Stories from Monday, August 1, 2016

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer What would someone see with a backstage, all access pass to the Republican National Convention -- the star-studded production that brought out some of the biggest names in politics, entertainment and media to announce the nomination of the man who could be America's next president?...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer 56-year-old James Hardin Metz Jr. says his favorite memory of his dad, Major James Hardin Metz, is when they built a "killer treehouse" together. Metz recalls the treehouse was huge and said his dad made it staggeringly tall. He would swing from a rope attached to the highest branch and land in the yard. Metz said one time he swung out of the treehouse, crashed and ended up at the hospital with a broken arm...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer State officials, ag-scientists and seed company representatives met with about 100 farmers on Friday following alleged widespread misuse of an herbicide causing damage to thousands of acres of crops this growing season in Southeast Missouri...

Don't take dog out in heat, leave in car Yes, this is Tuesday, July 19th and I was at WalMart a while ago saw a GMC tan truck -- very tall big one with handicapped license plate -- for security reasons I won't give out the number but it ends in "48." A couple of elderly people finally came out with a huge amount of groceries and they had a dog in the car. ...

Edith Robinson of Wappapello will celebrate her 90th birthday, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. Her children are hosting a birthday party from 4-6 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 6, 2016, in the Fellowship Hall of the Shiloh Church in Wappapello. Mrs. Robinson has requested no gifts, but she loves greeting cards. Her children believe it would be wonderful if she received 90 birthday cards. There will also be a money tree available for anyone who wishes to add a few leaves...

Laura Diebold PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Laura Ann (Jones) Diebold, 59, of Piedmont, died Friday, July 29, 2016, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be held at 12:30 p.m. today at Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. today in the funeral home chapel...

By MONA CHAREN Where does a true patriot turn in the 2016 presidential election? The Democratic Party's national convention is attempting to lay claim to the patriot mantle. Yet the party is not quite there. Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was heckled with chants of "no more war." The Code Pink wing lost the nomination this year, but it won the platform -- and may yet win it all in the next cycle...

Vialita Albert FISK, Mo. -- Vialita Albert, 87, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, July 29, 2016, at Oakdale Caring Center. Mrs. Albert was born July 2, 1929, at Broseley, Mo., daughter of the late Ulys and Jewel Thomas Vancil. On July 14, 1951, she married Clarence J. Albert. He preceded in death Feb. 8, 1996...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- "The best darn change-maker I ever met in my entire life." So said Bill Clinton in making the case for his wife at the Democratic National Convention. Considering that Bernie Sanders ran as the author of a political revolution and Donald Trump as the man who would "kick over the table" (to quote Newt Gingrich) in Washington, "change-maker" does not exactly make the heart race...

Virginia Marie Gray FISK. Mo. -- Virginia Marie Gray, 72, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Friday. July 29, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Gray was born May 30, 1943 at Poplar Bluff. She was a homemaker. She is survived by her children: Cecilia Watson of Bloomfield, Mo., Don Smith and John Smith both of Mesa, Ariz., Anna Smith and Ken Smith both of Fisk, Nancy Virden of Ramsey, Ill.; one brother: Robert Thurston of Poplar Bluff; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren...

Alex Wiggs got rushed through the interview process for the assistant women's basketball coach position at Three Rivers College. He had his first round and second round interviews on the same day in order to avoid a second 10-hour, round trip drive from Jefferson City, where he was living at the time...

James Burrow DONIPHAN, Mo. -- James Eugene Burrow, 80, of Florissant, Mo., died Friday, July 29, 2016, at St. Sophia Health and Rehab in Florissant. Mr. Burrow, son of the late Carmie Isaac & Wilma Jean (Thompson) Burrow, was born Tuesday, Oct. 15, 1935, in Neelyville, Mo. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Voters will be asked Tuesday to decide which Republican candidates for Butler County's eastern and western district commissioners races can move on to the November general election. Eastern commissioner incumbent Don "Butch" Anderson of Poplar Bluff has one challenger on his party's ticket, Bobby King of Broseley. Anderson is completing his second four-year term as a commissioner...

Poplar Bluff has big plans for the athletics program in the inaugural year of its new high school. Three of the six Poplar Bluff Mules fall sports teams will open the season at home in their brand new facilities at the end of August, but a majority of them will be left preparing for the year on old practice facilities when the first official day of practice in high schools across Missouri begins Monday...

Jim and Judy Dickey of Glenallen, Mo. announce the engagement of their daughter, Jessica Dickey, to Alex Ballance, both of Cape Girardeau. He is the son of Joseph Ballance of Harviell, Mo., and Barbie McFarland of Marble Hill, Mo. His grandparents are Donna and John Ballance of Poplar bluff...