Stories from Wednesday, January 24, 2018

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- The road Lindel Gregory took to his new position as chief ranger for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways was not a direct one. Gregory's journey began when he was employed in a seasonal capacity in the ONSR before he moved on to work as a firefighter in parks in Montana and New Mexico. What followed next was his first permanent law enforcement job in California...

FISK, Mo. -- Lisa Michelle Wagster, 53, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 from complications of pneumonia. Visitation and funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Cowboy Church on Old Highway 60 in Fisk. There was a luncheon reception immediately following the service...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Martha Ann Scarlet, 66, of Qulin, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 19, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Martha was born Wednesday, Dec. 26, 1951 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. No services are scheduled at this time...

BROSELEY, Mo. -- Jerry Wendell Gordon, 59, died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018 at Broseley. Visitation was Saturday at the Elk General Baptist Church at Broseley. Memorial Services followed with the Rev. Johnny Meese officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Duncan Funeral Home, LLC of Mountain View, Mo...

Eddie E. Patterson, 71, of Wappapello, Mo., died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, at his residence. Visitation and funeral services were held Friday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. The Rev. Jim Schremp officiated. Burial was at Memorial Gardens Cemetery...

All mankind is alienated from God because of sin. Men may think they are fulfilled when their fleshly desires are being satisfied, but sooner or later they will discover a feeling of emptiness in their inner life. God is not satisfied for man to remain alienated from him for in such a state God is unable to enjoy communion with him for God is altogether holy and cannot be associated with sin. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri youth, archery, and firearms turkey hunters can apply online for 2018 spring turkey managed hunts Feb. 1 - 28 through the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) website at mdc.mo.gov/springturkeyhunts. Managed hunt details and application procedures are outlined on the webpage. Drawing results will be posted starting March 12...

Congressman Jason Smith announces the 2018 Congressional Art Competition for high school students in public, private and home schools across southeast and south central Missouri. The theme for the competition is "Our Nation, Our District, Our Community." Students may submit original paintings, drawings, collages, mixed media, computer-generated art, and photographs. Congressman Smith and a panel of art experts will select a winning work of art to be displayed in the Capitol for one year...

BERNIE, Mo. -- The Mules became more aggressive on offense after halftime, both individually and schematically, and turned a six-point lead into a running clock. After a slow start, Bernie steadily took more and more control against Puxico. The Mules held the Indians to six points in the fourth quarter, outscored them 44-19 in the second half as Weston Zoll's three-point play in the final seconds capped Bernie's 81-50 win Friday...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- It has been nearly one year since a 21-year-old Sikeston man lost his life when he was struck by a 2009 Cadillac XLR while walking along a stretch of Highway 51 near Puxico. The accident occurred in the early morning hours of Friday, Feb. 17, 2017...

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- New Madrid continues to feel the economic impact from the closing of the county's largest employer, but Richard McGill, the town's city administrator, isn't dwelling on the past as much as he is looking toward the future. "We are definitely focused on trying to bring in jobs. ...

When fighting an addiction, sometimes it may seem impossible to overcome the problem at hand without help and a local church in Puxico has invited those struggling with addiction to their support group for just that reason. Over the past two months, First Baptist Church has started and is growing a ministry to help those with addiction problems named, "Breaking the Chains Ministries". ...

The 24th Annual State Duck Stamp Contest included 16 Puxico students who received honorable mention in the competition running through Kindergarten -12. There were more than 1,000 student entries from across the state including students involved in Art Studio programs. The next State Duck Stamp contest will be held on March 1, 2018 and any children aging from K-12, including. homeschooled students, can enter work into the contest...

Southeast Missouri was once known as the Great Southeast Missouri Swamp but in 1928, after eight years of planning and 14 years of backbreaking work, it became the world's largest drainage project, moving more earth than the construction of the Panama Canal. It is known as the The Little River Drainage Project and a local filmmaker is working to make a documentary about the project...

