Stories from Thursday, September 1, 2016

WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. -- As hot summer days give way to cooler temperatures and the approach of autumn, area residents can once again look forward to the time-honored tradition of the annual Williamsville Labor Day Picnic, which will be held Friday and Saturday...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer WAPPAPELLO, Mo.- Elevated water levels at Wappapello Lake have forced the Corps of Engineers to close all three beaches for the rest of the season, leaving Labor Day hopefuls high and dry. Park ranger Andrew Jefferson said the amount of rain received during the month of August is not the norm and the lingering impact is a slowly-falling summer pool...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Two Doniphan men were charged Tuesday night after they admitted to causing the death of sex offender by shooting him and then burning his body in April. Matthew Brandon Bruce, 29, and Michael G. ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer More than two years after approval of a $48.3 million tax levy to fund construction of new facilities, members of the public during an open house Tuesday got their first look at the new Poplar Bluff High School. "As you look around, you can see the happiness, the joy, and the pride not only in the faces of our kids, but of our patrons. ...

Donna M. Kiefer Donna M. Kiefer, 64, of Wappapello died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 at her residence. Services were held Aug. 29, 2016 at Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home. Chaplain Billy Orr officiated. Burial followed in he City Cemetery. Online condolences: www.fitchhillisfh.com...

Wilma Dianne Francisco Wilma Dianne Francisco, 64, of Wappapello died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016 at The Cedargate. Services were held Aug. 27, 2016 at Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville. Rev. Calvin Buhler officiated. Burial followed in the Black Creek Cemetery in Poplar Bluff...

LaVon M. Griffith LaVon M. Griffith, 82, of Wappapello died Monday, Aug. 22, 2016 at her residence. Services were held Aug. 24, 2016 at Wappapello Cotrell Funeral Chapel. A graveside service and burial followed at the Little Brushy Cemetery. Online condolences: www.cotrellfuneralservice.com...

Frankie Marie Kinder Frankie Marie Kinder, 79, of Dexter died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 at Life Care Center in ape Girardeau. Services were held Aug. 26, 2016 at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Rev. Joe Payne officiated. Burial followed in the Dexter Cemetery...

The very thought that God might give up on us is frightening, and should spur us on to greater faithfulness and devotion to Christ and the church. In the sixth chapter of Genesis it is said that God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and it grieved him at his heart that he had made man, "And the Lord said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth." But one man found grace his sight whose name was Noah, so God commanded him to build an ark, and gave him the dimensions. ...

The annual Lake Wappapello 25-Mile Yard Sale will begin Sept. 2 and continue through the Labor Day holiday weekend. This is a community event and everyone is invited to participate. It's a great opportunity for your school, church or civic group to have a fall fundraiser...

By TIARA McCLURE The Democrats in the 151st Legislative District reorganized and elected officers Tuesday, Aug. 23, at the Law Office of Mike Moroni in Bloomfield, Mo. The new committee is Ron Yersak, chair; Debbie Gunter, vice chair; Tiara McClure, secretary; and Tom Bichoff, treasurer. The 151st Legislative District consists of Stoddard County and the western edge of Scott County. Tila Hubrecht of Dexter currently represents the district...

The following individuals have made donations to the Stoddard County Children's Home, Inc. in Memory or in Honor of a loved one for the months of July and August: Anna Kristina Stokes in Memory of Opal Bondurant Tamra & Randall Terry in Memory of Opal Bondurant...

Youth are involved in so many activities these days it's hard to fit everything into a busy schedule. There are sports, in school programs, afterschool programs, the list is endless. You may think why should my child participate is so many activities, said Stephanie Milner, youth development specialist, University of Missouri Extension. ...

By AMY HAYES On Saturday, Sept. 3, the Berry Glenn Historical Museum will be hosting local artist, Cherie Bancroft Markham's art exhibit. Markham is from the Lake Wappapello area. She has been doing art professionally for the past 30 years, however her first official exhibit was in April of 2016 at Southeast Missouri State University. This exhibit held at the museum in Puxico will host several of her paintings, sculptures, and mixed media artwork...

By AMY HAYES The 2016-2017 school year brought a few new changes to the staff at Puxico R8 Schools, with a total of 11 new staff members in different areas of service starting at the preschool level and continuing throughout the high school. Puxico Indians will be seeing new faces on the school grounds this year...

By AMY HAYES The Berry Glenn Historical Museum board Monday Aug. 22 discussed repairs to the museum and caboose, homecoming events and an upcoming art show. Repairs to the museum and the caboose were discussed. Members along with city officials are hoping to start on repairs soon and they will be funded by the museum...

By TIARA McCLURE Rep. Tila Hubrecht of 151st Legislative District presented a proclamation, a Missouri State Flag and a United States Flag to the Puxico Board of Aldermen during the regular city meeting Thursday, Aug. 25. The assessed valuation of the city of Puxico has dropped during the past year, the alderman learned during the tax rate hearing prior to the regular meeting...

By NOREEN HYSLOP SEMO News Service PUXICO, Mo. - Jerry Worthy awoke Saturday morning, Aug. 20, expecting to finally get a start on that barn that he had wanted to build on his rural Puxico farm. He'd planned it for the past four years, but time and circumstances just never seemed to accommodate him. ...

The Three Rivers College Patrons of the Arts Society has announced the schedule for its upcoming 2016-17 season, which will include the return of Russian ballet, a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute concert, Chinese acrobats, three children's shows, the legendary Second City comedy troupe, and more...

