Stories from Tuesday, March 20, 2012

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A neighbor who objects to expected noise from a proposed auto detail shop at 919 N. Main St. is upset with the Poplar Bluff City Council for amending one of the nine stipulations to be attached to a conditional use permit...

DEXTER, Mo. -- A Union Pacific steam engine that made stops in Dexter and Poplar Bluff last year as part of a special tour will pass through Dexter on March 28, but it will not go to Poplar Bluff this time. Union Pacific's steam locomotive No. 844 is traveling from Cheyenne, Wyo., to Marion, Ark., pulling a special 150th anniversary Civil War troop train with nearly 300 Civil War historians from the Midwest on their journey to participate in the 150th anniversary Battle of Shiloh re-enactment...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor An ordinance authorizing Mayor Ed DeGaris to execute a historic preservation grant agreement with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources was approved by the Poplar Bluff City Council Monday night. Poplar Bluff will receive a $16,125 grant through the federal Historic Preservation Fund which is administered by the State Historic Preservation Office. The city will contribute $10,750...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Vanduser, Mo., man was charged Monday with kidnapping his pregnant girlfriend from a Stoddard County home and forcing her into a vehicle against her will. Charlie D. Reynolds, 34, was charged with the Class B felonies of kidnapping and first-degree burglary and the Class A misdemeanor of third-degree domestic assault by Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A convicted rapist is being held without bond in Stoddard County after being charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman he allegedly abducted from an Advance, Mo., bar over the weekend...

Charles Hawkins CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Charles Hawkins, 67, of Campbell, Mo., died Sunday, March 18, 2012, at his home. Funeral arrangements are pending with Landess Funeral Home of Campbell.

George Gentles PIEDMONT, Mo. -- George Oscar Gentles, 82, of Piedmont, Mo, died, Saturday, March 17, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be from 5-9 p.m. today at Ruegg Funeral Home Chapel of Piedmont. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. A full obituary will appear at a later date. Online condolences may be made at www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

Mavis Gray PUXICO, Mo. -- Mavis Gray, 78, of Puxico, Mo., died Sunday, March 18, 2012, at her home. Funeral arrangements are pending with Morgan Sifford Funeral Home of Puxico.

Mary Hinkle MALDEN, Mo. -- Mary Ann Hinkle, 46, of Gideon, Mo., died Sunday, March 18, 2012, at her home. Funeral arrangements are pending with Bradshaw Funeral Home of Malden, Mo.

Josh and Joanne Roberts of Jonesboro, Ark., have chosen the name Jillian Regina Roberts for their 7-pound, 15-ounce daughter who was born March 6, 2012, at St. Bernard's Hospital Birthcare Center in Jonesboro. Grandparents are Joe and Ann Huck of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Kimber and Ramona Roberts of Couch, Mo...

By REG HENRY Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Rick Santorum, the Republican presidential candidate whose recent popularity is the best evidence that much of America has gone raving mad, is not just against contraception. He also wants to make that plague of modern communications, the teleprompter, illegal...

By DAN K. THOMASSON Scripps Howard News Service WASHINGTON Following the old political adage that anything that happens on a president's watch, good or bad, belongs to him, Barack Obama has to treat rising gas prices as his responsibility. That's the case even though there is a complex maze of reasons beginning with greed and speculation for the rapidly increasing cost of driving a gasoline powered automobile, which, if it continues, could slow down what now seems like an improving economy. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN The original "Hollywood blacklist" dates back to 1947, when 10 members of the Communist Party, present or former, invoked the Fifth Amendment before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. The party was then a wholly owned subsidiary of the Comintern of Joseph Stalin, whose victims had surpassed in number those of Adolf Hitler...

Edna Jackson LESTERVILLE, Mo. -- Edna Mae Jackson, 77, of Centerville, Mo., died Saturday, March 17, 2012, at Iron County Hospital. Mrs. Jackson was born April 6, 1934, in Shirley, Mo. She attended Centerville First Baptist Church. She had cooked at and owned a restaurant. She enjoyed crocheting, reading, making quilts, riding four-wheelers with family, family dinners and spending time with grandchildren...

Jackie Pipkins FISK, Mo. -- Jackie Dale Pipkins, 63, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, March 18, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Pipkins was born Jan. 14, 1949, in Fisk, Mo. He had lived around Fisk and Poplar Bluff most of his life and was a member of the Westwood Baptist Church. He had served in the Army during the Vietnam War and had worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers until 1984. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his grandchildren...

Donald Wayne Jr. FISK, Mo. -- Donald Robert Wayne Jr., 40, of Fisk, Mo., died Saturday, March 17, 2012, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Wayne was born Aug. 26, 1971, in St. Petersburg, Fla. He had lived around Qulin and Fisk since 2001 and had formerly lived in Illinois. He served in the Navy and had worked for Hopkins Seed and Fertilizer in Qulin. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, hockey and spending time with family...

