Stories from Thursday, April 5, 2012

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Carter County with 19.8 percent had the highest voter turnout in Tuesday's election among seven area counties, according to figures from the county clerks. The next three counties were Reynolds with 18.7 percent, Wayne with 17.9 percent and Butler with 18.5 percent. The lowest three counties were Dunklin with 15.6 percent, Ripley with 11 percent and Stoddard, only 8.4 percent...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded a $5,566,006 contract to R. L. Persons Construction of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Wednesday for the first phase of the Oak Grove Road interchange in Poplar Bluff. The interchange will provide full access between Bypass U.S. 67 and Oak Grove Road...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Two motions to limit testimony during a jury trial on the city's counterclaim to collect bills from Brian Becker were denied by Carter County Judge James Ligons Wednesday. He asked City Attorney Wally Duncan and attorney Paul Kidwell, who represents Becker, to set multiple trial dates behind other scheduled jury trials so the counterclaim could be heard if the other cases do not go to trial...

By JIM SALTER The Associated Press ST. LOUIS -- A year after a Missouri sheriff was arrested in a methamphetamine sting, his court case remains on hold. Carter County Sheriff Tommy Adams was arrested April 2, 2011, accused of distributing meth to a confidential informant working with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. A probable-cause statement said Adams, now 32, snorted meth in front of the informant. Adams was also accused of distributing cocaine...

By JIM SALTER The Associated Press ST. LOUIS -- A year after a Missouri sheriff was arrested in a methamphetamine sting, his court case remains on hold. Carter County Sheriff Tommy Adams was arrested April 2, 2011, accused of distributing meth to a confidential informant working with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. A probable-cause statement said Adams, now 32, snorted meth in front of the informant. Adams was also accused of distributing cocaine...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Carter County with 19.8 percent had the highest voter turnout in Tuesday's election among seven area counties, according to figures from the county clerks. The next three counties were Reynolds with 18.7 percent, Wayne with 17.9 percent and Butler with 18.5 percent. The lowest three counties were Dunklin with 15.6 percent, Ripley with 11 percent and Stoddard, only 8.4 percent...

One of the first veggies to plant this spring is lettuce. This is a really old vegetable. People have grown lettuce since 4500 BC. It was first used to cure insomnia and nervous excitement. It was even used as a cough remedy. Today, everyone just thinks of lettuce as the main ingredient in their salad. Actually there are about 100 varieties of lettuce including head lettuce, butterhead lettuce, leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, and celtuce...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN With the shooting death of Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood watch volunteer who was legally carrying a 9-millimeter handgun, the familiar wail has arisen from our cultural and media elite: America has too many guns! "Open carry" and "concealed carry" laws should be repealed...

To the Editor, Eugene Field Elementary PTO would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for pulling together and helping us have an awesome Chili Supper and Silent Auction on Thursday, March 8th! Without the help and support of many local businesses, volunteers, and our most gracious community, we would not have been able to finally purchase a new curtain for our stage. ...

Sappington letter right on Hello. I'm calling concerning Mr. Sappington's letter in Thursday's "Daily American Republic." I am a resident of Sheehy Mobile Home Park and I agree 100 percent with his letter. Some of my neighbors are in their 80s and 90s and this mess has caused several health issues. We have been misled by the developer for over three years and would appreciate some straight talk. Thank you...

To the Editor: I would like to take this time to thank all of the participants who sang or played the National Anthem at the Raiders and the Lady Raiders games this season. Because of you we always had live music which, in my opinion, adds to the honor of this particular song, our National Anthem. Your time and willingness to give of your talent is very much appreciated by all who were fortunate enough to have heard you...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS Public misunderstanding, ignorance and possibly contempt for liberty play into the hands of people who want to control our lives. Responses to my recent column "Compliant Americans" brought this home to me. In it, I argued that the anti-tobacco movement became the template and inspiration for other forms of government intrusion, such as bans on restaurants serving foie gras, McDonald's giving Happy Meals with toys, and confiscating a child's home-prepared lunch because it didn't meet Department of Agriculture guidelines. ...

Bobby Watkins NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Bobby Joe Watkins, 69, of Oxly, Mo., died Tuesday, April 3, 2012, at Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. Mr. Watkins was born Jan. 13 1943, in Dyer County, Tenn. He enjoyed working on old cars. He was an owner operator of a grocery store in Oxly...

PATTERSON, Mo. -- Discover spring wildflowers and learn about edible plants on guided hikes this spring at Sam A. Baker State Park near Patterson, Mo. Take a wildflower hike on April 14 or a wild edibles hike on May 19. Sponsored by Missouri State Parks, both hikes are free and open to the public. Both will begin at 10 a.m...

With no hunting activity to report on, the one thing I will give information about is the tick situation. In my neighborhood, they have taken over the area. Last night, after working outside most of the day, my wife and I de-ticked each other, and not counting the ones picked off and dispatched outside, we found more than 30 either crawling or dug in on our bodies...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Missouri's youngest turkey hunters shattered a youth season harvest record when they killed 4,319 birds over the weekend. The previous record was set in 2010, when youths harvested 3,945 turkeys during the two-day season...

