Stories from Wednesday, September 7, 2011

From behind the smoke of cannon fire, Union and Confederate encampments perform drills used to prepare soldiers for battle. Nearby, the calvary demonstrates horse and saber techniques while women in period clothing make traditional crafts. Civil War Days at Fort Benton in Patterson, Mo., will bring to life on Friday and Saturday a critical part of Wayne County's history...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor An ordinance relocating a portion of South 11th Street between Cherry and Oakwood streets was unanimously approved by the Poplar Bluff City Council Tuesday night after an agreement was reached on increasing the sight distance for drivers backing out of a parking lot...

The following are events that will be held during Civil War Days at Fort Benton and the nearby Patterson Community Center in Patterson, Mo. Entrance to grounds and events are free. Friday 5-10 p.m. Grounds open Events and activities open free to the public include: Turner Brigade Union encampment, Big River Volunteers Confederate encampment; Ordinance Museum Tent, with a large collection of Civil War artifacts; and antique wagon display...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor DEXTER, Mo. -- Nearly $117,000 in money stolen from the Dexter Public Schools last month has been recovered as authorities continue "diligently" investigating the crime. The investigation surrounds funds, which were "illegally accessed through electronic transfer," Dexter's superintendent, Dr. Thomas Sharp, said earlier...

SUMMERSVILLE, Mo - A landowner in Texas County shot a mountain lion on Sept. 5 after encountering it on his property. The landowner then called Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) regional offices to report the incident. Shannon County Conservation Agent Justin Emery responded to the incident and conducted an investigation. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A request by the Poplar Bluff Historical Preservation Commission to grant a City Landmark Designation to historic hitching posts, hitching rings and mounting blocks was discussed during the Poplar Bluff City Council meeting Tuesday night...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Property owners along Highway 142 and County Road 314 object to a proposed agreement to relieve flooding in the NORDYNE parking lot in the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park. Jerry Lee Dicken of Sikeston, Mo., who owns land on the south side of Cravens Road, has agreed to allow the city of Poplar Bluff, Butler County and NORDYNE to discharge stormwater during high flow and flooding events into his field ditch...

By SCOTT MOYERS SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Cape Girardeau's growing deer population has city leaders willing to take another look at the idea of urban deer hunting in hopes of curbing ravaged landscapes, car collisions and irritated residents...

The Poplar Bluff softball team couldn't bunch enough hits together Tuesday. The Lady Mules had five hits and held Notre Dame to one run over six innings before the Lady Bulldogs went on to win 4-0 at Bacon Park. Even in the loss, Poplar Bluff remained positive about hanging with a program that won a Class 3 state title just two seasons ago...

A tight match turned on an elbow Tuesday night. Poplar Bluff closed out the opening game with a 6-1 run that featured kills from four different Lady Mules, a block and a save by Danielle Farmer's elbow. Jackson never recovered and, after a 10-2 run in the second game, the Lady Mules cruised to a 25-20, 25-14 win at Peters Gym...

NEELYVILLE -- Dairan Elam-Pyles had a home run and three RBIs for Clearwater as it a got a comeback win over Neelyville on Tuesday, 15-13. Lexi Morris and Leigha McKinney each had three hits while Hannah Rowold had three RBIs. With her team down 13-11, Carrie Adams hit a three-run home run to put her team ahead for good in the seventh...

DONIPHAN -- What a way to start a coaching career. In Amanda Lance's first match as Doniphan volleyball coach, the Donettes rallied Tuesday night to beat Twin Rivers, 20-25, 25-22, 25-17. The Donettes never trailed the rest of the night after tying the game at 17 in the middle of the second game...

The Jackson boys soccer team overmatched Poplar Bluff on all levels Tuesday evening. The Indians' 7-0 win provided the evidence. The Mules (0-1) struggled to contain Jackson in their opening game of the season. "Jackson, I think, definitely their starting 11 and they got a few bench players that are pretty solid," Poplar Bluff coach Jamie Waddell said. ...

By MELISSA MILLER SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Parking was at a premium in front of West Park Mall on March 5, 1981, as Famous-Barr and several other tenant businesses opened their doors for business. The development of West Park Mall -- 30 years ago this year -- made Cape Girardeau the regional retail hub it continues to be today. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Once, it was a Labor Day tradition for Democrats to go to Cadillac Square in Detroit to launch their campaigns in that forge and furnace of American democracy, the greatest industrial center on earth. Democrats may still honor the tradition. But Detroit is not what she was, not remotely. And neither is America...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Wednesday's Republican "debate" in California will not resemble the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates, in which one candidate spoke for 60 minutes, the other responded for 90 minutes, and his opponent had 30 minutes for rebuttal. Still, today's debates ("What is the meaning of life? You have 30 seconds"; "One word answer, please: Keynes or Hayek?") can illuminate. So, some questions...

By BILL O'REILLY Political feuds are entertaining, especially when they involve presidential contenders. Thus, the alleged bad blood between Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is worth examining because they are currently the frontrunners to challenge President Obama next year...

