Stories from Sunday, April 20, 2014

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A Poplar Bluff senior will begin her military career in July at the United States Naval Academy, following in the footsteps of her big brother. Kaycee Kimbrow, 18, dreams of becoming a pilot. Tim, 21, will accept his commission as a second lieutenant after graduation in May. Kaycee was admitted to the academy with a prestigious presidential nomination and is the first female from Poplar Bluff to be accepted...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A 14-year-old student at the Boys & Girls Club of Poplar Bluff recently represented her program in the state Youth of the Year competition April 8-9. Victoria "Tori" Blackman, an eighth grader at Poplar Bluff Junior High, was selected due to her positive attitude and outstanding leadership, according to club staff...

Area youngsters enjoy searching for eggs during the Easter holiday season

Cpt. George E. Ridens, commanding officer of Troop E Poplar Bluff, announced from May 1 - 12 Troop E officers will be joining other Missouri law enforcement agencies during the Youth Alcohol Mobilization. During this period, officers will be stepping up enforcement efforts with a goal of removing impaired drivers from Missouri highways. With prom and graduation season here, Missouri law enforcement want to make sure Missouri youth are celebrating safe and sober...

Check answering machine volume Please fix the outgoing message on your circulation answering machine. The volume is REALLY Low and almost inaudible when I call in to report that I didn't get a DAR for that day. Thank you. Ask some deep questions A recent article done by the Daily American Republic here in Poplar Bluff, I noticed one local politician that's running for city council said that one of the greatest tasks that he would like to accomplish while in office is having our gravel streets paved. ...

By SHARON RANDALL McClatchy-Tribune News Service The message was brief. I read it twice: "Hey, Mom, can I come see you guys this weekend?" I wrote back, "Yippee!" Then I called the boy to get the plan. He had stuff to do before leaving town, he said, but hoped to make it in time for dinner...

The primary responsibility of the federal government and the President of the United States is to secure the safety of American citizens at home and abroad. President Obama's Fiscal Year 2015 budget is reckless and irresponsible in many ways, particularly with respect to our national security. President Obama's proposed budget cuts leave our military grossly underprepared and underfunded. The biggest threat to our military should not be our federal bureaucracy...

Mark and Kim McMullin of Poplar Bluff, Mo. announce the engagement of their daughter Cori Elizabeth McMullin to Trey Ruprecht of Lake St. Louis, Mo., the son of Art and Nancy Ruprecht of Chesterfield, Mo. The couple plan to be married at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the Wentzville Country Club, Wentzville, Mo...

Floyd Koons POCAHONTAS, Ark. - Floyd Earnest Koons, 67, of Biggers, Ark. died Thursday, April 17, 2014. Visitation and funeral services were Saturday at the Taylor-Cox Funeral Home in Pocahontas, Ark. Burial was at the Randolph Memorial Gardens.

James Britton James Harrison Britton, born Feb. 28, 1925 in Corinth, Miss., to James and Nannie (Davis) Britton, passed away Thursday, April 17, 2014 at the VA Medical Center in Fort Roots, North Little Rock, Ark. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Barbara Stephens Britton...

Dale Ellis DEXTER, Mo. -- Dale Ellis, 76, of Dexter died Thursday, April 17, 2014, at Southeast Health Care of Stoddard County in Dexter. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Monday at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Dale Holman of Advance, Mo., officiating. Burial will be in Bernie Cemetery in Bernie, Mo...

"She was the most beautiful 95-pound girl in Clay County, Ark.," said George Edward Niswonger. "She's just as beautiful 66 years later." Niswonger's memories of his wife Mable Herren are especially fond as they celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, April 16, 2014. The couple were married in 1948 at the court house in Corning, Ark...

Do you like working with youth? 4-H needs volunteers to head an afterschool 4-H Club for ages 8-18! Volunteers can organize 4-H clubs, lead 4-H project groups or 4-H advisory groups, become a 4-H council member, help at local and state events, assist with fundraising, or help in many other ways...

Sue Eskew DEXTER, Mo. -- Sue Eskew, 80, of Dexter died Thursday, April 17, 2014, at SoutheastHEALTH in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Mike Williams officiating. Burial will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield...

Juanita Beshears PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Juanita Beshears, 64, of Piedmont died Thursday, April 17, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be at 4 p.m. Monday at Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont, followed by the funeral at 6 p.m. Cremation will follow the service...

