Stories from Thursday, November 27, 2014

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor VAN BUREN, Mo. -- An autopsy Tuesday afternoon on the partially decomposed body found by a hunter did not provide the answers Carter County authorities had hoped it would. The body is that of a white female, but how she died and who she is still are unknown...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Three children in one Butler County home asked only for clothes this Christmas. Between the ages of six and 13, they are among more than 400 children already registered with Project Christmas Promise. The Promise program, which is organized by AmeriCorps, works to ensure every child in Butler County has a Merry Christmas...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer An 11-year-old boy with autism who loves to build things tops Patty Fuller's Christmas list this year. He isn't one of her own children, but a child adopted through Project Christmas Promise for the holiday season. Each year since Project Christmas Promise began, Fuller and the employees of Smith and Company have adopted a family of four. They help ensure those children find new clothing and gifts under their tree Christmas morning...

It's Thanksgiving time, and I am glad! Someone may ask, "Why are you so glad, are you not thankful everyday?" Of course I am, but having one day designated as a day for giving thanks to God, motivates me to examine my attitude of gratitude toward God...

O'Neal Elementary School has released the October Students of the Month. Second grader, Miranda Curl, daughter of Randy and Amanda Curl and Negail Skinner, was named by her teacher, Christina Spencer. She was chosen because she is an excellent student who pays close attention to details. She is kind, patient, friendly and helpful. Miranda respects her classmates and teachers. She is the first one to volunteer to share with those around her...

Sacred Heart School - First Quarter Honor Roll A Honor Roll: First Grade: Braden Belknap, Evan Bonifield, Guy Conner, Urian Hernandez, Jack Hirtz, Noah Innes, Gracie Massey, Brayden Poole, Jalynn Proffer, Aaron Reyes-Mortero, Selina Shi, Marcus Tabanera & Jacob Ventura...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL It has been a long road for the Puxico R-8 High School Lady Indians basketball program, but Coach Jordan Lindsay is looking forward to seeing what her players can do when they take to the floor for the season opener Dec. 4. When Lindsay came on board seven years ago, the girls' program had dwindled to nothing. Puxico has been Lindsay's first coaching job, and it has been a learning curve for her, especially with rebuilding the girls' basketball program...

Ag Expo will celebrate its 29th Anniversary on January 30 and 31 at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Agriculture booth spaces are now available to rent. This is one of the largest ag trade shows in the region, which is sponsored by Butler County University of Missouri Extension Council and the Ag Club of Three Rivers College...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL Voters will have the opportunity to choose two candidates to serve three-year terms when they go to the polls April 7, 2015. The opening date to file for school board candidacy for the upcoming election was set for Dec. 16, 2014. The closing date is Jan. 20, 2015...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL It's that time of year, time to get out those seat cushions and don your orange and black attire. The Puxico High School Indians basketball teams will soon be taking the court to the delight of their devoted fans. The Indians' new head coach Nathan Walk said those exuberant fans are intimidating when you are the opposing coach, but he is excited to have that fan base behind him and his team...

CMU, established in Fayette in 1854 and a partner with Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff since 2008, will offer coursework at Three Rivers facilities in Sikeston and Dexter, according to CMU Provost Dr. Rita Gulstad. Courses begin the week of Jan. 12...

SIKESTON, Mo.-- For more than 25 years, Missouri Department of Transportation employees have helped grant Christmas wishes to Southeast Missouri families through the Christmas Angels program. "The program began decades ago with a crock pot of chili and the desire to help at least one child," said Transportation Project Designer Jeff Wachter. ...

Registration is open for Three Rivers College's "Evening Advantage" program -- evening classes designed to make it convenient for working students to complete their degree. The program was recently remodeled following feedback from students after the program's launch in the fall of 2014...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL Vapor Secrets owner Lori Johnson has been in business almost a year, but she wants the community to know she offers more than just E-Cigarettes and supplies. Johnson first opened Vapor Secrets Jan. 2 inside Slabber Dave's in Wappapello...

Officers and members of the Puxico Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Chapter recently attended the 2014 Missouri Show Me FBLA Leadership Conference held on Oct. 18 in St. Charles at the St. Charles Community College. This year's theme was "Leadership Wins Championships!"...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Asserting a legal and constitutional authority he himself said he did not have, President Obama is going rogue, issuing an executive amnesty to 4 to 5 million illegal aliens. He will order the U.S. government not to enforce the law against these 5 million, and declare that they are to be exempt from deportation and granted green cards...

The Rombauer Rascals 4-H Club has been working hard to finish the first ever walking trail in Rombauer. Community, church members and 4-H'ers came together to work on this project throughout the year. The Missouri 4-H Foundation grant provided the support the club needed to finish their project...

