Stories from Wednesday, September 21, 2011

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Poplar Bluff Councilwoman Susan McVey is the new vice president of the Missouri Municipal League. She was elected during the 77th annual MML Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Kansas City, Mo., on Sept. 13. "It's an honor to represent the city of Poplar Bluff as vice president of the Missouri Municipal League," McVey said following the City Council meeting Monday night...

In 1966, President Harry Truman wrote a letter to Butler County Democrats authorizing them to name a political rally for him. This has been an annual affair since his authorization. Plans are nearing completion for the 46th Annual Truman Day Rally to be held at the Poplar Bluff Elks Lodge at 6:30 p.m. Saturday...

CORNING, Ark. -- Kirk Scobey was re-elected to a five-year term on the Corning, Ark., School Board Tuesday. He defeated Connie Pendergrass 316-238. Jody L. Simmons received 139 votes to win a five-year term on the Rector, Ark., School Board. Jason Cobb received only 15 votes...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Qulin Elementary students are back in their classrooms, Twin Rivers R-X Superintendent Mike Stevenson announced at Tuesday night's board meeting. Contractor Randy Biggs promised at previous board meetings work on the building would be completed by Sept. 16...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Riders are preparing for the 23rd annual Cardiac Cowboys Trail Ride for Haven House Saturday at Evans Farms. The trail ride will again be hosted by Ted and Cindy Evans. "They make it look easy, but we appreciate how much work goes into getting ready to be invaded by a hundred trucks and horse trailers," said Mary Ann Allen, Haven House executive director. "Ted and Cindy welcome everyone like its something they do every weekend."...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Three Rivers College will receive nearly $2 million in the next five years to improve student success as one of 34 schools across the nation newly approved for a federal grant program. The Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) from the U.S. Department of Education is designed to transform developing colleges, Three Rivers President Devin Stephenson said following the announcement Tuesday...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer As a heat wave hovered over the Midwest and much of the country for the summer of 2011, Poplar Bluff, Mo., was no exception. Between June 1 and Aug. 31, 63 of the 92 days had highs of 90 degrees or warmer. While that's 10 less than last year's exceptionally warm summer, it's still significantly higher than the average. Over the past 10 summers, excluding 2010, the number of 90+ days ranged from 19 to 45...

CORNING, Ark. -- Kirk Scobey was re-elected to a five-year term on the Corning, Ark., School Board Tuesday. He defeated Connie Pendergrass 316-238. Jody L. Simmons received 139 votes to win a five-year term on the Rector, Ark., School Board. Jason Cobb received only 15 votes...

In 1966, President Harry Truman wrote a letter to Butler County Democrats authorizing them to name a political rally for him. This has been an annual affair since his authorization. Plans are nearing completion for the 46th Annual Truman Day Rally to be held at the Poplar Bluff Elks Lodge at 6:30 p.m. Saturday...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Qulin Elementary students are back in their classrooms, Twin Rivers R-X Superintendent Mike Stevenson announced at Tuesday night's board meeting. Contractor Randy Biggs promised at previous board meetings work on the building would be completed by Sept. 16...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Poplar Bluff Councilwoman Susan McVey is the new vice president of the Missouri Municipal League. She was elected during the 77th annual MML Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Kansas City, Mo., on Sept. 13. "It's an honor to represent the city of Poplar Bluff as vice president of the Missouri Municipal League," McVey said following the City Council meeting Monday night...

PIEDMONT -- East Carter erupted for 15 hits to even its season series with Clearwater on Tuesday. The Lady Redbirds scored four runs in the third inning and cruised to a 9-2 win after losing to the Lady Tigers by one earlier this fall. "Very well-played game," East Carter coach Angie Bowman said. "(We got) production from the entire lineup."...

The time has finally arrived for the Three Rivers Rodeo team. After being introduced last year and signing players throughout the spring and summer, coach Andy Carter and his team hit the road to Missouri Valley College in Marshall for their first-ever event Thursday through Saturday...

PIEDMONT -- It won't count towards their Ozark Foothills Conference record but the Clearwater Tigers wanted to get an edge against East Carter anyway. Last week the Redbirds defeated the Tigers but on Tuesday in a rematch, Clearwater got the job done with a 6-4 victory...

