Stories from Monday, January 20, 2014

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Missouri House Speaker Tim Jones emphasized the state needs conservative policy solutions which will produce jobs and growth while speaking Friday afternoon at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Jones has been touring the state and was in Branson, Mo., and West Plains, Mo., earlier Friday and he was going to speak in Cape Girardeau, Mo., in the evening...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Higher pay, increased costs and lower revenues are causing reserves to shrink, but the Butler County Commission is hopeful sales tax revenues will increase as more new businesses open in the county. On Friday, Commissioners Ed Strenfel, Jeff Darnell and Butch Anderson approved the 2014 budget, totaling $20.7 million...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of Three Rivers College, is the new board chairman of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. As the city of Poplar Bluff grew after the arrival of the railroad in 1872 and rebuilt after the 1927 tornado, Stephenson urged everyone to continue "in the true spirit of the pioneers."...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer As he feeds his beloved 22-year-old Hereford cow Helen range cubes from the window of his mid-90s Jeep, it's clear Reynolds County Prosecuting Attorney Robert Johnson is not your typical farmer. Yet as he raises his 44 cattle, hecontinues a family tradition dating back morethan 150 years...

Dewey Darnell FISK, Mo. -- Dewey R. Darnell, 76, of Wappapello, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 17, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are incomplete with White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk.

Roy Gill CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Roy Gill, 84, of Campbell died Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, at General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday at Landess Funeral Chapel in Campbell. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Jared Hancock officiating. Burial will be in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo...

Twin Rivers High School staff has announced its second quarter honor roll for the 2013-2014 school year. Students named follow: Seniors: Ayla Bean, Brittany Brooks, Jesse Brown, Brittany Childress, Trey Crites, Thomas Crites, Merideth Davis, Haley Doyle, Jacklyn Eagle, David Fuller, JD Harmon, Kailee Hicks, Brittany Johnson, Jakob McGowen, Jacob McKuin, Josie Pijanowski, Eric Ray, Whitney Rhody, William Robinson, Candace Robitsch, Mariah Rush, Hannah Sadler, Macie Schrage, Brayden Sentell, Maci Shearer, Mikayla Stewart, Chelsie Teague, Luke Voyles, Sara Ward and Timothy Welty.. ...

We're circling the drain Since it is in the realm of our federal government to levy taxes, and it is within the realm of the states to legalize marijuana is they so choose, here's an idea for our federal government: why don't they levy a tax of say $1,000 an ounce on every step of production for the medical marijuana and the recreational marijuana being sold in these states and then apply those funds directly to our deficit? With all of these apparent millions that they are wanting to light up and get stoned at the same time let them pay for bringing down our deficit. ...

The Twin Rivers High School Students of the month are Holden Morse, Devin Hester, Cheyenne Buie and Jacob Mckuin. The student of the month for the freshman class is Holden Ray Morse. His parents are Larry and Amy Morse. He is currently a member of FFA. He likes to farm and hunt. He would like to go to Three Rivers after he graduates and get a job in agriculture...

Shelby Renee Gann and Dustin Gale Dugger, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo., announce their engagement. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Byron Keith Gann and Carlen Sue Gann, both of Poplar Bluff. The bridegroom-to-be is the son of Doug Lynn Dugger and Pamela Rose Dugger, also of Poplar Bluff...

Sam and Judy Giambelluca, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014. They were married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church Feb. 2, 1954. Their entire married life has been in Poplar Bluff where they were very active in the community and sports world...

Karli Wilkerson, second grader at Eugene Field Elementary, spent the last day of her extended break helping her stepmother, Shelly Wilkerson LPN, buy and collect winter items for youngsters. Wilkerson, while discussing the importance of being grateful and helping others with her stepmother, said, "It makes me sad there are kids that don't have coats and stuff to stay warm. It makes me feel good to help you get stuff for them."...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The Democratic party is the party of government because it embraces a proposition it has done much to refute -- that government is a nimble, skillful social engineer -- and because government employees are a significant component of the party's base and of its financial support through government employees unions. ...

The American Cancer Society is seeking volunteers to help plan the upcoming Relay For Life of Butler County scheduled for Sept. 26. Volunteers are need to organize teams, plan entertainment and fundraising -- these are just a few of the ways to get and help make this cancer's last century...

