Stories from Thursday, March 15, 2018

Less than three weeks before voters head to the polls, roughly 100 Twin Rivers R-10 staff and district citizens attended a public meeting Wednesday evening to ask questions regarding Proposition K.I.D.S. If passed, the proposition will increase the operating tax levy ceiling by $1.15 until 2037, or as soon as the debt is paid off...

As the saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas, so it is no surprise the state is No. 1 in America as having the most family farms. Missouri is No. 2, according to the Missouri Farm Bureau, with 99,000 family farms, many of them in rural Southeast Missouri...

Farmers can clear debris from the fields after a flood. They can level out damaged ground, and remove sand deposits. The one enemy they can't fight is the water itself. The timing of a flood is what can be the most devastating, Butler County farmers know...

Hillview Elementary School officials announce students who have earned places on the third quarter A HONOR ROLL Second Grade: Reese Armes, Alicia Barker, Richard Bunton, Landon Burdin, Mason Cosgrove, Ethan Davis, DeShane Deaner, Mallory Dicken, Jace Dodd, Devon Gore, Logan Green, Zimri Hogan, Andrew Lingle, Jacen Litterst, Nathan Moore, Morgan Oliger, Bailey Rich, Paetin Seals, Trenton Sisson, Kyle Spears, Moriah Stone, Eli Stotts, and Colton Thompson...

From a family-owned farm in Southeast Missouri to a dinner table in China, much of the locally grown grain will travel the world before reaching its final destination. Bunge Grain is a leading exporter and domestic supplier of grain crops, with the largest storage capacity along the Mississippi River system. Mack Walford, of Bunge's Caruthersville location, explained what happens after farmers truck their fall harvests to Bunge's storage bins...

Neelyville elementary school officials announce the students who have earned a spot on the third quarter honor roll. They include: "A" Honor Roll Third Grade: Sydney Barber, Stacie Cannaday, Lily Flanigan, Braiden Hover, Dionna Leader, Shamya Leader, Jarett Mckuin, Peyton Redden, Carsyn Shipp, Carly Smith, Carson Smith, Jasmine Taylor, Hunter Watson, Thomas Watson, Cam Wolfram...

PUXICO, Mo. -- The pan seat was taller than its 7-year-old driver. It had a crank start that needed adult hands. There was no power steering, and not even a pair of rubber tires to cover the bare steel wheels. "That's what I started out on. That there is rough riding," 68-year-old Allen Parsley said on a rainy March afternoon, as he ducked under the cover of a shed sitting off a series of gravel roads near Puxico...

We are a nation of law and order...or at least that is what we are led to believe. Your elected officials are supposed to honor and uphold the law, not recklessly flaunt and break it, all while potentially putting American lives at risk. But this is exactly what happened in California when Oakland Mayor, Libby Schaaf, tweeted a warning to dangerous criminals who are in our country illegally and told them to be on the lookout for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Officers. ...

Rev. Richard Johnson, 74, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, March 10, 2018, at his home. The visitation and wake will be from 10 -11 a.m. Saturday, March 17, followed by the funeral service from 11 a.m. to noon all at the Loving Jesus Ministries, 2663 Thomas St. Poplar Bluff. Burial will follow in the City Cemetery...

By MARC A. THIESSEN WASHINGTON -- There are many reasons Rex Tillerson's tenure as secretary of state was a failure, from his notorious isolation from his subordinates to his failure to help quickly staff the political appointment positions at State with competent Republicans. ...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Lois Charline DeJournett, 68, of Bloomfield, died Thursday, March 8, 2018, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be held after 11 a.m. Monday, March 19, 2018, at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield until time for graveside services at 1 p.m. ...

By MICHELLE MALKIN Here is my homework assignment for all the fist-clenching, gun control-demanding teenagers walking out of classrooms this week (and next week and next month) to protest school shootings: Ask not what the rest of the country can do for your local school's safety; ask what your local school boards and superintendents have been failing to do for you...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Bonnie Kay Morales, 73, of Fairdealing, Mo., died Monday, March 12, 2018 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. No services have been scheduled at this time. Fowler & Sons Funeral Home in Neelyville is in charge of arrangements...

CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Ersa Jean (Craft) Hefner, 74, passed away Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at 2 p.m., at her home in Qulin, Mo. after a brief battle with brain cancer. She is survived by her beloved husband of 56 years, Franklin Delane Hefner; son, Kenneth Todd Hefner and wife, Charlene Hefner; granddaughter, Cassondra Hefner and grandson Zachary Hefner, two step-grandsons, Jake and Sean Rock; her sister, Peggy Sue Moore Tinsley, her brother, Herbert Eugene Craft, her mother-in-law, Geniece (Huffman) Hefner; sister-in-law, Rhonda Faye Howe and brother-in-law, Eldred Allen Hefner.. ...

