Stories from Thursday, April 13, 2017

A Vietnam veteran, Art Russing has been fighting an uphill battle for the past three years against leukemia. His wife and caregiver, Mary, has her own health struggles, including congestive heart failure. For this Poplar Bluff, Mo., couple and almost 400 other residents, the hot and healthy meal delivered each weekday by Northside Nutrition means a lot...

PILOT KNOB, Mo. -- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff will lead a guided hike to the top of Pilot Knob National Wildlife Refuge Saturday, April 22 at 9:30 a.m. During the hike, staff will discuss the importance of Pilot Knob to the endangered Indiana bats and the historical uses of Pilot Knob Mountain...

With its first signing of 2017, the Three Rivers men's basketball team stayed close to home. Poplar Bluff's Willie Lucas recently signed to play for the Raiders next season. "I feel like I made it to college and it is a great feeling. I love it," said Lucas, who is undecided on what he will study. "I felt like it was home for me. I felt like coach (Gene) Bess and them will help me get to the next level and push me hard and make me a good player on and off the court."...

CAMPBELL, Mo. -- James Foy Webb, 93, of Opelika, Ala., formerly of Campbell, died Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at his residence. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. - noon, Saturday, at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. Funeral service will follow at noon, Saturday, at Landess Funeral Chapel with Mr. James Powell officiating...

Missourians deserve a real transportation dialogue, not a toll road lecture There is no silver bullet to fixing Missouri's transportation funding crisis. Believe me, we in the General Assembly have been searching for one. There is also no shortage of ideas from transportation bureaucrats and newspaper editorial boards; including the use of private investment to build new roads and then forcing state government to tax Missourians (in the form of toll roads) to pay them back...

Eugene Field Elementary School has chosen its Students of the Month for March. Ja-Briya Webb, daughter of Latoya Webb, was selected by her second grad teacher, Cheri Sparkman, because Ja-Briya does a great job of shining like a true leader. She is always willing to help others even when she isn't asked. Ja-Briya is a very hard worker and loves school. She is loved by her teachers and her friends...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Clyde M. Silkwood, 76, of Naylor, Mo. passed away on Sunday, April 9, 2017 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Silkwood was born on June 4, 1940 in Coon Island, Mo. He worked at Rowe Furniture and enjoyed fishing, hunting, and gardening. He was of the Pentecostal faith...

Janice L. Christensen, 68, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Though they've played just six games this spring and haven't been able to practice on a consistent basis, the Naylor Lady Eagles are back on top of this year's Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament softball bracket. Rain has wreaked havoc on Naylor's schedule, but the five-time tournament champs and three-time defending conference champs remain undefeated in conference play, earning them the top seed in the OFC Tournament, which starts Monday and concludes with the championship game Thursday, April 20.. ...

Friday, April 7, the Agee Community Club ladies met at Ryan's Steakhouse for their April meeting. Nadine Johnson, gave the invocation before the meal. Nickey Orton was the April hostess. Cathy Womack, president, opened the meeting with ladies repeating the club motto. Roll call was answered with a Bible verse from memory. Orton gave the devotional and read Rev. 12: 1-2. She also read the story of John Newton and his life. Who also wrote the song, ''Amazing Grace.''...