By JOHN WILLEY Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff Murphy Express is one of about 100 company-owned convenience stores in the country. The store at 303 S. Westwood Blvd., next to Walmart, is owned and operated by Murphy Oil USA, Inc., (MOUSA). This store is the big brother -- so to speak -- to Murphy USA stores, which are kiosks generally located in Walmart parking lots...

By BILL O'REILLY The folks are getting hosed. According to the American Debt Advisor outfit, 80 percent of us now owe money to creditors. If you exclude mortgages and car payments, about 50 percent of us are in debt. And that's why the economy is having so much trouble. Consumers have to be very careful about what they buy, or risk sinking into insolvency...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN For the third straight year, the median income of the typical American family fell in 2010. Adjusted for inflation, it is back where it was in 1996, the longest period of zero growth since the Depression. And the poverty rate has inched up to 15.1 percent...

By MONA CHAREN You might suppose that a political book, appearing less than six months after Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels indicated that he would not run for president, must have been written as a campaign prop. But that's not Daniels' style. "Keeping the Republic" is a deadly serious, though frequently witty, effort to lay before the American people the perilous state of the nation...

The Women's Citizenship Club met at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, at Ryan's Restaurant. Hostesses were Jean Butler and Gladys Hill. Emily Rhodes, president, called the meeting to order and welcomed new member Jan Duffy. Betty Jackson led the Pledge of Allegiance and Pauline Hearne led the members' club collect...

Parking at O'Neal bad I tell you what I know parents got to pick their kids up that O'Neal School, but can't you people be a little smarter about how you park? You park on both sides of the street there wouldn't be enough room for a motorcycle hardly to go down there between the cars much less a fire truck or an ambulance. ...

The Second Annual MSHP Sgt. Dewayne Graham Memorial Scholarship 5K run and 1 mile run/walk will be Oct. 15 at Big Spring, in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways near Van Buren, Mo. The route will take runners along Current River, Big Spring and the Civilian Conservation Corps historic district. Awards will be given in four divisions, from age 12 to 50 and above, for both female and male entries. Pre-register is required by Oct. 1 to receive a commemorative race T-shirt...

Marie Taylor DONIPHAN, Mo. -- (Clara) Marie Taylor, 93, of Doniphan, Mo., died Monday, Sept. 19, 2011, at Westwood Hills Healthcare in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mrs. Taylor was born Saturday, Aug. 10, 1918, in Ripley County, Mo., to Lemuel Hulet and Edna Pearl (Bowers) Thompson...

Dr. Davis Brookreson Dr. Alton Davis Brookreson, 76, a local resident and physician, died early Sunday morning, Sept. 18, 2011, at his home in San Antonio, Texas, surrounded by family and friends. Dr. Brookreson, known as "Davis" to everyone who knew him, was born May 10, 1935, in Parma, Mo., the son of Poplar Bluff physician, Dr. Alton Friend Brookreson and his wife Margaret...

PIEDMONT -- It won't count towards their Ozark Foothills Conference record but the Clearwater Tigers wanted to get an edge against East Carter anyway. Last week the Redbirds defeated the Tigers but on Tuesday in a rematch, Clearwater got the job done with a 6-4 victory...

The time has finally arrived for the Three Rivers Rodeo team. After being introduced last year and signing players throughout the spring and summer, coach Andy Carter and his team hit the road to Missouri Valley College in Marshall for their first-ever event Thursday through Saturday...

By JOHN WILLEY Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff Murphy Express is one of about 100 company-owned convenience stores in the country. The store at 303 S. Westwood Blvd., next to Walmart, is owned and operated by Murphy Oil USA, Inc., (MOUSA). This store is the big brother -- so to speak -- to Murphy USA stores, which are kiosks generally located in Walmart parking lots...

By BILL O'REILLY The folks are getting hosed. According to the American Debt Advisor outfit, 80 percent of us now owe money to creditors. If you exclude mortgages and car payments, about 50 percent of us are in debt. And that's why the economy is having so much trouble. Consumers have to be very careful about what they buy, or risk sinking into insolvency...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN For the third straight year, the median income of the typical American family fell in 2010. Adjusted for inflation, it is back where it was in 1996, the longest period of zero growth since the Depression. And the poverty rate has inched up to 15.1 percent...