Stories from Thursday, September 22, 2011

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer The rate of childhood obesity is increasing at an alarming rate, and this weekend the Boys & Girls Club of America is teaming up with Nickelodeon to help combat the problem. Those who tune into Nickelodeon from noon to 3 p.m. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Due to a reduction in personal property assessments, there will be a slight increase in the city of Poplar Bluff tax rate for 2011. A public hearing on the proposed tax rate of 70.82 cents per $100 of assessed valuation will begin at noon Tuesday in City Hall, according to City Clerk Pamela Kearbey. After the hearing, the council will vote on an ordinance adopting the tax levy...

By TOM UHLENBROCK Missouri State Parks In the fall of 1864, the Civil War was going badly for the South. The Confederacy needed a morale-boosting victory, and chose Missouri as the battleground. Maj. Gen. Sterling Price was picked to lead a raid into Missouri. He knew the land well as a former governor of the state. His goal was to capture St. Louis or Jefferson City, to gather recruits and supplies, and to divert Union troops from east of the Mississippi River...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The second annual Iron Horse Festival and All Class Reunion will be from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, in Downtown Poplar Bluff, Mo. This event is hosted by Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc. in partnership with many community groups, businesses and generous friends...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor The Poplar Bluff Community Supervision Center was dedicated Wednesday afternoon as a memorial to the director who was instrumental in its creation and lost her life in the line of duty earlier this year. Debbie Collins, who had served as Probation & Parole District No. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Three Rivers College has made two presentations this month to Willow Springs officials, who are expected to decide in the next two to three weeks which institution of higher education will manage a new campus there. This and ongoing expansion efforts at Sikeston and Kennett were discussed during the Board of Trustees monthly meeting Wednesday...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The second annual Iron Horse Festival and All Class Reunion will be from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, in Downtown Poplar Bluff, Mo. This event is hosted by Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc. in partnership with many community groups, businesses and generous friends...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Three Rivers College has made two presentations this month to Willow Springs officials, who are expected to decide in the next two to three weeks which institution of higher education will manage a new campus there. This and ongoing expansion efforts at Sikeston and Kennett were discussed during the Board of Trustees monthly meeting Wednesday...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Due to a reduction in personal property assessments, there will be a slight increase in the city of Poplar Bluff tax rate for 2011. A public hearing on the proposed tax rate of 70.82 cents per $100 of assessed valuation will begin at noon Tuesday in City Hall, according to City Clerk Pamela Kearbey. After the hearing, the council will vote on an ordinance adopting the tax levy...

The Dexter Bearcats are almost sure to be ready for this week against Malden. After losing to the Green Wave in overtime last season, the Bearcats will host the game at 7 p.m. Friday at Charles Bland Stadium. "They are a very good football team and we are preparing for a good team," Dexter coach Aaron Pixley said. "Last year really has nothing to do with it."...

The dancing starts early Friday night for the Poplar Bluff football team as the Mules host Gosnell (Ark.) for homecoming. Whichever sides dictates the pace in the trenches looks to cut the rug to the end zone at Morrow Stadium. "We're going to have to match them physically up front," Mules coach Mark Barousse said. "I think up front is where the game is going to be won or lost."...

After nine consecutive losses to Dexter, it finally feels a little more like a rivalry again with their neighbors to the north up Highway 25. The Malden Green Wave won a thrilling overtime game against the Bearcats last year. Back then, Malden coach Joel Wyatt didn't really understand what a win against Dexter meant to the school and community...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "Your people, sir, is ... a great beast." So Alexander Hamilton reputedly said in an argument with Thomas Jefferson. At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Hamilton explained: "Real liberty is not found in the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments. If we incline too much to democracy, we shall soon shoot into a monarchy, or some other form of dictatorship."...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- The Great Social Security Debate, Proposition 1: Of course it's a Ponzi scheme. In a Ponzi scheme, the people who invest early get their money out with dividends. But these dividends don't come from any profitable or productive activity -- they consist entirely of money paid in by later participants...

Taxes pay for political errors America, we can now truly see the failure of government trying to pick winners and losers in business. And by that I mean, the Solyndra fiasco. Not only was this company a large contributor to the Obama Campaign, but with them now going bankrupt they will not be repaying $500 million that they got in stimulus money. ...

