Ten years on, Americans will come together Sunday where the World Trade Center soared, where the Pentagon stands as a fortress once breached, where United Airlines Flight 93 knifed into the earth. They will gather to pray in cathedrals in our greatest cities and to lay roses before fire stations in our smallest towns, to remember in countless ways the anniversary of the most devastating terrorist attacks since the nation's founding, and in the process mark the milestone as history itself.. ...

Corey Martin DEXTER, Mo. -- Corey "Petey" August Martin, 34, of Dexter, Mo., died Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011, at his home. Mr. Martin was born Aug. 21, 1977, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communications. He had been employed at Briggs and Stratton in Poplar Bluff, Mo., for 12 years...

Bernice Grandstaff Bernice Helen Grandstaff, 92, of St. Louis, Mo., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, at Green Park Nursing Home in St. Louis. Mrs. Grandstaff was born Sept. 25, 1918, in Neelyville, Mo. She was of the Baptist faith, and was a homemaker. Mrs. Grandstaff enjoyed spending time with her family, dinning out, shopping and sewing...

Patricia Gutierrez DEXTER, Mo. -- Patricia Gutierrez, 65, of Dexter, Mo., died Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Ms. Gutierrez was born on Oct. 7, 1945, in St. Louis, Mo. She was a former administrative assistant at the Diamonds Insurance Company in Los Angeles, Calif...

PHOTO AVAILABLE Amanda Lane Pixley of Dexter, Mo., and Kenneth Michael Lance of Poplar Bluff, Mo., were united in marriage at 6 p.m., Saturday, April 30, 2011, at the First Baptist Church in Dexter. The bride is the daughter of Garrett Pixley and Carla Townsend Pixley of Dexter. The bridegroom is the son of Mark and Chris Lance of Poplar Bluff...

Sarah Beth Stevenson of Doniphan, Mo., and Matthew Ryan Miller of Jonesboro, Ark., were united in marriage Saturday, June 18, 2011 at the First Church of God in Doniphan. The double-ring ceremony was officiated by Pastor Larry Earl and Pastor Chad Graves...

The Agee Community Club met on Aug. 30 at Ryan's Steakhouse. President Jeanie Figgins was the hostess and called the meeting to order with the club motto. Shirley Johnson gave the invocation before the buffet meal. Roll call was answered with, "What am I happy about?" Devotional was read by Nadine Johnson from 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7. ...

CRC is accepting grant ideas The Butler County Community Resource Council will be accepting proposals until Sept. 30 for its Community Grant Making Program. This grant opportunity is made possible with funds collected through the Private Probation Services in Butler County and Ripley County...

Pears are delicious and just about ready to harvest. The deer back home have been enjoying this tasty fruit for a few months. Pear trees have a long life and with proper care they can produce for twenty-five years or more. Harvest usually extends from August through October. There are hundreds of varieties of pears. You may recognize Bartlett, Seckel, Anjou, and Kieffer varieties...

Children's Trust grants The Children's Trust Fund (CTF), Missouri's foundation for child abuse prevention, has chosen several Poplar Bluff area agencies to receive grants for child abuse and neglect prevention activities. They include: Butler County Community Resource Council in Poplar Bluff -- $9,788 for Patenting Skills for Young Parents;...

Red Cross blood drives The American Red Cross has scheduled blood drives in this area. Area blood drives include: 8 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 16, Bloomfield High School, 301 W Missouri, Bloomfield, Mo. Noon to 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19, John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, 1500 N. Westwood Blvd. Poplar Bluff, Mo...

On the 10th Anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, Westwood Baptist Church will honor our local heroes. At the 10 a.m. service Sept. 11 they will remember the great sacrifice of the ones who lost their lives 10 years ago, as well as our local fallen heroes...

Shrum/Mullins reunion Sunday The Shrum and Mullins annual family reunion will be held Sunday at the Old Greenville Recreation Area Site 10. A potluck dinner will begin at approximately 1 p.m. For more information contact Helen Cable at 573-495-2313 or Chris Shrum at 573-785-0407...

By PHYLLIS FLANIGAN University of Missouri Extension Food Safety When Packing School Lunches Now that school is back in session, many families will be packing back-to-school lunches. How can you be sure that your student will eat a nutritious and safe lunch? The USDA recommends that we start with clean hands, spotless food contact surfaces, scrubbed fruits and vegetables, and chilled perishable food...

MALDEN, Mo. -- The 81st Annual Missouri-Mid/South Gospel Singing Convention will be held 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23-24, at the Malden Community Center on Business Hwy. 25 in Malden, Mo. Master of ceremonies will be Brother Gene Peacock, KMHM-FM radio personality. The concert is free; however, a love offering will be taken...

Twin Towers Nutrition Center grant A Poplar Bluff, Mo., organization recently received funding as part of a $7.8 million round of funding approved by the Missouri Foundation of Health Board of Directors. Community Nutrition Center at Twin Towers will receive a two-year grant of $100,000 from MFH's Basic Support program. Basic Support funds operational expenses for health-related non profits' existing salaries, benefits, equipment and supplies...

Mother-to-Mother in cooperation with St. Louis based SIDS Resources is presenting a SIDS Prevention Workshop from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11. This workshop will be held at Cox's Corner located at 529 Business 60 West in Dexter. Cox's Corner was formerly Patricia's Tea Room...