Stories from Sunday, October 30, 2011

Story and photos By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer For the second consecutive year, the Missouri Area Council of Boys & Girls Clubs awarded the Boys & Girls Club of Poplar Bluff with the Outstanding Program award for the Summer Learning Program. "We're extremely proud of the hard work and dedication our staff has put in to make this award possible," said executive director Chris Rushin...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Heroin is taking over as the "drug of choice" locally, and police officials plan to use all their resources to prevent the drug from getting a foothold in Poplar Bluff, Mo. "Fifteen to 20 years ago, I was among others telling people we've got a meth tidal wave coming our way, and no one wanted to listen; I'm telling you we've got another on the horizon with heroin," explained Chief Danny Whiteley...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor VAN BUREN, Mo. -- A Carter County jury acquitted an Ellsinore, Mo., woman of murdering her live-in boyfriend whom she shot after they got into a verbal argument as she was preparing to leave for her father's funeral...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A Piggott, Ark., factory that employs 45 people will close its doors sometime in 2012, the company announced recently. Wise Manufacturing has operated in the Piggott area for almost 30 years and makes seats for lawn mowers, tractors and boats...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Heroin is taking over as the "drug of choice" locally, and police officials plan to use all their resources to prevent the drug from getting a foothold in Poplar Bluff, Mo. "Fifteen to 20 years ago, I was among others telling people we've got a meth tidal wave coming our way, and no one wanted to listen; I'm telling you we've got another on the horizon with heroin," explained Chief Danny Whiteley...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A Piggott, Ark., factory that employs 45 people will close its doors sometime in 2012, the company announced recently. Wise Manufacturing has operated in the Piggott area for almost 30 years and makes seats for lawn mowers, tractors and boats...

BERNIE -- The Bernie Lady Mules just couldn't muster a strong finish in either game Saturday afternoon. After losing the first game by two, the Lady Mules had a lead late in the second game before they lost to Valle Catholic in the MSHSAA Class 2 Sectionals at home, 25-23, 27-25...

CHESTERFIELD -- Allison Huskey qualified for the MSHSAA Class 4 state cross country meet for the second straight year but the sophomore will be heading to Jefferson City alone. Huskey placed 11th Saturday, running the 3.1-mile course at Parkway Central High School in 20 minutes, 16 seconds but the Lady Mules finished eighth at the sectional meet for the second straight year...

SCOTT CITY -- The Bloomfield Lady Wildcats made it one round farther this year in the MSHSAA Class 2 playoffs. But unfortunately, they lost once again to a tough St. Pius X-Festus team. After defeating Mountain View Liberty, 27-25, 27-25, in the sectional round, the Lady Wildcats took the Lady Lancers to three games in the quarterfinals but fell 25-13, 19-25, 25-12...

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS -- We arrived at a tiny outpost on St. Thomas on Oct. 26. As we stepped ashore, the gentleman beside me said, "28 years ago at this very minute, I was lining up my 'thirsty' A-7 to land on the deck of the USS Independence (CV-62) not far from here. It was day two of Operation Urgent Fury. We were flying nonstop close air support missions for troops in contact on the island of Grenada."...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- You've got your Mexican standoff, your Russian roulette, your Chinese water torture. And now, your Libyan crossfire. That's when a pistol is applied to the head and a bullet crosses from one temple to the other...

The Animal Welfare Alliance (AWA) third annual "Howling at the Moon" party, set for Friday at the Black River Coliseum, will pay special tribute to agencies that rescued people and their pets during the 2011 spring flood that hit the Poplar Bluff area...

To the Editor: We were pleased to learn about the replacement of the Hwy. PP Bridge at Cane Creek, especially being raised six inches. In the past the bridge has over flown, destroying a portion of the highway and drowning our cattle. We hope drainage along PP will be improved because just a little rain causes County Road 449 to flood, blocking our driveway and interrupting phone service. ...

Hope Michelle Allen and Tyler Joseph Hillis were united in marriage on Aug. 9, 2011 in Destin, Fla. Approximately 40 friends and family members attended the ceremony, which was held seaside at the Holiday Surf and Racquet Club. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clark E. Allen. The bridegroom is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Randal L. Hillis. They are all of Poplar Bluff, Mo...

