Stories from Monday, April 13, 2015

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor The Central American community of San Vicente will soon have an ambulance to use for emergencies thanks to the ministry of a Poplar Bluff church and a local ambulance service. Accepting a challenge to help victims of Hurricane Ida in San Vicente in 2009 continues to keep members of the First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff busy today...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The second annual Scott Innes-Country Stars, Songs and Stories Gala to raise funds for the Recycling Grace Women's Center in Poplar Bluff will be Nov. 9. Doing the planning is Scott Innes, a former Poplar Bluff resident who is known as the voice of Scooby Doo and Shaggy Cartoon Characters. He also is a singer, song writer and actor...

Jay Githens, long time member of the Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Board, was honored with the Individual Citation Award by the Missouri Park and Recreation Association at its annual conference recently in Springfield. Clark Allen, Poplar Bluff's Parks director, recommended Githens, citing his leadership on the local board as well as his volunteer efforts to improve the lives of those in his community. ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Inventors around the world have made life better for us all and interestingly - while they may not be appearing in an infomercial anytime soon - several gadgets and doohickeys resting in the U.S. Patent Office were the brainchild of residents of Poplar Bluff...

Mildred Sims Mildred Lee Sims, 94, of Poplar Bluff, died Saturday, April 11, 2015, at The Cedargate Care Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Sims was born Feb. 15, 1921, in Qulin, Mo., to the late Charles O. and Ada Wiggs Petty. She was a member of Abundant Life Christian Center and was a homemaker. Mrs. Sims enjoyed spending time with and taking care of her family, cooking and gardening. She also served as a "Grandmother" for the second-grade class at Eugene Field School for many years...

U. L. Smith U. L. Smith, 90, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and formerly of Cardwell and Kennett, died Saturday, April 11, 2015. Mr. Smith was born Aug. 26, 1924, to the late Cecil and Mary Smith in Cave City, Ark. Mr. Smith is survived by Edna Merle Smith, his wife of 72 years, and sons, Dr. Shelton (Butch) Smith, his wife, Glenda, of St. Louis, Mo., and Timothy H. Smith, his wife, Cindy, of Shawnee, Okla...

Start a recall Does anybody know how to start a petition to recall the city manager and his four puppets before they decide to give him another year contract to finish bankrupting the city by him and his friends from Michigan and Texas who live the good life while laughin' about how stupid the people of Poplar Bluff really are? Thank you...

By SHARON RANDALL Tribune News Service A funny thing happened to me recently. You probably wouldn't give it a second thought, but I can't stop thinking about it. OK, I'll just tell you. A man asked me to dance, and I turned him down. No big deal, right? Nothing to obsess about. So why am I obsessing?...

'Kathy' Comer Frieda Kathleen "Kathy" Comer, 70, of Poplar Bluff was called home to glory by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, April 10, 2015. Mrs. Comer, the daughter of the late George and Grace Digges, was born Jan. 19, 1945, in Poplar Bluff. She retired from working as a customer service representative at Rowe Furniture for 31 years...

Charles "Jim" Franklin Smith Charles "Jim" Franklin Smith, 69, of Poplar Bluff, died Friday, April 10, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Smith was born Jan. 21, 1946, in Hazelton, Ind., to the late Elmer William and Frances Elnora Myers Smith. He attended Calvary Community Church and had retired as owner and operator of Walt's paint and auto body shop in 1999...

Each year, thousands of volunteers in Missouri donate their time and energy to make their communities a better place to live. These volunteers will be among the millions across the country who will be spotlighted during National Volunteer Week, April 12-18...

Dorothy Crain DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Dorothy L. Crain, 92, of Doniphan died Thursday April 9, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the funeral home chapel with Brother Wade Rogers officiating. Burial will be in the Doniphan City Cemetery...

Part II -- Siem Reap By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Monday was a travel day. In the afternoon, we flew to Siem Reap. Throughout our trip, we were blessed with perfect weather and this day was no exception. Siem Reap, being the home of Angkor Wat--a World Heritage site--is a haven for tourists. French Colonial architecture dominates the city, but there are also excellent examples of the ornate Khmer style as well as classic modern glass high-rises. As in Phnom Penh, parks and gardens abound...