Today is Sunday, Jan. 19, the 19th day of 2014. There are 346 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 19, 1807, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee was born in Westmoreland County, Va. On this date: In 1764, John Wilkes was expelled from the British Parliament for seditious libel and obscenity (the former charge was for criticizing a speech delivered by King George III; the latter, for penning a pornographic parody of Alexander Pope's "Essay on Man")...

East Carter R-2 Elementary School has released its second quarter honor roll list for the 2013-2014 school year. Students named to that list follow by classroom: FIRST GRADE Mrs. Stahl: Benjamin C. Abrams, Rance Bourbon, Adalaide Carter, Nadia Chambliss, Anna Crowley, Ethan Gambling, MyKencie Hutchison, Gavin Lofts, Jazmine Millsap, Joshua Pflum, Selena Staples, Mallory Stucker and Allyssa Williams...

Earning a spot on Drury University's Dean's List is local student, Jessica Judd of Ellington, Mo. Judd earned a grade point average of 3.6 or greater (on a 4-point scale) while carrying a full-time course load of 12 or more semester hours at Drury. Drury University is ranked eighth among Midwest Regional Universities in the United States in the publication U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2014...

Students who earned spots on the Neelyville second quarter honor roll include: Neelyville Elementary School has released its second quarter honor roll list for the 2013-2014 school year. Students named follow: A Honor Roll Third Grade: Colby Beaird, Ryan Brown, J.D. Burton, Joseph Charest, Brock Davis, Preston Goodnight, Hank Gilmore, Jonathon Hall, Tanner Kelsey, Breanna Pennington, Alexis Robinson and Austin Sheppard...

By LARA JAKES AP National Security Writer WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama's orders to change some U.S. surveillance practices put the burden on Congress to deal with a national security controversy that has alarmed Americans and outraged foreign allies. Yet he avoided major action on the practice of sweeping up billions of phone, email and text messages from across the globe...

The Poplar Bluff Kiwanis Club hopes its fifth year of their Jama Rama drive will be its biggest year. Members of the group hope to collect 1,000 pajamas starting now through Feb. 15 for local children in need. "This came about a few years ago when I was speaking with a friend that lived in the St. ...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Have you checked your calendar lately? It seems there is a day for everything. Did you know November has a day set aside for sandwiches and December has a day honoring "Dice?" Advocates of the old adage, "Laughter is the Best Medicine," honor their favorite cure on Jan. ...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Saturday, Jan. 25, is the day chosen to celebrate the life of 3-year-old Caidan Gage Basinger, the only child of Ashley and Derek Basinger of Grandin, Mo., who lost his battle against brain cancer at 12:53 p.m., Dec. 31, 2013. ...

While enjoying Ag Expo 2014, think of the Three Rivers College Agriculture Club members who worked in preparing the exhibit area. The TRC Ag Club is the co-sponsor of the expo along with the Butler County University of Missouri Extension Council. It has been a 28-year partnership which has benefited both organizations and the community...

Ag Expo 2014 will feature educational programs on Friday and the traditional kid's garden adventure on Saturday followed by Farm Safety Activities in the afternoon. The Expo will be held on Friday, Jan. 24 and Saturday, Jan.25 at the Black River Coliseum in downtown Poplar Bluff. Admission is free for the Ag Expo and to all events held at the expo except for the beauty pageant and duck calling contest...

An agricultural photography contest will be held at Ag Expo 2014 on Friday, Jan. 24 and Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The contest is open to everyone and all entries must relate to agriculture in some way. Entries must be 5 x 7 or 8 x 10, framed and ready to stand. ...

Look out folks. This year Ag Expo 2014 is going to become a "Mooing" good time. A live cow milking demonstration will be held both days at Ag Expo on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 24 - 25, at the Black River Coliseum in downtown Poplar Bluff. There will be 118 booths available to visit and learn first-hand about agriculture and natural resources and its importance to the economy. The expo will also feature outdoor exhibits. Admission is free. Ten thousand people attended last year's event...

Traditional activities for children will once again be available at the Ag Expo Friday and Saturday, Jan. 24 - 25. The toy tractor pedal pull contests for boys and girls will be held on both Friday night and Saturday morning. The 4 and 5-year-olds (boy and girl divisions) will pedal at 6 p.m. ...

Jan. 24 - 25 will mark the 28th anniversary of the Heartland Agriculture and Natural Resources Expo (Ag Expo), which will be held at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Ag Expo has continued to grow and added new events during the past 27 years under the direction of the Butler County University of Missouri Extension Council and the Ag Club of Three Rivers College...

