Stories from Monday, October 31, 2016

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Bright Futures Poplar Bluff held its annual breakfast symposium early Friday, addressing supporters and school and community leaders on the successes and needs of the social safety-net program. The program was initiated in Poplar Bluff Public Schools in 2014 to address issues in students' personal lives by helping families find food, utility assistance and other necessities through a variety of community and church-based assistance groups and the contributions of individuals.. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Nearly 10 years ago, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper had a vision for Troop E to have a specialized team similar to that used by the military for funerals and other formal occasions. "When I first came on in '94, if there was a funeral to go to, whether it was for a retiree or active duty (trooper), you just kind of picked guys from your zone that were available," explained Sgt. Doug McDaniel...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer National Red Ribbon Week celebrations in the R-I district culminated on Friday with more than 1,200 students at the Poplar Bluff Middle School pledging to stay drug free. Following the death of DEA Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who was tortured and killed in Mexico in 1985, angered parents and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol to raise awareness of the killing and destruction caused by illegal drugs...

From Staff Reports About 120 people attended the recent VFW Post 6477's annual picnic held outside of Poplar Bluff, which was planned to honor the veterans and their families. The picnic has occurred for "quite a number of years," said chairman Warren Kerber. "Everything is provided and there is no admission fee."...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Neighbors will come together Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016 when the annual Julia Kraft Guild Craft Fair and Bazaar at Holy Cross Episcopal Church, 420 N. Main St. and the Margaret Harwell Art Museum Holiday Open House, 421 N. ...

BY MONA CHAREN Something quite startling happened in a close House race in northern Virginia this year. The Washington Post endorsed the incumbent Republican, Barbara Comstock. Comstock has been a familiar figure in the region for decades, but not in a way that would typically earn the Post's admiration. ...

The 94th annual St. Anne's Bazaar will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 and Sunday, Nov. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sacred Heart Parish Center at Eighth and Vine. Please use the Vine Street ramp entrance. On Saturday, early shoppers may enjoy Nancy Doran's cinnamon rolls served along with milk or coffee from 7:30 to 10 a.m. ...

Gary L. Rhine MALDEN, Mo. -- Gary L. Rhine, 67, of Malden died Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016 at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016 with Masonic Services at 8 p.m. at the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Funeral Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 in the funeral home chapel with Rev. James Hamlett officiating. Burial will be at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri with Military Rites...

The straw finally broke the Mules' back midway through the second quarter Friday night. Having overcome injuries all season, Poplar Bluff couldn't do it again in the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 semifinal in front of 1,030 at Mules Stadium. Vianney scored 28 unanswered points after Poplar Bluff junior Tyson Cox limped off the field, turning a 7-point lead into a 56-21 blowout in a little under four minutes...

MALDEN -- A slow start against Chalreston couldn't hamper Malden's pursuit for a third straight MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 championship on Friday. The top-seeded Green Wave racked up 512 yards of total offense and scored 47 points in the second and third quarters combined to down the No. 5 Bluejays 60-14 in a semifinal at The Swamp...

Poplar Bluff's Katie Sliger fell short of a second trip to the MSHSAA cross country championship meet while Van Buren won district titles Saturday. Sliger finished 45th in the Class 4 sectional race in Washington, Missouri with a time of 22 minutes, 8.52 seconds. Jackson's Courtney Hahs took the final qualifying spot in 21:19 on a hilly 5,000-meter course on a hot day...

The Three Rivers College men's basketball team opened last season with a 43-point blowout of North American University JV. This one will be closer. The Raiders host Lincoln Trail at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Statesmen are 3-1 against the Raiders the past three seasons...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- From all the emotion and sentiment that came from honoring survivors and those lost to cancer at Saturday's Pink Up Game, the Southeast Missouri State football team found reinforcement to the lesson constantly preached by its head coach...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Should Donald Trump surge from behind to win, he would likely bring in with him both houses of Congress. Much of his agenda -- tax cuts, deregulation, border security, deportation of criminals here illegally, repeal of Obamacare, appointing justices like Scalia, unleashing the energy industry -- could be readily enacted...

Bessie Melton PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Bessie Melton, 93, of Piedmont died Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, at her home. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont, followed by the funeral at 1 p.m. Burial will be in the Green Hill Cemetery near Piedmont...

Betty Provance CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Betty Ruth Provance, 75, of Campbell, passed away on Tuesday Oct. 25, 2016, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mrs. Provance, daughter of Golden L. Doc and Zella Irene Hicks Barnett, was born on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 1941 in Leachville, Ark...

Orland William "Red" Hatley MALDEN, Mo. -- Orland William "Red" Hatley, 92, of Gideon, Mo. died on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be held from 2-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016 at the First Baptist Church in Gideon. Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. at the First Baptist Church with Brother Bill Garrett and Brother Randy Deprow officiating. Burial will be in the Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton...

Jerry Ray Mullins FISK, Mo. -- Jerry Ray Mullins, 51, of Qulin, Mo., went home to be with the Lord Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 in Carter County. Mr. Mullins was born July 19, 1965 in St. Louis, Mo. Jerry attended Thousand Hills Cowboy Church. He was a very loving and caring person and enjoyed helping people. On Aug. 27, 2016, he married Joanna Conaway. She survives...

Louise Coleman Louise K. Coleman, 66, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 21, 2016, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. A memorial service will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Twin Towers Assembly Room.

Kenneth Eldon Gulledge Jr. PUXICO, Mo. -- Kenneth Eldon Gulledge Jr., 50, of St. Louis, Mo., died Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, in St. Louis. Visitation will begin at noon Saturday, Nov. 5, at Morgan-Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico, followed by the funeral at 2 p.m. with Max Mattingly officiating...

Dean Armstrong Jr. PUXICO, Mo. -- Dean Allen Armstrong Jr., 39, of Puxico died Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, at his home. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Richmann Cemetery at Wappapello, Mo. Morgan-Sifford Funeral Home at Puxico is in charge of the arrangements...

Bill Gourley Bill Gourley, 62, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 28, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service.

Pauline Thompson PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Pauline Delores Thompson, 84, of Piedmont died Friday, Oct. 28, 2016, at her residence. Visitation was held Saturday night at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. The funeral will be at 3:30 p.m. today in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be at Masonic Cemetery...

Peggy Purl WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. -- Peggy Purl, 66, of Williamsville died Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, at her residence. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Homes Inc. at Williamsville.

Richard Mayo Richard L. Mayo, 85, of Stafford, Mo., formally of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday Oct. 29, 2016. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service.

Supporters of the Animal Welfare Alliance (AWA) will have a lot to talk about when the group holds its eighth annual "Howling at the Moon" benefit on Friday, Nov. 4. A recent tally shows AWA has spent more than $43,000 helping to spay and neuter area pets since the organization's first full year of operation in 2009. Providing spay/neuter financial help to qualifying pet owners is one of AWA's primary programs...