If you love photography and you cherish the unique and bizarre, then make it a point to attend the book signing of Dennis Minner, Jr., formerly of Poplar Bluff, from 2- 5 p.m., Saturday, April 18 at La Boutique, 1929 N. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff. The book entitled, "Second Chances: Asylums and Hospitals," which he is promoting, features his fine art photography of abandoned hospital and asylums across the country...

Join the 9 a.m. P.A.C.E. (People with Arthritis Can Exercise) class Monday and again on Wednesday. The class meets in the Activity Room. Exercise will get the blood pumping and start your week off right. At 11:30 a.m., Monday, Tommy Swindle will sing gospel songs for everyone enjoying lunch in the Twin Towers dining room. ...

Great April Fool's paper Your April Fool's Day paper was really good! You got me! I think I just live to read that paper. I was so disappointed when I saw that, but it was really good. I just wanted to tell you guys you did a good job and it was fun. Thank you...

Jamie Ray Ferrill QULIN, Mo.--Jamie Ray Ferrill, 40, of Doniphan, died Friday, April 3, 2015 at Qulin. There will be memorial service at a later date. White-Sanders Funeral Home in Qulin is in charge of arrangements.

Patrick Bullock and Phyllis Tyler, who were united in marriage on March 28, 1965 at Fagus General Baptist Church in Fagus by the Rev. Bob Sanders, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Sunday, March 29, 2015 with a party at the Qulin Lions Club. The party was hosted by their children and grandchildren...

George Suiter DEXTER, Mo.-- George Melvin Suiter, 83, of Parma, died Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at his home. Visitation will be held after 9:30 a.m. Monday at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter with Dr. Eddie Hollis of Vienna, Ill. officiating...

Lowell Rex Toole MALDEN, Mo.--Lowell Rex Toole, 81, of Jefferson City, died Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at his residence. Visitation will from 1-2:30 p.m. Sunday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. at Mt. Gilead Cemetery, Clarkton, with military rites...

Julia Wachter PIEDMONT, Mo.--Julia Wachter, 77, of Piedmont, died Thursday, April 9, 2015 at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Visitation will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral chapel with Pastor Jeff Johnson officiating...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Next week brings a constitutional moment illustrating a paradox of Barack Obama's presidency. The catalyst of the drama is legislation proposed by Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, asserting Congress' foreign policy responsibilities and prerogatives. The paradox is this:...

Malani Willcut Malani Nichole Willcut was still born Wednesday, April 8, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Survivors include her parents, Tyler Willcut and Maranda Windsor; her grandparents, Jimmy Austill, Patricia Austill and Barbara Strickland, all of Poplar Bluff...

HOLLISTER, Mo. -- After suffering their first loss of the season Friday afternoon, the Poplar Bluff baseball team bounced back with two wins. Prairie Groves (Ark.) beat the Mules 6-3 before Poplar Bluff beat Brookland (Ark.) 8-3 in the second game Friday and Sylvan Hills (Ark.) 9-5 Saturday...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer When walkers line up at the starting line Saturday, May 23, for the UCAN Walk because UCAN which honors the late Sarah White who battled valiantly against cancer, there's no doubt Josh Copeland, his mother, Terri Finertie and her husband, Josh's step-father, Stewart Finertie, all of Poplar Bluff, will be there. ...

Karissa Coleman definitely earned her game winning run. The left fielder took a pitch to the head and later bounced off a much bigger catcher in order to beat Arkansas State 6-5 and polish off a Saturday sweep after Three Rivers lost both of its Friday games...

JACKSON -- Denzel Britton won every race he started Saturday at the Jackson Invitational while Poplar Bluff's Jabreuna Brimlett shattered the meet record in the 100-meter hurdles. Britton won the 100 and 200 and helped the Mules relays at those distances also win as Poplar Bluff finished third as a team...

NEOSHO -- The Raiders were on the wrong end of even more 1-run games. Crowder scored late both times to polish off a 4-game sweep of Three Rivers. Three Rivers (11-11, 6-9 Region XVI), which has played 10-of-21 games to 1-run and is 5-5 in those games, lost 7-6 and 3-2 on Saturday and 9-2 and 12-8 on Friday...

The Greenville Bears won all three of its games this weekend at the Charleston Lucky 13 Classic Wood Bat Tournament to stay unbeaten on the season. The Bears defeated East Prairie 6-2 and Kelly 2-0 Friday and ended it by beating Advance 3-2 Saturday...