Stories from Wednesday, October 19, 2011

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Construction of the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park Bypass will begin with clearing work along Butler County Road 302 on the east end of the project. "It's been a long time coming. I am looking forward to getting started," Poplar Bluff contractor Randy Persons said during a pre-construction document signing at the Butler County Commission meeting Monday...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor While most persons attending Tuesday's public hearing on Oak Grove Road improvements expressed support, some business owners are waiting to see how much of their land will be needed for right-of-way. Two men, who own the car wash at the corner of Westwood Boulevard and Katy Lane, talked with Missouri Department of Transportation personnel about the amount of land needed to create a right turn lane. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A former Poplar Bluff, Mo., man is free on bond after being charged with causing the death of his longtime friend during a physical altercation apparently fueled by alcohol. Matthew Clifford Coble, 41, of Greenville, Mo., was charged with the Class C felony of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and the Class D felony of unlawful use of a weapon by Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., woman may face assault charges after allegedly shooting her boyfriend, who she believed was trying to kill her dog during an apparent argument Tuesday night. As Kellie Jean Golden, 43, of the 5100 block of Highway 142 sits in the Butler County jail on suspicion of first-degree assault and armed criminal action, her boyfriend, Jason Graves, is in a Memphis, Tenn., hospital where he was flown for treatment of what authorities describe as a "golf-ball size" gunshot wound.. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor It started as a 30-day, temporary job and, more than three decades later, will end today when Poplar Bluff Police Department dispatcher Randy Wallis signs off for the last time. Wallis, the department's chief communications officer since December 1993, will end his 36-year career later today when he answers his last 911 call and hangs up his headset...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Construction of the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park Bypass will begin with clearing work along Butler County Road 302 on the east end of the project. "It's been a long time coming. I am looking forward to getting started," Poplar Bluff contractor Randy Persons said during a pre-construction document signing at the Butler County Commission meeting Monday...

ELLSINORE -- East Carter senior softball players Ashley Christman, Kim Shaffer and Lindsay Crowley are enjoying their trailblazing season. The trio has led the charge to new heights in its final fall with the team, reaching the MSHSAA Class 2 final four, which starts Friday in Springfield...

By MELISSA MILLER SEMO News Service Although Lance Hovis earns close to minimum wage delivering pizzas, he thinks raising Missouri's minimum wage is a bad idea. "We have so many people out of work already," he said. "Businesses would have less money to pay workers if minimum wage went up, and then even more people would be out of work."...

The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a shoplifting prevention seminar on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the chamber. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. and is free to members. There is a cost of $50 per person for non-members. Shoplifters can be placed in one of two categories, professional and amateur, according to the chamber. ...

ELLSINORE -- Due to the East Carter Lady Redbirds softball team advancing to the MSHSAA Class 2 Final Four this coming weekend in Springfield, the Chris Newman 'Hoopin' for Newman' benefit has changed dates. The 3-on-3 basketball tournament to raise money for Newman, a junior baseball player at East Carter who was recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Ewing's Sarcoma, has been moved from this coming Saturday to Oct. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN John Hope Franklin, the famed black historian at Duke University, once told the incoming freshmen, "The new America in the 21st century will be primarily non-white, a place George Washington would not recognize." In his June 1998 commencement address at Portland State, President Clinton affirmed it: "In a little more than 50 years, there will be no majority race in the United States." The graduates cheered...

By SHARON RANDALL Scripps Howard News Service What a difference a day can make. Yesterday, he was restless and cranky, needing something, anything to put him at ease. But nothing quite hit the spot. Today, he's content, at peace with the world, smiling in his sleep like the Mona Lisa, and sleeping, yes, like a baby...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- What do you do if you can't run on your record -- on 9 percent unemployment, stagnant growth and ruinous deficits as far as the eye can see? How to run when you are asked whether Americans are better off than they were four years ago and you are compelled to answer no?...

John Steele John Edwin Steele Sr., 82, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Steele was born Nov. 12, 1928, in Paragould, Ark. He was a member of Temple Baptist Church and had retired from the St. Louis Municipal Railroad System. Mr. Steele enjoyed gardening and fishing...

Curtis Guined MALDEN, Mo. -- Curtis Wayne Guined, 53, of Gideon, Mo., died Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Guined was born Sept. 30, 1958, in Aberdeen, Miss. He was married to Ann Cook and later married to Hazel McClish. Surviving are his mother, Freida Guined of Malden, Mo.; three daughters, Lori Fowler of Malden, Jennifer Guined of Dexter, Mo., and Lisa Riddell of Holcomb, Mo.; one son, Curtis Wayne McClish of Dexter; three brothers, Jackie Cates of Colorado Springs, Colo., Ricky Cates of Holcomb, Mo. ...

Karen Pemberton MALDEN, Mo. -- Karen Pemberton, 61, of Clarkton, Mo., died Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, at her residence. Mrs. Pemberton was born Jan. 18, 1950, at Rector, Ark. She was married to Harvey Alexander Pemberton July 24, 1965, in Kennett, Mo. He survives. She formerly was employed at the NHC Nursing Home in Kennett...

JACKSON, Mo. -- A vehicle drove through a residence at Jackson Senior Apartments and killed one person Monday. At 12:04 p.m., police responded to a report of a building being struck by a vehicle. The vehicle struck the complex's exterior wall and entered an apartment where it hit Mary Slinkard. ...

