Stories from Thursday, April 2, 2015

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Contests in one fire district, one health board, five townships and two water districts will be decided April 7. There will be three contests in Castor Township (Stoddard County), three in Union Township (Dunklin County) and two in Carter County Water District 1...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Transportation, transparency and teacher support were some of the issues addressed by candidates running for two open seats on the R-I Board of Education during a Tuesday evening candidate forum. Four of the five candidates - incumbent Kent Eyler and candidates Heather Tuggle, Ken Davis and Tim Hollinger - attended the event hosted by the Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) and the Missouri National Education Association (MNEA). ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor If voters approve a $4 million bond issue on April 7 to improve the Hillview and Neelyville campuses, the Neelyville School District plans to take advantage of federal Qualified Zone Academy Bonds and save as much as $700,000 in interest...

Floyd Ward PUXICO, Mo. -- Floyd L. Ward, 85, of Puxico, Mo., died Friday, March 27, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation and the Masonic services was Sunday at Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico. Funeral services were Monday at the funeral home. Burial was in the Puxico Cemetery...

Daren Pulliam Daren Lee Pulliam, 36, of Wappapello died March 22, 2015 at the SoutheastHEALTH Center of Stoddard County. Services were held March 25, 2015 at the Lighthouse Christian Center in Dexter. Rev. Russell officiated. Burial followed in the Bernie Cemetery...

All roads in southeast Missouri will lead to the Greenville Recreation Area at Wappapello Lake on April 18 - 19 for the 37th Annual Old Greenville Black Powder Rendezvous. This event is the longest consecutive rendezvous in the state of Missouri. Many families have made this event a tradition. ...

Twelfth Grade Highest Honors: Chelsea Baker, Christina Beauford, Kayleigh Burch, Katelyn Clark, Gabrielle Clark, Jared Coleman, Makayla Conner, Samantha Cryts, Jonathon Davis, Brianna Doublin, Hannah Fisher, Laine Friedrich, Brenna Hancock, Sarah Harp, Shelby Heaton, Bethanie Kolwyck, Logan Lizenbee, Baileigh Meadows, Brice Morgan, Corey Pratt, Phoenix Richard, Stephens Rodgers, Kelsey Steiner, Cordell Stewart, Austin Taylor and Tyler Wilkerson...

Jesus said, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." Luke 9:23. Our Lord employed a striking figure of speech when He stated this great spiritual truth in reference to the requirements of discipleship. Is He not saying if we want to truly follow Him we must cancel self and give Him first place in our life? To deny self is to forego doing the things that please self that we may do that which pleases Him...

The members of the Puxico First United Methodist Church invites everyone to attend its Good Friday Service at 6:30 p.m. April 3. Rev. Dr. Jeff Long, pastor of the First and Fairview United Methodist churches will conduct the Good Friday service to be held at the Methodist Church on Rihcardson Avenue...

The members of the Lake Wappapello United Methodist Church will be presenting Journey to the Cross. Everyone is to meet at 8:30 a.m. in the sanctuary of the church to begin the walk. This will be an interactive event with God and nature on a Prayer Walk beginning at 8:30 a.m...

The members of Puxico Life Chapel will be hosting their Seventh Annual Resurrection Celebration April 4. Registration will begin at 11 a.m. Free hot dogs, chips, drinks and prizes will be provided. Age categories include 4 and under boys, 4 and under girls, ages 5-8 boys, ages 5-8 girls, ages 9-12 boys and ages 9-12 girls...

Fifth Grade: Ethan Barnfield, Shirley Buttry, Bradin Cornelius, Zaden Duncan, Madison Elsworth, Kirsten Evans, Kyle Holden, Lydia Holden, Kayla Holt, David Holyfield, Liberty Jenkins, Jade Kerley, Collin Lewis, Alyssa Lyle, Tanner Melton, Devin Mondy, Jacey Parsley, Makayla Pierce, Jerricka Powell, Ty Rommel, Kaydin Schulte, Abbigayle Siler, Courtney Smith, Dalton Stewart, Jayden Strickland and Bailey Watts...

Missouri turkey hunters can expect a good spring season overall according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). The spring turkey hunting season starts with a youth-only weekend April 11-12 for young hunters ages 6-15. The regular spring season runs April 20 through May 10...

Eighth Grade: Highest Honors: Bailey Burns, Jordan Calzoni, Jacob DeVaughn, April Forshee, Sophia Hancock, Shelby Hobbs, Kaleb Miller, Marissa Peters, Bianca Thomas and Dawn Whitehead. Honor Roll: Kasen Barnfield, Austin Billings, Dalton Heath, Lindsay Hutcheson, Tayler Jones, Easton McLain, Kyle McNew, Tommy Parsley, Brandon Siler, Zabrina Starnes, Jacob Taylor, Austin Wilson, Nick Wirz and Cole Yoebstl...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL While several candidates are running unopposed in the April 7 election, Puxico voters still have some issues to decide when they take to the polls Tuesday. With Ballot Issue #1, voters will be asked to decide whether or not to forego future municipal elections if all candidates are running unopposed...

An officials with the city of Puxico are asking for assistance in updating its Web site. According to Ward II Alderman Lance Hamann, "The city is envisioning a 'one-stop-shop' for information about the Puxico community." "We have pages set up for information about churches, businesses, civic organizations and other pages regarding attractions," he said. "If there is enough interest in adding an 'Employment Opportunities' page, we would be able to accommodate that request too."...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL The Berry-Glenn Historical Museum will be opening for the season Saturday, April 4, and there are new things to see and exciting events planned throughout the rest of the year. While the museum was closed for the winter, Julie Hamann and high schoolers in her Student and Community Leadership class spent a couple of days a week rearranging the museum...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL For the third year, members of First Baptist Church will be presenting an Easter pageant for church members and the public. Three separate performances will be held. "This year's title is 'Mercy Tree'," said Tonna O'Dell, who plays the part of Sarah. ...

The members of the Puxico High School Beta club will be hosting a trivia night at 6:30 p.m. April 17 in the school cafeteria. The cost to participate is $10 per team member, and teams may consist of no more than eight people. The three highest scoring teams will receive cash prizes. Babysitting is available for a donation...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN In what has been called the "Catholic moment" in America, in the late 1940s and 1950s, Catholics were admonished from pulpits to "live the faith" and "set an example" for others. Public lives were to reflect moral beliefs. Christians were to avoid those "living in sin." Christians who operated motels and hotels did not rent rooms to unmarried couples...

As we stand about 20 months out from Election Day 2016, I have much to learn in terms of becoming both a better candidate and a better potential president of the United States. I do not take the opportunity lightly. In fact, the decision to explore a candidacy for president was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make...

Spring as sprung! The daffodils and tulip trees are blooming around the Capitol. The Missouri House is on its annual Spring Break this week as members have returned home to their districts for a few days to reconnect with their constituents and recharge their batteries for the final weeks of session. The House had an incredibly busy first half of the legislative session as members approved more than 90 bills that now await approval in the Senate...

BONNE TERRE -- Jabreuna Brimlett won all four of her events, Jessenia Ellis dominated in the throws and the Lady Mules swept the relays as Poplar Bluff won the Raider Relays at North County by 118 points. "There was not a single event that the girls did not score points in," Lady Mules coach Beth Lewis-Muse said. "That is a sign of a team that goes to compete."...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor The Bluff City Mallards chapter of Ducks Unlimited is finalizing plans for its 2015 banquet in Poplar Bluff. The event will begin at 5 p.m. April 11 at the Black River Coliseum with a social hour, where games, raffles and a silent auction will be offered...

By JOHN PRATT Mo. Dept. of Conservation Today I am going to share some information about the disease rabies. Rabies is a very serious disease, requiring people to be careful dealing with animals. Once rabies is contracted, there is no cure for it in animals...

Harold V. Heaton DEXTER, Mo.--Harold V. Heaton, 72, of Dudley, died Sunday, March 29, 2015 at his residence. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. Friday at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. A memorial service will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chaper at 6 p.m. Friday with Buddy Heaton officiating...

WEST PLAINS -- Two freshmen came thorugh with goals for the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules Tuesday evening as they won their second road game of the year, 2-1, over West Plains in double-overtime. Neida Grimaldo scored the game winner with an assist from senior Kori Tapp for her first career varsity goal...

Ronald Gene Parrent Ronald Gene Parrent, 61, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Monday, March 30, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Hospital. Mr. Parrent was born May 28, 1953, in Doniphan, to Gene and Imogene Parrent. Mr. Parrent was a high school graduate of Naylor High School and he later went on to mortuary school in Louisville, Ky. ...

Emma Wallis Emma Fay Wallis, 90 of Poplar Bluff, passed away Tuesday, March, 31, 2015 after a brief stay for hospice care at The Manor Nursing Home. Mrs. Wallis was born June 16, 1924 in Qulin, to the late John and Beulah (Hewlett) Reed. She enjoyed church, playing Scrabble, cooking, gardening, sewing and spending time with family and friends. ...

Dillon McNew PIGGOTT, Ark.--Dillon McNew, 21, of Piggott, passed away Saturday, March 28, 2015, at UAMS in Little Rock, Ark., after a tragic tractor accident. He was born on March 30, 1993, in Poplar Bluff. Dillon enjoyed playing football for the Piggott Mohawks and loved hunting, fishing and all the good things of life, but above all, he loved his family and friends...

Dorinda Jackson FISK, Mo.--Dorinda K. Jackson, 63, of Broseley, died Monday, March 30, 2015, at her residence. She was born April 2, 1951 at Poplar Bluff. She was a teachers aid for the Twin Rivers School District. On Jan. 23, 1971 she married Gregory Bill Jackson. ...

Louise (Thomas) Shull Medler Louise (Thomas) Shull Medler , 89, of Poplar Bluff, departed this life on Sunday, March 29, 2015 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, Ill. She was born on June 14, 1925 to Cleo Eugene and Lena Mae (Droke) Thomas in Steele. ...

COTTLEVILLE -- The Lady Raiders have won their last four games by a combined score of 66-1. After sweeping Arkansas Baptist 30-0, 14-0 on Monday, the good times rolled into Tuesday when Three Rivers swept St. Charles 11-0, 11-1. None of the games went more than five innings...

Willard Wayne Dean NEELYVILLE, Mo.--Willard Wayne Dean, 78, of Naylor, died Tuesday, March 31, 2105, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel.

Bobby D. Payne Bobby D. Payne, 67, of Harviell, died Monday, March 30, 2015, at his residence. He was born on May 22, 1947, in Salinas, Calif. He was of the Pentecostal faith. He enjoyed trucks, mechanics, carpentry, camping, hunting and woodworking. He was a truck driver...

BONNE TERRE -- Blakeney Kearbey homered and tossed a 1-hit, 5-inning shutout as Greenville won 13-0 at North County on Tuesday. Kearbey struck out nine and allowed two walks for the win. He was 2-for-4 with four RBIs at the plate. Trey McDaniel, Devon Duncan, Trynt Tompkins and Ben Becker each drove in two runs apiece while Jake Dorris had one RBI...