Stories from Friday, February 12, 2016

By EVAN HOLLEY Staff Writer Many in the Poplar Bluff area are familiar with the local Lions Club and what the organization does to provide underprivileged children with glasses and services related to vision. What most people don't realize is that the Lions help more people than just children, and sometimes the issues are much more serious than needing glasses...

By EVAN HOLLEY Staff Writer The local Lions Club will host its 24th annual TV/Internet Auction beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday. Viewers can find the auction on City Cable Channel 2. The auction also can be streamed online by visiting the link provided on the Poplar Bluff Lions Facebook page or at www.pblionsauction.org...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A Poplar Bluff Junior High student may have a chance at hip-hop stardom following recording contract discussions with a retired NBA player-owned talent agency. Hip-hop artist and student Bryson Morris, 13, and family are currently in contract discussions with Every Level of Success (ELOS) Sports and Entertainment Group, an agency owned by former NBA Washington Wizard Maurice Evans...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Adoption rates are up and euthanasia rates are down following several new initiatives at the Poplar Bluff Animal Shelter. "We are very proud of the numbers changing and 2016 is going to be an even better year," said animal control officer Dan St. Lawrence. "Since we have implemented these programs we can only go up by building a stronger network and increasing support from the public."...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, the Carden International Circus is coming to Poplar Bluff. Tickets are now available for a two-day performance at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 and 23 at the Black River Coliseum. Kevin Venardos, known as the "singing" ringmaster and featured in the PBS series "Circus," says the event will give families memories that last a lifetime...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Local and federal officers executed a search warrant Wednesday morning on the home of a convicted sex offender suspected of downloading child pornography and living too close to a school. The search warrant was executed at about 8:45 a.m. by members of the Poplar Bluff Police Department and U.S. Department of Homeland Security on the home of Kevin Mark Sivley in the 600 block of Neoma, according to police Capt. J.R. Keirsey...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds people that a combination of strong winds, low humidity, dry conditions, and warming temperatures this time of year has the potential for unexpected wildfires. According to MDC's Forestry Division, the main cause of wildfires is improper burning of debris such as trash and brush piles...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Punxsutawney Phil's prediction of an early spring require a few extra preparations are needed by people who enjoy feeding songbirds. Many avian diseases can spread through a crowded feeder if it is not kept clean, especially in warm, wet weather. Karen Rowe, Nongame Migratory Bird Program coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, says the situation is similar to a cold spreading quickly at a school or office...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- As 2016's legislative session rolls along in Missouri's statehouse, several bills affecting conservation and natural resources in the state have been introduced. As always, many are controversial, while others are not...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor I knew it would happen -- right after I said last week there weren't many snow geese in the area, they came pouring in. Southern Butler County and most of Stoddard County were loaded with snow geese over the weekend, and it was quite apparent there were gobs of hunters chasing them...

WAPPAPELLO LAKE, Mo. -- Public safety is the number-one priority of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Corps of Engineers urges anyone planning to be on or around water to practice boating and water safety throughout the year. Life jackets save lives and should be worn at all times by anyone in a boat, including those waterfowl hunting or fishing. Statistics show that nearly 90 percent of those who drown were not wearing a life jacket and nearly two-thirds didn't plan to be in the water...

By CANDICE DAVIS Mo. Dept. of Conservation CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) resource scientists recently tracked an American eel on what they called an extreme long distance migration of 688 river miles. The eel was one of 20 eels implanted with transmitters by MDC scientists working on a special project to identify American eel habitat and movement patterns...

I hate cold weather and icy roads. There's nothing worse than being stuck at home for a few hours or days. Some of you may remember the ice storm of 2009 when many people in this area were without electricity for more than a week. Experts stress that we shouldn't take for granted that after severe weather, the tap will flow and the lights will glow. What does a family do when they can't get out of the driveway?...

District Scout Awards given During the recent Awards Dinner for the whole Boy Scout District, the following people were honored: Summertime Pack Award (for having an active summer program) was given to Christy Williams, Pack 69, Doniphan United Methodist Church; and Shannon Todd, Pack 60, Poplar Bluff Fellowship General Baptist...

By MARGARET SHACKLEFORD NSDAR As part of the partnership with the Vietnam War Commemoration for the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, the Poplar Bluff Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution announces Reginald Boswell as a "Hero of the Month" for February...

Twin Rivers R-10 Schools will conduct Early Childhood Screening for all preschool children AND Kindergarten Enrollment for children turning five before Aug. 1 on the following dates: Thursday, March 10, Qulin Middle School, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; and Thursday, March 7, at Fisk Middle School, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN The conservative movement is starting to look a lot like Syria. Baited, taunted, mocked by Fox News, Donald Trump told Roger Ailes what he could do with his Iowa debate, and marched off to host a Thursday night rally for veterans at the same time in Des Moines...

