Stories from Thursday, May 17, 2012

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- A Butler County Sheriff's deputy patrolling in Neelyville around midnight interrupted a would-be fuel thief, who allegedly resisted arrest, injuring both himself and the deputy. Cpl. Brandon Lowe was on patrol when he saw a passenger car sitting on the parking lot of the closed JB's Store, at the intersection of Highway 67 and Highway 142, and two subjects standing next to the fuel pumps, explained Lt. Brian Evans...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Three Rivers College Board of Trustees approved budget amendments Wednesday during their monthly meeting, which reflect increased revenues and costs, including for its largest enrollment in college history. Trustees also discussed creating a policy requiring board approval before funds are moved from general revenue to the rainy day fund; and tax increment financing districts to be created in Ellsinore, Mo., and Poplar Bluff, Mo...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Three Rivers College Board of Trustees will consider options that would make a $1,000 benefit received by employees to cover their health insurance deductible dependent on participation in a wellness program, according to information presented Wednesday at the monthly meeting...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Three area residents participated in the recent National Work Zone Awareness ceremony in St. Louis, Mo., where fallen workers were remembered. Charlotte Hays of Qulin, Mo., was invited to attend because her husband, Johnny, died from injuries suffered in a work zone accident. He had worked for the Missouri Department of Transportation for 34 years...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- A Butler County Sheriff's deputy patrolling in Neelyville around midnight interrupted a would-be fuel thief, who allegedly resisted arrest, injuring both himself and the deputy. Cpl. Brandon Lowe was on patrol when he saw a passenger car sitting on the parking lot of the closed JB's Store, at the intersection of Highway 67 and Highway 142, and two subjects standing next to the fuel pumps, explained Lt. Brian Evans...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Three Rivers College Board of Trustees approved budget amendments Wednesday during their monthly meeting, which reflect increased revenues and costs, including for its largest enrollment in college history. Trustees also discussed creating a policy requiring board approval before funds are moved from general revenue to the rainy day fund; and tax increment financing districts to be created in Ellsinore, Mo., and Poplar Bluff, Mo...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Three area residents participated in the recent National Work Zone Awareness ceremony in St. Louis, Mo., where fallen workers were remembered. Charlotte Hays of Qulin, Mo., was invited to attend because her husband, Johnny, died from injuries suffered in a work zone accident. He had worked for the Missouri Department of Transportation for 34 years...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Three Rivers College Board of Trustees will consider options that would make a $1,000 benefit received by employees to cover their health insurance deductible dependent on participation in a wellness program, according to information presented Wednesday at the monthly meeting...

The next bass fishing tournament will be May 19 at Chaonia Landing. This is the Ultimate Bass Fishing Challenge event, which has been moved from Redman Creek to Chaonia. Fishing will start at safe light and weigh-in is 3 p.m. The Wappapello Bassmasters will have their 33rd annual Classic Buddy Bass Tournament June 2, with a 100 percent cash pay-back. There is a guaranteed $1,200 first place prize and also a guaranteed $800 for second place...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor About 360 supporters of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation turned out Saturday at the Black River Coliseum for the Three Rivers Buglers' 14th annual Big Game Banquet and Auction. Despite a weaker economy, committee member Lenard Wagganer said, the numbers were similar to a year ago, when Missouri was on the verge of its initial release of elk in a long-awaited restoration program...

By FRANK CAMPA Mo. Dept. of Conservation Tis the season! The season for what you ask? Baby animals! Each year at this time, a resounding number of this year's offspring begin to appear. Not only do they appear, but in large numbers. As a result, there is much more interaction with people and wildlife now than any other time of year...

Lake Road Elementary School Students of the Month are: 1st Grade: Lauren Constantino, a student in Ms. Pryor's class, has been chosen is first grade student of the month. Lauren is the daughter of Andrea and Justin Constantino. She is the big sister of her 5-year-old sister Makenzie and her 10-month-old brother Jacob. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN When the April figures on unemployment were released May 4, they were more than disappointing. They were deeply disturbing. While the unemployment rate had fallen from 8.2 percent to 8.1 percent, 342,000 workers had stopped looking for work. They had just dropped out of the labor market...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Bipartisanship, the supposed scarcity of which so distresses the high-minded, actually is disastrously prevalent. Since 2001, it has produced No Child Left Behind, a counterproductive federal intrusion in primary and secondary education; the McCain-Feingold speech rationing law (the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act); an unfunded prescription drug entitlement; troublemaking by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; government-directed capitalism from the Export-Import Bank; crony capitalism from energy subsidies; unseemly agriculture and transportation bills; continuous bailouts of an unreformed Postal Service; housing subsidies; subsidies for state and local governments; and many other bipartisan deeds, including most appropriations bills.. ...

Go on, move 'em to P.Bluff Yes, I'd like to speak out about the article in today's paper: We'll be Mules not Royals." I think if this person is so against the new building they need to take their kids and move them to Poplar Bluff if they want to be Mules. ...

