Stories from Friday, June 26, 2015

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Wappapello Fourth of July Association in conjunction with the US Army Corps of Engineers (COE) has an "explosive" weekend planned for Independence Day, with events ranging from cardboard boat racing to magic shows. And fireworks of course. Lots of them. Association member Reid Brotherton says the entire community donates money to fund the show...

By SAMANTHA RINEHART SEMO News Service A temporary sandbag levee along Highway 74 at Dutchtown protects the town from floodwaters of the Diversion Channel during the 1993 Mississippi River flood that crested at 48.49 feet Aug. 8 at Cape Girardeau. This view looking south over Dutchtown shows Highway 25 in the center covered with water and continuing north through the town, shown in the right corner foreground...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The city of Poplar Bluff has been granted an order of protection against the Butler County Sheriff's Department in an investigation related to illegal bid and purchasing practices by the city manager's office. City attorney Robert Smith filed the request, which was granted last week...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Fellowship General Baptist Church on Highway 67 North is hosting a "Building A Successful Stepfamily" Conference Aug. 7 and 8. Ron Deal, founder and president of Successful Stepfamilies, will be the featured speaker...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Spaces are still available for a free parenting class which begins next week. The class is offered by the Butler County Community Resource Center and is open to parents, as well as any other community member who would like to participate. The eight-week curriculum focuses on working with children from birth to seven years of age, but many of the skills also apply to older children, explained instructor Greg Carman...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor VAN BUREN, Mo. -- A judge declared a mistrial Wednesday morning in the case of the father of a former Carter County deputy accused of multiple felonies resulting from the investigation into the alleged wrongdoings committed while Tommy Adams was sheriff...

June 23rd marks the 64th year that Camp Latonka has been providing creative and educational adventures for group-living in the outdoors! Girl Scouts will continue to enjoy waterfront activities, low and high rope challenge courses, archery, sports, arts and crafts, and wilderness skills. The camp, located on Lake Wappapello, is also available for churches and organizations to rent for camps, retreats and other recreational and group building opportunities...

I recently had a call about using burpless cucumbers for pickling. According to the National Center for Home Food Preservation at the University of Georgia, burpless cucumbers are not recommended for use in fermented pickles. This is because at their normal mature size, they produce a softening enzyme that causes the pickles to soften during fermentation. ...

The Oak Grove Homemakers Club met Wednesday, June 17, at Myrtles Café. Betty Stroud gave the invocation. Betty Ketcherside, president, conducted the business meeting. She also presented the devotional from the book, "Women of God." The scripture verses of Hebrews 11:11 and Genesis 18:10 also were read as part of the devotional...

Edington photography exhibit July 5 Photographer Tim Edington, formerly of Poplar Bluff, will show his work at a Wine and Cheese Open House from 6-9 p.m. Sunday, July 5, at River Spirit Gallery, 103 Oliver St., Van Buren.

The annual Pollard Picnic will be held Saturday, July 11, at Pollard, Ark. Fried chicken dinners, music, baseball games, games for children, and beauty pageants will highlight the picnic. The pageant committee announces the following events: 10 a.m. - "Baby Pollard" contest for boys and girls. Boy's division and a girl's division from birth through 12 months. Dress in sportswear/casual clothing...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- It's time for a new strategy in Iraq and Syria. It begins by admitting that the old borders are gone, that a unified Syria or Iraq will never be reconstituted, that the Sykes-Picot map is defunct. We may not want to enunciate that policy officially. ...

To the Editor: On behalf of the United Cancer Assistance Network Board, volunteers and patients, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to each of the following sponsors, teams and contributors who made the 2015 Butch Brown Memorial Golf Tournament a huge success:...

Bobby Wilkerson CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Bobby Wilkerson, 77, of Clarkton, died Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at his residence. The visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. Friday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Jack Allen officiating. Burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Campbell...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "U.S. Poised to Put Heavy Weaponry in East Europe: A Message to Russia," ran the headline in The New York Times. "In a significant move to deter possible Russian aggression in Europe, the Pentagon is poised to store battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and other heavy weapons for as many as 5,000 American troops in several Baltic and Eastern European countries," said the Times. The sources cited were "American and allied officials."...

Jeff Morrison Jeffrey Alan Morrison, 65, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at his residence in Poplar Bluff. A celebration of life will be held from 5 until 8 p.m. Friday at The Fraternal Order of the Eagles located at 1400 S. Broadway, Poplar Bluff...

Eddie Bailey Vernon "Eddie" Bailey, 46, of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at Cedargate Nursing Center in Poplar Bluff. The visitation will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Westwood Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will follow at 10 a.m. Saturday also at the church...

Barbara Sue Bratton ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Barbara Sue Bratton, 76, formerly of Wappapello, died Tuesday, June 16, 2015, in Poplar Bluff. The funeral arrangements are from 10 a.m. until noon Saturday at the Kutis Funeral Home in South County on Lemay Ferry Road in St. Louis...

Raymond Robison QULIN, Mo. -- Raymond Herschel Robison, 87, of Qulin, died Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at Qulin. He was born March 22, 1928 at Elco, Ill. He served in the Air Force from 1946 to 1953 and retired from Harry S. Truman Memorial Veteran's Hospital in 1988. He was an active member of the Qulin American Legion Post #494 and had served as Commander. He was previously the vice commander at post #280 and enjoyed Cardinal Baseball...

By DAR STAFF HOLLISTER -- Poplar Bluff golfers were shut out of match play at the 108th Missouri Amateur Championships. Nick Woolard eagled his second-to-last hole Wednesday at Buffalo Ridge Golf Course, but he finished three shots off the cut for a playoff that determined the final spots for match play. The recent high school graduate finished tied for 86th at 13-over 153...

Chelcy Bernell Barney Bradish DEXTER, Mo.--Chelcy Bernell Barney Bradish, 94, of Bloomfield, departed this life Saturday, June 13, 2015 at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. He was the son of the late Frank Bradish and Grace Marler. He was born April 18, 1921 in Satulpa, Okla...

Jerry Brown Jerry M. Brown, 55, of Puxico, died Monday, June 22, 2015, in Puxico. He was born April 18, 1960, in East St. Louis, Mo. to the late Gerald F. Brown and Bernice Weaver Brown. He was a long time resident of Hendrickson, Mo. Jerry was a member of the First Baptist Church of Doniphan...