Stories from Thursday, September 11, 2014

By NOREEN HYSLOP SEMO News Service BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A 61-year-old rural Bloomfield man is dead following a Monday night fire in his mobile home on a county road southeast of Bloomfield, just outside of Dexter, Mo. Bloomfield firefighters were summoned to the home at 16307 County Road 511A at 9:30 p.m. Seven members of the Bloomfield Fire Department battled the blaze...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- An assistant attorney general filed a civil lawsuit in federal court Monday against Carter County Prosecuting Attorney Rocky Kingree for alleged malicious prosecution and violating his constitutional rights to due process...

Jesus was in trouble with the Jews because He healed a man on the Sabbath day. They complained He had not only violated the Sabbath, but that He claimed He had come from God. Jesus said, "The Father who sent me hath borne witness of me. You have never heard His voice or seen Him, neither does His word abide in you; for whom He sent, ye believe not. ...

Make plans for the White Out concert and rally to be held at the Zalma Church Gym at 7 p.m. Sept. 19. This worship service is an opportunity for all to unite in a non-denominational spirit led Christian atmosphere igniting for Jesus Christ. The event is free, and everyone is invited to attend. Those choosing to can wear white...

Jerry Richard PUXICO, Mo.--Jerry Wiley Richard, 69, Wappapello, Mo., the son of the late John W. and Eva Duren Richard, was born on Sept. 17, 1944, in Puxico and passed away at his residence in Wappapello on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014. Mr. Richard had been a lifelong resident of the Puxico and Wappapello area. He graduated from Puxico High School in 1962. He was a livestock and hay...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL Marshal Daniel Dew took his oath of office at a special meeting of the Puxico Board of Aldermen Sept. 4 and immediately got down business with a review of the police department budget and discussion about possible scheduling scenarios based on the city's needs and funding availability...

Members of Puxico Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7822 will be holding their Homecoming appreciation fish fry at 6 p.m. Sept. 20 in the cafeteria on the campus of Puxico R-8 Schools. Everyone in the community who helped make this another successful Homecoming is invited to attend...

Commerce Bank announces Richard Landers will assume the role of market manager for the Poplar Bluff, Mo., Market effective Oct. 1. Bill Brandt, who has served in that capacity since 2000, has announced he will retire in mid-2015. Until his retirement, Brandt will continue to serve as chairman of Commerce Bank's Poplar Bluff Market...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL Outdoor enthusiasts have the opportunity to enjoy the newly redone Ozark Highlands Auto Tour at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge. The 17-mile route, with its many scenic overlooks, provides ample opportunity to view wildlife, as well as areas to enjoy canoeing and fishing...

Randy Schulz of Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff and Wappapello received the prestigious "40 Years of Service" recognition at the Missouri Funeral Directors and Embalmers Convention recently in Branson, Mo. Schulz's career in the funeral business began in September of 1973, when he and his new bride, Lorrie, traveled from Norfolk, Neb., to Pomona, Calif. ...

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) applications will open Sept. 5 for a Youth Waterfowl Clinic and Hunt in Puxico, Mo. The event takes place from 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first Saturday in October (Oct. 4). The Oct. 4 workshop is open to participants age 11 through 15 who are certified in hunter education. ...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL Wappapello Volunteer Fire Department members held a yard sale and sold barbecue carry-out dinners at their fund-raiser Aug. 31 at the firehouse. "We do this every Labor Day," said Kathy Wilkey, secretary/treasurer, of the Wappapello VFD. "Every Labor Day until I get too old I can't do it anymore," she added with a laugh...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL Puxico Lady Indians volleyball junior varsity and varsity teams lost to Leopold Sept. 5 at home. The junior varsity lost in three sets, winning the first set 25-23 and losing the last two sets, 24-26 and 23-25. "Too many times we weren't talking," said Coach Sara Holloway of the junior varsity team. "A lot of times we're clashing into each other because we're not talking...

Members of the Puxico Cub Scout Pack #4370 are inviting all boys and their families for a couple of hours of games and fun to learn how Cub Scouting can positively affect the family. The Scouting Round Up will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11 at the Puxico Elementary School PE Room...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL Puxico resident Gladys Simpson thought she was just out for dinner with her family Sept. 4 at Mel's Diner. Just as her meal arrived, she received a very special surprise, an American flag honoring her late husband, Walter Nelson Hobgood...

Puxico Nursing & Rehab Center administrator Debby Hess announced Lisa Griffin and Shaun Foster were the facility's employees of the month for July and August, respectively. Griffin, who is the housekeeping and laundry supervisor, has worked at Puxico Nursing & Rehab Center for one year and said her favorite part of the job is the facility's residents...

A meet and greet will be held from 1-4 p.m. Sept. 25 at Puxico Nursing & Rehab Center to give family and friends of residents as well as members of the community the opportunity to get acquainted with Debby Hess, the facility's new administrator. Dessert and drinks will be served. Everyone is invited to attend and meet the new administrator...