To the Editor, Thanks are owed to many, many people who made the Cape Arrowhead fishing/camping weekend for Wounded Warriors and their families a success Sept. 9-11 at Camp SEMO on Lake Wappapello. Sponsors included: VFW Post 3416, VFW Post 6477, American Legion Post 153, Robert Wake Foundation...

Tournament results this week are the big news. They are closely followed by the archery deer hunting success. Also, the granddaddy of the Wappapello bass tournaments will be held this Saturday. Eighty boats reportedly fished the Big "O" tournament a couple weeks ago. Several new names appear on the winners' list. Lots of big bass are continuing to be brought in to the weigh station, with one that was almost 6 pounds winning the big bass pool...

Myatt graduates Jeffrey Travis Myatt, son of Jeff and Debbie Myatt of Poplar Bluff, Mo., graduated from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Fla., on Sept. 2. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Recording Arts. He is a 2008 graduate of Poplar Bluff High School and is interning at Loud Studios in Nashville, Tenn., and plans to pursue his career in the music industry...

By JOHN PRATT Mo. Dept. of Conservation Since archery deer and turkey seasons have opened, I have observed several hunters in the woods. There are a couple of things I would like to remind archery hunters of before they take to the woods to begin their hunting...

Former Poplar Bluff, Mo., resident Tony Leonard discusses his search for God in "The Vines," a self-published book to be released in October. The name of the book comes from an area of berry vines Leonard would visit with his mother as a young child. He sought solace in the vines in the 1940s when, at the age of three, he saw his father badly burned in a tractor accident...

Carolyn Smith Staff Writer Wednesday, Sept. 24, when Pride Wilder of Ellsinore, Mo., arrived home from Poplar Bluff, Mo., he heard a loud meowing coming from his Ford pick-up. At first, he thought it was one of five cats that make their home with Wilder and his parents. ...

Carolyn Smith Staff Writer Local photographer, Amy Jo Hood was recently notified by the Pepsi Refresh Program that her "Little Ladybug Project" had been selected to compete for a $25,000 grant. The "Little Ladybug Project" provides free professional portraits to families with special needs or children with life-threatening illnesses. ...

Edna Gaines PUXICO, Mo. -- Edna J. Gaines, 86, of Broken Arrow, Okla., died Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011 in Broken Arrow. She was born Jan. 25, 1925, in Advance, Mo. She had lived in Broken Arrow for the past five years and previously lived in Puxico, Mo., St. Louis, Mo., and Advance...

Virginia Brown VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Virginia Lee Brown, 75, of Van Buren, Mo., died Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011, at her residence. The daughter of the late Robert "Bud" and Ruby (Willey) Corgan, she was born Oct. 7, 1935, in Portageville, Mo. Mrs. Brown had lived in Van Buren for the past 26 years and formerly was of Wardell, Mo. ...

David Hollings Sr. LESTERVILLE, Mo. -- David C. Hollings Sr., 70, of Centerville, Mo., died Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Hollings was born Nov. 21, 1940, in Shelby Miss. He had lived in Centerville for the past four and one-half years and previously lived in Indiana...

University of Missouri experts say that evidence shows truth in the saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." While no one food can ensure perfect health, new evidence from medical studies suggests that apples, and the good things in them, really can help you and your family stay healthy...

The Missouri National Guard will conduct live firing of small arms at the Wappapello Training Site firing range Oct. 4, Oct. 6 and Oct. 7, during normal day-time business hours. The Wappapello Training Site is located at 461 CR 517 Wappapello, MO.

O'Neal Student of Month Rylee Sparks, the son of Matthew and Shannon Sparks, has been selected to represent the fourth grade as student of the month for September. He is a student in Amy Courtney's class. Rylee was chosen because he is an outstanding student who always strives to do his best in every area. He is a hard working, dependable and caring you man...

Myatt graduates Jeffrey Travis Myatt, son of Jeff and Debbie Myatt of Poplar Bluff, Mo., graduated from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Fla., on Sept. 2. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Recording Arts. He is a 2008 graduate of Poplar Bluff High School and is interning at Loud Studios in Nashville, Tenn., and plans to pursue his career in the music industry...

Former Poplar Bluff, Mo., resident Tony Leonard discusses his search for God in "The Vines," a self-published book to be released in October. The name of the book comes from an area of berry vines Leonard would visit with his mother as a young child. He sought solace in the vines in the 1940s when, at the age of three, he saw his father badly burned in a tractor accident...