Jesse Getter Sr. DEXTER, Mo. -- Jesse James Getter, Sr., 64, of Essex, Mo., died Saturday, May 12, 2012, in Southern Missouri Healthcare in Dexter. Mr. Getter was born on Nov. 23, 1947, in Marvel, Ark. He had lived in Alton and East St. Louis, Ill., before moving to Essex, Mo., in 2008. He was a retired machinist and had worked in an aluminum plant and was a member of the Mt. Zion Church at Gray Ridge, Mo...

To the Editor, I must be slowing down just a bit, it never crossed my mind that no other place that I have lived, and as many of readers know I have lived many, are the spring bulbs are as pretty as here. But I have never seen the bulbs pretty there...

Normalene Hart PUXICO, Mo. -- Normalene Hart, 80, of Puxico, Mo., died Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Hart was born Oct. 19, 1931, at Parma, Mo. She had lived in Puxico for the past eight years and previously lived in Wappapello and Parma. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Parma and was a homemaker...

Michael Gibson NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Michael Gibson, 35, of Houston, Texas, died Sunday, May 13, 2012, at his residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville, Mo.

By HOPE YEN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) -- For the first time, racial and ethnic minorities make up more than half the children born in the U.S., capping decades of heady immigration growth that is now slowing. New 2011 census estimates highlight sweeping changes in the nation's racial makeup and the prolonged impact of a weak economy, which is now resulting in fewer Hispanics entering the U.S...

Betty Jeffress Betty Biggs Jeffress, 91, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, May 17, 2012, at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Marion Chappell GIDEON, Mo. -- William Marion Chappell, 92, of Gideon, Mo., died Wednesday, May 16, 2012, in Gideon Care Center. Mr. Chappell was born April 4, 1920, in Piggott, Ark. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Wardell, Mo. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II...

Clyde Campbell DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Clyde Campbell, 90, of Doniphan, Mo., died Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Campbell was born Jan. 15, 1922, in Canalou, Mo. He had been a farmer and served during World War II in the U.S. Army...

The month of May features Mother's Day, blooming roses, graduation parties, and end-of-school banquets. According to the Vegetable Planting Calendar, it's also the time to plant summer and winter squash. You may plant anytime between May 1 and 30...

After flooding washed away the races last spring, the 22nd Annual Budweiser Drag Boat Nationals at Wappapello Lake are back this weekend. Qualifying will start at 10 a.m. Saturday and the races will begin noon Sunday. Tickets are $10 per person and $5 for an additional guest with children 12 and under getting in free...

By JESSE J. HOLLAND Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) -- Almost 1 in every 10 former state or local prisoners reported being sexually victimized at least once by an inmate or facility staff member in prison, according to a study released Thursday by the Justice Department...

Cindy Jewell VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Cindy Lorrie Jewell, 45, of Van Buren, Mo., died Sunday, May 13, 2012. She was born Dec. 31, 1966, in Arizona. She was artistic and creative. She enjoyed sewing, making jewelry and other crafts, she also enjoyed rock collecting. She was a unique and memorable person who loved being a mother to all children. The most important thing in her life was being with her family...

Austin Barousse was one of only six pole vaulters to clear 14-feet last Saturday during the MSHSAA Class 4 District championships and his season-best of 15-1 ranks among the top three. But if the Poplar Bluff junior doesn't finish in the top four Saturday in the Class 4 Sectional meet at the Sam Giambelluca Track & Field Complex, his season is over...

John Cowart MALDEN, Mo. -- John Paul Cowart, 47, of High Ridge, Mo., died Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Cowart was born Oct. 3, 164, in Kirkwood, Mo. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in High Ridge. He was an avid fisherman and loved camping and computers...

Eugene Portwood DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Castle Eugene Portwood, 77, of Doniphan, Mo., died Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Portwood, son of Castle and Elsie Bernice (Ford) Portwood, was born Dec. 28, 1934, in Portageville, Mo. He had worked for the U.S. Forest Service and was an owner/operator of a sawmill. Mr. Portwood enjoyed fishing, camping and hunting...

Laura Foster CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Laura Ann Foster, 79, of Campbell, Mo., died Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was born Aug. 21, 1932, in Campbell. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Campbell...

The next bass fishing tournament will be May 19 at Chaonia Landing. This is the Ultimate Bass Fishing Challenge event, which has been moved from Redman Creek to Chaonia. Fishing will start at safe light and weigh-in is 3 p.m. The Wappapello Bassmasters will have their 33rd annual Classic Buddy Bass Tournament June 2, with a 100 percent cash pay-back. There is a guaranteed $1,200 first place prize and also a guaranteed $800 for second place...

Lake Road Elementary School Students of the Month are: 1st Grade: Lauren Constantino, a student in Ms. Pryor's class, has been chosen is first grade student of the month. Lauren is the daughter of Andrea and Justin Constantino. She is the big sister of her 5-year-old sister Makenzie and her 10-month-old brother Jacob. ...

