Stories from Sunday, February 8, 2015

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer On Feb. 27, 2010, while serving in Afghanistan, Staff Sgt. Eric Summers diffused three improvised explosive devices before assisting with two urgent medical evacuations. For his "unswerving determination, wise judgment, and complete dedication to duty," the Poplar Bluff, Mo., marine earned the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with "V" device...

By BRIAN ROSENER Sports Editor LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Poplar Bluff cheerleading team was one of the top teams not to advance Saturday at the Universal Cheerleader Association's National High School Cheerleading Championship. Poplar Bluff placed eighth out of 14 teams in the preliminary round of the Large Varsity Division II. The top seven teams advanced to either the semifinals or straight to the finals, which were to be held Sunday at ESPN Wide World Of Sports HP Field House...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Authorities say drastic cuts in funding for the Southeast Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force is crippling the work it can do investigating online predators targeting Missouri's children. The task force, based at the Poplar Bluff Police Department, was formed in 2007 as a means to fight online criminals who often seek to entice children and deal in child pornography...

EDITOR'S NOTE: State Senator Doug Libla, R-25 (Poplar Bluff), did not return calls made in an effort to obtain his comments. By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The operations of the Missouri Department of Conservation once again are the focus of several bills introduced in the state's current legislative session...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff Municipal Library set an all-time attendance record in 2014, attributing the increase of patrons to several policy changes, better funding and a new climate at the library. The library reported serving 101,048 visitors in 2014, an average of 300 visitors per day. This figure represents a more than 12 percent increase from the previous year. Library director Sue Crites Szostak says the public sees the library is a valuable resource...

Prospective college students in the Poplar Bluff area are now eligible to receive Arkansas State University's "Beyond Boundaries" scholarship. U.S. citizens who live in other states and meet academic criteria are eligible to receive a $2,500 annual scholarship, which can be renewed. ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. - If your farm has been in your family since Dec. 31, 1915, you can apply to have it recognized as a Missouri Century Farm. To qualify, farms must meet the following guidelines: The same family must have owned the farm for 100 consecutive years. ...

A "life changing" tour of the land where Jesus lived, was crucified and rose from the dead was experienced by 50 persons on a Westwood Baptist Church trip in January. The group included 46 members of the Poplar Bluff congregation and four from other churches...

Jackie Baumeister Fisk, Mo. -- Jackie Lee Baumeister, 84, of Poplar Bluff died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, at his residence. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. There will be a memorial service at a later date...

Harry Litzler DEXTER, Mo. -- Harry William (Bill) Litzler, 72, of Venice, Fla., died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, at Venice Hospice House in Venice. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Monday at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home chapel...

Lucas and Erin Edington of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Audra Leigh Edington for their 8-pound, 3-ounce daughter born at 12:06 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Audra was 20 inches long. Grandparents are Gary and Tami Simmons and Tracy and Tami Edington, all of Poplar Bluff, and Kathi and Robbie Gibbs of Scottsdale, Ariz. Great-grandparents are Norman Caringer and Ed and Marge Lewis, all of Poplar Bluff...

Give the new hospital chance I had to go to the new Poplar Bluff hospital this morning to get an MRI. I think the people in that hospital were very professional. They do a good job. They're really nice, and I think that people in Poplar Bluff need to give our new hospital a chance. Because, if we don't, we might not have a hospital. Speak Out, could you please, please, please print this?...

By SHARON RANDALL Tribune News Service This is for my 10-day-old granddaughter. Dear Eleanor, It's late. You are in your crib, bundled up like a pink burrito, in a room next to your mom and dad, who fell into bed a bit ago, limp as overcooked noodles...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "The Iranians are on the march," warned John McCain Sunday. "Iran is building a new Persian Empire," echoed Col. Ralph Peters. So alarmed is Speaker Boehner, he invited Bibi Netanyahu to come and challenge U.S. policy toward Iran from the same podium where the president delivered his State of the Union address...

Dennis Kelley Sr. NEELYVILLE -- Dennis Ray Kelley Sr., 67, of Neelyville died Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Kelley was the owner/manager of DK Auto Sales in Poplar Bluff. He was born Feb. 3, 1948, in Deering, Mo. He enjoyed working as an automobile salesman, spending time with his family, westerns and Cardinal baseball. He was a member of the Poplar Bluff Eagles Club...

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Iola George MALDEN, Mo. -- Iola Myrline George, 85, of Herculanuem, Mo., formerly of Malden, died Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson at Crystal City, Mo. Visitation is from 4-6 p.m. Sunday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden, where funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home chapel. The Rev. Stewart-Allen Clark will officiate. Burial will follow in Mt. Gilead Cemetery in Clarkton, Mo...

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Richard Radford SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Richard D. Radford, 86, died at home in Springfield the evening of Feb. 5, 2015. He was born Sept. 8, 1928 in St. Louis to the late Jack and Zella Radford. Richard graduated as valedictorian of his Vanduser, high school class in 1947. In 1948, he enlisted in the army and served with the 11th Airborne Division assigned to overseas duty with the occupation forces in Sendai, Japan...

BLOOMFIELD -- The Indians cut through a stacked deck. It was Bloomfield's homecoming, it was honoring the 50th anniversary of the 1964-65 team, the winningest era in school history, the gym was packed and Bloomfield had already beaten Puxico twice this season by at least 16 points...

MARSHFIELD, Mo. -- The Poplar Bluff wrestling team wrapped up its regular season on the west side of the state Saturday. The Mules finished fifth at the Marshfield Duals by beating Branson 48-24, Warsaw 60-6 and Webb City 39-31 while losing to Richmond 39-30 and Owensville 39-36...

There was no last-minute magic for the Mules this time at Peters Gym. Poplar Bluff turned the ball over three times in the final 2 minutes Friday night after taking a 5-point lead and Sikeston took advantage. The Bulldogs scored eight straight points then survived a comeback by the Mules to win 81-78...

NAYLOR -- A third-quarter push by Naylor ended Poplar Bluff's unbeaten start to February. The Lady Eagles rallied with a 7-2 run to end the first half tied Friday night then scored the first six points of the third quarter before slowly building a double-digit lead for a 57-47 win...

BROSELEY -- What a wild 24 hours it turned out to be for the Greenville Bears. After winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship Friday night on their home floor, the No. 5 Bears pulled off an upset to start the Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament Saturday night...

BROSELEY -- Some hot shooting from long range helped set the No. 4 Twin Rivers Lady Royals apart from No. 5 Clearwater. In the first round of the Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament, the Lady Royals trailed by two points after the first quarter before shooting 4-for-6 from 3-point land in the second and remained in the lead the rest of the game for a 70-56 victory Saturday afternoon...

After a slow start, the Raiders got things put together going into and coming out of halftime. Three Rivers went on to beat State Fair 67-36 on the first Raider Reunion night Saturday at the Bess Activity Center. "Basketball is a hard game to explain," Three Rivers coach Gene Bess said. "We played hard enough defensively to overcome our mistakes on offense."...

The Lady Raiders proved Saturday that they can score in bunches and bunches. State Fair, currently ranked 12th in the country, used two big first half runs to separate from Three Rivers and eventually won 116-104 at the Bess Activity Center. "I feel like we showed our fans what we actually could do," Three Rivers sophomore Danielle Farmer said. "We are better than what we've been playing."...