Donnis Ray GIDEON, Mo. -- Donnis Gene Ray, 59, of Gideon, Mo., died Tuesday, April 3, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Ray was born Sept. 5, 1952, in Bragg City, Mo. He had retired as a truck driver. On Jan. 23, 1990, he was married to Delinda Lewis in Malden, Mo. She survives of the home...

By JOHN PRATT Mo. Dept. of Conservation This is an unusual spring because of the warm weather. The vegetation is about one month ahead of schedule. The spring firearms turkey season begins on April 16. Turkey hunters will be dealing with full foliage for the beginning of season. This changes hunting techniques and also makes hunting more dangerous. It is definitely harder to see other hunters, so today I want to cover some tips to help turkey hunters to be safe...

Fisk Middle School has chosen two students as Students of the Month for April. Seventh grader Christopher Brown, son of Jeanette Burpo and the late Jeff Brown, lives in Broseley with his mother and stepfather. Christopher is a cheerful student who always gives his best effort. ...

Elmer Willcut Jr. NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Elmer Willcut Jr., 82, of Aurora, Mo., died Tuesday, April 3, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Willcut was born June 21, 1929, in Kennett, Mo. He attended Verona Christian Fellowship Church in Verona, Mo., and was a veteran of the U.S. Army...

Betty Doerschlen BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Betty Jane Doerschlen, 83, of Dexter, Mo., died Saturday, March 31,2012, at her home. On April 11, 1955, she was married to Eddy J. Doerschlen in Lordsburg, N.M. She accompanied her husband on assignments in the Air Force to England, Okinawa, and various places on stateside assignments. They have lived in Dexter for the last 31 years...

Charles Bryan Charles Leon Bryan, 82, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, March 31, 2012, at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Bryan was born March 23, 1930, in Broseley, Mo. He was a member of The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, and had previously worked on the railroad and later in a factory. Mr. Bryan enjoyed spending time with his family, and during his younger years enjoyed riding horses and motorcycles...

VAN BUREN -- Priscilla Cipponeri had two hits and scored a run along with getting an RBI as Van Buren knocked off East Carter on Wednesday, 8-0. Gavy Cipponeri had two hits and three RBIs while Breanna Towner had two hits and Brittany Hager finished with two steals...

Mrs. Bennie Cannon MALDEN, Mo. -- Mrs. Bennie Lee Cannon, 86, of Parma, Mo., died Sunday, April 1, 2012, at Golden Living Center in New Madrid, Mo. Mrs. Cannon was born April 10, 1925, in Rose Bud, Ark. She was a member of House of Prayer COGIC in Parma...

Thelma Boatwright PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Thelma R. Boatwright, 90, of Piedmont, Mo., died Monday, April 2, 2012, at her daughter's residence. She was born May 9, 1921, to the late Edgar Lewis and to the late Macy (Charlton) Lewis, at Vulcan, Mo. She spent her childhood in Vulcan and attended school there. Mrs. Boatwright was of the Baptist Faith and believed in Jesus Christ. She was a member of Peach Tree Baptist Church...

Kenneth Honeycutt DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Kenneth Honeycutt, 73, a lifetime resident of Doniphan, Mo., died Tuesday, April 3, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Honeycutt was born March 3, 1939, in Doniphan to C.O. and Madeline (Niswonger) Honeycutt. He had been a used car dealer for several years...

Inez Webb VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Inez Irene Webb, 85, of Fenton, Mo., died Monday, April 2, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Webb was born July 13, 1926, in Ellsinore, Mo. She had lived in Fenton for the past ten years and was formerly of St. Ann, Mo. She was a member of the Westside Baptist Church in St. ...

PUXICO, Mo. -- A one-fourth cent sales tax for the Puxico Fire Department Fund was approved 89-45 by Puxico voters Tuesday. This issue was inadvertently left out of the results in Wednesday's edition.

Bobby Watkins NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Bobby Joe Watkins, 69, of Oxly, Mo., died Tuesday, April 3, 2012, at Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. Mr. Watkins was born Jan. 13 1943, in Dyer County, Tenn. He enjoyed working on old cars. He was an owner operator of a grocery store in Oxly...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS Public misunderstanding, ignorance and possibly contempt for liberty play into the hands of people who want to control our lives. Responses to my recent column "Compliant Americans" brought this home to me. In it, I argued that the anti-tobacco movement became the template and inspiration for other forms of government intrusion, such as bans on restaurants serving foie gras, McDonald's giving Happy Meals with toys, and confiscating a child's home-prepared lunch because it didn't meet Department of Agriculture guidelines. ...

Thelma Boatwright PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Thelma R. Boatwright, 90, of Piedmont, Mo., died Monday, April 2, 2012, at her daughter's residence. She was born May 9, 1921, to the late Edgar Lewis and to the late Macy (Charlton) Lewis, at Vulcan, Mo. She spent her childhood in Vulcan and attended school there. Mrs. Boatwright was of the Baptist Faith and believed in Jesus Christ. She was a member of Peach Tree Baptist Church...

Inez Webb VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Inez Irene Webb, 85, of Fenton, Mo., died Monday, April 2, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Webb was born July 13, 1926, in Ellsinore, Mo. She had lived in Fenton for the past ten years and was formerly of St. Ann, Mo. She was a member of the Westside Baptist Church in St. ...