Jesse Getter Sr. DEXTER, Mo. -- Jesse James Getter, Sr., 64, of Essex, Mo., died Saturday, May 12, 2012, in Southern Missouri Healthcare in Dexter. Mr. Getter was born on Nov. 23, 1947, in Marvel, Ark. He had lived in Alton and East St. Louis, Ill., before moving to Essex, Mo., in 2008. He was a retired machinist and had worked in an aluminum plant and was a member of the Mt. Zion Church at Gray Ridge, Mo...

Normalene Hart PUXICO, Mo. -- Normalene Hart, 80, of Puxico, Mo., died Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Hart was born Oct. 19, 1931, at Parma, Mo. She had lived in Puxico for the past eight years and previously lived in Wappapello and Parma. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Parma and was a homemaker...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Bipartisanship, the supposed scarcity of which so distresses the high-minded, actually is disastrously prevalent. Since 2001, it has produced No Child Left Behind, a counterproductive federal intrusion in primary and secondary education; the McCain-Feingold speech rationing law (the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act); an unfunded prescription drug entitlement; troublemaking by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; government-directed capitalism from the Export-Import Bank; crony capitalism from energy subsidies; unseemly agriculture and transportation bills; continuous bailouts of an unreformed Postal Service; housing subsidies; subsidies for state and local governments; and many other bipartisan deeds, including most appropriations bills.. ...

Michael Gibson NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Michael Gibson, 35, of Houston, Texas, died Sunday, May 13, 2012, at his residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville, Mo.

Betty Jeffress Betty Biggs Jeffress, 91, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, May 17, 2012, at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

To the Editor, I must be slowing down just a bit, it never crossed my mind that no other place that I have lived, and as many of readers know I have lived many, are the spring bulbs are as pretty as here. But I have never seen the bulbs pretty there...

Marion Chappell GIDEON, Mo. -- William Marion Chappell, 92, of Gideon, Mo., died Wednesday, May 16, 2012, in Gideon Care Center. Mr. Chappell was born April 4, 1920, in Piggott, Ark. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Wardell, Mo. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II...

By HOPE YEN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) -- For the first time, racial and ethnic minorities make up more than half the children born in the U.S., capping decades of heady immigration growth that is now slowing. New 2011 census estimates highlight sweeping changes in the nation's racial makeup and the prolonged impact of a weak economy, which is now resulting in fewer Hispanics entering the U.S...

Clyde Campbell DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Clyde Campbell, 90, of Doniphan, Mo., died Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Campbell was born Jan. 15, 1922, in Canalou, Mo. He had been a farmer and served during World War II in the U.S. Army...

The month of May features Mother's Day, blooming roses, graduation parties, and end-of-school banquets. According to the Vegetable Planting Calendar, it's also the time to plant summer and winter squash. You may plant anytime between May 1 and 30...

Cindy Jewell VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Cindy Lorrie Jewell, 45, of Van Buren, Mo., died Sunday, May 13, 2012. She was born Dec. 31, 1966, in Arizona. She was artistic and creative. She enjoyed sewing, making jewelry and other crafts, she also enjoyed rock collecting. She was a unique and memorable person who loved being a mother to all children. The most important thing in her life was being with her family...

By JESSE J. HOLLAND Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) -- Almost 1 in every 10 former state or local prisoners reported being sexually victimized at least once by an inmate or facility staff member in prison, according to a study released Thursday by the Justice Department...

After flooding washed away the races last spring, the 22nd Annual Budweiser Drag Boat Nationals at Wappapello Lake are back this weekend. Qualifying will start at 10 a.m. Saturday and the races will begin noon Sunday. Tickets are $10 per person and $5 for an additional guest with children 12 and under getting in free...

Austin Barousse was one of only six pole vaulters to clear 14-feet last Saturday during the MSHSAA Class 4 District championships and his season-best of 15-1 ranks among the top three. But if the Poplar Bluff junior doesn't finish in the top four Saturday in the Class 4 Sectional meet at the Sam Giambelluca Track & Field Complex, his season is over...

Eugene Portwood DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Castle Eugene Portwood, 77, of Doniphan, Mo., died Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Portwood, son of Castle and Elsie Bernice (Ford) Portwood, was born Dec. 28, 1934, in Portageville, Mo. He had worked for the U.S. Forest Service and was an owner/operator of a sawmill. Mr. Portwood enjoyed fishing, camping and hunting...

John Cowart MALDEN, Mo. -- John Paul Cowart, 47, of High Ridge, Mo., died Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Cowart was born Oct. 3, 164, in Kirkwood, Mo. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in High Ridge. He was an avid fisherman and loved camping and computers...

Laura Foster CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Laura Ann Foster, 79, of Campbell, Mo., died Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was born Aug. 21, 1932, in Campbell. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Campbell...