Stories from Thursday, April 17, 2014

Mark Twain National Forest has closed the Wolf Creek Bicycle Trail area north of Poplar Bluff, Mo., to all recreational shooting and target practice. This closure order is effective immediately to address identified public safety concerns. "Use of the bike trail is increasing. ...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer BROSELEY, Mo. -- Twin Rivers R-X will join a transitional tier of the Missouri Educators United Health Plan (MEUHP), board members decided Tuesday night. The district will also cap funding insurance premiums at $630.33...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer BROSELEY, Mo. -- A handful of Fisk teachers expressed concerns about crowding at their campus at the Twin Rivers R-X board meeting Tuesday night. Board members voted 4-3 to advertise for a full-time teacher and part-time aide at the campus...

The local chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America will participate in "Boots Off The Ground" on Friday. The annual fundraiser is to lower the debt owed on the Veterans Memorial Wall. The participants will be collecting at the intersection of Westwood Boulevard and Pine Street...

By MICHELLE MALKIN Zeituni Onyango, President Obama's illegal alien aunt, died this week of cancer and other complications. I hope she rests in peace. America, however, should be up in arms. Auntie Zeituni is an enduring symbol of all that is wrong with this country's immigration "policy" -- or rather, its complete lack of a coherent, enforceable system of laws and rules that puts the national interest first. ...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Turkey hunters tend to be notorious gadget freaks, and when something new comes out on the market, they want to try it. The problem is, most hunters who've been at the game a while gather a collection so large there's no way to carry it all. Most hunters cut the load they carry into the woods to a manageable level, but how does one decide exactly what's needed and what can stay at home?...

We are heartened by the confidence the public has instilled in our buildings plan. As a community, we feel this is our greatest achievement since the four laning of U.S. 67 (admittedly we may be a little biased re: the importance of education). We fully intend to deliver safer schools and a better learning environment for our students...

Early May Red Cross blood drives World Red Cross Day is a time to recognize worldwide efforts to advocate for the relief of human suffering, whether from disease, disaster, war or famine. Join the Red Cross family this month and make an appointment to give blood in honor of World Red Cross Day by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or visiting redcrossblood.org...

Thanks, DAR, for prayer Dear DAR, I want to say thank you for today's prayer in the paper. It is encouraging to know there is still faith and belief in God in the U. S. I'd like to challenge all the school teachers, parents and students who read the paper. ...

Cotton Mitchell MALDEN, Mo. -- Alfred "Cotton" Mitchell, 89, of Malden, Mo., died Monday, April 14, 2014 at Malden Nursing & Rehab. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Bradshaw Funeral Home. Burial will be in Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Despite high winds, some rain, wide open timber and generally tough conditions for turkey hunting over the weekend, young hunters in Missouri killed 4,332 birds during the special youth season, a new harvest record. "They barely edged out the record from 2012," said MDC Resource Scientist Jason Isabelle. The previous record was 4,319 birds...

Sally Fauller DEXTER, Mo. -- Sally Nell Fauller, 103, formerly of the Sikeston, Mo., area, died Saturday, April 12, 2014, at the Royal Manor Nursing Facility in Nicholasville, Ky. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at Watkins & Sons Funeral Service in Dexter. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow in the Dexter Cemetery in Dexter...

Tiffany Goforth DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Tiffany June (Burkeen) Goforth, 36, of West Plains, Mo., died Monday, April 14, 2014, at her residence. A visitation will take place at 2 p.m. Friday at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan followed by a memorial service at 3 p.m...

By SAMANTHA RINEHART SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO.-- Dr. Mike Wulfers spoke at the regular meeting of the Cape County Tea Party on Tuesday night to talk about a unique method of health care -- the concierge doctor. Wulfers said he's part of a "growing movement" in the country that strives to provide more personalized primary care. ...

Dewayne Davidson MALDEN, Mo. -- Henry Dewayne Davidson, 63, of Holcomb, Mo. died Saturday, April 12, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be at noon Thursday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden with the funeral following at 2 p.m. at Bradshaw Funeral Home. Burial will be in Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton, Mo. with full military rites...

MARTIN, Tenn. -- The Three Rivers rodeo team barely missed out on sending someone to the College National Finals for the second year in a row. Keith Hall became the school's first cowboy to compete in the national competition in Wyoming last summer in bull riding. The top three finishers in the Ozark Region standings in each event at the end of the season qualify for nationals...

Marc Solano Marc Solano, 22, of Palm Desert, Calif., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, March 22, 2014, in Palm Desert. Mr. Solano was born Aug. 24, 1991, in Visalia, Calif. He attended Poplar Bluff High School, and later graduated in 2011 from Coachella Valley school in California. He had worked for Walgreens, JCPenny and Union Bank. Mr. Solano was a musician, singer, songwriter, outdoors man and enjoyed culinary arts...

Norene Duncan Norene Rutledge Duncan, 88, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away April 15, 2014, at her residence. Mrs. Duncan was born March 15, 1926, to the late Lyman and Creasy Wood Rutledge. On Oct. 14, 1944, she married Paul Duncan in Poplar Bluff. He preceded her in death on March 11, 2001...

By DAR STAFF CHAFFEE -- Dakota Norden drove in the only run Greenville needed and freshman Trey McDaniel pitched a 3-hit shutout Tuesday as the Bears took down the top-ranked team in Class 2 Chaffee, 1-0. The win was also important for district seedings as the Bears (8-5) took a leg up there...

Velma L. Aydelotte Velma L. Aydelotte, 68, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, April 15, 2014, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born on Oct. 8, 1945, in Morehouse, Mo., to the late James T. Bruce and Ellen (Hill) Bruce. She attended Grace United Methodist Church and worked in food service at the VA Hospital. She enjoyed playing bingo...

Mine Clark FLORA, Ill. -- Mine A. Clark, 78, of Kennett, Mo., formerly of Flora, died at 3:42 a.m., Saturday, April 12, 2014, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mine was born Aug. 10, 1935, in Nagano, Japan. She married Enos "Jack" Clark who preceded her in death on Sept. 5, 2000. Mine worked as a seamstress for many years, and she was a member of the Green Forest Church of Christ in Poplar Bluff and past member of Bethlehem Christian Church in Flora...

For this year's Fellowship of Christian Athletes banquet, Poplar Bluff welcomed in one of its own. A former Mule who now counsels the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL, keynote speaker Johnny Shelton had a message to attendees Tuesday at The Conference Center...

Bill Laffoon ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Bill Laffoon, formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo. and owner of Laffoon Photography, passed away peacefully April 8 in Oklahoma City, Okla. after a battle with Alzheimer's. In Poplar Bluff, he was active in the Chamber, Kiwanis and a deacon at the First Baptist Church...