Stories from Saturday, February 11, 2017

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A freshman at Westwood Baptist Academy has been named the district-level winner in the VFW Voice of Democracy essay competition. The competition gives high school students a chance to express themselves in a democratic and patriotic-themed essay. Winners from local competitions advance to district, state, then national rounds, where the winner will receive a $30,000 scholarship...

To the Editor: I own two houses on Baugh Lane that are a stone's throw away from the proposed low-income housing development on Eugene Boulevard. Both of my houses are well-kept with long-term tenants. I'm concerned my tenants may want to relocate because the dynamics of the neighborhood will surely change...

What happened to all the cats? Yes, I was calling about the lady that was arrested for letting her mother starve to death. That's a huge tragedy and my heart goes out to everyone involved in that. That was horrible! Absolutely. I can't believe they let her go. They should have charged her immediately instead of letting her bond out or whatever it was. She shouldn't have been allowed to leave jail, it was so horrifying...

By STEPHEN MOORE The stock market has risen about 9 percent since the election of Donald Trump, with an increase in wealth of nearly $2 trillion. Is this the start of a big bull-market rally? Investors are, rightly, euphoric over Trump's pro-business/pro-investor policies. ...

By GEORGE F. WILL SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- The Cold War was waged and won in many places, including this beach city, home to the RAND Corp. Created in 1948 to think about research and development as it effects military planning and procurement, RAND pioneered strategic thinking about nuclear weapons in the context of the U.S.-Soviet competition. Seven decades later it is thinking about the nuclear threat from a nation created in 1948...

DONIPHAN -- Nearly every time Neelyville coach Patrick Morton talked about his team after Thursday night's game, the same refrain spilled out. "We just found ways," the fourth-year coach said. Despite losing the rebound battle, getting hurt by Greenville's go-to scorers and facing a 12-point deficit in the first quarter, the third-seeded Tigers got tough, attacked the basket and pulled out a 63-54 win over No. ...

DONIPHAN -- Twin Rivers senior Katie Gehrke came through in the clutch Thursday night. But not before nearly letting the opportunity slip through her fingers. In a tie game with the clock ticking down, Gehrke fumbled a half-court pass from Katelyn South and almost lost it into the Lady Royals bench...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A year ago, the Poplar Bluff girls swimming team dominated the conference meet. This time around, things were a little more exciting. On a day that saw four meet records fall, host Cape Central took advantage of standout swims from its depth to squeak out a nip-and-tuck title over the reigning champion Mules, 498 to 473, in Thursday's Show-Me Conference Championship at the Central Municipal Pool...

The addition of State Fair to the Region XVI baseball schedule this season has thrown a bit of a monkey wrench into things for the Three Rivers Raiders. Now 32 of the Raiders' 56 games are region games, and it is a lot to cram into a 2 1/2 month regular season...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The Lady Bearcats got 32 points out of their two big junior forwards as Dexter beat Cape Central 64-39 on Thursday. Hannah Thurmon led Dexter (14-8) with 17 points and added three rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Krysten Garrison, who missed the first couple of months of the season because of shoulder surgery, added 15 points, six rebounds and three assists...

Charles Lee, Sr. Charles Lee, Sr., 75, of Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be at 1 p.m., Friday, at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. Graveside funeral will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, at Memorial Gardens with Ronnie Fowler officiating...

Corey Ray Parker FISK, Mo. -- Corey Ray Parker, 47, of Spanaway, Wash., formerly of Poplar Bluff, passed from this life Friday, Feb. 3, 2017 to complete his journey to be with his Heavenly Father. Corey served in the Air Force and worked as a budget analyst for the 446 Air Lift Wing McChord Field, Washington. ...

Emma Evadeen Choat DEXTER, Mo. -- Emma Evadeen Choat, 91, of Ida, La., daughter of John R. and Ethel M. Baker Merideth, was born March 28, 1925 in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. and departed this world Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017 in Ida, La. Evadeen lived the majority of her life in the Dudley/Puxico area until she moved to Louisiana about six years ago. She was a member of Hobbs Methodist Church...

Norman Leroy Thouvenin Norman Leroy Thouvenin, 73, of Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born May 1, 1943 in Posey, Ill. to the late Joseph Peter Thouvenin and Luvella Mae Kennedy Thouvenin. He was of the Baptist faith. He was a long time resident of Carter County. He graduated from Central Illinois Township High School...

Ramona Toney PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Ramona Toney, 77, of Piedmont, died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be held from 5 - 9 p.m., Friday, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, also at the Piedmont Chapel. Burial will be at Masonic Cemetery. Pastor Jeff Johnson will officiate...

Deborah "LaBrot" Goforth NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Deborah Kay "LaBrot" Goforth, 61, of Doniphan, Mo. died February 7, 2017 at her residence. Visitation will be at 11:30 a.m., Friday February 10 at the Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville, Mo. A graveside service will follow at 1 p.m. in the Oak Grove Cemetery near Doniphan with Curtis Crowley will be officiating. Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville, Mo. is in charge of all arrangements...

Phyllis Ann Yebra PUXICO Mo. - Phyllis Ann Yebra, 73, of Wappapello, Mo., died Wed., Feb. 8, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Sat., Feb. 11 at the Morgan Sifford Chapel in Puxico with the funeral following at 1 p.m. Burial will be in the Puxico City Cemetery...

Ronnie Leroy Hudson NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Ronnie Leroy Hudson, 69 of Pocahontas, Ark. died February 6, 2017 at his residence. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., Monday, February 13 in the Fowler Sullivan Memorial Chapel of Neelyville, Mo. with the funeral starting at noon. Burial will be in the Gum cemetery near Naylor with Jon Fears officiating. Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel of Neelyville is in charge of arrangements...

Ruth Woodard Holderfield Ruth Woodard Holderfield quietly slipped away on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017 at the age of 94. Ruth was born November 19, 1922 in Naylor, Mo. Her parents were Sadie Barfield Woodard and Grover Cleveland Woodard. Ruth graduated from Naylor High School and Cape College. Her teaching career began in Naylor and after 32 years she retired in 1980. Over the years she taught Head Start, Kindergarten and first grade through twelfth grade...