Eric Kelley GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Eric T. Kelley, 47, died Thursday, April 17, 2014, at his home near Greenville. There will be a graveside service at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Military Crossing Cemetery at Williamsville, Mo. On line condolences may be made at www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

Jack Ruble PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Pastor Jack Ruble, 59, died Friday, April 18, 2014, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will begin at 4:30 p.m. Monday at the Harvest Baptist Church. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Burial will be in the Ruble Cemetery at Piedmont...

Geneva Barks GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Geneva E. Barks, 82, died Saturday, April 19, 2014, at her residence near Lowndes, Mo. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Greenville, followed by the funeral at 1 p.m. Burial will be in the Mt. Pisgah Cemetery near Silva, Mo...

Tommy Smith ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Tommy Leroy Smith, son of the late Melvin and Ruth Smith, was born June 27, 1944, in Salem, Mo., and departed this life April 17, 2014, at his residence in Ellsinore, Mo. He had attained the age of 69 years, nine months, and 21 days...

Rev. J.B. Junior Ingram NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Rev. J.B. Ingram, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away Friday, April 18, 2014, in the Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was born Nov. 7, 1930 at Gatewood, Mo. to the late Boyd Ingram and Lola Tyler Ingram. On May 29, 1970 at Pacific, Mo., he was married to Mary Dyson. She survives...

Mazel Overbey CORNING, Ark. -- Mrs. Mazel (McNeely) Overbey, 91, of Baton Rouge, La., passed away Wednesday, April 16, 2014, at The Butterfly Wing of Baton Rouge General Medical Center Midcity in Baton Rouge. Mrs. Overbey was born in Ellington, Mo., on March 4, 1923. She was a homemaker, she enjoyed taking care of her family and attending church. She was a past 50-plus year member of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Cahokia, Ill., and a current member of Calvary Chapel in Baton Rouge...

By SAMANTHA RINEHART SEMO News Service State Republicans and Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon are preparing for another standoff over a tax cut proposal that could leave the state's education funding hanging in the balance. Senate Bill 509, sponsored by State Sen. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Citing multiple conflicts of interest, a judge has removed Carter County Prosecuting Attorney Rocky Kingree from representing the State of Missouri in a motion seeking to set aside the conviction of a man sentenced to die for gunning down a Missouri State Highway Patrol sergeant...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor The Southeast Missouri Geocaching Organization, in conjunction with the Friends of Wolf Creek, will host a "Cache in, Trash out" roadside cleanup and geocaching event April 26 along the Mark Twain National Forest's Wolf Creek Bicycle Trail near Poplar Bluff, Mo...

From Staff Reports Easter is a major religious holiday for Christians and celebrations in the United States begin with a traditional sunrise service. Many children awaken Easter morning to baskets filled with candy, eggs and other surprises, while families plan to share special meals with family and friends including egg hunts or egg rolls. Where do these fit in with the Christian observance?...

Courtesy of the Raiders, nationally-ranked Crowder lost its first series of the season and was run-ruled for the first time this season. Three Rivers won the four-game weekend series 3-1 against the region-leading Riders. The Raiders swept Friday with 7-6 and 8-0 wins, then lost Saturday's opener 7-6 and won the nightcap 2-1 at Roger Pattillo Field...

When Marcus Pattillo started umpiring, it was simply for those extra few dollars that all teenagers want to have during the summer break. At the time, Pattillo didn't realize it was going to some day become a part of his life's work. "I don't remember the year, but it was for the Park Department there (in Poplar Bluff)," Pattillo said of how he got his start in calling baseball games. ...

All season the Lady Raiders have put together offensive performances that have defied the small ball coaching style of Jack Childress. Jessica Menz has matched the single-season home run mark and Taylor Friend is one behind her. Those two didn't hit one out in the weekend's four-game series against Maple Woods, but that was about the only offensive thing the Lady Raiders didn't do on their way to 47 runs in the series...

MEHLVILLE -- The Poplar Bluff Mules golf team placed second out of 16 teams at the Mehlville Invitational Saturday as Nick Woolard, Trenton Thomas and Ryan McVey each were medalists. The Mules as a team lost by 10 strokes to Parkway South, 104-114. Woolard and Thomas each placed 10th with as he shot a 5-over-par 77 while McVey was 6-over at 78...