DONIPHAN, Mo. - Mark Twain National Forest staff and volunteers began Monday to stabilize historic Greer Roller Mill, located near Greer Spring. They will be working for three weeks through Sept. 26. Twenty-one volunteers and Mark Twain National Forest staff will be joined by preservation experts from HistoriCorps, a Colorado-based, public-private entity specializing in historic restoration, to conduct a variety of repairs...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The Islamic State is a nasty problem that can be remedied if its neighbors, assisted by the United States, decide to do so. Vladimir Putin's fascist revival is a crisis that tests the West's capacity to decide. Putin's serial amputations of portions of Ukraine, which began with his fait accompli in Crimea, will proceed, and succeed, until his appetite is satiated. Then the real danger will begin...

Ollie V. Kenney Ollie V. Kenney, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service.

Will he ever learn? At the same time the African-American community in his ward are mounting an effort to have him recalled for racial insensitivity, Ward 5 Councilman Peter Tinsley seems to have offended another segment of his constituency. This time it's women...

By FRANK CAMPA Mo. Dept. of Conservation There are some unique youth events coming up soon that you may not want your children to miss. The first is a Youth Gigging Clinic hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation which will be held in Wayne County on Saturday, September 20th. Supper will be served there (a fish fry of course, cobbler included). And, fisheries biologists will also be there to educate the attendees on what legal rough fish that can be legally taken by gig...

Imogene Alice Gilliland NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Imogene Alice Gilliland, 84, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014 at the Manor in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Gilliland was a homemaker. She was born Oct. 29, 1929, in Naylor, Mo. She married Phillip Gilliland May 25, 1949, in Pocahonas, Ark. He survives...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Missouri's archery deer and turkey seasons open Monday, and Missouri Department of Conservation Resource Scientist Jason Sumners is cautiously optimistic hunters will have a good season this fall. Last year, Sumners said, hunters faced a double-whammy when bowhunting deer...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Conditions were ideal Saturday for the annual Big "O" Bassmasters tournament at Wappapello Lake, and with 60 boats entered, participation was nearly identical to last year. Bruce Hutson and his son, Ryan Hutson, topped the field, bringing in a six-fish limit weighing 15.08 pounds...

GREENVILLE -- The Greenville Lady Bears had come into Tuesday night winners of their last two matches. But coach Heather Evans felt her team really got into a groove for the first time this season against Twin Rivers. The Lady Bears fought back from five points down and ended up on top of an absolute battle in the first set before leading wire-to-wire in the second with scores of 29-27, 25-11...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Notre Dame pushed across six runs in the second inning to pull away from visiting Poplar Bluff 8-2 Tuesday. Poplar Bluff (5-3) gave up a season-high eight runs on the road as freshman pitcher Shelby Sievers suffered her first loss of the season...

Judy Curtiss MALDEN, Mo.--Judy Lynn Townsend Curtiss, 55, of South Carolina, precious wife, mother, daughter and sister left this earth and entered the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014 in South Carolina. Judy was born on March 4, 1959 in Cape Girardeau, Mo. to Carl and Dorothy Townsend...

ELLSINORE -- These are the dawg days of Summer Shockley. Van Buren's pitcher improved to 5-0, the same record as the team, with a complete-game shutout at East Carter. The Lady Dawgs backed her up with an error-free effort defensively and 10 hits to win 4-0...

Erica Lyn Gentry DEXTER, Mo. -- Erica Lyn Gentry, 28, of Dexter died Monday, Sept. 8, 2014, at the Southeast Health Care of Stoddard County in Dexter. Visitation will be from 5 - 8 p.m. Thursday at the Shady Acres Church of Christ, 1440 Ables Road, Sikeston, Mo...

James V. Morgan CAMPBELL, Mo. -- James V. Morgan, 78, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Sept. 8, 2014, at his residence. Visitation will be at from 10-11 a.m. Thursday at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Roscoe Gray officiating. Burial will be in Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton, Mo...

BERNIE -- For the second consecutive day Tuesday, the Bernie Mules got a no-hitter and a 10-0 win. This time the victim was the Campbell Camels as Alex Guzman struck out eight and walked two in five innings. On Monday, Brock Beacham fanned 12 in a no-hitter of Twin Rivers in five innings...

Alpha Lorene Buchanan PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Alpha Lorene Buchanan, 99, of Springfield, Mo., died Monday, Sept. 8, 2014 at the Maranatha Lodge Nursing Home in Springfield. The visitation will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont with services following at 11 a.m. at the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow at Yount Memorial Cemetery. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

Julia M. Medley FISK, Mo. - Julia Mae Medley, 84, of Broseley, Mo., died Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014 at Southbrook Nursing Center in Farmington, Mo. She was born July 10, 1930 at Broseley and had lived at Broseley all of her life. She was formerly a member of Little Vine General Baptist Church, and of Fisk General Baptist Church. She currently was attending Black River General Baptist Church...