Stories from Friday, February 24, 2017

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff Junior High and O'Neal Elementary School are two of 57 campuses in the nation and two of three in Missouri to be nominated for the Capturing Kids' Hearts National Showcase Schools awards. Capturing Kids Hearts is an educational model created by the Flippen Group, a national professional development provider. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Competition is already heating up for Saturday's annual Mason Dixon Chili Society Cook-Off, as 28 teams prep secret ingredients and tweak recipes for the highly competitive fundraiser. The event is free to the public and will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Black River Coliseum...

Deanna K. Beckham -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Elois Watson -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Shirley Keeney Polk -- Piedmont, Mo. Ronald Eads - Piedmont, Mo. Lonnie Gulliams - Puxico, Mo.

By RACHEAL LONG Southeast Arrow CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Theater and dietetics student Holly Brantley, 37, has lived for 10 years with anorexia, an eating disorder that nearly took her life. "I picked the eating disorder over everything, until I had to choose between it and my life," she said...

This week the House continued to take bold action as it advanced legislative priorities that will help bring criminals who attack law enforcement officers to justice; unleash our economy; and break down economic barriers for low-income families. You can learn more about the legislative priorities advanced by the House this week below...

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The job performance of Congress has slipped from bad to worse, in the opinion of a group of academic experts from across the country who were asked to evaluate the institution by the Indiana University Center on Representative Government. From a C-minus in 2015, Congress slipped to a grade of D for 2016...

To the Editor: As the principal of Sacred Heart School, I would like to thank all those involved in Dancing with the PB Stars this year. It was a great success and a fun evening! The generosity and support of this community is very much appreciated. There were many involved with making this night happen and I want to let everyone know that we are so very grateful for the outstanding support we have received...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor The Bluff City Mallards chapter of Ducks Unlimited continued right where it left off after last year's "bounce back" banquet, drawing more people to its annual dinner Saturday evening at the Black River Coliseum. "We had about 250 people," said District Chairman Grant Collins. "I was happy to see the bigger crowd."...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Saturday was a rainy mess, but fortunately, the Wappapello Crappie Club scheduled one of its last tournaments of the season for Sunday, and it turned out to be a gorgeous morning, by February standards. Thirteen teams fished the event, and at the end of the day, first-place honors went to Brad Botch and Tasha Ware with 9.09 pounds...

By TOM UHLENBROCK Mo. State Parks CEDAR HILL, Mo. -- A bright sun nudged the thermometer to 10 degrees and glistened off the light snow that covered the forested hills and valleys on the opening day of Don Robinson State Park. The view of the wintry scene was spectacular from the highest point in the park where the late Don Robinson built his home. A picnic shelter and overlook with rocking chairs now welcomes visitors to pause and inspect the rugged landscape...

For the last 23 years, Mark Reed has been the face of Missouri's Conservation Department in Stoddard County. Whether you're a duck hunter at Otter Slough, a weekend angler or just enjoy spending time in the outdoors, chances are you've run into him over the last couple decades. And now, after all that time, he's decided to move on...

ROLLA, Mo. -- Mark Twain National Forest's spring prescribed fire season will begin as weather allows. Prescribed fires are used primarily to help reduce the threat of wildfires and to improve the health of native plants and wildlife habitat in the Forest. Deer, turkey, quail and other species benefit when the plants they depend on for food or cover are rejuvenated by the use of fire...

Matt Lambert celebrated his birthday exactly the way he wanted Tuesday. The Poplar Bluff senior pitcher did more than just blow out the candles, eat cake and unwrap presents. In front of friends and family at the Senior High School, Lambert signed with St. Louis Community College to make his 18th birthday a memorable one...

Less than a week into the postseason, the small school district championship matchups look much different than they did a year ago. Of the six local teams still in contention, only two are playing for consecutive titles. Two other contests feature teams looking for their first district title in quite some time and two more are on the cusp of uncharted territory...

Deanna Kay Beckham Deanna Kay Beckham, 69, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017 at St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Dec. 19, 1947 in Ellisnore, to the late Walter Lea Kelly and Hattie Malin Kelly. She was a long time resident of Poplar Bluff. She was a member of the Midland Church...

Hannah Noe set a Southeast Missouri State record for 3-pointers in a season Wednesday. The Dexter High School alumna made one and finished with 11 points, giving her 69 3-pointers for the season with one regular season game left before the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament...

Dorothy Mae Towner VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Dorothy Mae Towner, 87, of Van Buren, died Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017, at the Riverways Manor Nursing Home in Van Buren. Visitation will begin for the public at 6 p.m., Friday, at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren with the funeral service to follow at 10 a.m., Saturday, in the Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Garry Reagan and Rev. Don Foerster will officiate. Burial will be in Houses Creek Cemetery...

Elois Watson Elois Watson, 89, of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be at 1 p.m., Friday, at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. Funeral will follow at 2 p.m., Friday at the funeral home chapel...

Shirley Keeney Polk Shirley Keeney Polk, 85, formerly of Piedmont, passed away Monday, Feb. 20, 2017 at the Morningside Assisted Living Center in Washington, Ill. She was born March 27, 1931 in Centralia, Ill, the daughter of John Bushong and Laura (Baldridge) Bushong...

Lonnie Gulliams PUXICO, Mo. - Lonnie Gulliams of Puxico died Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017 at Puxico Nursing and Rehab. Funeral arrangements are pending with Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico.

Ronald Eads PIEDMONT, Mo. - Ronald Eads, 76, of Piedmont died Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral chapel in Piedmont