Stories from Wednesday, May 23, 2012

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Students at the Poplar Bluff 5th & 6th Grade Center read more than eight million words with 70 percent comprehension in the 2011-12 school year through the Reading Plus program. Tuesday the school hosted an ice cream party for students who increased their reading level by three grades, completed at least 60 stories with 70 percent comprehension or maintained an 80 percent average in vocabulary building...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Rep. Billy Pat Wright has withdrawn from the Republican primary race for the State Senate District 25 seat. His withdrawal advances Poplar Bluff businessman Doug Libla, a Republican, into the November general election against unopposed Democratic candidate Rep. Terry Swinger of Caruthersville...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor CORNING, Ark. -- Clay County Democrats did not support President Barack Obama in Tuesday's presidential primary election while Clay County Republicans favored Mitt Romney. John Wolfe, an attorney from Chattanooga, Tenn., defeated Obama 1,304 to 953 in Clay County...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty earlier this week to conspiring to distribute crack cocaine in Dunklin County and elsewhere...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Rep. Billy Pat Wright has withdrawn from the Republican primary race for the State Senate District 25 seat. His withdrawal advances Poplar Bluff businessman Doug Libla, a Republican, into the November general election against unopposed Democratic candidate Rep. Terry Swinger of Caruthersville...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty earlier this week to conspiring to distribute crack cocaine in Dunklin County and elsewhere...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor CORNING, Ark. -- Clay County Democrats did not support President Barack Obama in Tuesday's presidential primary election while Clay County Republicans favored Mitt Romney. John Wolfe, an attorney from Chattanooga, Tenn., defeated Obama 1,304 to 953 in Clay County...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Students at the Poplar Bluff 5th & 6th Grade Center read more than eight million words with 70 percent comprehension in the 2011-12 school year through the Reading Plus program. Tuesday the school hosted an ice cream party for students who increased their reading level by three grades, completed at least 60 stories with 70 percent comprehension or maintained an 80 percent average in vocabulary building...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Beginning Saturday, Menards will be hosting a special nine-day Grand Opening Celebration at its new Mega Store in Cape Girardeau, Mo., located at 535 Siemers Drive (I-55 exit 95), West on Shawnee Pkwy to Siemers Drive). The celebration will include merchandise markdowns, prize give-aways, in-store demonstrations and special appearances. The store is now open from 6:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday and from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Sunday...

Inconsiderate camper Here I sit on a beautiful weekend out at Redman Creek out at Lake Wappapello this Mother's Day and I see some of the most inconsiderate campers that I have ever seen in my life. What is it about pet owners now that just believe it's okay to walk their dogs through everyone else's site and worse yet, allow their dogs up around the child play area near the shower house and have them making their messes up there for those children to be running around in? You heard me right! They're having their dogs do their business in the play area and just walking off and leaving it for other little kids to stomp around in. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Three months ago, George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, Fla., shot and killed Trayvon Martin. Handcuffed, taken in and interrogated, Zimmerman told police Trayvon had been acting suspiciously that dark and rainy night, that he had followed Trayvon, been knocked down and battered on the ground, and, fearing for his life, pulled a concealed handgun and shot him...

To the Editor: I believe that they call this cronyism. About one and a half years ago Rod Jetton (former Missouri House Speaker) was charged with felony assault for choking his date during a sexual encounter. There were allegations of further mischief and Rod slunk off in disgrace. ...

By MONA CHAREN A 5-year-old child with large dark eyes, full lips and a button nose stares out from the front page of the Washington Post Sunday edition. "Transgender at Five" declares the provocative headline. The child's hair is being cut in a close boy's cut by her father...

Willa Hinkle PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Willa Marie Hinkle, 80, of Piedmont, Mo., died Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center in Piedmont. Funeral arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont.

JOPLIN -- Poplar Bluff golfer Patty Robinson finished tied for fourth Tuesday at the Missouri Women's 20th Senior Championships. Robinson was tied for the lead with a birdie on her second hole but a string of four straight bogeys knocked her out of contention for the title at Twin Hills Country Club...

Today is Wednesday, May 23, the 144th day of 2012. There are 222 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May 23, 1937, industrialist and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, founder of the Standard Oil Co. and the Rockefeller Foundation, died in Ormond Beach, Fla., at age 97...

The Kaskaskia College Blue Angels will certainly have a Poplar Bluff feel to it this fall on the soccer field. Earlier this year, Poplar Bluff senior Marissa Burroughs signed her National Letter of Intent to join her sister Miranda on the team. The Blue Angels compete as an NJCAA Division I school in Centralia, Ill...

Julian Pearson FISK, Mo. - Julian F. Pearson, 80, of Fisk, Mo., died Monday, May 21, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Pearson was born Nov. 2, 1931, in Gideon, Mo. He was a graduate of Gideon High School and had served in the U.S. Army in the 424th Artillery Division during the Korean War. He was a farmer and enjoyed visiting with friends at the coffee shop...

