Stories from Wednesday, February 22, 2012

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer The Seventh Annual Mason Dixon Chili Society Chili Cook Off begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Black River Coliseum, with 32 teams battling to become the chili champs of Poplar Bluff. Proceeds from the event benefit the United Gospel Rescue Mission. The free event runs through 2 p.m., with judging to follow...

By PATRICK T. SULLIVAN SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Three people accused in the October counterfeiting ring that struck a handful of Southeast Missouri businesses changed their pleas to guilty Tuesday. Darius Robinson of Huntsville, Ala., Jessica Gross and Brynet Trice, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo., pleaded guilty to charges linked to the ring, including manufacturing and using phony bills at retail stores in Cape Girardeau, Dexter, Poplar Bluff and Sikeston...

By CHRIS BLANK The Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri lawmakers took an initial step Tuesday toward rejecting a proposal that would lead to higher property taxes for the state's highest-producing farms. Property taxes for Missouri farms are based on the land's "productive value." The State Tax Commission voted in December to increase the productive values for higher quality land for the 2013 and 2014 tax years. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man came to the door Tuesday afternoon holding what was alleged to be an active shake-and-bake methamphetamine lab just moments before officers prepared to forcibly enter a Cypress Street home...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The design work for expanding Oak Grove Road to five lanes between the new interchange at Bypass 67 and Westwood Boulevard is nearly completed, according to Dominic Thompson, an engineer with Smith & Company of Poplar Bluff, Mo...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A rail spur joint use agreement for the existing rail spur in the industrial park was approved by the Poplar Bluff City Council Tuesday night. "We upgraded the city owned rail spur a year ago, but there was no mechanism to continue maintenance," City Manager Doug Bagby said...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The next steps leading to construction of the Bypass 67/Oak Grove Road interchange and expansion of the Westwood/Oak Grove/Katy Lane intersection were taken by the Poplar Bluff City Council Tuesday night. A direct loan agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and the Missouri Transportation Finance Corporation and a promissory note payable to the MTFC were approved on 7-0 votes...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer The Seventh Annual Mason Dixon Chili Society Chili Cook Off begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Black River Coliseum, with 32 teams battling to become the chili champs of Poplar Bluff. Proceeds from the event benefit the United Gospel Rescue Mission. The free event runs through 2 p.m., with judging to follow...

By PATRICK T. SULLIVAN SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Three people accused in the October counterfeiting ring that struck a handful of Southeast Missouri businesses changed their pleas to guilty Tuesday. Darius Robinson of Huntsville, Ala., Jessica Gross and Brynet Trice, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo., pleaded guilty to charges linked to the ring, including manufacturing and using phony bills at retail stores in Cape Girardeau, Dexter, Poplar Bluff and Sikeston...

By CHRIS BLANK The Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri lawmakers took an initial step Tuesday toward rejecting a proposal that would lead to higher property taxes for the state's highest-producing farms. Property taxes for Missouri farms are based on the land's "productive value." The State Tax Commission voted in December to increase the productive values for higher quality land for the 2013 and 2014 tax years. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The design work for expanding Oak Grove Road to five lanes between the new interchange at Bypass 67 and Westwood Boulevard is nearly completed, according to Dominic Thompson, an engineer with Smith & Company of Poplar Bluff, Mo...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man came to the door Tuesday afternoon holding what was alleged to be an active shake-and-bake methamphetamine lab just moments before officers prepared to forcibly enter a Cypress Street home...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A rail spur joint use agreement for the existing rail spur in the industrial park was approved by the Poplar Bluff City Council Tuesday night. "We upgraded the city owned rail spur a year ago, but there was no mechanism to continue maintenance," City Manager Doug Bagby said...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The next steps leading to construction of the Bypass 67/Oak Grove Road interchange and expansion of the Westwood/Oak Grove/Katy Lane intersection were taken by the Poplar Bluff City Council Tuesday night. A direct loan agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and the Missouri Transportation Finance Corporation and a promissory note payable to the MTFC were approved on 7-0 votes...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- Give him points for cleverness. President Obama's birth control "accommodation" was as politically successful as it was morally meaningless. It was nothing but an accounting trick that still forces Catholic (and other religious) institutions to provide medical insurance that guarantees free birth control, tubal ligation and morning-after abortifacients -- all of which violate church doctrine on the sanctity of life...

The Poplar Bluff Cemetery Department will begin its annual cleanup of City Cemetery on Monday, March 5. All Christmas flowers, other flowers and personal grave ornaments will be picked up. Anyone wishing to save floral arrangements or personal ornaments must pick them up before March 5...

Glad Strenfel didn't budge I know this won't be printed, but here we go anyway. I'm glad to see that Ed Strenfel did not bow down to the DAR. They just can't do him the way they did Sam Gilmore. Ed Strenfel is a good man and he would make a good sheriff. He would not do anything that he thinks is wrong. So, if you'd like to print this, print it. The DAR does some bad stuff. Thank you...

The city of Poplar Bluff was honored by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Missouri (ACEC/MO) at its winter meeting in Chesterfield, Mo. The 2012 Missouri Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) Award was presented to Poplar Bluff and accepted by City Manager Doug Bagby. This award recognizes public agencies that effectively use and promote QBS methods to procure the professional services of consulting engineers at the state and local level...

Esther Frazier GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Esther M. Frazier, 83, of Greenville, Mo., died on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012. Funeral arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral of Home of Greenville.

Jessie Cole DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Jessie Cole, 70, of Doniphan, Mo., died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Ms. Cole was born Jan. 12, 1942, in Hot Springs, Ark. She was a homemaker. Surviving are two sons, Bill Townsend of Ft. Myers, Fla., and Bryan Townsend...