While the number of people in attendance was slightly lower than last year, the money raised at Saturday's 25th annual Heartland Gobblers/National Wild Turkey Federation banquet was right in line with the 2017 event. More than 150 people attended the banquet, according to Heartland Gobblers President Chuck Stewart, and they raised $55,000 to support the organization's conservation and education efforts...

The Poplar Bluff soccer team opens the season Friday in good health -- knock on wood --and hope to keep it that way to make a run at the program's second district title this spring. "If injuries don't plague us this year I think we've got a good opportunity to fight for a district championship," Mules coach Rusty Crafton said...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Margaret Couch, 89, of Doniphan, Mo., died Monday, March 12, 2018 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. A graveside service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, March 16, 2018 at the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Doniphan. Fowler & Sons Funeral Home in Neelyville is in charge of arrangements...

Poplar Bluff's only hunter education skills class of the spring will take place March 20 at the Poplar Bluff Junior High School gymnasium. This is a new location for the class, so take note. The class will begin at 5:30 p.m. and should last four hours...

L. Dewain "Buddy" Spradling, 65, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at his residence. Dewain, the son of the late Leonard and Louise Cash Spradling, was born Oct. 21, 1952 in Poplar Bluff. He was a self-employed carpenter, a trade and legacy that he passed on to his son. ...

Julia J. Loftin, 77, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at her residence. A family graveside service will be held in Rayville, La. at a later date. Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff, Mo. is honored to serve the family of Julia J. Loftin; please visit www.cotrellfuneralservice.com to share memories or to leave a condolence message...

DEXTER --Dexter softball coach Starla Pulley likes her team's depth and athleticism as the first pitch nears for the upcoming season. "We have a lot of the same girls coming back (from last year's 7-13 team), but they're a year older and a year stronger," Pulley said. "We worked together all summer. That kind of builds a fire in them to want to come out and work hard and play hard...

GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Terry L. Scowden, 58, of Greenville, passed away Tuesday, March 13 in Wayne County as the result of an automobile accident. She was born July 13, 1959 in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of Sherman and Rosalee (Meador) Westmoreland. A graduate of Clearwater High School, Terry had attended Little Lake Baptist Church. She was married to Michael Scowden Dec. 1, 2008 in Greenville. She lived in the Greenville area and worked in medical coding for St. Anthony Hospital in St. Louis...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Kenneth Lee Simpson, 50, son of Kenneth Simpson of Wappapello, Mo. and the late Barbara Sue Phillips Simpson, was born Aug. 30, 1967 in St. Louis, Mo. and departed this life on March 13, 2018 in the emergency room at the Southeast Health of Stoddard County in Dexter...

Ernestine Roberts, 67, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at her residence. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

ELLINGTON, Mo. -- Raymond Quaethem Jr., 65, was born Aug. 14, 1952 in St. Louis, Mo. to Barbara Lou (Land) Quaethem and the late Raymond Quaethem Sr. He departed this life Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at his Ellington residence. Raymond was a friendly, loveable man that enjoyed being outside; just sitting or riding his bicycle and dunebuggy. He also enjoyed playing his guitar and collecting M&M collectibles...

Guy Micheal Conner, 66, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away on Sunday, March 3, 2018 in Atlanta, Ga. He was born Jan. 18, 1952 to Clarence and Jo Ann (Weir) Conner Davenport in St. Louis, Mo. Guy worked as a Truck Driver for 40 years, currently he was driving for Outwest Trucking. On June 19, 1988, he married Maria Hernandez in Long Beach, Calif...

Marianne Kirchner, 60, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending with Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

Marjorie "Marge" Jean Osborn, 78, of Poplar Bluff passed away Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Marge was born May 25, 1939 in Poplar Bluff, Mo., daughter of the late Eugene and Dorothy Garrett. She was a member of Second Baptist Church but attended and was very active at Agee Fellowship Church. On Sept. 13, 1958 she married Robert J. Osborn...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Brandon "Brandit" Callow, 25, of Naylor, Mo. died Monday, March 12, 2018 at his home. Visitation will be at 2 p.m. Friday, March 16, 2018 at the Fowler & Sons Funeral Home in Neelyville. The funeral will immediately follow at 3 p.m. in the chapel with Donnie Fowler officiating...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Jerry Allen Hollis, 48, of Clarkton, Mo. died Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at his residence. Visitation will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Bradshaw Chapel in Malden with the Rev. Cory Godsey officiating. Burial will be in Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton...