Stories from Monday, March 26, 2012

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Four candidates are seeking two three-year terms on the Poplar Bluff School Board. The incumbents, Hardy Billington and Mike Price, are being challenged by Robert Rowland and Kent Eyler. A public forum for the candidates will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Kay Porter Theatre at the high school...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Poplar Bluff High School students got to view some "out of this world" rocks in Richard Garver's science class Friday. Kenneth Renshaw, a NASA Solar System Ambassador from Piggott, Ark., came to the class to present moon rocks, meteorites and special manmade materials that make up NASA spacecraft...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man is in jail today charged with molesting an infant left in his care for a short time over the weekend. Lance Walter Hada, 20, of the 2500 block of West Avondale was charged with the Class B felony of first-degree child molestation by Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour. Hada's bond is $50,000...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A couple believed to be responsible for snatching the purses of two elderly women shopping inside the Walmart Supercenter last week was arrested Sunday. Jason A. Malone, 33, of Bulpitt, Ill., and Jill Durbin, 30, of Taylorville, Mo., were arrested at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Walmart Supercenter on suspicion of stealing...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man is in jail today charged with molesting an infant left in his care for a short time over the weekend. Lance Walter Hada, 20, of the 2500 block of West Avondale was charged with the Class B felony of first-degree child molestation by Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour. Hada's bond is $50,000...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A couple believed to be responsible for snatching the purses of two elderly women shopping inside the Walmart Supercenter last week was arrested Sunday. Jason A. Malone, 33, of Bulpitt, Ill., and Jill Durbin, 30, of Taylorville, Mo., were arrested at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Walmart Supercenter on suspicion of stealing...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Four candidates are seeking two three-year terms on the Poplar Bluff School Board in the April 3 election. The incumbents, Hardy Billington and Mike Price, are being challenged by Robert Rowland and Kent Eyler. A public forum for the candidates will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Kay Porter Theatre at the high school...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A couple believed to be responsible for snatching the purses of two elderly women shopping inside the Walmart Supercenter last week was arrested Sunday. Jason A. Malone, 33, of Bulpitt, Ill., and Jill Durbin, 30, of Taylorville, Mo., were arrested at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Walmart Supercenter on suspicion of stealing...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Poplar Bluff High School students got to view some "out of this world" rocks in Richard Garver's science class Friday. Kenneth Renshaw, a NASA Solar System Ambassador from Piggott, Ark., came to the class to present moon rocks, meteorites and special manmade materials that make up NASA spacecraft...

By NEELY TUCKER The Washington Post PRAGUE, Okla. -- Funerals, like weddings, can be messy family affairs. Not everything goes according to plan. Emotions run high. Even pleasant people can be tense. Few people who met Patsy Thorpe -- third and most difficult spouse of Jim Thorpe, that primordial American athlete -- accused her of being pleasant, in particular Thorpe's children from previous marriages...

Divide, conquer While our president does not have one of the greatest records in current time, much of his agenda is ill-taken by the people. He will probably be remembered best, like many great leaders of the past, that the one thing he was good at, and remember this, he has become very excellent at the maneuver called, "Divide and Conquer." Remember that come voting time because the division of our nation through his class warfare tactics will be remembered for generations due to the inordinate amount of debt he's run up on our nation. ...

Carr Vernon was in the hunt for the individual state title last spring at the MSHSAA Class 4 state championships but the Poplar Bluff golfer had something else on his mind. "On 17 before (Mike Wootten) made that putt (to win) he said 'how's the team?'" Poplar Bluff coach Billy Pyland recalled. "Another kid would have never said that to me...

Rogers Wilkison PHOTO PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Rogers E. Wilkison, 71, of Mill Spring, Mo., died Friday, March 23, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Wilkison was born Sept. 8, 1940, in Acorn Ridge, Mo. He attended a one room school in Acorn Ridge until the eighth grade. ...

Willodean Wheeler MALDEN, Mo. -- Willodean Wheeler, 85, of Malden, Mo., died Sunday, March 25, 2012, at NHC Healthcare in Kennett, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Bradshaw Funeral Home of Malden, Mo.

Mava Tharp CORNING, Ark. -- Mava Tharp, 90, of Corning, Ark., died Saturday, March 24, 2012, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould, Ark. Mrs. Tharp was born July 15, 1921, in Palatka, Ark. She was a homemaker. Mrs. Tharp enjoyed sewing, quilting and cooking. She was a member of the Church of Christ...

By REG HENRY Pittsburgh Post-Gazette For a change of scene, my column today will leave politicians to stew in their own juices and instead focus on criminals. Some cynics may wonder if there's any difference. To answer this objection, I can only say that while politicians are predictably the same, criminals are breaking new and surprising ground in their criminality...

By MONA CHAREN A recent weeknight found me among a group of about a dozen unhappy parents meeting with the principal of our kids' high school. The issue: An incompetent teacher who we had been promised would not be returning to the school had shown up unexpectedly, and an administrator had told the students that he might indeed be returning in September...

By GEORGE F. WILL In Retreat, Sears Set To Unload Stores -- The Wall Street Journal, Feb. 24 WASHINGTON -- Retreat need not mean surrender. Still ... In 1886, a shipment of $25 watches from a Chicago jeweler was rejected by the addressee in Redwood Falls, Minn. ...

Bonnie Curd PUXICO, Mo. -- Bonnie D. "Red" Curd, 82, of Rombauer, Mo., died Saturday, March 24, 2012, at the home of his daughter. Mr. Curd was born May 3, 1929, in Puxico, Mo., where he had lived previously. He attended Rombauer General Baptist Church. A veteran, he served in the U.S. Army. Mr. Curd retired from working as a painter. He enjoyed fishing and watching Western movies...

Casey Hicks recently won the 30th Annual George Strait Team Roping Classic in San Antonio, Texas. The event, a Super Bowl of Roping, was held at San Antonio Rose Palace, owned by George Strait and included 545 teams from all over the country. Casey Hicks and Jake Pinanlto won second place, each earning $40,700 and a saddle personally signed by George Strait...

Rosalie Zook Rosalie L. (Maples) Zook, 71, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, March 25, 2012, at her home. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

Frank Byer PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Frank "Butch" S. Byer, 68, of Piedmont, Mo., died Saturday, March 24, 2012. Funeral arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home of Piedmont.

NEOSHO -- The Three Rivers Lady Raiders couldn't get enough key hits Sunday afternoon. After losing the first game to Crowder 4-1, the Lady Raiders stranded 10 runners and lost 4-3 on a walk-off home run in the second to suffer the sweep. "They certainly were tough," Three Rivers coach Jack Childress said. "There are no moral victories but we did get run-ruled there last year...

The Butler County Genealogy Society met Thursday, Feb. 23 , at Twin Towers. President June Allen opened the meeting with 31 members and guests in attendance. Connie Warren's secretary's report was approved. Kathy Pierce's treasurer's report was approved...

Melissa Harper PHOTO DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Melissa McGhee Harper, 28, of Norton, Kan., died Thursday, March 22, 2012, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Neb. Mrs. Harper was born July 22, 1983, in Pensacola, Fla. She attended local schools and was a member of the Doniphan Senior High Class of 2001. ...

Mava Tharp CORNING, Ark. -- Mava Tharp, 90, of Corning, Ark., died Saturday, March 24, 2012, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould, Ark. Mrs. Tharp was born July 15, 1921, in Palatka, Ark. She was a homemaker. Mrs. Tharp enjoyed sewing, quilting and cooking. She was a member of the Church of Christ...

Rosalie Zook Rosalie L. (Maples) Zook, 71, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, March 25, 2012, at her home. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

Divide, conquer While our president does not have one of the greatest records in current time, much of his agenda is ill-taken by the people. He will probably be remembered best, like many great leaders of the past, that the one thing he was good at, and remember this, he has become very excellent at the maneuver called, "Divide and Conquer." Remember that come voting time because the division of our nation through his class warfare tactics will be remembered for generations due to the inordinate amount of debt he's run up on our nation. ...

By REG HENRY Pittsburgh Post-Gazette For a change of scene, my column today will leave politicians to stew in their own juices and instead focus on criminals. Some cynics may wonder if there's any difference. To answer this objection, I can only say that while politicians are predictably the same, criminals are breaking new and surprising ground in their criminality...

Carr Vernon was in the hunt for the individual state title last spring at the MSHSAA Class 4 state championships but the Poplar Bluff golfer had something else on his mind. "On 17 before (Mike Wootten) made that putt (to win) he said 'how's the team?'" Poplar Bluff coach Billy Pyland recalled. "Another kid would have never said that to me...

Casey Hicks recently won the 30th Annual George Strait Team Roping Classic in San Antonio, Texas. The event, a Super Bowl of Roping, was held at San Antonio Rose Palace, owned by George Strait and included 545 teams from all over the country. Casey Hicks and Jake Pinanlto won second place, each earning $40,700 and a saddle personally signed by George Strait...

Frank Byer PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Frank "Butch" S. Byer, 68, of Piedmont, Mo., died Saturday, March 24, 2012. Funeral arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home of Piedmont.

Rogers Wilkison PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Rogers E. Wilkison, 71, of Mill Spring, Mo., died Friday, March 23, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Wilkison was born Sept. 8, 1940, in Acorn Ridge, Mo. He attended a one room school in Acorn Ridge until the eighth grade. ...

Bonnie Curd PUXICO, Mo. -- Bonnie D. "Red" Curd, 82, of Rombauer, Mo., died Saturday, March 24, 2012, at the home of his daughter. Mr. Curd was born May 3, 1929, in Puxico, Mo., where he had lived previously. He attended Rombauer General Baptist Church. A veteran, he served in the U.S. Army. Mr. Curd retired from working as a painter. He enjoyed fishing and watching Western movies...

Willodean Wheeler MALDEN, Mo. -- Willodean Wheeler, 85, of Malden, Mo., died Sunday, March 25, 2012, at NHC Healthcare in Kennett, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Bradshaw Funeral Home of Malden, Mo.

Melissa Harper DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Melissa McGhee Harper, 28, of Norton, Kan., died Thursday, March 22, 2012, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Neb. Mrs. Harper was born July 22, 1983, in Pensacola, Fla. She attended local schools and was a member of the Doniphan Senior High Class of 2001. ...

Mava Tharp CORNING, Ark. -- Mava Tharp, 90, of Corning, Ark., died Saturday, March 24, 2012, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould, Ark. Mrs. Tharp was born July 15, 1921, in Palatka, Ark. She was a homemaker. Mrs. Tharp enjoyed sewing, quilting and cooking. She was a member of the Church of Christ...

Rosalie Zook Rosalie L. (Maples) Zook, 71, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, March 25, 2012, at her home. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

By REG HENRY Pittsburgh Post-Gazette For a change of scene, my column today will leave politicians to stew in their own juices and instead focus on criminals. Some cynics may wonder if there's any difference. To answer this objection, I can only say that while politicians are predictably the same, criminals are breaking new and surprising ground in their criminality...