Jim and Jean Norris of Puxico, Mo., celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a renewal of their vows at 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Bloomfield Assembly of God, Bloomfield, Mo. Joining the celebration, which included eating together and sharing memories, were their family and friends...

Neelyville Elementary School has released the First Quarter "A" and "B" Honor Rolls. A Honor Roll Third Grade: Tyler Anderson, Makenzi Davis, Alexa Hill, Parker Jeffries, Payton Reinbott and Michael Light Fourth Grade: Jacob Abner, Noah Burton, Emily Dollins...

Olivia Gabrielle Price and Matthew Houston Price of Ellsinore have chosen the name Gideon Joseph for their 8-pound, 7-ounce son born at 12:25 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, 2011, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was 20.5 inches in length and has one brother and one sister...

Mark Connell VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Mark L. Connell, 55, of Ellsinore, Mo., died Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, from injuries he received in a four-wheeling accident. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Monday in McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren, Mo. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Soul's Harbor Church with the Rev. Chuck Browning and the Rev. Ross Marshall officiating. Burial will be in Pine Lawn Cemetery...

Victor Butler PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Victor L. Butler, 93, of Piedmont, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, at his home. He was born Oct. 13, 1918, at Morristown, Ark. Mr. Butler had lived at Piedmont for the past three years. He previously lived in Mammoth Springs, Ark., where he worked as a carpenter, farmer and rancher...

Greenville Elementary 2011 - 2012 First Quarter Honor Roll: 1st Grade: Abigail Billingsley, Talon Burkman, Kenda Burnett, Savannah Despain, Riley Fraire, James Hill, Makenzie Hill, Jeb Huff, Carter Irions, Kaydence Jaco, Desiree' Jenkins, Jayci Joachim, Dawson McFadden, James Barks, Graclyn Billingsley, Syntheria Crawford, Destiny Dewitt, Hope Fisher, Taylor Gallamore, Austen Henry, Zachary Joy, Mackenzie Marler, Jordan Middleton, Caitlin Paumen, Trevor Rogers, Troy Walls, Mary Weekley, Peyton Womble, and Braylynn White, Noe' Alvarez, Bobby Cook, Laci Cozort, Dominick Glenn, Ty Huffmaster, Matti Looney, Jacob Pennington, Callie Turner, Zoie West, Raeley White, and Brianna Williams. ...

Marshall Sanders VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Marshall Eugene "Gene" Sanders, 78, of Van Buren, Mo, died Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday in McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Johnny Gipson officiating...

Howard Fletcher CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Howard Fletcher, 71, of Campbell, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell. Mr. Fletcher was born May 24, 1940, in Dunklin County, Mo. His only survivors are a host of friends...

Earl Kemper MALDEN, Mo. -- Earl Kemper, 97, of Tallapoosa, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, at Gideon Care Center in Gideon. Mr. Kemper was born Jan. 7, 1914, in Pollard, Ark. He was a retired farmer. On Aug. 10, 1955, he was married to Gertrude Little in Mississippi. She preceded him in death on Feb. 7, 1993...

Greenville High School announces the First Quarter Honor Roll. Seniors Trevor Bennett, Austin Birmingham, Austin Crane, Ceann Clubb, Tim Coram, Troy Durrow, Morgan Edwards, Scott Foster, Chris Gallamore, Ariel Goebel, Anthony Hammon, Tim Hillis, Hannah Malone, Sarah Mann, Jessica McDonald, Nathan Middleton, Hunter Norden, Ashley Payne, Alyssa Reed, William Rodgers-Massey, Katie Rose, Shyanne Sandman, Ashleigh Smith, Noah Stotts, Danielle Stovall, Chelci Turner, Amanda Walk, Jessica West, Akayla White and Summer Willard.. ...

On Friday morning, the Poplar Bluff Mules wrapped up practice with a drill where they just peppered the net with shots for about 15 straight minutes. The Mules have struggled as of late scoring with just four goals scored in a losing streak of five games, but there is still a lot of hope and motivation to make some noise in the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 tournament which begins Monday night at 6 p.m. at Cape Central High School against the Tigers...

BERNIE -- The Bernie Lady Mules just couldn't muster a strong finish in either game Saturday afternoon. After losing the first game by two, the Lady Mules had a lead late in the second game before they lost to Valle Catholic in the MSHSAA Class 2 Sectionals at home, 25-23, 27-25...

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS -- We arrived at a tiny outpost on St. Thomas on Oct. 26. As we stepped ashore, the gentleman beside me said, "28 years ago at this very minute, I was lining up my 'thirsty' A-7 to land on the deck of the USS Independence (CV-62) not far from here. It was day two of Operation Urgent Fury. We were flying nonstop close air support missions for troops in contact on the island of Grenada."...

Greenville Elementary 2011 - 2012 First Quarter Honor Roll: 1st Grade: Abigail Billingsley, Talon Burkman, Kenda Burnett, Savannah Despain, Riley Fraire, James Hill, Makenzie Hill, Jeb Huff, Carter Irions, Kaydence Jaco, Desiree' Jenkins, Jayci Joachim, Dawson McFadden, James Barks, Graclyn Billingsley, Syntheria Crawford, Destiny Dewitt, Hope Fisher, Taylor Gallamore, Austen Henry, Zachary Joy, Mackenzie Marler, Jordan Middleton, Caitlin Paumen, Trevor Rogers, Troy Walls, Mary Weekley, Peyton Womble, and Braylynn White, Noe' Alvarez, Bobby Cook, Laci Cozort, Dominick Glenn, Ty Huffmaster, Matti Looney, Jacob Pennington, Callie Turner, Zoie West, Raeley White, and Brianna Williams. ...

Earl Kemper MALDEN, Mo. -- Earl Kemper, 97, of Tallapoosa, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, at Gideon Care Center in Gideon. Mr. Kemper was born Jan. 7, 1914, in Pollard, Ark. He was a retired farmer. On Aug. 10, 1955, he was married to Gertrude Little in Mississippi. She preceded him in death on Feb. 7, 1993...

Howard Fletcher CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Howard Fletcher, 71, of Campbell, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell. Mr. Fletcher was born May 24, 1940, in Dunklin County, Mo. His only survivors are a host of friends...

Mark Connell VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Mark L. Connell, 55, of Ellsinore, Mo., died Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, from injuries he received in a four-wheeling accident. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Monday in McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren, Mo. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Soul's Harbor Church with the Rev. Chuck Browning and the Rev. Ross Marshall officiating. Burial will be in Pine Lawn Cemetery...

Neelyville Elementary School has released the First Quarter "A" and "B" Honor Rolls. A Honor Roll Third Grade: Tyler Anderson, Makenzi Davis, Alexa Hill, Parker Jeffries, Payton Reinbott and Michael Light Fourth Grade: Jacob Abner, Noah Burton, Emily Dollins...

Jim and Jean Norris of Puxico, Mo., celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a renewal of their vows at 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Bloomfield Assembly of God, Bloomfield, Mo. Joining the celebration, which included eating together and sharing memories, were their family and friends...

Hope Michelle Allen and Tyler Joseph Hillis were united in marriage on Aug. 9, 2011 in Destin, Fla. Approximately 40 friends and family members attended the ceremony, which was held seaside at the Holiday Surf and Racquet Club. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clark E. Allen. The bridegroom is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Randal L. Hillis. They are all of Poplar Bluff, Mo...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- You've got your Mexican standoff, your Russian roulette, your Chinese water torture. And now, your Libyan crossfire. That's when a pistol is applied to the head and a bullet crosses from one temple to the other...

Greenville High School announces the First Quarter Honor Roll. Seniors Trevor Bennett, Austin Birmingham, Austin Crane, Ceann Clubb, Tim Coram, Troy Durrow, Morgan Edwards, Scott Foster, Chris Gallamore, Ariel Goebel, Anthony Hammon, Tim Hillis, Hannah Malone, Sarah Mann, Jessica McDonald, Nathan Middleton, Hunter Norden, Ashley Payne, Alyssa Reed, William Rodgers-Massey, Katie Rose, Shyanne Sandman, Ashleigh Smith, Noah Stotts, Danielle Stovall, Chelci Turner, Amanda Walk, Jessica West, Akayla White and Summer Willard.. ...