Remember what Jeb did Let's not forget while we're picking our Republican candidate for president while Jeb Bush was commander-in-chief of Florida is where the election process was so flawed under his guidance that the Supreme Court had to appointment a president. That year we did not elect a president! And I think that should be remembered as a matter of principle...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor For several years, young Noah Justice heard stories and saw photographs of his dad's feral hog hunting adventures. Finally, last month, the 13-year-old was ready to saddle up and go on a hunting trip himself. "I was very excited for it," he said of his hog hunt. "The night before, I was asking a lot of questions."...

Barbara A. Baggett Barbara A. Baggett, 84, of Columbia, Mo., formally of Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2016 at Lenoir Woods Senior Living in Columbia, Mo. Arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff...

DEXTER -- MaKayla Waldner's soccer career kicked off over a decade ago with her best friend Julia Hahn when they were both in the first grade. The Dexter senior recently signed her National Letter of Intent to play at Mississippi State University. "Whenever I was little, me and Julia used to be super close, and her dad one day was like, 'Lets go play soccer,'" Waldner said. ...

The most dominant teams in both the boys and girls Ozark Foothills Conference this season will square off for the tournament titles on Friday. This year, there were only two losses between the Neelyville and Naylor girls and the Doniphan and Twin Rivers boys teams...

ST. LOUIS -- On the court built above a pool, the Raiders did their own kind of splashing. Three Rivers overcame a potential trap game by shooting 52 percent from the floor and beat St. Louis 89-67 on Wednesday. "This was a welcome relief after that Saturday night game (against State Fair)," Three Rivers coach Gene Bess said. "We had a fairly good ballgame and we ran into a little hard times there, some things we didn't do very well there midway through the second half...

Dorothy Uldean Myers ADVANCE, Mo. -- Dorothy Uldean Myers, 86, of Puxico, Mo. passed away Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 at the Advance Nursing Center in Advance. She was born June 18, 1929 at Selmer, Tenn., the daughter of Frank and Rhodabelle Hitchcock Hunt...

Nannie SDLqJosephine" Crowley PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Nannie "Josephine" Crowley, 68, of Patterson, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, at her residence. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at Beulah Baptist Church, in Brunot, Mo. Services will follow at 2 p.m. also at the church. She will be buried at Beulah Cemetery...

Shirley Lane CORNING, Ark. -- Shirley Lane, 75, of Corning, Ark. passed away Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Lane was a cook at the Stateline Restaurant. She enjoyed watching sports, especially football. She was of the Pentecost faith...

ST. LOUIS -- Approval of its initial bankruptcy motions by a court will allow Noranda to continue its operations. Noranda Aluminum Holding Corp. reported Tuesday the company has received approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri for its first-day motions related to its Chapter 11 restructuring...

Othella Holeman Caldwell Othella Holeman Caldwell, 78 of Poplar Bluff, passed away Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016 at Mark Twain Caring Center. Ms. Caldwell was born Aug. 6, 1937 in Osceola, Ark. to the late Leroy Payne and Elnora Payne. She was a member of Lively Stone Church of God in Christ. She had been a home health worker for Butler County Health Department. She enjoyed baking, going to church and shopping...

Robbie and Monica Woolem of Fisk, Mo., selected the name Emmit Scot Woolem for their 9-pound 1-ounce son born at 12:28 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was 21.5 inches long. Grandparents are Scot and Tracy King and Dwight and Shirley Woolem, all of Fisk. Great-grandparents are Bob and Joyce Schunk and Thelma Woolem, all of Fisk, and Shirley Batten of Broseley. His sister is Elsie Woolem...

Trampus and Heather Tuggle of Poplar Bluff, Mo. have selected the name Therron Hunter Tuggle for their 9-pound 5-ounce son born at 1:23 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, Poplar Bluff. He was 21 inches long. Grandparents are Toby and Debbie Tuggle of Columbia, Mo. Vanessa and Kirk Oge of Winslow, Ark., Denise Rowe of Poplar Bluff and the late Randy Rowe and the late Pat Rowe. Siblings are Trinity and Tangant Tuggle...

Deborah Ann Holloway PUXICO, Mo. -- Deborah Ann Holloway, 59, of Puxico passed away, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 at Barnes Hospital in Saint Louis. She was born on March 16, 1956 to late Bill and Anna Mae Garver in Poplar Bluff. Debbie graduated from Twin Rivers High School in 1974 and then worked as a florist for several years.On Nov. ...