By STEPHEN MOORE Have you noticed that Hillary Clinton wants to talk about the economy about as much as she wants to talk about Monica Lewinsky or Benghazi? Here's why: The economy is lousy. Feeble. Barack Obama's own numbers prove it. We got revised GDP numbers from the Commerce Department on Friday and the economy is actually getting worse. ...

To the Editor: I have been contemplating as to how I wanted to write this letter but have decided to just let it go. Back during the last part of the Democratic National Convention, they decided to put a Muslim-American family on stage, Khizr and Ghazala Khan, who had lost their son during the Iraq War in 2004. ...

Robert "Bob" Link DEXTER, Mo. -- Robert "Bob" Link, 76, of Wappapello, died Monday, Aug. 29, 2016 at his home. Visitation will be held from 6 - 8 p.m., Thursday, at the Lakeland Assembly of God Church in Wappapllo. Memorial services, burial with full military rites will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield with Pastor Arvin Haynes of Wappapello officiating...

BLOOMFIELD -- Puxico got 10-run ruled in five innings Tuesday for the fourth time in four games. This time it was a 10-0 shutout at Bloomfield. Afterward, though, Puxico head coach Jay Pierce had nothing but positive things to say to his young team...

Erma Vannell Loyd-Ramirez Erma Vannell Loyd-Ramirez, 88, of Poplar Bluff, Mo, died Saturday, August 27, 2016 at Cedargate Healthcare in Poplar Bluff. She was born Oct. 23, 1927 in Leslie, Ark. There will be a graveside service at 10 a.m., Saturday, at Black Creek Cemetery in Poplar Bluff, with Rev. Jim Sanders officiating...

A day after putting together a six-run inning, the Poplar Bluff softball team continued to score in bunches. The Mules plated four in the first inning capped by a two-run homer from Gracie King and put together a seven-run fourth to dispatch of Neelyville 13-2 in five innings Tuesday at Bobby Strenfel Field...

Corliss Ann Elsworth OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Corliss Ann Elsworth, 64, of Mustang, Okla. was called home Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. She was born March 18, 1952 in Poplar Bluff to Betty (Milster) and Raymond Tanner. She graduated from Poplar Bluff High School and went on to have a career as a medical records technician. ...

DONIPHAN -- Doniphan coach Brad Eddington knows he's dealing with a young squad in his second season at the helm. But he also knows he's got two veterans at the top of the lineup in senior Haley Beale and junior Paige Eddington to make the growing pains a little easier...

Robert Bennett Rushing MALDEN, Mo. -- Robert Bennett Rushing, 51, of Malden, died Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, in Malden. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m., Thursday, at First General Baptist Church in Malden with burial in Rosewood Cemetery in Malden. Bradshaw Funeral Homes, Inc. of Malden in charge of arrangements...

Mildred Loeta Hayes QULIN, Mo. -- Mildred Loeta Hayes, 90, of Granite City Ill., died Aug. 29, 2016, in Granite City. Mildred was born March 1, 1926 in Qulin. She married Robert Thomas Hayes Dec. 10, 1941; he preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her father, John Everette Williams, her mother, Dolly May Wilkes Williams; four sisters: Mayoma "Omie", Thelma "Tater" Lucille, and Vergie "Belle"; three brothers: James, William, and Robert; and daughter, Novella Grizzard...

Mary M. Underwood PUXICO, Mo. -- Mary M. Underwood, 84, of Wappapello, Mo., died Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, at Westwood Hills Health and Rehab in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 2, at the Morgan Sifford Chapel. Rev. Don Richmann will officiated. Burial will be in Richmann Cemetery, Wappapello...

Kathy Rhea Stobaugh Jones Kathy Rhea Stobaugh Jones, 63, of Bloomfield, Mo. (rural Aquilla), passed away peacefully on a beautiful Sunday morning, Aug. 28, 2016 in Cape Girardeau, Mo. at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Lora and Joe Galati, surrounded by close loved ones...

Beth Parker DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Beth Ann Parker, 60, of Doniphan, died Friday, at the St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis. Visitation will start at noon Friday, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. A graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. at the Oak Grove Cemetery in rural Doniphan with Pastor Alan Wilson officiating...

Beth Ann Parker -- Doniphan Robert Bennett Rushing -- Malden, Mo. Erma Loyd-Ramirez -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Kathy Rhea Stobaugh Jones -- Bloomfield, Mo. Robert "Bob" Link -- Wappapello, Mo. Corliss Elsworth -- Mustang, Okla. Mildred Loeta Hayes -- Granite City Ill...

NEELYVILLE -- Trey McDaniel began his senior campaign by striking out a career-high 20 batters and only allowed two hits as the Greenville baseball team opened the season with a 3-1 win over Neelyville Tuesday. Alex Hicks drove in the Bears' first run of the game with a single in the fifth before Wyatt Barks drew a bases loaded walk to score the go-ahead run...

JACKSON, Mo. --Poplar Bluff couldn't complete a comeback Tuesday night as the Mules volleyball team suffered its first loss of the season. Jackson edged the visiting Mules in the third game to win 25-16, 12-25, 25-22. "Got rattled first game," Mules coach Amanda Lance said. "Second set we came to play. Third we fought back from an 11-point deficit but lost it in the end."...