There is still time to register for the Ag Expo Beauty Pageant which will be held at the 28th annual Ag Expo 2014 on Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The divisions include: 9:30 a.m., Baby Girl, birth to 12 months; 10:00 a.m., Toddler Girl, 13 to 23 months; 10:30 a.m., Petite Miss, 2 to 4 years; 11:00 a.m., Tiny Miss, 5 to 7 years; 11:30 a.m., Little Miss, 8 to 12 years; noon, Junior Miss, 13 to 15 years; and 12:30 p.m., Miss Ag Expo, 16 to 20 years...

A home baking contest will be offered at Ag Expo on Friday, Jan. 24 and Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Black River Coliseum in downtown Poplar Bluff, Mo., said Phyllis Flanigan, University of Missouri Extension. Bakers may enter their goods any time between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday. Judging will be held on Saturday morning and exhibits must be left in place until 2 p.m...

The 28th annual Ag Expo Friday and Saturday, Jan. 24 - 25, at the Black River Coliseum in downtown Poplar Bluff will be offering the ninth year of the Duck Calling Contest for both youth and adults. There are three divisions for competition: age 14 and under; 2-man meat competition; and main street calling contest. ...

Richard Welch GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Richard D. Welch, 60, of Clubb, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014, at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Greenville, followed by the funeral at 2 p.m. Burial, with military honors, will be in the Lewis Cemetery at Lodi, Mo...

Funded by the USDA, the Missouri Mobile Kitchen and Freezer is an innovative kitchen on wheels. The Mobile Kitchen and Freezer is available for rent to process value-added items and turn excess summer produce into frozen fruits and vegetables, said Sarah Denkler, horticulture specialist...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "I've got a pen," said President Obama early this week. "I can use that pen to sign executive orders and take executive actions ... that move the ball forward." "When I can act on my own without Congress, I'm going to do so," the president added Wednesday at North Carolina State...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Local authorities are seeking guidance from an animal welfare group about how to prevent a dog from being returned to its owner, who has been placed on probation after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting it...

Mary Leonard NEELYVILLE -- Mary Catherine Leonard, 89, formerly of Naylor, Mo., died Jan. 18, 2014, in the Walnut Street Boarding Home in Doniphan, Mo. She was born Dec. 11, 1924, at Acorn, Mo., to the late Ed and Hattie (Crutchfield) Martin. On Aug. 19, 1942, at Doniphan, Mo., she married Sam H. Leonard. He preceded her in death on Feb. 19, 1985...

Rita Vinson Rita Vinson, 94, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. began in this world as Rita Justine Padgett, the daughter of Nellie Carlisle Padgett and Charles Dewey Padgett. She was born at home in Charleston, Mo., June 10, 1919. She went to be with her heavenly Father on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, after a brief stay at Riverways Manor, in Van Buren, Mo...

For the second time in a week, the Poplar Bluff Mules used their defense to pull away from an Ozark Foothills Conference opponent. After building a double-digit lead in the first half, the Mules scored 13 straight points in the third quarter in beating Twin Rivers 75-46 Friday night at Peters Gym...

ST. CHARLES -- Poplar Bluff's Matt King lost his first match of the season Saturday as he and Chance Moore placed second at the St. Charles Invitational. The Mules placed 10th out of 21 teams as Aaron Vincent finished third and Steven Haley placed fourth...

MALDEN -- Clearly, the Malden Green Wave didn't want anything to do with another overtime game with Bloomfield. The previous three meetings dating back to last year between the teams needed an extra four minutes. But the Green Wave came out and put the Wildcats in a 16-point hole the first 5 1/2 minutes of action Friday night...

NEOSHO -- The Three Rivers bench went from short to shorter Saturday. Still, it didn't take long for the Lady Raiders to take control of the game and eventually win 89-75 to make them 1-3 in Region XVI play. "This could have implications down late in the year," Three Rivers coach Jeff Walk said. "This could get us either a bye or a home game."...

WEST PLAINS -- The Three Rivers Raiders finished on the wrong side of 18 lead changes Saturday night. Three Rivers lost a back-and-forth Region XVI game at MSU-West Plains 85-80 after Arroyo Edwards made six free throws in the final two minutes for the Grizzlies...

ILCSEMO (Independent Living Center of SEMO) partnering with the Arthritis Foundation Resource Program and the Area Agency on Aging, will host a "Chronic Disease Self-Management" class at Twin Towers Senior Center, 506 Hazel St., beginning Tuesday, Feb. ...