Stories from Monday, March 10, 2014

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer BRANSON, Mo. -- The Green family of Malden, Mo., has not one but two proven leaders in Samantha and younger brother Darren. They made history as the first siblings to be elected president of the National Senior Beta Club, an organization with more than 500,000 members in high schools across the nation...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A man running from a Butler County deputy sheriff was injured when he was hit by a pickup truck at 6:49 a.m. Saturday. Timothy Draper, 34, of Sikeston, Mo., was transported by ambulance to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol report...

By EMILY PRIDDY SEMO News Service Cape Girardeau will have an air show this year after all. In February, Cape Girardeau Regional Airport manager Bruce Loy announced the airport had canceled its annual air show after the headliner, the Canadian Snowbirds, pulled out, citing budget cuts...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Data compiled by the Missouri State Highway Patrol indicates the crime indexes for Butler County, as well as two adjacent counties declined in 2013. Under the Missouri Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, the total crime index is based on the FBI's classification of major offenses into violent crimes and property crimes...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer What started with playing pots and pans led to performing in and operating a theater in Branson for Poplar Bluff, Mo., native Jon Sousan. Sousan and his family moved to Poplar Bluff when he was 7 years old. He was initially drawn to drums and would play pots and pans alongside street bands in downtown Poplar Bluff. At age 11, however, he received his first guitar for Christmas...

Monday, Tommy Swindle will sing gospel songs at 11:30 a.m. in the dining room, which will be a nice way to relax after the 9 a.m. P.A.C.E. class in the Assembly Room. This class is sponsored by the Independent Living Center and is held every Monday and Wednesday at 9 a.m. ...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Every Friday evening the Black Belt Academy building fills with music from 7-9 p.m. when the Black River Coyote Dancers come together for an evening of line and couple dancing. For nearly eight years the "Dancers," who count between 10-16 members, have met weekly. ...

The Genealogy Society of Butler County met in February at the First United Methodist Church with 26 members and guests in attendance. President June Allen officially honored the volunteers who worked on the Butler County History Book. A certificate of appreciation was presented to committee chairperson Brenda Sheridan. Also acknowledged for their hard work and dedication were volunteers Marvin Sheridan, Connie Warren, Shirley Pearman, Mildred Coursey, Bob Cope, Harry Crain and Kathryn Pierce...

Megan L. Turner of St. Peters, Mo. and Chad T. Buttrey of Fisk, Mo. announce their engagement. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Robert H. Turner of Poplar Bluff, Mo. and Dawn L. White of O'Fallon, Mo. The bridegroom-to-be is the son of Terry E. Buttrey and Karen L. (Dunlap) Buttrey of Fisk...

Joseph and Christine Crites of Ellsinore, Mo. announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Lindsay Crites, also of Ellsinore, to Dustin Lee McCann of Charleston, Mo. The bridegroom-to-be is the son of Darryl and Teri McCann, also of Charleston...

If your farm has been in your family since Dec. 31, 1914, you can apply to have it recognized as a Missouri Century Farm. To qualify, farms must meet the following guidelines: The same family must have owned the farm for 100 consecutive years. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings, and nephews or nieces, including through marriage or adoption. ...

The First United Methodist Church, 500 N. Main St., Poplar Bluff, Mo. will host Grandma's Attic Yard and Bake Sale from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, April 12. Grandma's Attic Yard Sale will offer household items, collectables, craft items and nice pre-owned clothing...

We know exactly where Rep. Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, stands on the latest issue involving the Missouri Department of Conservation. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of our senator, Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff. For those who may not know what we're talking about, here's a brief refresher...

Raymond Busby MALDEN, Mo. -- Verlan Raymond Busby, 70, of Mound City, Ill., died Thursday, March 6, 2014, at his residence. Visitation will begin at noon Monday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home chapel with burial in Mt. Gilead Cemetery in Clarkton, Mo...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- What's been said of confession -- that it is good for one's soul but bad for one's reputation -- can also be true of testifying to Congress, so Lois Lerner has chosen to stay silent. Hers, however, is an eloquent silence...

Charissa Byrd NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Charissa Danialle Byrd, 11 weeks old, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, March 4, 2014, at her home. Charissa was born Dec. 12, 2013, in Poplar Bluff. She is survived by her parents, Stephen Hemphill and Jessica Byrd Hemphill, both of Poplar Bluff; grandparents, Tammy Byrd of Poplar Bluff, Kenneth Hemphill of Hayti, Mo., and Hope Lacey of Caruthersville, Mo.; great-grandparents, Don and Velma Robertson of Poplar Bluff; one sister, Nevaeh Byrd of Poplar Bluff; and one uncle, Dustin Byrd of Poplar Bluff.. ...

Glendene Nesbit DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Glendene Nesbit, 93, life-long resident of Doniphan, died Thursday evening, March 6, 2014, at the Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. Visitation will be from 5 - 8 p.m. Sunday in the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. A graveside service will take place at 2 p.m. Monday at the Doniphan City Cemetery with Brother Larry Bashaw officiating...

By RUTH CAMPBELL SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) -- The saying "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime," could be applied to the Mission Task Force, formed by Cape Girardeau siblings Maddox and Brock Murphy...

Dana Moore Dana Iona Moore, 40, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, March 5, 2014, in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Moore, born Aug. 12, 1973, in Poplar Bluff, was a member of Westwood Baptist Church. She was a homemaker and homeschooler who loved spending time with her family...

Voter upset with Senator Libla Last Friday morning I attended a meeting of business people and homeowners concerning the Highway 160 Project. The meeting was well attended with Senator Libla and Representative Cookson as well as the top MoDOT engineer present. ...

The Red Cross invites the public to discover its inner hero this month. To make an appointment to donate blood or for more information about other ways to get involved with the Red Cross, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)...

IMPERIAL -- Jackson didn't take advantage of a single turnover by the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules in the first half Friday. That quickly changed. The Indians scored the first nine points of the second half -- all following Poplar Bluff turnovers -- to pull away for a 49-38 win in the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 semifinal...

More than 2,200 students have been named to the Chancellor's and Deans' lists for the 2013 fall semester at Arkansas State University. The two lists recognize students who achieved the highest grade point averages while enrolled in 12 or more credit hours of study...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- It took an extra four minutes, but Dexter's seniors will graduate having completed a career sweep of the district championship. Hannah Noe, Paige Patterson, Erika Cobb and Alison Jarrell have now won four MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 titles in a row, all against Notre Dame. The most recent one, though, was the closest as Dexter won 65-58 in overtime Friday...