Stories from Friday, October 7, 2016

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has released district-level results for spring 2016 assessment test. Local results, with a few exceptions, fell near or below state averages. The state administers the assessment test every year to see how much students have learned in the subjects of math, English, science and social studies. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer WAYNE COUNTY, Mo. -- Wayne County officials have been using something equivalent to a payday loan to cover their bills for much of the last six years. But 2016 will be different, according to office holders, which is why they say a 'poor' rating on a second consecutive state audit is not as bad as it seems...

By JOHN R. LOTT JR. The Philadelphia Inquirer via Tribune News Service Is Donald Trump's "law and order" campaign just code for racism? The media and Hillary Clinton sure believe so. The New York Times recently criticized him for supporting the deportation of people who have been charged with crimes and portrayed the aggressive profiling of terrorism suspects as racist and counterproductive...

Whatever the outcome of November's presidential election, one particular note should be apparent to political leaders going forward: Populism is alive and strong in American politics. But it's not unique to the United States this year; populism is trending globally...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN In taking that $915 million loss in 1995, and carrying it forward to shelter future income, Donald Trump did nothing wrong. By both his family and his business, he did everything right. In a famous 1947 dissent, Judge Learned Hand wrote:...

Rabbit hunting is an activity that often gets overlooked as it coincides with many other seasons during the fall and winter. This a great way to get out and enjoy the outdoors with friends and family and is also a great way to introduce new hunters to the sport...

Ricky Lee Harris BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Ricky Lee Harris, 53, of Glen Allen, died near his home, Monday, Oct. 3, 2016. Visitation will be held from 4 - 5 p.m., Saturday, at the Beech Grove General Baptist Church near Bloomfield with memorial services to follow at 5 p.m. Rev. Zack Zook of Bloomfield will officiate...

EMINENCE, Mo. --There are few places as photogenic or that offer as many unique photographic opportunities as Ozark National Scenic Riverways in autumn. As part of the celebration of the centennial of the National Park Service in 2016, Ozark Riverways will be hosting outdoor photography workshops on Oct. 15 and 16...

Brett Calvin Pingel PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Brett Calvin Pingel, 56, of Piedmont, formerly of Ellington, died Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, at his residence. A memorial service will be held at a later date under the care of Ruegg Funeral Homes, Inc. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

By TOM UHLENBROCK Mo. State Parks The new Echo Bluff State Park, billed as the gateway to the Missouri Ozarks, is the perfect base camp for a two-day treasure hunt in search of the turquoise springs hidden in the forested hills. Located halfway between Salem and Eminence on Highway 19, the park's entrance is the starting point for an easy drive to six of these sparkling gems...

By JOE JEREK Mo. Dept. of Conservation JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Chronic wasting disease is a deadly deer disease that has been found in northeast, central, and east-central Missouri. According to wildlife-disease experts with the Missouri Department of Conservation, chronic wasting disease has the potential to greatly reduce deer numbers, deer health, and deer hunting in Missouri. CWD could also hurt the many Missouri families and businesses that rely on deer hunting...

Mary Wall Harris Mary Wall Harris, 84, of Jefferson City, Mo., died Friday, Sept. 30, 2016 at Heisinger Bluffs. Mary was born July 23, 1932 in Neelyville, Mo., the daughter of Edward E. and Lula M. Johnson Wall. She was married on Aug. 8, 1951 in Neelyville to Elmer L. Harris, Jr. who preceded her in death on May 24, 1997...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor To absolutely nobody's surprise, the fall firearms turkey harvest in Missouri has been less than spectacular. "Pitiful" might be a good way to describe it. As of this morning, only 727 birds had been taken statewide. For comparison purposes, hunters last year checked 1,609 birds in the first seven days...

Two high scoring, very different offenses will meet Friday when the Poplar Bluff football team travels to Hillsboro. Both come in averaging over 43 points per game but while the Mules are averaging the majority of their near-400 yards per game through the air, Hillsboro's 409 offensive yards per game are on the ground...

Raymond L. Britton Raymond L. Britton, 59, of Celina, Ohio, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 at St. Mary's Hospital in St. Mary's, Ohio. Britton, born Dec. 4, 1956, is the son of Rayfield Britton of Orlando, Fla. and Rosemary Britton of O'Fallon, Ill. ...

It's been a stressful three years for Gabe Grant, and a lot of that was lifted after he recently committed to play for the University of Houston next year. "It's a relief," Grant said "I'm so humbled and I'm so blessed to say I can actually go play at the next level. Regardless of which school I was going to pick, it was a blessing."...

Naylor gave up too much early and ran into a stout Chaffee defense late. In a low-scoring game, the second-seeded Red Devils did just enough offensively and flashed some leather to hold off a few attempted rallies by the No. 3 Lady Eagles to win a MSHSAA Class 1 District 1 semifinal 2-0 on Wednesday at Rains Field...

Summer Shockley can wait another day to pull off two of softball's toughest feats. Five RBI's and her third one-hitter of the season were enough for the Van Buren senior. Shockley had three phases of the cycle covered in her four at-bats and gave up her only hit in the fourth inning in top-seeded Van Buren's 12-1 rout of No. 4 Bakersfield in a MSHSAA Class 1 District 1 semifinal Wednesday at Rains Field...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Katie Gehrke slapped three triples and drove in three runs as fourth-seeded Twin Rivers eliminated No. 5 East Prairie with an 11-4 win in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 3 Tournament Wednesday. Brittany Williams added a triple, single a pair of RBIs and also scored twice for Twin Rivers (3-10) in the win. Emily Knoppe was 2 for 4 with two singles and two runs batted in, while Madison Lampe added two doubles...