Stories from Monday, September 21, 2015

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A 15-year effort to open China's doors to U.S. rice growers may finally come to fruition this fall as parties from both countries are expected to agree on sanitary protocols. The sanitary protocols have been in limbo since China joined the World Trade Organization in 1999. While other U.S. crops such as cotton, soybeans and other grains were included in the original WTO agreement, rice was not, which has kept it out of Chinese markets...

From Staff Reports There were lots of winners at the Haven House 27th Annual Trail Ride, but none as big as the shelter, which netted $17,600 from donations collected by riders, said Mary Ann Allen, Haven House executive director. Even with a forecast of morning showers, riders took a chance and were rewarded with a beautiful, fall like morning for trail riding, Allen said,...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., woman was sentenced to prison last week after pleading guilty to a lesser charge in connection to the April shooting death of a man inside her Cynthia Street apartment, as well as an unrelated drug charge...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff will have a chance to "Back the Blue" on Sept. 30 as part of a nationwide movement to show community support for the men and women of law enforcement. Back the Blue events have erupted on social media in the wake of the tragic deaths of several officers killed in the line of duty nationwide this year, but most notably the recent murder of Harris County Texas deputy Darren H. Goforth...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Turnout was light Saturday as the 2015 Butler County Fair wrapped up with a full day of events for people of all ages. Hundreds of people viewed the home-economics exhibits inside the Black River Coliseum Saturday morning, with many searching the tables for their entries...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Gov. Jay Nixon's Building Affordability initiative will provide nearly $2 million for improvements and renovations at Three Rivers College. A group of approximately 80 students and staff members at Three Rivers College applauded as Nixon made the announcement in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center lobby at 11:30 a.m. Friday...

Shayna Leutert of Qulin, Mo., and Dustin Pearson of Broseley, Mo. were united in marriage Saturday, June 27, 2015 at the Black River General Baptist Church in Broseley. Rev. Bobby Moore officiated over the double-ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Allen and Sheila Leutert of Qulin...

The Matilda and Karl Pfeiffer Museum and Study Center will host the 12th annual "Native American Day" from noon - 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. The event will be held on the grounds of the museum at 1071 Heritage Park Drive, Piggott, Ark. There will be no house tours for the day. There is no admission charge. There will be free hot dogs and sodas, games and crafts for the kids, souvenirs from our museum store and some fantastic authorities on the subject of Native Americans...

By ALEX WEST Staff Writer 'We want to "Lift You Up!"' This message from Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center to area residents fighting a battle against breast cancer and all cancers is heard clearly through their Pink Glove Dance. Annually, health care professionals throughout the country compete to earn money for breast cancer awareness and the cause of their choice by choreographing a dance while wearing pink exam gloves...

PIGGOTT, Ark. -The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center (HPMEC) in Piggott will hold its Fall 2015 Writers' Retreat, Monday through Friday, Nov. 2-6. The retreat will be held in the educational center and the Hemingway Barn-Studio, and will offer writers the opportunity to work under the direction of a professional mentor...

Pony Express would be faster [mail] Some books were ordered from a book store in St. Louis on Aug. 30--mailed on Monday, Aug. 31. On Thursday, Sept. 3, they were traced to a town outside of Chicago by O'Hare Airport. I still haven't received them. A new post master general is needed -- one with a little common sense. No wonder they yell "Broke!" all the time...

By SHARON RANDALL Tribune News Service Sitting on a bench in front of the school, I closed my eyes, felt the sun on my face and listened. Children laughing. Parents talking. Cars passing. Crows cawing. A perfect soundtrack for a postcard perfect day...

Imogene Smith QULIN -- Imogene D. Smith, 89, of St. Louis, Mo., died Friday, Sept. 18, 2015, at her residence. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Wednesday at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Qulin. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev Jim Sanders officiating. Burial will be in Qulin Cemetery...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer In May 2015, Child Concern named Derrick Miller, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. as the new full-time director. "I was born in Kennett, Mo. Grew up in Jefferson County, Mo. In 2000, I came to Poplar Bluff. I've been a preacher-boy (he was an ordained Methodist minister) and I've been a college administrator, but being director of Child Concern is the most fun I've had in my professional life," he confessed. ...

Coyeta Angotti PIEDMONT -- Coyeta Angotti, 86, passed away Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015, at her home near Piedmont. She was born June 8, 1929, at Bucoda, Mo., the daughter of Phillip and Salona Bell (Garner) Massey. Coyeta was married to Evert Angotti on Oct. 18, 1947, and had been a resident of Piedmont for many years...

Dana Marie and Travis Mitchell Tharp of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Sophee Grace Tharp for their 7-pound, 7-ounce daughter born at 4:21 p.m., Monday, Sept. 14, 2015 at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Sophee was 19 3/4" long...

Helen Shipman DEXTER -- Helen Fay Shipman, 95, of Dexter died Friday, Sept. 18, 2015, at the Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Arrangements are incomplete at this time with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Malden's offense hadn't been tested like this in three weeks. After East Prairie's Deverance Jones intercepted a Chapen Riley pass and returned it 108 yards for a touchdown to give the Eagles a lead midway through the second quarter, it was evident the Green Wave needed a boost...

A wild, record-setting night at Morrow Stadium did not end well for the Mules. Tristen Francisco broke the single-game passing record, tied another with six touchdown throws, but Poplar Bluff ran out of time and fell short to rival Jackson 50-48. Francisco finished with 443 passing yards, 28 more than the 16-year-old team record, but the Mules needed just a few more...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Poplar Bluff soccer team picked up its third straight victory in as many games by defeating Joplin and Helias Catholic 3-1 in the Capital City Invitational on Friday. Jeffry Hardin gave the Mules (6-5) the lead for good against Joplin after scoring a goal 3.5 seconds into the second half...

EAST CARTER -- Noah Vandiver hit the go-ahead RBI single in the top of the seventh as the Bloomfield Wildcats won at East Carter 3-2. Tyler Battles pitched six innings and got the win while Tim Hector picked up the save for the Wildcats (9-9). Greenville 15, Puxico 2 The Bears pushed their unbeaten streak to 12 games. All nine batters reached and scored for Greenville, which has 39 hits in its last two games. Trynt Tompkins threw a complete game two-hitter and struck out five...

DEXTER -- The Bearcats nearly rallied to force overtime after turning it over on their first three possessions. Dexter took the lead twice in the fourth quarter but finished a touchdown shy, losing 35-28 on Friday at Charles Bland Stadium. "It's big for team morale," Caruthersville coach Jimmy Jackson said of the clutch victory after two one-point losses earlier this season. ...