Stories from Thursday, December 1, 2011

Whether it is a new outfit, a fresh coat of paint or a complete redo, a makeover makes one look good and feel good. Looking good and feeling good is important to enticing customers and investors to Poplar Bluff's historic Downtown. Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Terms of two Poplar Bluff City Council members are expiring in April 2012. Both Ward 2 Councilman Ed DeGaris, who is currently serving as mayor, and Ward 4 Councilman Tracy Edington plan to seek re-election to three-year terms on April 3...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer In a county prone to tornadoes, Federal Emergency Management Agency shelters at East Carter R-II Schools and Van Buren Schools have served their purpose, school administrators say. The East Carter shelter in Ellsinore, Mo., has been used as a tornado shelter several times since it opened two years ago, according to Superintendent Daniel Slack...

Gene Stoker DEXTER, Mo. -- Lester "Gene" Stoker, 71, of Dexter, Mo., died Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Stoker was born on Dec. 26, 1939 in Bloomfield, Mo. Her worked for Brown Construction Company in Dexter for many years...

Three Rivers sophomore guard Abby Ivie walked the campus last year and every time she saw an athlete wearing team gear, it was a constant reminder of what she was missing. Ivie, who played basketball and volleyball for the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules throughout high school, attended Three Rivers last year solely as a student. However, Ivie missed the unity and purpose of being part of a team...

The first four letters of his last name will be the last four letters of the college he will attend next four years. Naylor senior baseball player Dalton Woodard recently signed his National Letter of Intent with Lindenwood University in St. Charles. The Lions are in the middle of transitioning from an NAIA program to NCAA Division II come next year...

Elbie Fonda set high goals for his 2011 season. The Caruthersville senior wanted to run for 3,000 yards and lead his team to a state championship. For a shot at one, however, he had to sacrifice the other. "We believed he could do it but as things progressed we wanted to take care of his body because we were hoping for 15 games," Caruthersville coach Nathan Morgan said. "He understood that and did exactly what was needed, without question."...

By BETSY HART Scripps Howard News Service Women and work. More magazine, a monthly for "women of style and substance" (read: over 40) weighed into that minefield recently, though perhaps a bit unwittingly. In its November feature "10 Great Careers for Women who want a Life," the piece by Virginia Sole-Smith looked at jobs -- pharmacist, web professional, physical therapist -- that can offer women work with flexibility. But it was the "sidebar" information that riveted me...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court faces a discomfiting decision. If it chooses, as it should, to hear a case concerning racial preferences in admissions at the University of Texas, the court will confront evidence of its complicity in harming the supposed beneficiaries of preferences the court has enabled and encouraged...

Road paving is forgotten Hi. I was calling about the new hospital that we are getting. I think that's just great. And, all the new shopping places we are going to have. I think that is just great, too. It will save trips to Cape Girardeau as far as I'm concerned. ...

On Friday, Dec. 16, the Genealogy Society of Butler County will kick-off its campaign for the publication of: Butler County Missouri: A Continuing History of Butler County Families from 1849-2012, Volume 3. The primary content of the book will be family history. ...

The Missouri Veterans Commission's six State Veterans Cemeteries will host Wreaths Across America, a holiday wreath-laying ceremony to honor and remember the nation's Veterans on Saturday, Dec. 10. The ceremony at the State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo. will begin at 11 a.m. The cemetery is located at 17357 Stars and Stripes Way...

Altha Sparkman Altha Mayberry Sparkman, 89, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011 at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Sparkman was born July 3, 1922 in Broseley, Mo. She was a member of First Church of God, was a former member of the Cane Creek Homemaker's Club and was a homemaker. ...

Robert Reitenback Robert Frank Reitenback, 70, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

Mike Jines MALDEN, Mo. -- Michael Dale Jines, 31, of Dexter, Mo., died Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. He was born Jan. 26, 1980, in Sikeston, Mo. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Risco, Mo. He was employed at Sandy Ridge Cotton Gin...

Farril Wells DEXTER, Mo. -- Farril D. Wells, 58, of Dudley, Mo., died Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, in the Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Wells was born on Nov. 19, 1953, in Vanduser, Mo. He worked most of his life as a dairy farmer and was of the Baptist faith...

Nora Mae Skaggs MALDEN, Mo. -- Nora Mae Skaggs, 109, of Malden, Mo., died Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, at the Golden Living Center in Malden. The daughter of James Michael Clancy and Alice Vincent Clancy, she was born April 26, 1902, in Jonesboro, Ark. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Malden and was a homemaker...

George Baker George Baker, 94, of Essex, Mo., died Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Helen Urich Helen Shirlene Urich, 74, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Nov. 30. 2011, at her residence. She was born Dec. 17, 1936, at Hermondale, Mo. She had lived most of her life in Butler County. She was a member of Fisk General Baptist Church and was a homemaker. She enjoyed fishing, getting on E-Bay and loved antiques...

By PHYLLIS FLANIGAN University of Missouri Extension How to cook a turkey the day before serving it It gets pretty hectic during the holidays and sometimes we just need to prepare foods before the big holiday meal. It's okay to roast your turkey one day before your meal if you follow safety precautions. You may want to use these directions if you know you will be using your oven for heating several dishes or you have a small oven that can't hold a turkey and other dishes...

Now that the firearms deer season's first part is over, it is a waiting game until the next portion begins. The muzzleloader portion of the season starts Dec. 17 and goes for 11 days, According to what I have heard the past week, there are plenty of deer left for seed and the later seasons. ...

By JOHN PRATT Mo. Dept. of Conservation Early in archery deer season I checked a deer hunter back in a remote area of national forest. The hunter was young and probably not that experienced. As we talked deer hunting, he began relating stories of deer using the Boone and Crockett score to describe deer that he had seen. He used the 140 score as a benchmark. Evidently, he has better success at seeing large bucks than I do...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Poplar Bluff Mules wrestling team opened its season Tuesday with a split in a dual match with Hillsboro and Cape Central. The Mules edged Central 48-36 before losing to Hillsboro 77-6. Poplar Bluff's only points against Hillsboro came in a forfeit but the Mules earned seven pins and to beat the Tigers, who got six pins and two forfeits...

Les Blalock MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Leslie Howard "Pappy" Blalock, 64, of Memphis, Tenn., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., went to be with the Lord on Monday, Nov. 28, 2011, after a brave battle with cancer. He was born Feb. 4, 1947, in Memphis. In 1967, he moved to Poplar Bluff, where he worked for CEMO Distributing and later operated Blalock Equipment Co. He returned to Memphis in 1983 and was vice president of Westenn Fixtures until his death. He was of the Methodist faith...

Elbie Fonda set high goals for his 2011 season. The Caruthersville senior wanted to run for 3,000 yards and lead his team to a state championship. For a shot at one, however, he had to sacrifice the other. "We believed he could do it but as things progressed we wanted to take care of his body because we were hoping for 15 games," Caruthersville coach Nathan Morgan said. "He understood that and did exactly what was needed, without question."...

Road paving is forgotten Hi. I was calling about the new hospital that we are getting. I think that's just great. And, all the new shopping places we are going to have. I think that is just great, too. It will save trips to Cape Girardeau as far as I'm concerned. ...

George Baker George Baker, 94, of Essex, Mo., died Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.