Farrell Grubbs PUXICO, Mo. -- Farrell Grubbs, 65, of Puxico died Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Friday at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the New Hope Cemetery in McGee, Mo...

Mary Ella Hill PUXICO, Mo. -- Mary Ella Hill, 79, of Poplar Bluff died Saturday at Westwood Hills. Arrangements are pending Morgan Sifford Funeral Home.

By MONA CHAREN The Islamic State beheaded another American this week. The Obama administration's response revealed its stubborn determination to deny reality. Peter Kassig was a former Army Ranger and emergency medical technician who was moved by the suffering of Syria's civilians and returned to the region after his discharge to provide aid. ...

The Cane Creek Community Club met Nov. 12 in the Snider Room at the Twin Towers for its monthly meeting with Nancy Wujcik as hostess. Seven members were present. The thought for the day was "The difference between what you were yesterday and what you will be tomorrow is what you do today."...

James Burns FISK, Mo. - James Elmer Burns, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014 at Westwood Hills Health & Rehabilitation Center, Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be from 10 - 11 a.m. Friday at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with Travis Quertermous and Steve Sanders officiating. Burial will be at Walker Cemetery at Bloomfield...

Stanley Morgan Pastor Stanley Morgan, son of Truman and Eurma Lou Morgan of Fisk, Mo., went home to be with The Lord on Nov. 14, 2014 after suffering a catastrophic illness while on vacation in Shanghai, China. He was born Nov. 24, 1957. Stanley resided in Tampa, Fla. ...

Billy R. Newman Billy R. Newman, 79, of Caruthersville, Mo. passed away, Nov. 3, 2014, at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was born Nov. 30, 1934, at Newport, Ark. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1953 to 1956. He was baptized as one of Jehovahs Witnessess in 1972 and was an active member. He was a gifted guitarist and his love of music was well-known among friends and family...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Two years after receiving a sizable grant from the NRA Foundation, the Poplar Bluff Gun Club has finished renovation work to its trap shooting fields. "We recently hosted a big high school shoot with nine schools," said club Vice President Tim Heuiser, noting the organization didn't have the facilities to do such a thing in the past. "That was the need ... so we could do things like that."...

Gary W. Kysar Gary Wayne Kysar, 57, of Springfield, Mo., passed away Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, at his residence. Mr. Kysar was born in Poplar Bluff, Mo. to the late Orville J. and Verna Maona Brown Kysar. He graduated from PBHS in 1975 and later as Valedictorian from DeVry University, in Kansas City, Mo...

Freda Miller FISK, Mo. -- Freda Miller, 92, of Huron Township, Mich., passed away on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 at Oakwood Heritage Hospital in Taylor, Mich. Born on Jan. 3, 1922 in Poplar Bluff, Mo., she was the daughter of Frank and Lillie (Koonce) English.  She married Dick Miller on July 10, 1942 in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Even with a couple days of balmy, wet weather over the final weekend and high winds on Monday, Missouri deer hunters managed to kill 167,196 deer over the course of the 11-day firearms season, a bump of 6 percent over last year...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Owners of a proposed Vine Street restaurant, which would serve alcohol, promised residents Monday they will be good neighbors. The Poplar Bluff Planning and Zoning Commission voted 8-1 to move an application for a permit to sell liquor by the drink at the establishment to the Dec. 8 voting session...

Sally Ann Henthorne Sally Ann Henthorne, 66, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, at St. Anthony Medical Center in St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. Henthorne was born Aug. 5, 1948, in Ester, Mo., to the late Robert A. and Mary A. Slinkard Henderson. On June 5, 1965, she and James R. Henthorne were married in Poplar Bluff. He survives of the home...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor CORNING, Ark. -- Rob Young is the new Corning mayor. He defeated J. H. Ermert 325 to 282 in Tuesday's runoff election, according to the Clay County Clerk's office. Young and Ermert were the top two candidates in the Nov. 4 general election with 296 and 285 votes respectively, but neither candidate received 50 percent of the vote in the four-man race...

Las Vegas could lay odds on who will lead the Raiders in scoring during Three Rivers' three-day tournament starting Thursday. Through nine games, seven players are averaging at least 9 points a game. Torry Butler barely leads the team at 12.1 points after scoring more than 20 in back-to-back games. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff R-I Board of Education approved a 6 percent increase Thursday in the Technical Career Center fees during their monthly meeting. The increase will affect the 2015-16 catalog. "Even with rate increases, the Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center is competitive with other schools and much less than private schools offering the same programs," Director Charles Kinsey wrote in a report to the board...

Sam Gatewood was working in the Three Rivers Welcome Center when women's assistant basketball coach Sheronda Powell walked in. Powell asked her if she would be interested in joining the Lady Raiders. Gatewood, who played at Poplar Bluff, was a little shocked but agreed...