Stories from Saturday, October 1, 2016

By COLLIN STINSON SEMO News Service SIKESTON, Mo. -- Babies born in Missouri's Bootheel have less chance of surviving their first year of life than those born in many underdeveloped countries. Southern and Midwestern states have the highest infant-mortality rates, defined as the death of children before their first birthday. ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Missouri Animal Control Association has presented the Poplar Bluff Police Animal Control Division a Missouri Outstanding Animal Welfare Agency award following a reduction in euthanasia rates, an increase in adoption rates and a number of new community-oriented initiatives in 2015 and 2016...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer We wear more hats and play more roles than Meryl Streep has already won Academy Awards for," said Nichole Johnson, keynote speaker for the 29th annual Women Aware Conference and author of the best-selling book "Fresh Brewed Life, A Stirring Invitation to Wake Up Your Soul."...

Michele Esmond-Conway PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Michele Esmond-Conway, 47, died Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, at her home in Piedmont. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, at the Annapolis Cemetery with Pastor Pete Ruble officiating. Burial will follow in the Annapolis Cemetery under the direction of Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel...

New Madrid fall festival is Saturday New Madrid Fall Festival will be held from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, in Downtown New Madrid, Main Street. Activities include: petting zoo, beauty pageants, car show, great food, pony rides, youth fishing rodeo, mini golf, corn hole tournament, old-fashioned wagon rides, arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment, gemstone mining, bouncy house, Missouri child identification program, bass pro shop's big cat quest tournament weigh-in, and more...

The 26th Annual Poplar Bluff Life Chain will meet from 2 - 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Butler County Courthouse to pray for those victimized by abortion. Organizers said, "Thus to all who deem human life sacred from fertilization until natural death, Life Chain asks: 'Will you 'tarry with us' in prayer for one hour? Please do so, The first duty of Life Chainers is to humbly receive the convicting ministry God has for us on Oct. ...

WASHINGTON -- Looking on the bright side, perhaps this election can teach conservatives to look on the dark side. They need a talent for pessimism, recognizing the signs that whatever remains of American exceptionalism does not immunize this nation from decay, to which all regimes are susceptible...

By STEPHEN MOORE Someone might want to inform Hillary Clinton that greed and envy are two of the seven deadly sins. Her new revised tax plan would raise the estate tax to as high as 65 percent -- up from 40 percent, where it is today. She would also apply this hated death tax to as many as twice as many estates...

North Carolina's legislative body passed the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, which mandates a statewide policy banning individuals from using public bathrooms that do not correspond to their biological sex, as opposed to their opinion of their sex. ...

Billie Dean Brannon Billie Dean Brannon, 71, of Poplar Bluff, departed this life on Sunday, September 18, 2016. He is survived by his wife, Margie Brannon; 2 step-daughters, Suzzane Vinning and Betty Nelson; 2 nephews who Bill loved as sons, Anthony and Daniel Thompson and a niece who he loved as a daughter, Angel Pickens; and a host of other nieces and nephews...

Joy Ann Williams Joy Ann Williams, 53, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Thursday, September 22, 2016 at her residence. She was born on November 11, 1962 to Glenon R. and Lois (Shirley) Williams in St. Louis, Mo.. She graduated from Warrenton High School and worked as a Paralegal for St. Louis County...

Poplar Bluff High School Senior Jared Austin Moses, son of Cindy Moses and Jerrad Moses, participated in The American Legion Boys State of Missouri, June 18 - 25, on the campus of the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. Jared was selected based on his leadership, citizenship, academics, and character during his junior year at Poplar Bluff High School...

John Benjamin Banks John Benjamin Banks, 55, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Monday, Sept. 26, 2016 at his residence. Mr. Banks, the son of the late William E. and Mary Rivard Banks, was born May 9, 1961 in Pontiac, Mich. He was of the Protestant faith and was a long distance truck driver. Mr. Banks proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy. He enjoyed spending time with his family and traveling...

It took 21 days, but the Poplar Bluff softball team rallied past Naylor. Gracie King drove in a pair of runs when her at-bat was resumed with two strikes Thursday, giving the Mules the lead for good in a 12-2, 6-inning win at Bobby Strenfel Field. "That took pressure off of us, that's for sure," Mules coach Lisa Boyer said...

Dexter's actual blocking turned into the mental kind for the Poplar Bluff volleyball team Thursday night. Krysten Garrison had seven of the Bearcats' 13 blocks to go with 12 kills as Dexter broke open a tight match early to beat the Mules 25-15, 25-8...

CAMPBELL -- The Mules were talking about this game all week, and now they'll have all winter to think about it. After losing 1-0 in eight innings to Bell City in August, Bernie wanted to come back and hand the Cubs their first loss of the fall. Instead, two costly errors became three unearned runs as Bell City won 6-0 in the Campbell Fall Tournament on Thursday...

ELLINGTON -- Todd Wilcoxon threw a complete game four-hitter with seven strikeouts and Spencer Burnham went 2 for 3 with two RBIs as Van Buren beat Ellington 4-0 to claim the Big Spring Conference championship for the first time since 2013. "We started practice in August and the whole entire time our focus was on that tournament," Van Buren coach Jacob Black said. "It's the first time we've win it since our seniors were freshman and I couldn't be more proud."...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. --Poplar Bluff's tennis season ended Thursday in the opening round of the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 individual tournament. Mehlville ousted the Mules in singles play while both doubles teams were knocked out by Jackson. "Early on, the doubles matches especially looked like they might go our way before the tide turned," Mules coach Charles Harper said...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Big Spring lodge and cabins are expected to reopen in 2017, according to officials with the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Closure of the facilities was announced in 2014 as part of a $6 million renovation project for the more than 70-year-old Civilian Conservation Corps structures...

For the second straight week, the Poplar Bluff Junior High football team split a pair of games at Morrow Stadium. The eighth grade Junior Mules lost to Jackson 54-12 after winning 18-8 in the seventh grade game Thursday. Landon Buffington ran in the only two scores from 4 and 26 yards out for the eighth grade Mules (0-4)...

PARAGOULD, Ark. -- Ethel Mae Fisher McCollum (Coln), 88, of Paragould, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016, in Belle Meade. She was born in Girdletree, Md., graduated high school in Pocomoke City, Md. in 1946, and attended Southern Baptist College, now Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge, from 1946-1948. ...

Amarah La'Shey Randolph Amarah La'Shey Randolph, infant daughter of Tierra Miller of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away on Monday, September 26, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 3, 2016 at Bacon Cemetery in rural Butler County...

Ruby Parks MALDEN, Mo. - Ruby Parks, 81, of Malden, died Thurs., Sept. 29, 2016 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be at 6 p.m., today at the Landess Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will be at 2 p.m., Sat., Oct. 1 at the Landell Funeral Chapel with Rev. Ken Hare officiating. Burial will be in the Roswood - First Addition Cemetery in Malden. Landess Funeral Home of Malden is in charge of arrangements...