Harold Bradfield Jr. DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Harold David Bradfield Jr., 56, of Doniphan, Mo., died Friday, Feb. 17, 2012, at Ripley County Memorial Hospital in Doniphan. Mr. Bradfield was born July 2, 1955, in Gideon, Mo. He was a veteran of the U. S. Air Force and had worked at Emerson Electric at Kennett, Mo. Mr. Bradfield enjoyed painting and fishing...

JACKSON -- A 10-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter had vanished but the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules rebounded just in time Tuesday night. Danielle Farmer's 3 broke a tie with 2:18 left and Sara Eyler provided two key free throws in the closing seconds as the Lady Mules edged Cape Central 48-45 in the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 semifinal...

PIEDMONT -- The future of the Ozark Foothills Conference was on full display Tuesday night and they didn't disappoint. Freshmen were key down the stretch for both Naylor and Clearwater but the Lady Eagles came away victorious. With 1.3 seconds left to play, Naylor freshman Shayna Tharp buried a 3-pointer from the left wing off a feed from fellow freshman Brookyln Urich to win 51-49 over a Clearwater team that has been on fire lately...

Cal Ivy MALDEN, Mo. -- Cal J. Ivy, 61, of Malden, Mo., died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, at Missouri Southern Healthcare at Dexter, Mo. Mr. Ivy was born March 26, 1950, in Memphis, Tenn. He served in the U.S. Navy. On Dec. 18, 2008, he married Gloria Dean Smoot at Malden, and she survives...

Irene Duke Irene Pearl Duke, 79, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Duke was born July 24, 1932, in Wickliffe, Ky. She lived most of her life in Butler County, Mo., and was of the Pentecostal faith...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Margaret Blue of Holcomb, Mo. died Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, at her son's residence in Dyersburg, Tenn. Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden will be in charge of arrangements.

Vivadean Adams PUXICO, Mo.-- Vivadean Adams, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at The Cedargate in Poplar Bluff. She was born April 19, 1928, near Wappapello, Mo., and formerly lived in Gideon, Mo. She was a member of Kimbel Baptist Church. Her hobbies included shopping and crocheting...

HOLCOMB -- Bernie used solid defense in the fourth quarter to get a comeback win over recent Tri-County champs Holcomb 56-48 Tuesday night. The Mules held the Hornets to just nine points in the final frame while scoring 18 of their own to win by eight...

Cal Ivy -- Malden, Mo. Irene Duke -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mildred Jenkins -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Harold Bradfield Jr. -- Doniphan, Mo. Jessie Cole -- Doniphan, Mo. Judy Wolgast -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Estella Warfield -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Esther Frazier -- Greenville, Mo...

Esther Frazier GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Esther M. Frazier, 83, of Greenville, Mo., died on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012. Funeral arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral of Home of Greenville.

Glad Strenfel didn't budge I know this won't be printed, but here we go anyway. I'm glad to see that Ed Strenfel did not bow down to the DAR. They just can't do him the way they did Sam Gilmore. Ed Strenfel is a good man and he would make a good sheriff. He would not do anything that he thinks is wrong. So, if you'd like to print this, print it. The DAR does some bad stuff. Thank you...

The Poplar Bluff Cemetery Department will begin its annual cleanup of City Cemetery on Monday, March 5. All Christmas flowers, other flowers and personal grave ornaments will be picked up. Anyone wishing to save floral arrangements or personal ornaments must pick them up before March 5...

The city of Poplar Bluff was honored by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Missouri (ACEC/MO) at its winter meeting in Chesterfield, Mo. The 2012 Missouri Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) Award was presented to Poplar Bluff and accepted by City Manager Doug Bagby. This award recognizes public agencies that effectively use and promote QBS methods to procure the professional services of consulting engineers at the state and local level...

Jessie Cole DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Jessie Cole, 70, of Doniphan, Mo., died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Ms. Cole was born Jan. 12, 1942, in Hot Springs, Ark. She was a homemaker. Surviving are two sons, Bill Townsend of Ft. Myers, Fla., and Bryan Townsend...

Cal Ivy MALDEN, Mo. -- Cal J. Ivy, 61, of Malden, Mo., died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, at Missouri Southern Healthcare at Dexter, Mo. Mr. Ivy was born March 26, 1950, in Memphis, Tenn. He served in the U.S. Navy. On Dec. 18, 2008, he married Gloria Dean Smoot at Malden, and she survives...

Harold Bradfield Jr. DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Harold David Bradfield Jr., 56, of Doniphan, Mo., died Friday, Feb. 17, 2012, at Ripley County Memorial Hospital in Doniphan. Mr. Bradfield was born July 2, 1955, in Gideon, Mo. He was a veteran of the U. S. Air Force and had worked at Emerson Electric at Kennett, Mo. Mr. Bradfield enjoyed painting and fishing...

PIEDMONT -- The future of the Ozark Foothills Conference was on full display Tuesday night and they didn't disappoint. Freshmen were key down the stretch for both Naylor and Clearwater but the Lady Eagles came away victorious. With 1.3 seconds left to play, Naylor freshman Shayna Tharp buried a 3-pointer from the left wing off a feed from fellow freshman Brookyln Urich to win 51-49 over a Clearwater team that has been on fire lately...

Vivadean Adams PUXICO, Mo.-- Vivadean Adams, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at The Cedargate in Poplar Bluff. She was born April 19, 1928, near Wappapello, Mo., and formerly lived in Gideon, Mo. She was a member of Kimbel Baptist Church. Her hobbies included shopping and crocheting...

JACKSON -- A 10-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter had vanished but the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules rebounded just in time Tuesday night. Danielle Farmer's 3 broke a tie with 2:18 left and Sara Eyler provided two key free throws in the closing seconds as the Lady Mules edged Cape Central 48-45 in the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 semifinal...