Marvin Carner NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Marvin R. Carner, 62, of St. Louis, Mo., formerly of Naylor, Mo., died Sunday, May 20, 2012, in St. Louis. Mr. Carner was born Jan. 11, 1950, in Doniphan, Mo. He enjoyed baseball and music. On Feb. 22, 1998, he was married to Trenda Peters at St. Louis. She survives...

Yolanda Jones Yolanda Lynette Jones, 38, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, May 14, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Ms. Jones was born Dec. 13, 1973, in St. Louis, Mo. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Survivors include her children, Christopher Jones of St. ...

Marvin Johnston PUXICO, Mo. -- Marvin Lee Johnston, 71, of Puxico, Mo., died Monday, May 21, 2012, in Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The son of Edith Glenda Law Johnston and the late Andrew Jackson "A.J." Johnston, he was born on Nov. 1, 1940, in Puxico...

Cochran Cemetery board meeting The annual board meeting of Cochran Cemetery will be at the cemetery at 1 p.m. Sunday rain or shine. Interested parties are urged to attend. Donations for upkeep of the cemetery will be accepted on the meeting day or may be mailed to Cochran Cemetery, P.O. Box 171, Harviell, MO 63945...

Julian Pearson -- Fisk, Mo. Marvin Johnston -- Puxico, Mo. Marvin Carner -- St. Louis, Mo. Willa Hinkle -- Piedmont, Mo. Yolanda Jones -- Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Inconsiderate camper Here I sit on a beautiful weekend out at Redman Creek out at Lake Wappapello this Mother's Day and I see some of the most inconsiderate campers that I have ever seen in my life. What is it about pet owners now that just believe it's okay to walk their dogs through everyone else's site and worse yet, allow their dogs up around the child play area near the shower house and have them making their messes up there for those children to be running around in? You heard me right! They're having their dogs do their business in the play area and just walking off and leaving it for other little kids to stomp around in. ...

Willa Hinkle PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Willa Marie Hinkle, 80, of Piedmont, Mo., died Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center in Piedmont. Funeral arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont.

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Three months ago, George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, Fla., shot and killed Trayvon Martin. Handcuffed, taken in and interrogated, Zimmerman told police Trayvon had been acting suspiciously that dark and rainy night, that he had followed Trayvon, been knocked down and battered on the ground, and, fearing for his life, pulled a concealed handgun and shot him...

To the Editor: I believe that they call this cronyism. About one and a half years ago Rod Jetton (former Missouri House Speaker) was charged with felony assault for choking his date during a sexual encounter. There were allegations of further mischief and Rod slunk off in disgrace. ...

By MONA CHAREN A 5-year-old child with large dark eyes, full lips and a button nose stares out from the front page of the Washington Post Sunday edition. "Transgender at Five" declares the provocative headline. The child's hair is being cut in a close boy's cut by her father...

Today is Wednesday, May 23, the 144th day of 2012. There are 222 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May 23, 1937, industrialist and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, founder of the Standard Oil Co. and the Rockefeller Foundation, died in Ormond Beach, Fla., at age 97...

Julian Pearson FISK, Mo. - Julian F. Pearson, 80, of Fisk, Mo., died Monday, May 21, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Pearson was born Nov. 2, 1931, in Gideon, Mo. He was a graduate of Gideon High School and had served in the U.S. Army in the 424th Artillery Division during the Korean War. He was a farmer and enjoyed visiting with friends at the coffee shop...

The Kaskaskia College Blue Angels will certainly have a Poplar Bluff feel to it this fall on the soccer field. Earlier this year, Poplar Bluff senior Marissa Burroughs signed her National Letter of Intent to join her sister Miranda on the team. The Blue Angels compete as an NJCAA Division I school in Centralia, Ill...

Marvin Carner NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Marvin R. Carner, 62, of St. Louis, Mo., formerly of Naylor, Mo., died Sunday, May 20, 2012, in St. Louis. Mr. Carner was born Jan. 11, 1950, in Doniphan, Mo. He enjoyed baseball and music. On Feb. 22, 1998, he was married to Trenda Peters at St. Louis. She survives...

Yolanda Jones Yolanda Lynette Jones, 38, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, May 14, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Ms. Jones was born Dec. 13, 1973, in St. Louis, Mo. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Survivors include her children, Christopher Jones of St. ...

Marvin Johnston PUXICO, Mo. -- Marvin Lee Johnston, 71, of Puxico, Mo., died Monday, May 21, 2012, in Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The son of Edith Glenda Law Johnston and the late Andrew Jackson "A.J." Johnston, he was born on Nov. 1, 1940, in Puxico...

Cochran Cemetery board meeting The annual board meeting of Cochran Cemetery will be at the cemetery at 1 p.m. Sunday rain or shine. Interested parties are urged to attend. Donations for upkeep of the cemetery will be accepted on the meeting day or may be mailed to Cochran Cemetery, P.O. Box 171, Harviell, MO 63945...