Stories from Friday, April 10, 2015

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Local students celebrated Butler County Earth Day on Wednesday at Wappapello Lake with a field day offering environmental presentations by several agency officials and community members. Eighth graders from R-I Junior High and Sacred Heart were offered 14 sessions on a variety of topics ranging from the inner-workings of the dam to primitive bow making. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Dunklin County with the most contests had the largest voter turnout for Tuesday's election among the seven area counties. The election attracted 4,008 voters in Dunklin County for a 24 percent turnout among the active registered voters, according to Dunklin County Clerk Kent Hampton...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor QULIN, Mo. -- The search for a missing Doniphan man ended Wednesday afternoon when authorities recovered his body in a drainage ditch near where his truck and dog earlier were found. An autopsy on the body of Jamie Ferrill, 40, was to be performed at 9:30 a.m. today at Mineral Area Regional Medical Center in Farmington by Dr. Russell Deidiker, according to Butler County Coroner Jim Akers...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer City manager Heath Kaplan presented information Wednesday during a special city council meeting concerning the finances of the Black River Coliseum. He estimated coliseum losses at more than $1 million a year, including the cost of utilities, depreciation and the building loan payment...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Black River Coliseum is more than just brick and mortar, residents told the Poplar Bluff City Council during a special meeting Wednesday. It is a pool and fitness center that helps residents stay healthy, according to more than 100 people attending the meeting. It is an event venue that drives economic growth for the city and a community center that holds everything from high school graduations to non-profit fundraisers, they said...

Do we need wi-fi in cars? Isn't it amazing how technology absolutely overwhelms common sense? What I'm getting at is: we who have seen the new AAA report on distracted teen drivers now jumping from the federal number of 14 percent up to 58 percent. It just amazes me how the industry can even do more stupid things with technology. ...

Once the spring rains pass we may be able to finally plant our gardens. One of the first veggies to plant this spring is lettuce. Did you know that there are about 100 varieties of lettuce including head lettuce, butterhead lettuce, leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, and celtuce. So just what's celtuce? That's a lettuce that's a cross between celery and lettuce. The stems are eaten raw or cooked like celery. I'm not sure I've ever seen this veggie...

By MICHELLE MALKIN Can we stop putting America up for sale to the most politically connected bidders yet? Where is our self-respect? Since 2001, I've warned about the systemic and bipartisan corruption of America's EB-5 immigrant investor visa program. ...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS Gaza is home to Palestinian people, who have suffered injustices and have a history of legitimate grievances against both Israel and Arab governments. If there's one immutable fact of life, it is that history cannot be changed or controlled. ...

Jo Ann Wheeler Jo Ann Wheeler, 70, of Dexter, died Sunday, April 5, 2015, at her residence. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday with the Rev. Joe Payne officiating. Burial will follow in the Hagy Cemetery...

To the Editor: The Poplar Bluff Mules wrestling team just completed a very successful season and would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped make it so. First, the Poplar Bluff Booster Club for purchasing us a much needed practice mat that will also be used for the youth wrestling program. ...

TOPS # MO 734, Take off Pounds Sensibly, was called to order at 10 a.m. March 25 by leader Linda Morgan. 13 TOPS and four KOPS were in attendance. Following roll call, Lou Ann Wrather read the secretary's report which was approved. The best losers of the week were Pam Kane for TOPS and Kim Joyner for KOPS...

Raymond Taylor Raymond Lee Taylor, 65, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, April 5, 2015, near Farmington. He was born Aug. 27, 1949, in Malden. His wife, Nancy Taylor, preceded him in death on Feb. 24, 2011. Survivors include his children, Raymond Simmons (Kim), Mark Simmons (Jennifer), George Morley, and Christopher Morley; one sister, Martha McMunn; one sister-in-law, Brenda Hart; and four grandchildren, Amber, Jacob, Joshua, and Maci Simmons...

Sharon Bailey PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Sharon Kay Bailey, 70, of Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday, April 8, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. The arrangements are pending at this time with Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

Mary Beline DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Mary Virginia Beline, 84, of Doniphan, died Tuesday, April 7, 2015, at Southeast Health of Ripley County in Doniphan. Visitation will begin at noon on Friday at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. Friday in the funeral home chapel with Bro. Todd Taylor officiating. Burial will be in the Center Hill Cemetery...

Neelyville Elementary School's third quarter honor roll is as follows: A Honor Roll Third Grade: Lora Ainley, Bailey Barrett, Tanner Armes, Chris Crowder, Delayni Dobbins, Hannah Hover, Jason Liau, Avery Schiller, Chloe Smith; Fourth Grade: James Buffington, J.D. Burton, Brock Davis, Shawn Edwards, Preston Goodnight, Jonathon Hall, Austin Sheppard;...

In just their eighth game of the season, the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules matched last year's win total. Now, to build on that. The Lady Mules scored a goal in each half Wednesday night against Kelly for a 2-0 win at Whiteley Park. It was the Lady Mules' fourth win of the season which matches the 4-18 mark they had last year with at least 15 games still to play this year. It's also the first time since April 2011 that the Lady Mules have strung three wins together...

BERNIE - One good error deserves another. A strong wind was blowing straight out to the short, two-story high porch in left field Wednesday. A home run was just 270 short feet away, but fundamentals ended up separating to undefeated teams. Clearwater took advantage of a Bernie error to flip the momentum and eventually tie the game with a home run in the sixth inning, but the Tigers gave up the lead with an error of their own and ultimately lost 4-3 to the Mules...

SIKESTON -- Not many teams experienced the turnover Poplar Bluff did after last season. About the only thing that has stayed the same for the Mules are wins. Poplar Bluff continued its undefeated streak with a 7-4 win over Sikeston on Wednesday night during the second game of a doubleheader at VFW Memorial Stadium...

Anna Holder DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Anna Mae Holder, 72, of Poplar Bluff, formerly of Doniphan, died Tuesday, April 7, 2015, at her home in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will begin at noon Saturday at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Bro. Jim Baggett officiating. Burial will be in the Ponder Cemetery. Online condolences: www.edwardsfuneralhome.org...

Amber Johnson should have a warning label on the back of her jersey that reads, "Will steal second base. Any attempt to prevent this will be hazardous to your confidence." The Three Rivers leadoff hitter stole three bases in the nightcap, including home on a double steal, as the Lady Raiders beat Williams Baptist JV, winning both games 8-0 in five innings at Rains Field...

Treika Jean Franklin Lester NELLYVILLE, Mo. -- Treika Jean Franklin Lester, 68, of Lebanon, Ind., formerly of Naples, Fla., died Friday, April 3, 2015 at Homewood Health Campus in Indiana. Mrs. Treika was born April 15, 1946 in Texas. She enjoyed sewing and quilting. She married Albert Lester and he preceded her in death on Jan. 21, 2010...

BLOOMFIELD -- Brennon Casteel homered twice Wednesday afternoon as the Doniphan Dons earned their first win of the spring with a 9-7 decision over Bloomfield. Casteel totaled three RBIs and he pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for the save. Alex Graham was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs for the Dons. Lucas Moe, Kevin Pennington, James Bland and Hunter Parks each have one RBI...