Carolyn Smith Staff Writer Wednesday, Sept. 24, when Pride Wilder of Ellsinore, Mo., arrived home from Poplar Bluff, Mo., he heard a loud meowing coming from his Ford pick-up. At first, he thought it was one of five cats that make their home with Wilder and his parents. ...

The Dexter Bearcats are almost sure to be ready for this week against Malden. After losing to the Green Wave in overtime last season, the Bearcats will host the game at 7 p.m. Friday at Charles Bland Stadium. "They are a very good football team and we are preparing for a good team," Dexter coach Aaron Pixley said. "Last year really has nothing to do with it."...

Carolyn Smith Staff Writer Local photographer, Amy Jo Hood was recently notified by the Pepsi Refresh Program that her "Little Ladybug Project" had been selected to compete for a $25,000 grant. The "Little Ladybug Project" provides free professional portraits to families with special needs or children with life-threatening illnesses. ...

Edna Gaines PUXICO, Mo. -- Edna J. Gaines, 86, of Broken Arrow, Okla., died Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011 in Broken Arrow. She was born Jan. 25, 1925, in Advance, Mo. She had lived in Broken Arrow for the past five years and previously lived in Puxico, Mo., St. Louis, Mo., and Advance...

By JOHN PRATT Mo. Dept. of Conservation Since archery deer and turkey seasons have opened, I have observed several hunters in the woods. There are a couple of things I would like to remind archery hunters of before they take to the woods to begin their hunting...

Tournament results this week are the big news. They are closely followed by the archery deer hunting success. Also, the granddaddy of the Wappapello bass tournaments will be held this Saturday. Eighty boats reportedly fished the Big "O" tournament a couple weeks ago. Several new names appear on the winners' list. Lots of big bass are continuing to be brought in to the weigh station, with one that was almost 6 pounds winning the big bass pool...

The dancing starts early Friday night for the Poplar Bluff football team as the Mules host Gosnell (Ark.) for homecoming. Whichever sides dictates the pace in the trenches looks to cut the rug to the end zone at Morrow Stadium. "We're going to have to match them physically up front," Mules coach Mark Barousse said. "I think up front is where the game is going to be won or lost."...

After nine consecutive losses to Dexter, it finally feels a little more like a rivalry again with their neighbors to the north up Highway 25. The Malden Green Wave won a thrilling overtime game against the Bearcats last year. Back then, Malden coach Joel Wyatt didn't really understand what a win against Dexter meant to the school and community...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "Your people, sir, is ... a great beast." So Alexander Hamilton reputedly said in an argument with Thomas Jefferson. At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Hamilton explained: "Real liberty is not found in the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments. If we incline too much to democracy, we shall soon shoot into a monarchy, or some other form of dictatorship."...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- The Great Social Security Debate, Proposition 1: Of course it's a Ponzi scheme. In a Ponzi scheme, the people who invest early get their money out with dividends. But these dividends don't come from any profitable or productive activity -- they consist entirely of money paid in by later participants...

Taxes pay for political errors America, we can now truly see the failure of government trying to pick winners and losers in business. And by that I mean, the Solyndra fiasco. Not only was this company a large contributor to the Obama Campaign, but with them now going bankrupt they will not be repaying $500 million that they got in stimulus money. ...

David Hollings Sr. LESTERVILLE, Mo. -- David C. Hollings Sr., 70, of Centerville, Mo., died Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Hollings was born Nov. 21, 1940, in Shelby Miss. He had lived in Centerville for the past four and one-half years and previously lived in Indiana...

Virginia Brown VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Virginia Lee Brown, 75, of Van Buren, Mo., died Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011, at her residence. The daughter of the late Robert "Bud" and Ruby (Willey) Corgan, she was born Oct. 7, 1935, in Portageville, Mo. Mrs. Brown had lived in Van Buren for the past 26 years and formerly was of Wardell, Mo. ...

University of Missouri experts say that evidence shows truth in the saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." While no one food can ensure perfect health, new evidence from medical studies suggests that apples, and the good things in them, really can help you and your family stay healthy...

The Missouri National Guard will conduct live firing of small arms at the Wappapello Training Site firing range Oct. 4, Oct. 6 and Oct. 7, during normal day-time business hours. The Wappapello Training Site is located at 461 CR 517 Wappapello, MO.