Stories from Saturday, October 10, 2015

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer In light of today's social media revolution and its effects on young adults, author and professor Julie Smith will present a free seminar designed to help parents with issues such as cyber-bullying, privacy and other concerns...

The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff invites all veterans, family members and the community to have a fun, family-oriented day while honoring America's veterans at the 8th annual "Welcome Home" event. Activities begin at 9 a.m. Saturday and there is no entry fee...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Controversial wording on a North Westwood Boulevard billboard has been taken down, less than 48 hours after it went up. Rhino's Gunwork owner Ryan Brooks said while the "guns, ammo & cool shit!!!" advertisement was protected by free speech, he voluntarily took down that section of the sign following complaints from residents and Poplar Bluff City Hall...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor An accounts payable clerk at a local furniture store may face charges after her arrest Thursday morning on suspicion of fraudulently charging nearly $75,000. An accounting manager at Hefner Furniture and Appliance in the 2600 block of North Westwood Boulevard noticed discrepancies in the company's credit card account, explained Poplar Bluff Police Capt. David Sutton...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer More than 380 Poplar Bluff seventh-grade students learned some valuable agricultural-related skills on Thursday during 4-H/Future Farmers of America (FFA) Farm Safety day at Wappapello Lake. Butler County 4-H youth development specialist Stephanie Milner says students met with experts on a variety of topics such as machinery, firearm, electrical and animal safety and learned valuable survival skills during the event...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man was arrested in Shannon County Thursday night on a warrant charging him with assaulting another man who was reported missing by family members earlier this summer. Eldrid Leon Smith, 24, of the 2400 block of Highway B was arrested at about 9 a.m. in Birch Tree, Mo., according to Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs...

Intersection is a joke The intersection of Barron Road, 67, and Oak Grove Road must have been engineered by a drunk. We're gonna be paying for that for 30 years? That's a joke! PB history is ignored The Garfield Street Historical District especially with the Wheatley School Museum will showcase some of the talented people that helped build a better town...

To the Editor, Another fall has arrived. Fall is my favorite time of the year. When another season arrives, I always think of the many places I have been at that time of the year. I am now going to suggest a lovely place to go next fall on vacation. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Having established a base on the Syrian coast, Vladimir Putin last week began air strikes on ISIS and other rebel forces seeking to overthrow Bashar Assad. A longtime ally of Syria, Russia wants to preserve its toehold on the Mediterranean, help Assad repel the threat, and keep the Islamic terrorists out of Damascus...

The bride, Edda, was 20, glamorous and well connected. The groom came from a prominent family. Their wedding was Italy's social event of the year in 1930. If the occasion was marred in any way, it was through the inability of the bride's father to part gracefully with his first-born daughter. ...

HOLCOMB, Mo. -- As the top-seed in the Bootheel Conference Tournament, the Malden Green Wave were poised to bring home their second straight title. After falling behind early in both games, the Green Wave stormed back to sweep Holcomb 25-18, 25-20 and become conference and regular-season champions...

HILLSBORO, Mo. -- Forget the homecoming dance, the Poplar Bluff softball team has a date in the district final the following morning. The Mules used a seven-run fifth inning to pull ahead after a five-run comeback by Seckman as Poplar Bluff won 14-11 Thursday night...

There was a batch of cupcakes waiting for the Van Buren Lady Dawgs after their games this week. Sometimes they are happy cupcakes, and sometimes they are sad cupcakes. The coaches snuck a pair of a cupcakes after the team lost to Chaffee 2-0 in the MSHSAA Class 1 District 1 championship Thursday at Rains Feild, but the girls took time to huddle, pray, and share kind words with the team's two outgoing seniors, Logan Hayworth and Lauren Dothage...

Jo Ann Shields Jo Ann Shields, 73, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Oct. 07, 2015 at Westwood Healthcare Center. Mrs. Shields, daughter of the late Homer Franklin Brannan and Anna Lucille (Cox) Brannan, was born June 21, 1942 in Poplar Bluff. She attended the Cowboy Church and was a former clerk for Farmers Cash Lawn and Garden. She enjoyed spending time with her family, gardening flowers and sewing...

SOUTHLAND -- The Lady Reindeer jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first game, but ultimately had trouble handling Gideon's serve and lost 25-21, 25-8 in the Tri-County Conference championship Thursday at Southland. Hanna Ross and Elana Wiseman led Clarkton (15-10-1) with three kills each. ...

Nancy Lavern Farrell DONIPHAN, MO.--Nancy Lavern Farrell, 69, of Doniphan, died Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015, at Kindred Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Visitation will begin at noon Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel...

The Greenville baseball team has been dreaming big for the past six months. With their first district championship since 2012 and a perfect regular season checked off the list, the Bears had one of their biggest dreams -- and a trophy no Greenville team had seen in over 20 years -- within reach...

Ruby C. Siemer PUXICO, Mo,--Ruby Caroline Siemer, 74, formerly of Wappapello and Shook, Mo., died Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, at the St. Joseph Health Center in St. Charles, Mo. Visitation will be after 11 a.m., Sunday, at the Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Puxico. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Sunday at the Watkins and Sons Chapel in Puxico...

Herschel Ward Herschel Ward, 80, of Williamsville, died Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015 at his residence. Arrangements are pending with Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

DEXTER -- Woodland volleyball coach Kacie Ritter-Patton was forced to make a major change to her lineup less than five minutes before the start of Thursday night's SCAA semifinal against Bernie. Woodland senior standout Shelby Sawyer suffered a pre game ankle injury and had to be carried off the floor as Bernie and Woodland concluded their pregame warmup routines...

A Dexter woman can stop dreaming and start planning a trip to paradise after her name was drawn in the Missouri Lottery's second "Escape to Margaritaville®" promotional drawing. Stephanie Young's name was drawn in the third and final drawing, and she will get to choose from two locations - St. ...

Janice Casey CEDAR HILL, Mo.- Janice Marie Casey (nee Prater), 65, of Robertsville, Mo,, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015 after battling esophageal cancer. Born July 25, 1950, in Hendrickson, Mo. to the late Floyd Prater and the late Lena Reynolds (nee Bowen). She married Gary Casey on Oct. 11, 1969 and he preceded her in death...

In a their most physical game of the season so far, Jeffry Hardin's two goals were just enough to power the Mules' soccer team to a 2-1 win over West Plains Thursday at Whitely Park. The junior scored a goal in each half of the game, which featured 10 yellow cards...

The Poplar Bluff eighth-grade football team got touchdowns from four different players to finish the season undefeated. The Mules defeated Festus 38-20 in their final game to end up 5-0-1. Poplar Bluff's lone tie was a 6-6 draw against Cape Central, and junior high football doesn't play overtime...