Stories from Monday, June 4, 2012

Poplar Bluff City Cable is ready to begin its digital transition on the cable systems signal from analog to digital, according to Municipal Utilities and City Cable General Manager Bill Bach. Starting this week, City Cable will activate a system-wide message on the cable system. This message will instruct viewers to tune to Channel 2 for important information. City Cable will be televising a program that will explain the transition process to the public...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Southeast Missourians experienced a drastic change in the spring weather --from floods to drought in one year. The first five months of 2012 have been the hottest in Poplar Bluff, Mo., with April and May being the driest at the airport...

By S.D. MADDURI, M.D. Urology Dept. NorthWest Clinic "Healthy men should no longer receive a P.S.A. (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood test to screen for prostate cancer because the test does not save lives overall and often leads to more tests and treatments that needlessly cause pain, impotence and incontinence in many," the draft recommendation by the United States Preventive services Task Force released last week created national attention as one of the most discoursed sermon in the news media and made its way to social discussions at the office water coolers and the dinner tables at home. ...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- A very strange story, a 6,000-word front-page New York Times piece on how, every Tuesday, Barack Obama shuffles "baseball cards" with the pictures and bios of suspected terrorists from around the world and chooses who shall die by drone strike. He even reserves for himself the decision of whether to proceed when the probability of killing family members or bystanders is significant...

By OLIVER NORTH WASHINGTON -- The once highly touted Arab Spring has become the Arab Summer -- scorching hot, unbearably dry and very brutal and bloody. Last weekend, as Americans prepared to celebrate Memorial Day and commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, Bashar Assad unleashed tanks, artillery and his Quds force-trained shabiha militia to kill more than 100 Syrian civilians -- most of them women and children. ...

Use common sense get tested This is message for all the men out there (and I'm going to put them in the bracket passed the age of 40). Recently, with the changes in health care that's being brought about by the Obama administration, they would like men to now believe that the PSA test for prostate cancer problems is something that can be, well, just say, be put off. ...

By BILL O'REILLY In this corner, weighing 110 pounds and standing 5-feet 7-inches tall, 18-year-old pop star Justin Bieber. In the other corner, some guy who was aggressively taking his picture in a California shopping mall. Los Angeles County police are investigating accusations that Justin struck a photographer, which, if true, would violate California Penal Code 242 even if the striking blow was, well, glancing. ...

Wanda Rackley MALDEN, Mo. -- Wanda Rackley, 78, of Clarkton, Mo., died Sunday, June 3, 2012, at Gideon Care Center in Gideon, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden, Mo., and will be announced at a later date.

Alwena Hovis PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Alwena "Bunchie" Hovis, 90, of Hiram, Mo., died Sunday, June 3, 2012, at Southeast Health Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday for the family at New Home Church in Clubb, Mo., with friends and neighbors joining from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the church. Burial will be at Graham Cemetery in Clubb...

Mike Nelson PUXICO, Mo. -- Mike Nelson, 74, formerly of Puxico, Mo., died Sunday, June 3, 2012, at the Cedargate in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Arrangements are pending with Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico and will be announced at a later date.

The Poplar Bluff Piranhas swim team opened its season with a meet Saturday at the Black River Aquatic Center, taking second to Kennett. Taylor Norwood won five events in the 11-12 age division while Julia Dragon (15-18 age group) won three times along with Alexis Vaughn (13-14). Ben Soeter (15-18) picked up four wins while Hamiz Mirza (11-12) won three events while Carson Todd (6-under) also won three times...

Red Norris VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Raymond "Red" Norris, 87, lifetime resident of Fremont, Mo., died Saturday, June 2, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Norris was born Nov. 12, 1924, on Mill Creek near Fremont. He was a businessman and farmer. Mr. Norris owned and operated the Norris Garage and sold International Trucks. ...

Ronald Henry PUXICO, Mo. -- Ronald K. Henry, 63, of Puxico, Mo., died Sunday, June 3, 2012, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Henry was born Oct. 9, 1948, in Cape Girardeau. He formerly resided in Texas and served in the U.S. Army. He was married to Nancy Jenkins. She survives...

Jimmy Rainbolt DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Jimmy Rainbolt, 52, of Doniphan, Mo., died Saturday, June 2, 2012, at Ripley County Memorial Hospital in Doniphan. Funeral arrangements are pending with Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan and will be announced at a later date...

Ruth Ann Barker FISK, Mo. -- Ruth Ann Barker, 85, of Dudley, Mo., died Saturday, June 2, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Barker was born July 12, 1926, in Fisk, Mo. She was a resident of Dudley most of her life. Mrs. Barker was a homemaker and had formerly attended Dudley Community Church...

Tom Baumgardner Columbia, Mo. -- Thomas E. Baumgardner, 73, of Columbia, Mo., died Thursday, May 31, 2012. Mr. Baumgardner was born Nov. 15, 1938, in Doniphan, Mo. He attended school in Poplar Bluff, Mo., graduating from Poplar Bluff High School in 1956. ...

Frank Moore DEXTER, Mo. -- Frank Moore, 65, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., died Friday, June 1, 2012, at Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Mr. Moore was born Aug. 2, 1946, at Pyletown, Mo. He was a former truck driver for Safety Klean. On June 25, 1966, he married Judy Patterson in Dexter, Mo. She preceded him in death on Sept. 4, 2007. On Feb. 14, 2008, he married Charlotte Parris in Dyer County, Tenn. She survives...

Fish fry at Essex The Broadwater Church of the Brethren of Essex, Mo., will host a fish fry from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday at the church. Menu will include: fried fish, hush puppies, homegrown corn, potato salad, frozen coleslaw, assorted drinks and dessert for a donation. Take-outs will be available...

Landlords group mets Tuesday The Butler County Landlords Association will meet Tuesday. The gathering starts with a social period at 6 p.m. with the meeting following at 6:30 p.m. It will be held in the conference room at Key Drug.