Care for some beet juice? Maybe beet juice doesn't appeal to the taste buds, but it does have some advantages when keeping highways clear of snow and ice. Brian Okenfuss, MoDOT area Engineer in Southeast Missouri, explained some of the ingredients that are used on Missouri Highways during winter storms. One of the ingredients is beet juice...

U. S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue recently announced the individuals who will serve on the Missouri USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) state committee. The state committee is responsible for the oversight of farm programs and county committee operations, resolving appeals from the agriculture community, and helping to keep producers informed about FSA programs...

NEW YORK (AP) -- Diet Coke is getting a makeover to try to invigorate the sugar-free soda's slumping sales. Coca-Cola Co. said Wednesday it's adding a slimmer 12-ounce Diet Coke can, updating the logo and offering the 35-year-old drink in four new flavors, including mango and ginger lime. The taste of the plain Diet Coke will stay the same, the Atlanta-based company said...

By MICHELLE MALKIN Seventeen years after granting "temporary protected status" to nearly 200,000 Salvadoran citizens who had fled earthquakes in 2001 or who were already here illegally and claimed they were unable to return to their homeland because of civil strife, America is setting a deadline:...

After 10 years with the Coldwell Banker franchise, Ruth Holloway Realty has decided to continue serving the area with a more visible and local presence. "I felt like it was time for a change," owner Paul Arnold said. "We are well established throughout the whole area and now we can use and bring advertising dollars back to the area."...

St. PETERS, Mo. -- Jackie Charlene Alexander, 65, of Warrenton, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 15, 2018 in Lake St. Louis, Mo. Services are pending with Alternative Funeral & Cremation Services, 2115 Parkway Drive, St. Peters, Mo.

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Standard Democrat It's universally accepted that the major media giants - with the exception of Fox News - are blatantly liberal, anti-Trumpers. Even Fox has a handful of liberal-leaning anchors who loudly question the President...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Bobby Joe Johnson, 39, of Dexter, Mo. died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be at 1 - 3 p.m. Wednesday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Graveside service will be at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Elder Cemetery in Campbell...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Jewell Dean Coleman, 70, of Doniphan, Mo., died Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, at the Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. Visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, from 10 a.m. until noon in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Doniphan. A graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. at the Corning Cemetery in Corning, Ark...

Tammy Thurman, 51, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away Monday, Jan. 22, 2018 at Poplar Bluff. She was born Jan. 11, 1967,in St. Louis, Mo. She was an LPN. She was a member of the Palace of Praise. She enjoyed her family, friends and her church. She is survived by daughter, Ashley (James) Koonce; two sons, Parker Thurman and Johnathon Thurman; two grandsons, Damien Koonce, Dorian Koonce; granddaughter, Draven Koonce; two special friends, Bert Mangnum and Amanda Eversole; sister, Joy Jennings; niece, Jody Bryant.. ...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The NFL has denied advertising space in the Super Bowl program for a veterans group that declined to alter language about standing for the national anthem. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed Tuesday that American Veterans, or AMVETS, submitted an advertisement last week to the third-party publisher of the game program with the message, "Please Stand."...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Sybil Pearl Lawrence, 101, formerly of Dexter, died at her home in Cape Girardeau Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018. Visitation will be held Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, after 9:30 a.m. until time of services at 11 a.m. at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, with the Rev. Jeff Roth of Dexter officiating. Burial will follow in the Walker Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo. with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements...

Poplar Bluff's senior diver was a photographer Tuesday when the Mules hosted their final home meet of the season. Even if the Black River Aquatic Center had a board, Kaylee Harris had her season ended by a foot injury. Still, she said it would have been nice to compete in front of family and friends...

Kenneth Dale Corwin, Jr., 79 of Franklin, Tenn., passed away Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. Born in St. Louis, Mo., to the late Kenneth Sr. and Mable Corwin, Ken was an acclaimed plastic surgeon whose results earned him a reputation that attracted patients seeking his skill and artistry from all parts of the United States...

