Stories from Friday, March 9, 2012

By SCOTT MOYERS and ERIN RAGAN SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Secret Service agents are in town early to ensure his safety. Forty extra tables have been set up in the newly decorated conference hall to accommodate the 700 or so attendees who will dine on chicken, beef or pasta before he makes his remarks. And the airport hangar where he will speak afterward is being readied for the hundreds expected to cheer his arrival...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer PUXICO, Mo. -- Mingo Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center near Puxico, Mo., was rated the number one U.S. Forest Service-operated job corps center in the country for 2011, and 16th out of all job corps centers nationwide...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor The wanderlust for travel Lena Schultz of Germany inherited from her father led her to Poplar Bluff, Mo., where she is attending high school and living with local business owner Beverly Lady. When Schultz's dad was about 20, he traveled to the United States, Australia and Asia. Wanting to follow in his footsteps, Schultz grabbed the opportunity to become an exchange student...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Wappapello Lake was dropped this week to 353.74 feet, within one-third of a foot of its lowest recorded levels, to allow inspectors with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers access to areas of the gatehouse structure which are normally under water...

By SCOTT MOYERS and ERIN RAGAN SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Secret Service agents are in town early to ensure his safety. Forty extra tables have been set up in the newly decorated conference hall to accommodate the 700 or so attendees who will dine on chicken, beef or pasta before he makes his remarks. And the airport hangar where he will speak afterward is being readied for the hundreds expected to cheer his arrival...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor The wanderlust for travel Lena Schultz of Germany inherited from her father led her to Poplar Bluff, Mo., where she is attending high school and living with local business owner Beverly Lady. When Schultz's dad was about 20, he traveled to the United States, Australia and Asia. Wanting to follow in his footsteps, Schultz grabbed the opportunity to become an exchange student...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer PUXICO, Mo. -- Mingo Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center near Puxico, Mo., was rated the number one U.S. Forest Service-operated job corps center in the country for 2011, and 16th out of all job corps centers nationwide...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- When Communists and sympathizers made excuses for Stalin's terror, they said, "You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs." To which George Orwell responded, "Where's the omelet?" The Post, dismayed about super PACs, reports "a rarefied group of millionaires and billionaires acting as kingmakers in the GOP contest, often helping to decide, with a simple transfer of money, which candidate might survive another day." Kingmakers? Where's the king?...

Grandma's Attic and Tasting Bee will be held from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, March 17, in the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church, 500 N. Main St. This is an opportunity to purchase "treasures" from Grandma's Attic, which were donated for this once-a-year sale and to taste this year's delicious "Taste of Ireland" recipes.A recipe book for $5 will also be available...

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital announced the kickoff of the 2012 Math-A-Thon at Qulin Elementary and Middle School in Qulin, Missouri. Math-A-Thon is an educationally based fundraising program is which students obtain sponsors for the number of math problems completed on the internet or workbooks provided for the students in grades K-8th...

Lake Road Elementary School announces the March Students of the Month. 1st Grade: Ethan Webster represents the first grade. Ethan is the 7-year-old son of Valorie Webster and Joseph Webster. He is in Ms. Hager's class. Ethan's favorite class at school is computer lab because you get to play games. ...

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is conducting special enforcement operations this month targeting drunk drivers and hazardous moving vehicles. Sometime during the month, a sobriety checkpoint will be in Butler County, and saturations will be in Butler, Cape Girardeau, Scott, Stoddard, Dunklin, Pemiscot, and New Madrid counties...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "I wish to express my deep regret for the reported incident. ... I extend to you and the Afghan people my sincere apologies." As President Obama sent this letter of apology to Hamid Karzai for the burning by U.S. troops of Qurans that were used to smuggle notes between Afghan prisoners, two U.S. soldiers were murdered in reprisal...

Last week, Missouri towns and communities were once again struck by devastating storms and tornadoes. Three deaths were reported across the state including one in neighboring Puxico. The severe weather system swept across southern Missouri causing widespread damage. Northern Cape Girardeau County suffered fairly extensive tornado damage with nearly 500 homes impacted...

To the Editor, The 33rd Reunion of the Wappapello School this year will be held on Saturday, Aug. 18, at the "Old Wappapello School House," which is currently the Wappapello Civic Center. The time will be from 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The meat will be provided so please bring a covered dish and/or dessert. Lunch starts at 11:30 a.m. Please notify all relatives and friends!!!...

Mary Lou Bates ELLINGTON, Mo. -- Mary Lou Bates, 91, of Glendale, Ariz., died Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at Hospice Family Care in Glendale. She was born Aug. 14, 1920, in Redford, Mo. She had lived in Glendale since 1990 and was a member of the Christian Church...

George Wilcox PIEDMONT, Mo. -- George Thomas Wilcox, age 62, formerly of the Eminence, Mo., area, died Monday, March 5, 2012, at his residence in Winona, Mo. Mr. Wilcox was born Dec. 24, 1949, in Patterson, Mo. He was of the Baptist faith and was baptized in 1960 by Bertha Russell in Eminence. He was employed as a logger in the timber industry and particularly enjoyed cutting pine poles. He also worked as a service station attendant...

Oliver Ringer ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Oliver John Ringer, 92, of Gibson, Tenn., died Wednesday, March 7, 2012, in Gibson. The son of the late John Regnier and Nora Mae (Roark) Kearbey and Jasper Richard Kearbey, who raised him, he was born Oct. 22, 1919, in St. Louis, Mo...

The Friends of Rombauer Cemetery are planning a workday spring clean-up beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 24. Rain date will be Saturday, March 31. For information, call 573.718.2965.

The Pike Creek Common Sewer District will have a board meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the district office. Agenda items include system performance report, audit review and the Phase III project.

PUXICO -- The Poplar Bluff Junior High volleyball teams earned a sweep of Puxico on Thursday night. The eighth-grade Lady Mules won 25-21, 25-13 while Poplar Bluff won the seventh-grade game 25-15, 25-15. Megan Knuckles, Destiny Wallace, Emilie Burkhead and Taylor Worley each recorded two kills for the eighth-grade Mules (4-1-1). Worley and Madi Gilmore each had four aces as Poplar Bluff had 13 total while Haylee Dragon had four assists...

George Wilcox -- Winona, Mo. Elsie Burge -- Puxico, Mo. Oliver Ringer -- Gibson, Tenn. Amelda Pennington -- Harviell, Mo. Mary Lou Bates -- Glendale, Ariz.

Amelda Pennington Amelda Ruth (Helvey) Pennington, 91, of Harviell, Mo., died Thursday, March 8, 1912, at her residence near Harviell. Mrs. Pennington was born March 29, 1920, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was a member of Fagus General Baptist Church and a homemaker. She enjoyed gardening, raising flowers and quilting...

Elsie Burge PUXICO, Mo. -- Elsie Burge, 96, of Puxico, Mo., died Monday, March 5, 2012, at her home. The daughter of the late Lee and Jenny Oler Harris, she was born in White Oak, Mo., on Sept. 23, 1915. Mrs. Burge moved to Puxico as a young girl and remained there throughout her life as a pillar of her community. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Puxico and the Christian Women's Fellowship. She was a former member of the Business and Professional Women organization...

Linda Morgan, leader, convened the TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) MO 734 meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Attending were 23 TOPS and five KOPS members. The secretary's and treasurer's reports were read by Lou Ann Wrather and Pam Kane, respectively, and both were approved...

Grandma's Attic and Tasting Bee will be held from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, March 17, in the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church, 500 N. Main St. This is an opportunity to purchase "treasures" from Grandma's Attic, which were donated for this once-a-year sale and to taste this year's delicious "Taste of Ireland" recipes.A recipe book for $5 will also be available...

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital announced the kickoff of the 2012 Math-A-Thon at Qulin Elementary and Middle School in Qulin, Missouri. Math-A-Thon is an educationally based fundraising program is which students obtain sponsors for the number of math problems completed on the internet or workbooks provided for the students in grades K-8th...

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is conducting special enforcement operations this month targeting drunk drivers and hazardous moving vehicles. Sometime during the month, a sobriety checkpoint will be in Butler County, and saturations will be in Butler, Cape Girardeau, Scott, Stoddard, Dunklin, Pemiscot, and New Madrid counties...

Last week, Missouri towns and communities were once again struck by devastating storms and tornadoes. Three deaths were reported across the state including one in neighboring Puxico. The severe weather system swept across southern Missouri causing widespread damage. Northern Cape Girardeau County suffered fairly extensive tornado damage with nearly 500 homes impacted...

Oliver Ringer ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Oliver John Ringer, 92, of Gibson, Tenn., died Wednesday, March 7, 2012, in Gibson. The son of the late John Regnier and Nora Mae (Roark) Kearbey and Jasper Richard Kearbey, who raised him, he was born Oct. 22, 1919, in St. Louis, Mo...

The Pike Creek Common Sewer District will have a board meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the district office. Agenda items include system performance report, audit review and the Phase III project.

PUXICO -- The Poplar Bluff Junior High volleyball teams earned a sweep of Puxico on Thursday night. The eighth-grade Lady Mules won 25-21, 25-13 while Poplar Bluff won the seventh-grade game 25-15, 25-15. Megan Knuckles, Destiny Wallace, Emilie Burkhead and Taylor Worley each recorded two kills for the eighth-grade Mules (4-1-1). Worley and Madi Gilmore each had four aces as Poplar Bluff had 13 total while Haylee Dragon had four assists...

George Wilcox -- Winona, Mo. Elsie Burge -- Puxico, Mo. Oliver Ringer -- Gibson, Tenn. Amelda Pennington -- Harviell, Mo. Mary Lou Bates -- Glendale, Ariz.

Elsie Burge PUXICO, Mo. -- Elsie Burge, 96, of Puxico, Mo., died Monday, March 5, 2012, at her home. The daughter of the late Lee and Jenny Oler Harris, she was born in White Oak, Mo., on Sept. 23, 1915. Mrs. Burge moved to Puxico as a young girl and remained there throughout her life as a pillar of her community. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Puxico and the Christian Women's Fellowship. She was a former member of the Business and Professional Women organization...

Amelda Pennington Amelda Ruth (Helvey) Pennington, 91, of Harviell, Mo., died Thursday, March 8, 1912, at her residence near Harviell. Mrs. Pennington was born March 29, 1920, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was a member of Fagus General Baptist Church and a homemaker. She enjoyed gardening, raising flowers and quilting...