Stories from Friday, February 19, 2016

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer An Academic Assistance Group mini-grant, an inspirational novel and some creative teaching are helping Poplar Bluff High School students learn the importance of giving back to the community. Students in Beth Fox-Godwin's communication arts class recently read, "The Ultimate Gift," by Jim Stovall and completed a journal entry for each chapter, which focused on a different type of gift, material or otherwise...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer As Roy Lee was honored Wednesday during a ceremony at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center to induct four area veterans onto the Wall of Valor, his thoughts turned often from the celebration to the men he left behind as a teenager in Vietnam...

Ever wonder just how long you can keep that leftover bowl of delicious spaghetti, chicken salad, or package of ground chuck? How often do you find strange looking stuff growing in your refrigerator? Just how long can you safely keep raw and cooked foods in your refrigerator?...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- The reigning idiocy of the current political season is the incessant tossing around of "establishment," an epithet now descending into meaninglessness. Its most recent abuse is by Donald Trump supporters rationalizing his Iowa defeat with the following consolation: If you tally up Trump and Ted Cruz (and throw in Ben Carson), a whopping 60 percent of the vote is anti-establishment!...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor The winter months can be some of the best of the year for catching crappies, and especially walleyes, in Southeast Missouri. What many anglers don't know, however, is they also can be some of the best months for hot smallmouth bass fishing...

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Standard Democrat Were it not for the massive failures and utter ruin of Barack Obama, Donald Trump would not exist. Trump took to the Republican debate stage Saturday night and by any normal measure, his remarks and demeanor should have been the final straw for his boorish campaign behavior and outlandish comments...

By CANDICE DAVIS Mo. Dept. of Conservation WAPPAPELLO, Mo. - Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) fisheries biologists have worked for decades to maintain and improve the crappie fishery at Wappapello Lake. Biologists say that goal comes with many challenges, but they're up to the task...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Twin Rivers High School students placed first in 12 categories during the Future Business Leaders of America District 20 Conference at Three Rivers College. The top five winners in 20 categories and the first place winners in 29 other categories will advance to state FBLA competition April 24-26 at Springfield...

By STEPHEN MOORE With the first real votes being cast in the presidential race Monday, this is an opportune moment to do some last-minute comparison shopping on the candidates' tax reform plans. On this issue there's a lot to cheer about. All the Republican candidates have crafted plans that would slash tax rates for everyone and most would vastly simplify the thousands of pages of IRS tax code...

By MARGARET SHACKLEFORD 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 Sterling Tyner as a "Hero of the Month" for February...

By FRANK CAMPA Mo. Dept. of Conservation As we approach the end of February, we also approach a new permit year. Your current small game hunting and fishing licenses will then expire on February 29, unless you were fortunate to have had someone buy you the 2016 permits for Christmas...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor PUXICO, Mo. -- "I wanted to try something different," said Danielle Osborn, 19, of Wappapello, Mo., just before trying to hit several erratically-moving clay targets with her shotgun. After that quick practice session at the Duck Creek Conservation Area, Osborn and 19 other women from around Missouri headed afield Saturday morning with volunteer guides for a rabbit hunt with beagles...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor It's safe to say duck hunters are a passionate bunch. That was evident during the public meeting at Dexter, Mo., last night hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation. As mentioned in the past, states are allowed to alter their duck season frameworks, including zone boundaries and season dates, within the federally-allowed guidelines every five years. When that time comes up, MDC holds meetings to gather hunters' opinions...

Five years ago Poplar Bluff never had a swimmer in the MSHSAA state championship meet. Two years ago there was never a Mules relay competing. Now it's a whole different story. Poplar Bluff coach Beth Lewis-Mules has a lineup to juggle with three relays and four individuals set to swim at the St. Peters Rec Plex starting Friday...

On the day that pitchers and catchers around Major League Baseball are reporting for Spring Training, today is a good reminder that high school baseball is right around the corner too. Basketball playoffs are set to begin this weekend, but teams have also been out on the diamond in this unseasonably nice winter weather...

Roughly 48 hours before he was scheduled to take the mat at the MSHSAA Class 3 state wrestling championship, Poplar Bluff's Jordan Lansford was still grappling with the concept that he was heading to Mizzou Arena. For the senior, one of six Mules wrestlers who will be in action starting today in Columbia, it's been a steep hill to climb to get to this point. ...

The last time the Lady Raiders had an intrasquad scrimmage, the pitchers dominated. It established a bit of a template for the season, have hard-throwing starters Destiny Bolen and Shayna Tharp overpower teams from the circle, support them with strong defense and manufacture runs...

Linda Kay Killian Linda Kay Killian, 68, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Monday, Feb. 15, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel. A graveside service and burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Ashcraft Cemetery in Butler County with the Rev. Samuel Worley officiating...

Michael T. (Mike) O'Neill PUXICO, Mo. -- Michael T. (Mike) O'Neill, 69, of Wappapello, died Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. He was born July 16, 1946 in Los Angeles, Calif., the son of the late William R. and Roberta M. (McNeal) O'Neill. Mike was an avid hunter and fisherman who enjoyed living his retirement years near the lake...

Herman Paul Maples PUXICO, Mo. -- Herman Paul Maples, 80, of Puxico, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, in Naperville, Ill. He was born Sept. 5, 1936 in Wayne County, Mo. to James Ervin Maples and Anna Francis Westbrook Maples. He married Loraine Huber July 6, 1968. She survives...

Jewell Ives PUXICO, Mo. -- Jewell Esther Ives, 93, of Greenville, and formerly of Puxico, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016 at Puxico Nursing and Rehab. Survivors are her adopted family, Gene and Helen Hon of Puxico, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Daisy Holliday Ives, and one brother, Bill Ives...

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Ozark National Scenic Riverways is one of 113 national parks selected to receive a 2015-2016 field trip grant from the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America's national parks. Grant funds will be used to help fund the Riverways' annual Junior Ranger Day and to pay for bus transportation for field trips to the park...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Concerns of downtown business owners and questions regarding derelict properties dominated the conversation Wednesday during a meeting for Ward 3 residents. This is the third of five meetings held by Poplar Bluff City Council members to gather input from residents in the community. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Three Rivers College will have a groundbreaking for the Libla Family Sports Complex at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 3, near the Raiders baseball field. "This is a milestone all have been pushing toward for a long time," Dr. Wesley Payne, president of Three Rivers College, said during the TRC board meeting Wednesday...