Stories from Friday, August 26, 2011

Four fire trucks and a maintenance truck belonging to the Piedmont Volunteer Fire Department and the Clearwater Rural Fire District were damaged Thursday night when a fire broke out in the building the two agencies share in Piedmont. "The call came in at 10:24 p.m.," said Clearwater Rural Fire District Chief Joshua Allen, who also said the fire started in one of the building's truck bays...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Whether you are computer savvy or prefer to put pen to paper, you can register for the 24th annual Women Aware Conference the way you feel most comfortable. Registration for the event to be held Sept. 15 at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo., is heading more to an online presence, said registration chair Penelope Davis-McGath of Poplar Bluff...

"As members of the Poplar Bluff R-I Board of Education, we feel a tremendous responsibility to the students, staff, and the community to make decisions that we feel confident are in the best interest of education. This is why we felt the need to take the extra step with the meeting tonight, and to make sure we fully reviewed all the information that was presented to us over the past few weeks in order to make informed decisions on behalf of the schools and future of our educational system...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer With a public statement and a donation estimated to be worth several hundred thousand dollars, on Thursday night the Poplar Bluff School Board officially joined local and state officials, as well as business leaders in supporting Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center's decision to construct a new facility on Oak Grove Road...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor VAN BUREN, Mo. -- The Missouri Attorney General's Office now is prosecuting the case of an Ellsinore, Mo., man accused of distributing methamphetamine, as well as burning multiple homes, including the home of former Sheriff Tommy Adams...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Families who once could not afford braces now have another option in Southeast Missouri Smile for a Lifetime is a nationwide charitable organization based in Jonesboro, Ark., that provides orthodontic care to lower income families. The program recently expanded to Poplar Bluff, Mo. Dr. Courtney Atkinson of Poplar Bluff Orthodontics has pledged to provide free services to four local youth this year through the program...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Now that 2010 U.S. Census figures are out, the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce and Poplar Bluff Industries have hired Arnett Muldrow & Associates of Greenville, S.C., to conduct an in-depth retail market analysis for the area...

BROSELEY -- For just the second game of the season, the East Carter offense was in full swing Thursday. The Lady Redbirds had 16 hits in a 17-6 win over host Twin Rivers in six innings, their first win after losing to Kelly earlier in the week. "(We had) a lot of good hits," East Carter coach Angie Bowman said. "Our offense is still strong...

BLOOMFIELD -- The Bloomfield Lady Wildcats volleyball team was scary good last year but the season came to end on Halloween Eve. Playing in their first sectional playoff since 1999, the Lady Wildcats held their own against the eventual MSHSAA Class 2 runner-up, St. Pius X, before coming up short...

By PATRICK BUCHANAN Is the Senate trying to reignite the Cold War? If so, it is going about it the right way. Before departing for a five-week vacation, the Senate voted to declare Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be provinces of Georgia illegally occupied by Russian troops who must get out and return to Russia...

"The best lack all conviction while the worst are full of passionate intensity." -- W. B Yeats Actually, contra Yeats, our best are full of passionate intensity -- except when it comes to running for president. The Tea Party shows no sign of obliging the media by fading away. Yet one after another, each of several promising prospects on the Republican bench -- Haley Barbour, Mitch Daniels, Chris Christie, Paul Ryan -- has begged off . . . or seemed to...

Thanks to the Tea Party I want to thank the Tea Party Republicans in Congress for creating a gridlock, which just this week cost American workers 70,000 jobs when the FAA has to furlough employees and close down all of their construction projects. As well as, it may keep us from paying our military and keep you, me and all the others from enjoying the benefits from social security, Medicare and VA. Thank you...

To the Editor: One year ago, a national political figure came to St. Louis and told his supporters that Poplar Bluff is a sad place that has lost its ambition and vigor. I more than took offense to that remark - I got angry. The City has a vital economy which is an example to the rest of the state...

Pearl Cahow DEXTER, Mo. -- Pearl Cahow, 96, of Dexter, Mo., died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, at Advance Nursing Center in Advance, Mo. She was born in Tennessee on March 31, 1915. She had lived in Dexter for the last 40 years. She was of the Baptist Faith...

Bailey Lewis Bailey Lewis, 82, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday Aug. 26, at Claru DeVille Nursing Center in Fredericktown, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

Charles Driskill DEXTER, MO. -- Charles Driskill, 76, of Dexter, Mo, died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Ethel Crump DEXTER, Mo. -- Ethel Victoria Crump, 96, of Reed Springs, Mo., died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011, at the Table Rock Health Center in Kimberling City, Mo. Mrs. Crump was born Oct. 29, 1914, in Puxico, Mo. She spent many years in the Puxico, Mo., and Dexter, Mo., area before moving to the Branson, Mo. ...

VAN BUREN -- Brittany Hager had two hits and four steals to lead Van Buren to a 16-10 win over Doniphan on Thursday. Gavy Cipponeri had two hits and an RBI while Chasity Fowler had two RBIs. Breanna Towner added two hits and three runs for the Lady Dawgs (3-0)...

Dennis Neighbors WAPPAPELLO, Mo. -- Dennis Neighbors, 55, of Wappapello, Mo., died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, at his residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

Rita Hunsperger DEXTER, Mo. -- Rita Hunsperger, 73, of Dexter, Mo., died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She had lived in Dexter since 1973 when she moved there with her family. She was a member of the Living Water Worship Center in Bloomfield, Mo...

Cledis Gaultney WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. -- Cledis Lee Gaultney, 65, of Williamsville, Mo., died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011, at Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was born Dec. 21, 1945, in Williamsville, Mo., to the late Frank Gaultney and the late Della (Luke) Gaultney. He was a lifelong resident of Williamsville. He was employed in the saw milling industry...

Linda Lawrence DEXTER, Mo. -- Linda Lawrence, 76, of Dexter, Mo., died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

The 20th class reunion of the Poplar Bluff High School Class of 1991 will be held Friday and Saturday, Sept. 9-10. Kick-off will be a tailgate party at 5 p.m. Friday in the River Road parking lot. A bus tour is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday. The main event will be held at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion, 2320 Kanell Blvd. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $25 per person or $40 per couple...

After coming oh-so-close to winning the program's first-ever district title, the Poplar Bluff volleyball team feels ready to take the next step. The Lady Mules return nine lettermen from a team that finished 11-18-2 last fall, reaching the district final for just the fourth time and losing to Farmington in three games, 22-25, 25-8, 25-17...

SIKESTON -- Poplar Bluff hit the ground running Thursday in the season opener for the Lady Mules softball team. Randi Montgomery stole five bases and was one of six Lady Mules with multiple hits as Poplar Bluff won at Sikeston 7-1. "They played as a team and picked each other up when we made mistakes," Lady Mules coach Julie Gambill said...

Rev. Fred and Ruth Applegate have touched many lived in their years of ministry. Friends, family and anyone whose life was touched by the Applegates are invited to join in a celebration of their retirement at 6 p.m. Saturday at Twin Rivers General Baptist Church in Fisk, Mo. The church is located on S. Hwy. 51 between Fisk and Broseley, Mo...