Stories from Monday, August 4, 2014

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Productive Staffing will be the event sponsor for the annual Women Aware conference Thursday, Sept. 25, at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Janet McNece, who with her husband William own Productive Staffing in Poplar Bluff, Mo. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A pediatrician who has practiced in Butler County for nearly 30 years has been selected to help share the health needs of Southeast Missouri with a statewide non profit organization. Dr. Claudia Preuschoff will represent this area as one 13 members selected for Missouri Foundation for Health's Community Advisory Council...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer It actually takes a popcorn seed to grow the popular snack, a group of farmers learned Friday during a tour of an area popcorn company. Field corn seeds would be considered a contaminate in the acres of popcorn stalks near Powe, Mo., grower Zach Tanner explained to about 70 Missouri Young Farmers...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer It is a very helpless feeling, according to Neelyville teacher Shannon Davis, to be in the metal classroom building at the Hillview campus with a group of small children as bad weather rolls in across southern Butler County...

Robert Johnson Robert Lynn Johnson passed away Sunday, July 20, 2014, at his home in Fairview, Texas with his wife, Penny, by his side. Robert battled cancer since February, 2004. Robert (Bob) was born Feb. 8, 1959 in St. Louis, Mo. He was raised in Poplar Bluff Mo. Bob married his wife, Penny, on Sept 5, 2003. She survives...

Jim Bristow Jim Bristow, 62, of Baton Rouge, La., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, July 17, 2014, at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Gonzales, La. Mr. Bristow was born Dec. 3, 1951, in Poplar Bluff, and was a graduate of Poplar Bluff High School class of 1969. ...

Through Rural Development's Direct Housing Loan Program, applicants may obtain 100 per cent financing to purchase or build a home. Additionally, Rural Development offers Guaranteed Housing Loans which are made by conventional lenders. Both programs are available to low and moderate income applicants to buy or build homes...

Donald Barks Sr. Donald Lee Barks Sr., 78, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Thursday, July 31, 2014. Donald was born in Shook, Mo., to the late Charlie Onard Barks and Dicey Nell Gilbreath Barks. Donald is survived by three grandchildren, Michael Hennen and Donald Lee Barks III of Poplar Bluff and Amber LeAnn Barks of Kennett and seven great-grandchildren; step-mother, Wanda Barks (Loyd), eight brothers, nine sisters, one step-brother and two step-sisters and numerous nieces and nephews...

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Mo. 734 members totalled losses, awarded prizes and planned further events Wednesday morning, July 30. Leader Linda Morgan presided with eight TOPS and two KOPS answering roll call. Lou Ann Wrather read the secretary's report which was approved. Wanda Flurry was the biggest loser for TOPS this week. She received a certificate and $3...

Lauren Thomas Lauren D'ior Thomas was stillborn Wednesday, July 30, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. There was a memorial service at noon Saturday at Fowlers-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Condolences: www.fowlersullivanfuneralhome.com...

Audrey Adams DONIPHAN, Mo.-- Audrey Adams, 70, of Fairdealing, Mo. died Thursday, July 31, 2014. She was born Feb. 24, 1944 in Ripley County, Mo. to the late Dan and Jessie Tutterow Payne. Mrs. Adams was a member of the Logan Creek General Baptist Church. She was a registered nurse and retired from what is now Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center after 34 years of service. She had worked as a certified critical care nurse for several years...

Jimmy Fowler MALDEN, Mo. -- Jimmy Graydon Fowler, 68, of Dexter, Mo. died Friday, Aug. 1, 2014, at Southeast Missouri Health Care of Stoddard County in Dexter. No services are planned. Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden is in charge of arrangements.

Charlotte Brewer PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Charlotte L. Brewer, 81, of Annapolis, Mo., died Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014, at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel of Piedmont.

Larry and Janice Duncan of Poplar Bluff, Mo., will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary Sunday, Aug. 3, 2014 with a family trip to their beloved Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. The couple was married Aug. 3, 1974 at Lone Oak General Baptist Church in Broseley, Mo. The Rev. Bob Sanders officiated...

Aurel D. Robertson and Stephen S. Leamon, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo., exchanged vows Friday, April 11, 2014 at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park in Lampe, Mo. Rev. James Scott officiated at the double-ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Robin and Joanna Robertson of Poplar Bluff...