Dexter, Poplar Bluff and Hillsboro squared off again Tuesday night after finishing within 23 points of each other at the SEMO Conference wrestling tournament over the weekend. The three teams ended up about even once again. The host Mules beat Dexter 42-37 and lost to Hillsboro 40-33 while the Bearcats topped Hillsboro 39-27...

Louise E. Huff-Allen, 89, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018 in Poplar Bluff. Louise, the daughter of the late Walter and Della T. Hill Holland, was born Feb. 24, 1928 in Ellsinore, Mo. She was a member of First Church of God, and had retired as assistant manager from Sherwin-Williams. ...

John Ambrose Hennessey, 91, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017 at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born on April 4, 1926 to John and Josephine (Coackley) Hennessy in Boston, Mass. John served his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. ...

ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Jason Edward White, 41, died Monday, Jan. 22, 2018 at his residence in Ellsinore. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, at McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018 in the Harmony Cemetery in Ellsinore...

KENNETT, Mo. -- Kennett cut a 15-point, third-quarter deficit down to five with 7 1/2 minutes left Tuesday night but was unable to put together the finish it needed to rally past Poplar Bluff. The Mules opened SEMO Conference play with a 70-52 road win by closing the game on a 20-7 run...

DEXTER -- Fans at Tuesday's night matchup between the Puxico Indians and Bloomfield Wildcats will likely remember Dalton King's second-quarter shooting exhibition. However, the teams' coaches will remember the third quarter as the turning point in a first-round matchup of the Stoddard County Activities Association Tournament at the Bearcat Event Center...

DONIPHAN - Things are starting to get serious in the Ozark Foothills Conference. With the conference tournament a little more than a week away, Doniphan and Clearwater played a physical game that was worthy of the postseason and occasionally had to be reigned in by the referees...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The Raiders literally slipped up in trying to pick up a road win. Three Rivers had a pair of chances late but didn't convert and lost 86-85 at Arkansas Baptist. Three Rivers with the game tied and about 30 seconds left. The Raiders milked the clock and then Aidan Sunders drove, but turned the ball over and committed a foul, putting Arkansas Baptist's Darius Elliott on the line...

DYERSBURG, Tenn. -- Sydni Williams was home with the flu and with her absence, went the entirety of Three Rivers' pure post players. The Lady Raiders still rebounded well. Combined with improved defense, Three Rivers beat Dyersburg (Tenn.) 72-51 in its second to last road game...

CAMPBELL -- Down by 16 at halftime, the Camels mounted a furious comeback in the third quarter and took the lead. Campbell outscored Senath-Hornersville 22-5 in the third to lead by a point going into the fourth and win 61-58. Madison Burns scored half of Campbell's points in the third and finished with 14 total, 12 of that in the second half...

PUXICO, Mo. - Fred L. Pierce, 84, of Puxico, died Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation and funeral were Saturday, Jan. 20 at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico with Rev. Gary Burns officiating. Burial is planned for a later date...

PUXICO, Mo. - Evelyn E. Lynch, 82, of Puxico, died Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation and funeral were Thursday, Jan. 18 at Duck Creek Church with Rev. Buck Cruse officiating. Morgan Sifford Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

PUXICO, Mo. - Elva Juanita King of Puxico, daughter of the late Virgil Henry and Ora Louise Patterson Cookson, was born on April 25, 1930 in the Rockwell area near Puxico and passed away at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau on Jan. 18, 2018, at the age of 87 years, 8 months and 24 days...

Agnes Geneva (Roberson) Miller was born on Jan. 17, 1943, in Tutwiler, Miss., and left her earthly home on Janu. 15, 2018, in Springfield, Mo., at the age of 74. Agnes was a member of the First Baptist Church of Republic and enjoyed singing in the church choir. ...

Joan Arnold of Puxico died Jan. 15, 2018 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Services were held Jan. 19, 2019 at Morgan Sifford Funeral Chapel in Puxico. Burial followed in the Puxico City Cemetery.