Stories from Saturday, August 29, 2015

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor COON ISLAND, Mo. -- About 25 members of the Butler County Fire Department honed their skills Sunday afternoon in a realistic, but controlled, live-burn training exercise. "We used to have two to three (live burns) a year," said Butler County Fire Chief Bob Fredwell, who indicated the last was two years ago...

By KATIE LAMB SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU -- After 20 consecutive years of enrollment growth at Southeast Missouri State University, there is a slight decline in the number of students enrolled this fall, according to totals released by the university...

JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Jay Nixon appointed former commissioner Jerry Halley, of Doniphan, as the new Western District Commissioner for Ripley County. The position became vacant upon the death of Commissioner Johnny Taylor. Halley, a Democrat, served as the elected Western District Commissioner from 2001 to 2012. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A lower tax rate of 23.52 cents per $100 of taxable valuation was approved by the Three Rivers College Board Thursday. Last year's rate was 24.13 cents. The tax rate had to be lowered because the college district's assessed evaluation increased from $823,274,640 in 2014 to $868,924,222. This is an increase of $45,649,582 or 5.5 percent...

Interviews for Council a joke I've been here in Poplar Bluff for over 50 years and it's the same old thing with the City Council--good ole boy, good ole girl --you know less than 30 minutes to interview five candidates for the City Council. I've owned several businesses in my lifetime. ...

By PATRICK BUCHANAN Since China devalued its currency 3 percent, global markets have gone into a tailspin. Why should this be? After all, 3 percent devaluation in China could be countered by a U.S. tariff of 3 percent on all goods made in China, and the tariff revenue used to cut U.S. corporate taxes...

SIKESTON --Kailee Kanell and Sydney Miller trailed in their singles matches after struggling early Thursday, but the Poplar Bluff seniors rallied to cap a 7-2 win at Sikeston. Miller, the No. 6 singles player, beat Claire Hamlin in a tiebreaker, 9-8 (7-3) while Kanell took the No. 5 match against Mackenzie Alsup 8-6...

By MICHELLE MALKIN The most transparent administration in American history is at it again -- dodging sunlight and evading public disclosure. Joining former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her secret servers, former IRS witch hunt queen Lois Lerner and her secret email accounts, former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and her Internet alter egos, and former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and his non-public email account is White House science czar John Holdren...

LeGrand reunion set The LeGrand Family Reunion will be held from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 12, at the air conditioned Walton Chapel Community Center, CR 417, Butler County. Basket lunch and singing.

Kearbey Cemetery meeting Kearbey Chapel Cemetery annual meeting will be held Saturday, Sept. 12 on the grounds. Lunch at noon with meeting to follow. If inclement weather, the lunch and meeting will be held at Bethel Chapel Church on CR 415. Donations may be mailed to Sandy Emerson, 3372 CR 426, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901...

To the Editor: Great things were going to happen when the Republicans gained control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate after the last midterm elections. In January of this year the news was full of statements by the GOP leaders saying, "we are going to show the American people that we can govern." The new agenda was dedicated to unraveling the President's gains in Obamacare and Immigration; implementing the Keystone Pipe Line (why are we building a pipeline for a Canadian Company?); tax reform: and implementing measures on energy and National Security. ...

Maxine Hunt DEXTER, Mo. -- Maxine Beatrice Hunt, 92, of Dexter died Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015 at Cypress Point Heath Care in Dexter. A graveside service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with Curtis McClard officiating...

Thomas Allen Wells QULIN, MO.-- Thomas Allen Wells, 67, of Fagus, Mo., died Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015 at his residence. He was born Feb. 11, 1948 at Gideon, Mo. He served in the army during the Vietnam War. Mr. Wells is survived by his daughter, Kimberly Armes of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; four sisters: Linda Baker, Sharon Wagster-Piatt and Brenda Garver all of Qulin and Sandra Mick of Poplar Bluff; one brother, Michael Wells of Yazoo City, Miss., and one grandchild, Brylee Koonkongzurp. ...

For as long as he can remember, Doug Pennington has been riding canoes. He set eyes on his very first canoe as a member of the Boy Scouts while growing up in Poplar Bluff. Almost every summer he rode them at summer camp, but once that didn't provide enough of an adrenaline rush, racing the aluminum vehicles became his passion...

Cody Rose made a smooth transition from first base to catcher during his junior year at Twin Rivers. Rose's strong play behind the plate over the last two years has earned him a spot on the Williams Baptist College baseball team this fall. "From tee ball till my junior year I played first base religiously. ...

SIKESTON - The Poplar Bluff softball team couldn't have asked for a better start. Sophomore pitcher Adrianne Stucker struck out nine and gave up two hits while her offense clicked from the beginning during Poplar Bluff's 13-1 win in five innings Thursday over Sikeston...

Barry Whitehead Barry Dean Whitehead, 56, of Poplar Bluff died Friday, Aug. 21, 2015 at his residence. Mr. Whitehead was born May 27, 1959 in Poplar Bluff to Dellos and Alma Jean (Walls) Whitehead. Mr. Whitehead had retired as a laborer and grounds-keeper at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Poplar Bluff. He enjoyed riding his bike, fishing and spending time with his friends...

ELLINGTON -- Kim Young slammed 15 kills to lead Clearwater's 25-7, 18-25, 25-22 win Thursday over Ellington. Young added five blocks and two aces while Konnor Johnston had seven kills and three blocks. Emma Roach tallied five kills and Libby Chitwood had 28 assists...