Stories from Tuesday, September 15, 2015

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor There's zeal in Jack Altman's voice as he talks about the Butler County Fair Wednesday-Saturday. Altman, who is fair board president, points out the new board members have incorporated fresh ideas into the events. He's also quick to praise the community...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor After 30 years of protecting the citizens of Butler County, David Kneir hung up his fire gear for the last time Sunday morning when his shift ended. The decision to retire from the Butler County Fire Protection District was not an easy one for Kneir, who will come full circle after retirement by again becoming one of the department's volunteer firefighters...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff community is always "tickled pink" to help a worthy cause and won't be afraid to show it on Sept. 25 by wearing that color to support the United Cancer Assistance Network (UCAN). Pink Out Poplar Bluff, much like the name implies, asks residents to don pink T-shirts on that date to show their support for UCAN, a non-profit that provides monetary support for area cancer patients on a case-by-case basis...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Piper Digges is only 11, but she and her mother, Stacey, now know what it's like to spend the night in a shelter, on a hard cot, without the comforts of home. The Digges experienced this not because they were victims of a major disaster, but because they came together with more than 50 others to train to become American Red Cross volunteers...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "If the law supposes that, the law is a ass -- a idiot." Charles Dickens gave that line to Mr. Bumble in "Oliver Twist." And it sums up the judgment of Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis about the Supreme Court's Obergefell decision, which said the 14th Amendment guarantees same-sex couples the right to marry...

The legislature will likely move to override the governor's veto of SB 224, which was approved by the House and Senate in an effort to ensure scholarship benefits through the state's A+ Schools Program are received only by young people who are legal residents of the United States. The bill would require a student to be a United States citizen or a permanent resident in order to receive benefits...

By MICHELLE MALKIN On the anniversary week of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, President Obama is rolling out the welcome mat to tens of thousands of Syrian Muslim refugees. What could go wrong? There's no need to hypothesize. Our nation remains utterly incapable of screening out legitimate dreamers from destroyers, liberty-seekers from liberty-stiflers. Indiscriminate asylum and refugee policies rob the truly deserving of an opportunity for freedom -- and threaten our national security...

Vernon Ward Vernon Junior Ward, 85, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015 at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Vernon, son of the late Ben and Edna (Gaylon) Ward, was born on March 25, 1930 in Poplar Bluff. He was a member of Westwood Baptist Church and a lifetime member of the D.A.V. ...

DeVaughn Elwyn Brown DeVaughn Elwyn Brown, 74, of Deltona Fla., died Aug. 10.2015, at home with his three daughters by his side. He was also known as Butch and Brownie to family and friends. Donations may be made to your local animal shelter in his memory...

The following names were read Saturday at the Butler County Relay for Life during the Luminaria ceremony in honor of and in memory of those diagnosed with cancer. The names are presented as they were provided to the American Cancer Society. In memory...

David Carnal SENATH, MO. - David Carnal, 63, of Kennett, died Sunday, Sept. 13, at his home. Visitation will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 15 at McDaniel Funeral Home in Senath with services following at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. McDaniel Funeral Home of Senath is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.mcdanielfuneralhome.com...