Stories from Friday, February 28, 2014

By AMITY SHEDD SEMO News Service Cape Girardeau state Sen. Wayne Wallingford on Monday filed legislation that would allow Missouri business owners to cite religious beliefs as a legal justification for refusing to provide service. In the last two days Wallingford and his bill endured widespread backlash from the public and fellow senators concerned that the bill could provide legal cover for denial of services to same-sex couples...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Hands clasped tightly in front of her, Lake Road Elementary second-grader Selena Anthony was clearly anxious between turns Wednesday during a spelling bee championship for her age group. Yet as the little girl in the pink and gray shirt, the smallest of her competitors, focused on her next turn, Anthony offered an excited smile and thumbs up to challenger Kaytlin Martin. Martin, of O'Neal Elementary, had just successfully spelled the difficult word "puncture."...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- After spending more than a year at a Department of Mental Health facility, a Bernie, Mo., man, accused of brutally stabbing another man to death has been deemed fit to stand trial by mental health officials...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Work on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analysis of the Black River was discussed during the Butler County Commission meeting Wednesday. "Approximately 46 stream miles of the Black River from U.S. 60 to the Missouri-Arkansas state line will be studied," said Rick Nusz, a hydraulic engineer with FEMA's Region VII office in Kansas City, Mo. "We have not looked at the hydrology of the Black River for 40 years."...

Hooray spring begins soon Are you ready for March? We have a busy month. The 5th of March is Ash Wednesday. The 9th of March --Hurrah! Daylight Savings Time begins! We get our hour back. And then the 17th is St. Patrick's Day and the 20th--Spring begins! We spring forward. Have a good week!...

Can you believe it's nearly gardening time? Old timers say to plant Irish potatoes on St. Patrick's Day. However, according to the Vegetable Planting Calendar from University of Missouri Extension, you can plant anytime between March 10 and 30. That's just a couple of weeks away!...

Naylor Elementary has released its second quarter honor roll for the 2013-2014 school year. Students named to that list are All A's: First Grade Caleb Bell, Keon Steward, Kyle Tubb, Katie Ward, Blake Warren, Bella Woolard. A's and B's: Trenton Anders, Benjamin Barker, Madison Brainard, Jeffory Byrd, Maci Dornin, Brady Hatton, Peyton Hopkins, Samarra Leader, Aaron Miller, Bryson Paukner, Goldie Teal...

To the Editor, Southeast Missouri SEABEE Chapter Island 5, would like to extend an invitation to all SEABEE Veterans, active military and military Veterans and the General public, to attend the dedication of a Granite Monument in recognition of those SEABEES that served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and more recently, in Iraq and Afghanistan...

Though you wouldn't necessarily know it based on news coverage, the United States in the reign of President Barack Obama is enduring the most prolonged period of slow growth and high unemployment since World War II. The president asserts that he saved us from another Great Depression, which, like his claim that the stimulus would "create or save" millions of jobs, is about as provable as the number of angels that can dance on the head of a pin...

A fortnight ago, my column focused on how Philadelphia's schoolteachers have joined public-school teachers in cities such as Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Columbus, New York and Washington in changing student scores on academic achievement tests. Teachers have held grade fixing parties, sometimes wearing rubber gloves to hide fingerprints. ...

Epiphany Umfress DEXTER, Mo. -- Epiphany Nevaeh Umfress, 9 days old, died Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014, at Children's Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Visitation will begin at noon Saturday at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Jack Allen of Clarkton, Mo., officiating. Burial will be in Dexter Cemetery in Dexter...

Charles Hodge Charles B. Hodge, 78, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

BLOOMFIELD -- Two nights after an upset in the first round and facing an 18-point deficit against the top-seeded Bernie Mules, the fifth-seeded Portageville Bulldogs did not go down easy in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 semifinals Wednesday night. The Mules made just one point in the first 5 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs pulled to within five...

Argie Davis Argie Mae Davis, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014, at Kearney, Mo. Visitation will begin at noon Sunday at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home with burial in Memorial Gardens Cemetery...

Mary Albritton MALDEN, Mo. -- Mary Albritton, 89, of St. Peters, Mo., formerly of Risco, Mo., died Monday, Feb. 24, 2014, at St. Peters Manor Care Center. Visitation will be at noon Friday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home chapel with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden...

Daron Hampton PIEDMONT, Mo -- Daron Hampton, 44, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014, in St. Mary, Mo. The arrangements are pending at this time. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhome.com.

TEXARKANA, Ark. -- Three Rivers freshman Callie Stanhouse won the goat tying competition in the first rodeo event of the spring season in Texarkana, Ark. She won the long round in 8.3 seconds and the short round in 8.8 seconds despite pulling her quad in her left leg in practice. Her 17.1 seconds was 0.6 faster than second place...

Joyce James VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Joyce Ann James, 67, of Ellsinore, Mo., formerly of St. Louis, Mo., died Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. A celebration of life will be held at the home of her niece, Shannon Marie Schmied, in Ellsinore at a later date. McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren is in charge of arrangements...

Mazie Hyland CORNING, ARK. -- Mazie Smith Hyland, 87, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Monday, Feb. 24, 2014, at home. Mrs. Hyland was born June 8, 1926, in Corning to the late Floyd and Dessie Wilson Smith. At a young age, her mother, Dessie passed away and her father remarried Agnes Wilson Smith who became mom to Mrs. Hyland...

Grace Fondren Grace Catherine Fondren, 93, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014, at Oakdale Care Center. Mrs. Fondren was born Sept. 6, 1920 in Doniphan, Mo., to the late Charlie and Lucy Mae (Collins) Wells. On Aug. 12, 1940, she married Clarence Fondren in Poplar Bluff. He preceded her in death on Nov. 17, 2004...

Sherry Sturgeon-Shaw Sherry Sturgeon-Shaw, 63, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014. She was born Sept. 10, 1950, in Poplar Bluff to the late Bill and Nadine (Parker) Sturgeon. She had been an RN and enjoyed painting, riding horses and spending time with her grandchildren...