Stories from Friday, September 23, 2011

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer One of the top art prizes at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia in August went to Poplar Bluff, Mo., resident Jacquelyn Bryant's cross stitching. Family members suggested Bryant enter her work in the state fair after her Victorian woman and horse cross stitchings won in their categories at the Butler County fair. That was the first competition Bryant had entered...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Members of the Poplar Bluff Historic Depot Restoration Corporation Board will have an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, during the Iron Horse Festival to celebrate the new roof, fencing and drainage improvements...

Gov. Jay Nixon presented the president of Three Rivers College with an award Thursday recognizing work done to build partnerships that drive economic growth through expanded opportunities in education. The E3 Award - Excellence in Education, Economic Development and Employment - was presented to Dr. Devin Stephenson during the 2011 Governor's Conference on Economic Development in Springfield, Mo...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Whether it was an event at community centers in Fisk or Qulin, a visit to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center or during a meal at Broseley or Northside nutrition centers, most people in Butler County have probably received a helping hand at one time or another from some of the approximately 180 members of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, even if they didn't realize it...

By DONNA FARLEY and BARBARA ANN HORTON Staff Writer GRANDIN -- A minor earthquake rattled the city of Grandin, Mo., Thursday evening, for the second time in six months. The 3.6 magnitude temblor occurred shortly after 6:30 p.m., and had an epicenter 3 miles southeast of the town of about 230 people, according to the Center for Earthquake Research and Information. Maps show the quake's center to have been in a farm field between county roads 265 and 266...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Members of the Poplar Bluff Historic Depot Restoration Corporation Board will have an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, during the Iron Horse Festival to celebrate the new roof, fencing and drainage improvements...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Whether it was an event at community centers in Fisk or Qulin, a visit to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center or during a meal at Broseley or Northside nutrition centers, most people in Butler County have probably received a helping hand at one time or another from some of the approximately 180 members of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, even if they didn't realize it...

Gov. Jay Nixon presented the president of Three Rivers College with an award Thursday recognizing work done to build partnerships that drive economic growth through expanded opportunities in education. The E3 Award - Excellence in Education, Economic Development and Employment - was presented to Dr. Devin Stephenson during the 2011 Governor's Conference on Economic Development in Springfield, Mo...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer One of the top art prizes at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia in August went to Poplar Bluff, Mo., resident Jacquelyn Bryant's cross stitching. Family members suggested Bryant enter her work in the state fair after her Victorian woman and horse cross stitchings won in their categories at the Butler County fair. That was the first competition Bryant had entered...

BROSELEY -- The Twin Rivers Royals did just enough to stay perfect in Ozark Foothills Conference play on Thursday. In a game that featured both Naylor's ace Dalton Woodard and the Royals' top man Ryan Nippe, Twin Rivers scratched across two runs in the sixth which proved to be the difference in a 4-3 win...

Rebekah Watkins and the Poplar Bluff softball team found themselves in a quite a jam Thursday afternoon. Holding a one-run lead with one out in the sixth inning, the Poplar Bluff pitcher faced the heart of Cape Central's lineup with the bases load. "I just bared down and tried to throw as many strikes as I could," Watkins said...

A typical Poplar Bluff versus Sikeston boys soccer game has a lot of action and physical play. Add in a steady rain shower the entire 80 minutes and an entertaining game was had Thursday. The Bulldogs jumped on the Mules late in the first half and went on to a 3-1 victory Thursday evening at Whiteley Park...

BROSELEY -- Ericka Engelman led the way for Naylor on Thursday afternoon. Along with getting the win in the circle, Engelman had two hits as the Lady Eagles beat Twin Rivers, 7-3. Kailee Hicks had two hits for Twin Rivers while Brooke Madison struck out two in the loss...

President Obama and the Democrats are finally happy. Liberated from thoughts of compromise with Republicans, they can fully indulge their most lascivious pleasure -- trashing rich people. "We simply cannot afford these special lower rates for the wealthy," President Obama declared...

WASHINGTON -- The pleasant sound you hear -- the clatter of bad laws crumbling -- is the edifice of campaign finance restrictions disintegrating. Washington state provides a fresh example of the exhaustion of the "campaign finance reform" project, which tries to empower government to restrict speech about the composition and conduct of government...

The note was brief, but clear. In a few well-chosen words, it told of a lifetime of heartache and disappointment, and a longing for something that was never to be. I often hear from readers who are grieving a loss. They write to me, I suspect, because over the years, I have written about the losses in my life -- my first husband, my parents, other family members and friends I never imagined living without...

Seniors 50 or older will have an opportunity for free screenings and personal care during the 16th Annual Health Fair at Twin Towers from 9 a.m. - noon, Monday, Sept. 26 at Twin Towers. Each room will feature different activities. In the Pool Room, Physicians Park Primary Care Osteoporosis Center will offer Bone Density Screening, VNA- Visiting Nurse Association will take blood pressure, check oxygen level, pulse and weight. ...

Lelia Stucker Lelia Mildred "Midge" Stucker, 95, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Stucker was born June 7, 1916 in Poplar Bluff. She was a member of New Oak Hill General Baptist Church where she served as church clerk and Sunday School teacher for many years, and was a homemaker. ...

Leora Smith DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Leora "Happy" Smith, 90, of Doniphan, Mo., died Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011. Funeral arrangements are pending with Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan.

Lelia Stucker -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Leora Smith -- Doniphan, Mo.

WASHINGTON -- The pleasant sound you hear -- the clatter of bad laws crumbling -- is the edifice of campaign finance restrictions disintegrating. Washington state provides a fresh example of the exhaustion of the "campaign finance reform" project, which tries to empower government to restrict speech about the composition and conduct of government...

The note was brief, but clear. In a few well-chosen words, it told of a lifetime of heartache and disappointment, and a longing for something that was never to be. I often hear from readers who are grieving a loss. They write to me, I suspect, because over the years, I have written about the losses in my life -- my first husband, my parents, other family members and friends I never imagined living without...