By SHARON RANDALL McClatchy-Tribune News Service No one looks forward to going to a memorial service, let alone, two in one weekend. But my husband and I didn't want to miss either of these. The first was for a long time family friend. For 50 years or so, Dave and his wife shared their lives with my husband's parents. As couples, they raised their children together, traveled the world and watched their grandchildren grow up...

It's all fraudulent This is to all the computer people out there--I've got three calls from India here in the past few weeks people wanting to access my computer telling me I had a spy ware in it. And, I said, what's this gonna cost me? and they said well, we don't know until we get into it. It's all fraudulent. So all you people who own computers, beware! Don't give access to nobody unless you called them. Thank you...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- If Ohio's senior senator were named Sharon Brown instead of Sherrod Brown, progressives would have a plausible political pin-up and a serious alternative to the tawdry boredom of Hillary Clinton's joyless plod toward her party's presidential nomination. Drop one of Brown's consonants and change another, and a vowel, and we might be spared the infatuation of what Howard Dean called "the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party" for Sen. Elizabeth Warren...

Richard and Patsy Smith of McGee, Mo. will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014 beginning at 3 p.m. The couple was married Aug. 12, 1964 in the home of Preacher Homer Campbell in Zalma, Mo. The couple have two children: Stacy (Cindy) Smith of Wappapello, Mo. and Mendy (Jeremy) Ray of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; and four grandchildren...

PHOTO Dairel and Genise Denton of Poplar Bluff, Mo. announce the engagement of their daughter, Melissa Denton, to Josh Bowman, son of Ken and Jan Bowman of Blue Springs, Mo. The bride-to-be graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 2001, received a bachelor's degree in business from Missouri State University, and then attended the University of Missouri School of Law. She is an attorney and works in government affairs and policy for SSM Health Care in Saint Louis, Mo...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Little communities and small towns nestled in the heart of farmland have been dying a slow and agonizing death in America. Those who survive in these communities farm and/or relay on jobs in the nearest town. A few miles south of Poplar Bluff, Mo. lies a small community whose determination has kept it alive -- Harviell, Mo. (Population 106, 2010 Census)...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor The MINIs are coming to town Monday and their drivers have made lunch reservations for hometown barbecue. The motorists in the annual MINI Cooper Rally named the MINIs Take the States plan to be in Poplar Bluff, Mo. from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Monday...

Connor Galloway just got burnt out on baseball. Five years of traveling around, squatting down in heavy catcher's gear from February through October, it just got old after awhile. So he stopped, which has allowed him to go so much faster. After some time off, Galloway was at a friend's house last year and the conversation drifted toward sprint cars and eventually dragsters. A little peer pressure later and he was on his way from diamonds to drag strips...

David Kern FISK, MO. - David Brian Kern, 41, of Fisk died Thursday, July 31, 2014 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born Sept. 15, 1972 at St. Louis, Mo. He was of the Baptist Faith. He owned a landscape and lawn care business and enjoyed music and camping. ...

High school sports practices across the state of Missouri will get under way officially Monday. But a wrinkle voted on and implemented starting last year by MSHSAA has all outdoor sports following guidelines to ease the student athletes into the weather and the intensity of their sport...

"Randy" Jones DEXTER, Mo.--George "Randy" Jones, 55, of St. Mary's, Mo., died Friday, Aug. 1, 2014, at his home. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Monday at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Graveside services will follow 1 p.m. at Walker Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo...

Bobby Gowen Bobby Gean Gowen, 74, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Aug. 1, 2014, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Gowen was born Feb. 7, 1940, in Poplar Bluff, to the late Ole and Martha Scott Gowen. He proudly served his country in the U.S. ...

Something had to be done. The rotation was falling apart, there was a logjam in the outfield and two big question marks on the disabled list. The St. Louis Cardinals were a half game out of the final wild-card spot and very much in the thick of the NL Central race despite a rollercoaster season of missed opportunities and bad breaks...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A near-perfect morning with temperatures hovering in the high 70's ended with a perfect throw from quarterback Kyle Snyder to receiver Paul McRoberts on Friday on the lower field at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex. Cornerback Reggie Jennings was given the coverage challenge on the talented 6-foot-3 junior as teammates took sides, with those wearing red (offense) and white (defense) jerseys rooting for their players...

SIKESTON -- Former Poplar Bluff standout Tony Webb understands that basketball is the lifeblood of southeast Missouri sports. So when Webb, Trey Porter and Don Webb pulled together, they had one goal in mind -- provide southeast Missouri with a top-notch AAU basketball program...