By ERIN RAGAN SEMO News Service A new residence hall on the main campus of Southeast Missouri State University may be in the works as the university deals with a higher-than-ever population and demand for student housing. University officials will seek approval from the board of regents Friday to move forward on planning construction on a 250-bed residence hall that could help alleviate the university's 11 overcrowded residence halls...

John Steele -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Karen Pemberton -- Clarkton , Mo. Troy Henson Jr. -- Butler County, Mo. Guila Hover -- South Lyon, Mich. Ronald Hoffman -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mark Smith -- Pevely, Mo. Curtis Guined -- Gideon, Mo. Cleta Boyer -- Ellsinore, Mo...

Cleta Boyer ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Cleta Mazo Boyer, 96, of Ellsinore, Mo., died Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, at her residence. The daughter of the late Chester and Pearl Hester (Brown)Leach, Mrs. Boyer was born July 22, 1915, in Wayne County, Mo. Mrs. Boyer was a lifetime resident of Ellsinore and was of the Baptist faith. She was a homemaker and a hard working woman who raised nine children. She enjoyed quilting, gardening and spending time with family and friends...

Dick Marshall DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Richard Allen "Dick" Marshall, 81 of Doniphan, Mo., died Thursday, Oct. 6. 2011, in Newport Beach, Calif. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. at St. Benedict's Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Benedict's Pulaski Cemetery...

Guila Hover NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Guila M. Hover, 90, of South Lyon, Mich., died Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, at South Lyon Senior Care. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday followed by the funeral service at 12:30 p.m. at Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville, Mo...

Keith Sherrion ELLSNIORE, Mo. -- Keith Dewayne Sherrion, 29, of Ellsinore, Mo., died Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, in Grandin, Mo., from injuries he received in an auto accident. He was born on July 20, 1982, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Sherrion was a lifetime resident of Ellsinore and worked as a steeple jack for Gerard Chimney. ...

Mark Smith DEXTER, Mo. -- Mark Allen Smith, 21, of Pevely, Mo., formerly of Dexter, Mo., died Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Smith was born Sept. 29, 1990, at Blytheville, Ark. He attended the Lighthouse Christian Center at Dexter. He is survived by his father and step-mother, Mark and Sherry Smith of St. ...

Ronald Hoffman Ronald Gene Hoffman, 77, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, at The Manor Care Center. Mr. Hoffman was born Oct. 1, 1934, in Pittsburgh, Pa., and was a clerk at Central Hardware. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking, and volunteered to do bookkeeping for the Wappapello Fire Department. He also belonged to the Elks and Eagles lodges...

Troy Henson Jr. NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Troy Ray Henson Jr., went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, at St. Bernards Hospital in Jonesboro, Ark. He was 64 years of age; born Nov. 29, 1946, at Newport, Ark. He was a former resident of Little Rock, Ark., and had moved to Butler County 31 years ago...

George Norton MALDEN, Mo. -- George Norton, 65, of Clarkton, Mo., died Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, at DePaul Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Bradshaw Funeral Home of Malden, Mo.

Carl Hardin Sr. MALDEN, Mo. -- Carl Hardin Sr., 85, of Risco, Mo., died Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, at his residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with Bradshaw Funeral Home of Malden, Mo.

Alice Evans ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Alice Marjorie "Margie" Evans, 62, of Ellsinore, Mo., died Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Ms. Evans was born Dec. 28, 1948, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She had resided in Ellsinore for most of her life. She had formerly worked at Doctors Hospital in cancer registry and prior to that she worked in medical records at Lucy Lee Hospital. She enjoyed reading, crocheting, flower gardening and raising chickens...

ELLSINORE -- East Carter senior softball players Ashley Christman, Kim Shaffer and Lindsay Crowley are enjoying their trailblazing season. The trio has led the charge to new heights in its final fall with the team, reaching the MSHSAA Class 2 final four, which starts Friday in Springfield...

John Steele John Edwin Steele Sr., 82, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Steele was born Nov. 12, 1928, in Paragould, Ark. He was a member of Temple Baptist Church and had retired from the St. Louis Municipal Railroad System. Mr. Steele enjoyed gardening and fishing...

John Steele -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Karen Pemberton -- Clarkton , Mo. Troy Henson Jr. -- Butler County, Mo. Guila Hover -- South Lyon, Mich. Ronald Hoffman -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mark Smith -- Pevely, Mo. Curtis Guined -- Gideon, Mo. Cleta Boyer -- Ellsinore, Mo...

Guila Hover NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Guila M. Hover, 90, of South Lyon, Mich., died Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, at South Lyon Senior Care. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday followed by the funeral service at 12:30 p.m. at Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville, Mo...

Mark Smith DEXTER, Mo. -- Mark Allen Smith, 21, of Pevely, Mo., formerly of Dexter, Mo., died Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Smith was born Sept. 29, 1990, at Blytheville, Ark. He attended the Lighthouse Christian Center at Dexter. He is survived by his father and step-mother, Mark and Sherry Smith of St. ...

Alice Evans ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Alice Marjorie "Margie" Evans, 62, of Ellsinore, Mo., died Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Ms. Evans was born Dec. 28, 1948, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She had resided in Ellsinore for most of her life. She had formerly worked at Doctors Hospital in cancer registry and prior to that she worked in medical records at Lucy Lee Hospital. She enjoyed reading, crocheting, flower gardening and raising chickens...