Unhappy neighbor I live in the neighborhood right by O'Neal School and I don't know what's going on this year, but this has been the craziest year for parent traffic. Why don't these crazy parents let their kids ride the school bus? It is ridiculous how many cars are there to pick up those kids. ...

To the Editor, With all the political wrangling going on around our country, with the war on terror, with our nation's debt spiraling out of control, and with the debate on the constitutionality of universal healthcare, one might think that any of these issues could very well be the greatest enemy facing our nation. ...

By OLIVER NORTH Deadlier Than Irene WASHINGTON -- Some have described Hurricane Irene as "the most over-hyped event in history." Americans in the Northeast who were flooded out of their homes and businesses and those without electricity, fuel or water don't agree. But a U.S. official I spoke with this week told me, "The next storm coming from down south is already deadlier than Irene, and nobody is paying attention."...

Hey scum, go to work To the lazy, thieving scum that is trying to steal from the elderly and disabled. You wait until the lights are out and they've gone to bed, you think. Watch out! You believe you are smart. There's always someone else smarter. A mosquito keeps sucking. Just let them get a good bite and slap! They're gone for good. A thief keeps on and that is what will happen to him. No whining or excuses. You did the crime, you pay. You know right from wrong. Go to work!...

The eighth annual "Native American Day" will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, on the grounds of the at the Matilda and Karl Pfeiffer Museum and Study Center, 1071 Heritage Park Drive in Piggott, Ark. R.W. "Dub" Lyerly from Ash Flat, Ark., is an amateur archeologist who has worked on archeological digs and spent many years learning the history of early inhabitants of northeast Arkansas. He will be available to answer questions and identify artifacts out guests bring in...

Jessica Lauren Breece and Baron Ray Fritts of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Raylin Ann Fritts for their 5-pound, 7-ounce daughter born at 2:22 p.m. Monday, July 25, 2011. She was 17 and one half inches long. Grandparents are Rachel Gotiear of Lawton, Okla., Barry Fritts of Poplar Bluff, Helen and Ron Retherford of Qulin, Mo...

Disaster loans to farmers available Farm Service Agency disaster loans are available due to severe storms, tornadoes and flooding which occurred on April 19 and continuing. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 1, 2012. FSA also announced the availability of disaster loans for farmers in affected by excessive rain, high winds and flooding which occurred on April 1 and continuing. Applications for these loans will be accepted through Feb. 9...

Alvin Temples Jr. DEXTER, Mo. -- Alvin Temples Jr., 58, of Dexter, Mo., died Monday, Sept. 5, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Temples was born on Jan. 8, 1953, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He attended Mt. Calvary in Poplar Bluff and was an employee of International Soils Consultant...

Bernice Grandstaff Bernice Helen Grandstaff, 92, of St. Louis, Mo., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, at Green Park Nursing Home in St. Louis. Mrs. Grandstaff was born Sept. 25, 1918, in Neelyville, Mo. She was of the Baptist faith, and was a homemaker. Mrs. Grandstaff enjoyed spending time with her family, dinning out, shopping and sewing...

Ethel Leach GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Ethel Allene Leach, 84, of Greenville, Mo., died Monday, Sept. 5, 2011. She was born Nov. 22, 1926, in Wayne County, Mo. Mrs. Leach grew up near Choania, Mo., and lived her entire adult life in Greenville. She became a Christian in 1940 at the age of 14 and was a member of the Shiloh General Baptist Church. Mrs. Leach was a homemaker and enjoyed quilting, cooking, sewing clothes, gardening and fishing...

Lori Ann Rosen ELLINGTON, Mo. -- Lori Ann Owen-Rosen, 47, of Ellington, Mo., died Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, in Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. Rosen was born Sept. 1, 1964, at Panama City, Fla. She was a homemaker. She enjoyed flower gardening, playing games, spending time on Facebook and being a grandma...

Patricia Fann ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Patricia I. "Nana Pat" Fann, 66, of Ellsinore, Mo., died Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011, at her residence. The daughter of the late Lester O. Maize, Sr. and Flossie (Lindsey) Maize, she was born Aug. 1, 1945, in Madison, Ill. Mrs. Fann had resided in Ellsinore for the past 40 years and owned and operated the Little Daisy childcare. She was of the Pentecostal faith and had attended the Assembly of God Church...

Ruben Boggs VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Ruben Elliot Boggs, 91, of Van Buren, Mo., died Monday, Sept. 5, 2011, in the Riverways Manor Nursing Home in Van Buren. Mr. Boggs was born June 10, 1920, in Morrill, Neb. He had resided in Van Buren since moving here from Ellington in 1975. ...

Flora Hodge PUXICO, Mo. -- Flora Louise Hodge, 83, of Puxico, Mo., died Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011, at her residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with Watkins and Sons Funeral Service in Puxico.

Martha Lewis GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Martha M. Lewis, 86, of Greenville, Mo., died Saturday, September 3, 2011, at Benchmark Healthcare of Greenville. She was born May 30, 1925 to the late William Rulo and the late Agnes Sansoucie Rulo, in Cadet, Mo. She was united in marriage to the late Joseph Andrew Lewis on Aug. 8, 1953...