Route D work in 2 counties VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Route D in Carter and Reynolds counties will be reduced to one lane from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today through Friday as Missouri Department of Transportation crews partially overlay the roadway. Drivers are urged to use extreme caution...

Mavis Gray PUXICO, Mo. -- Mavis Jean Gray, 78, of Puxico, Mo., died Sunday, March 18, 2012, at her home. Ms. Gray was born Aug. 21, 1933, in Campbell, Mo. She attended Pleasant Valley Church. Retired, she had worked at Inland Shoe Factory. Survivors include two sons, Dale Gray of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Eugene Gray of Puxico, Mo.; and three sisters, Mary Hicks of Puxico, Jean Lambart of Dexter, Mo., and Opel Wilson of Festus, Mo...

HUTCHINSON, Kan. -- As for the chip on the Three Rivers Raiders' shoulders, they would just soon keep it on there heading into their games at the national tournament. "We are the underdogs, no one is expecting anything out of us," Three Rivers sophomore Rudy Harrell said. "We are going to prove everyone wrong and give it our hearts."  ...

GREENVILLE -- Bloomfield and Greenville have met pretty frequently over the last few years to start the season, but Monday's game may have been a little bit more impactful with the two programs on the rise. Both the Wildcats and the Bears had their seasons end last spring with one-run losses to Charleston, which placed fourth in Class 2. Each team was ready to get a leg up on their district competition...

Mable Hatchel Mable L. Hatchel, 95, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, March 19, 2012, at The Manor in Poplar Bluff. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- It's Lucy and the football, Iran-style. After ostensibly tough talk about preventing Iran from going nuclear, the Obama administration acquiesced to yet another round of talks with the mullahs. This, 14 months after the last group-of-six negotiations collapsed in Istanbul because of blatant Iranian stalling and unseriousness. ...

By BILL O'REILLY Writing in this space two months ago, I laid out the media advantage that President Obama has in his quest for re-election. According to a study done by the Pew Research Center, 32 percent of journalists say they are liberal, 53 percent moderate and just 8 percent conservative. Ask John McCain how the press treated him in 2008 if you want specifics on the tilt toward Obama...

By MONA CHAREN The Obama administration issues an edict regarding birth control that is 1) blatantly unconstitutional, 2) economically absurd, and 3) completely unmatched to any national need. What are they talking about? The "Republican war on women."...

Maybe Rush was right Maybe Rush Limbaugh had it right when he used the verbalization that raised such a stink here across America. That young woman, claiming that it cost her $3,000 for birth control over three years. Well, you know, her and her friends. ...

Open to public Variety show at the VA The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center announces that Re-Creation, the full performance singing and dancing group from Port Trevorton, Pa., will appear in the main lobby of the medical center at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The public is invited to attend and there is no admission charge...

Students earning spots on the Greenville Elementary Honor Roll for her third quarter include: 1st Grade: Talon Burkman, Riley Fraire, Andrew Ganime, James Hill, Makenzie Hill, Jeb Huff, Carter Irions, Kaydence Jaco, Jayci Joachim, Blake Morrison, Gabriel Pennington, James Barks, Graclyn Billingsley, Destiny Dewitt, Hope Fisher, Taylor Gallamore, Austen Henry, Mackenzie Luke, Mackenzie Marler, Jordan Middleton, Caitlin Paumen, Trevor Rogers, Mary Weekley, Peyton Womble, Laci Cozort, Rylee Elder, Dominick Glenn, Kaidyn Hersey, Kara Hillis, Ty Huffmaster, Matti Looney, Jacob Pennington, Callie Turner, Zoie West, Raeley White, and Brianna Williams. ...

Williamsville Elementary students earning places on the third quarter honor roll include: 1st Grade: Billy Bunyard, Colin Burkett, Ayden Hillis, Dawson Mcfadden, Miles Melvin, Alexis James, Serenity Porch, Hunter Russell, Madison Russell, Owen Scherr, Clay Steward, Lily Wood...

EMINENCE, Mo. -- Beginning Monday, March 19, through 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, the Alley Spring and Round Spring Campgrounds will be undergoing a paving project. For visitor safety, the venture requires the temporary closing of the campground. The paving job will restore existing paved roadway surfaces in the Alley Spring and Round Spring Campground areas. ...

Missouri Star Quilters planned a variety of activities at their March 8 meeting, which was called to order by President Teresa Rueck. The minutes were approved as published. Tess Butler gave the treasurer's report. Committee reports: Hospitality: Dori Caldwell, Dian Reno and Christy Turner volunteered to provide refreshments for the next meeting. A big thanks to First Midwest Bank for the pizza dinner...

The Poplar Bluff baseball team put the new scoreboard at Strenfel Memorial Field through a good test run Monday. The Mules broke open a tie game with six runs in the fifth to beat Farmington 10-3 in their season opener. "A lot of things we definitely need to work on but we're happy with how it went," said junior Josh King, who had three hits...

HARRISBURG, Ill. --The Three Rivers Lady Raiders aren't playing bad at all in the young season, but they just aren't getting timely hits. Three Rivers took the first game Monday afternoon against Southeastern Illinois 2-0 before coming up short 6-2 in the second...

CABOOL -- Senior Cody Rector opened up the season on a high note for the Van Buren Bulldogs at the Cabool Spring Classic against Thayer Monday afternoon. The returning all-state pitcher threw all seven innings and struck out 16 as the Bulldogs won 2-1...

Jerry Busby DEXTER, Mo. -- Melvin "Jerry" Busby, 66, of Bloomfield, Mo., died Sunday, March 18, 2012, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Busby was born Jan. 17, 1946, in Bunny, Ark. He retired after 33 years as a maintenance technician for Arvin Automotive, now known as Faurecia Emissions Technologies, in Dexter, Mo. ...

Donald Hosentfeld MALDEN, Mo. -- Donald Ray Hosentfeld, 61, of Malden, Mo., died Friday, March 16, 2012, in Malden Nursing and Rehab in Malden. Mr. Hosentfeld was born Sept. 4, 1950, at Advance, Mo. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. He was a former member of the VFW in Advance and was a retired farmer...

Joe Casinger NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Joe William "Hank" Casinger, 71, of Neelyville, Mo., died Sunday, March 18, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Casinger was born April 7, 1940, in Neelyville. He had attended Naylor Pentecostal Church and enjoyed hunting, fishing, working as an auto mechanic, and Cardinal baseball...

George Gentles PIEDMONT, Mo. -- George Oscar Gentles, 82, of Piedmont, Mo., died Saturday, March 17, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Gentles was born Aug. 14, 1929, in Mill Spring, Mo., where he was raised. He lived his entire life in Wayne County, Mo. ...

George Gentles PIEDMONT, Mo. -- George Oscar Gentles, 82, of Piedmont, Mo, died, Saturday, March 17, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be from 5-9 p.m. today at Ruegg Funeral Home Chapel of Piedmont. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. A full obituary will appear at a later date. Online condolences may be made at www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

Mavis Gray PUXICO, Mo. -- Mavis Gray, 78, of Puxico, Mo., died Sunday, March 18, 2012, at her home. Funeral arrangements are pending with Morgan Sifford Funeral Home of Puxico.

Mary Hinkle MALDEN, Mo. -- Mary Ann Hinkle, 46, of Gideon, Mo., died Sunday, March 18, 2012, at her home. Funeral arrangements are pending with Bradshaw Funeral Home of Malden, Mo.

Josh and Joanne Roberts of Jonesboro, Ark., have chosen the name Jillian Regina Roberts for their 7-pound, 15-ounce daughter who was born March 6, 2012, at St. Bernard's Hospital Birthcare Center in Jonesboro. Grandparents are Joe and Ann Huck of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Kimber and Ramona Roberts of Couch, Mo...

By REG HENRY Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Rick Santorum, the Republican presidential candidate whose recent popularity is the best evidence that much of America has gone raving mad, is not just against contraception. He also wants to make that plague of modern communications, the teleprompter, illegal...

By DAN K. THOMASSON Scripps Howard News Service WASHINGTON Following the old political adage that anything that happens on a president's watch, good or bad, belongs to him, Barack Obama has to treat rising gas prices as his responsibility. That's the case even though there is a complex maze of reasons beginning with greed and speculation for the rapidly increasing cost of driving a gasoline powered automobile, which, if it continues, could slow down what now seems like an improving economy. ...

Edna Jackson LESTERVILLE, Mo. -- Edna Mae Jackson, 77, of Centerville, Mo., died Saturday, March 17, 2012, at Iron County Hospital. Mrs. Jackson was born April 6, 1934, in Shirley, Mo. She attended Centerville First Baptist Church. She had cooked at and owned a restaurant. She enjoyed crocheting, reading, making quilts, riding four-wheelers with family, family dinners and spending time with grandchildren...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN The original "Hollywood blacklist" dates back to 1947, when 10 members of the Communist Party, present or former, invoked the Fifth Amendment before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. The party was then a wholly owned subsidiary of the Comintern of Joseph Stalin, whose victims had surpassed in number those of Adolf Hitler...