Stories from Thursday, September 29, 2011

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver was expected to withdraw today from prosecuting a Columbia, Mo., man accused of multiple drug-related felonies stemming from an investigation into the manufacturers of suspected designer drugs...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A review process to determine the viability of certain small-town post offices has some residents in those towns concerned. According to an "Expanded Access Study List" released by the U.S. Postal Service, post offices in Harviell, Mo., Mill Spring, Mo., and Oxly, Mo., are included in those under review...

By SCOTT MOYERS SEMO News Service The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is scheduled to wrap up interim repairs early next month on one of three spots in the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway levee that it blasted in May. The other breaches -- made in a controversial move to alleviate massive spring flooding -- are expected to be finished by Nov. 30, corps officials said Wednesday...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Union Pacific Railroad will provide free rides on its rubber-tired UP 956 mini-train during the second annual Iron Horse Festival Saturday. "The train is comprised of a UP painted locomotive, box car, coal car, gondola, tank car and caboose," said Rodney Qualls, the UP mini-train coordinator...

Fifth-grader Sara Holland has been chosen as the grand prize winner of an elementary and middle school art contest which will be the featured exhibit in October at Margaret Harwell Art Museum. Winning projects and other submissions into the National Art and Framing Month Elementary Art Contest will be on display starting Saturday. The grand opening of the exhibit will be held during Poplar Bluff's Iron Horse Festival...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Poplar Bluff Junior and Senior High School students carved out time early Wednesday morning to pray near the flag poles as part of the national See You at the Pole event. Events at both campuses started at 7:15 a.m. "Students are given time at their schools at a central location they can all identify with to pray and exercise their freedom to do so," explained Fellowship General Baptist Church youth director Nathan Coleman...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Union Pacific Railroad will provide free rides on its rubber-tired UP 956 mini-train during the second annual Iron Horse Festival Saturday. "The train is comprised of a UP painted locomotive, box car, coal car, gondola, tank car and caboose," said Rodney Qualls, the UP mini-train coordinator...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver was expected to withdraw today from prosecuting a Columbia, Mo., man accused of multiple drug-related felonies stemming from an investigation into the manufacturers of suspected designer drugs...

Three Rivers "Midnight Madness" is returning to its roots. After several years of being in the early evening, the first practice of the season for the men's and women's basketball teams will be just after midnight Friday at the Bess Activity Center...

It will be an uphill climb for the Clearwater Tigers if they hope to win their fourth consecutive Ozark Foothills Conference baseball tournament title next week. The young Tigers team, that at times have started four to five freshman, received the No. 5 seed while rival Twin Rivers captured the top seed for the tournament, which begins Monday at Roger Pattillo Field on the campus of Three Rivers College...

According to the grapevine, Farmington quarterback Chase Busenbark's injury could keep the senior out Friday night against the visiting Poplar Bluff Mules. "Rumor is the kid broke his leg," Mules coach Mark Barousse said Wednesday before quickly adding, "We'll see."...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- "If two people always agree," says Ben Bernanke, "one of them is redundant." So, imagine what the Federal Reserve chairman thinks of Rep. Barney Frank's legislation designed to dampen dissent within the Fed. Fond of diversity in everything but thought, a certain kind of liberal favors mandatory harmony (e.g., campus speech codes). ...

What's the common thread between Europe's financial mess, particularly among the PIIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain), and the financial mess in the U.S.? That question could be more easily answered if we asked instead: What's necessary to cure the financial mess in Europe and the U.S.? If European governments and the U.S. ...

By SHARON RANDALL Scripps Howard News Service First, you make a sauce. Long ago, when I was learning to cook, those five words would have sent me running to the phone to order pizza. I got married at 21, had never boiled an egg. Cooking was the one chore my mother never let me try. Fine with me. I figured if I could read, I could cook. Isn't that why God made cookbooks?...

Doyal Duffie DEXTER, Mo. -- Doyal Leo Duffie, 88, of Dexter, Mo., died Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011, at the Golden Living Center in Dexter. He was born on April 6, 1923 in Dexter. Mr. Duffie was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Dexter. He was a veteran of the United States Army and served in World War II...

Clyde Sullivan DONIPHAN, MO. -- Clyde N. Sullivan, 72, of Doniphan, Mo., died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan, Mo.

George Sherrill KENNETT, Mo. -- George "Sonny" Brent Sherrill, 59, of Kennett, Mo., died Monday, Sept. 26, 2011. The son of Herman Tillman Sherrill and Vera Culbertson Sherrill, he was born Feb. 17, 1952, in Kennett. Survivors include his two sons, George Brent Sherrill and wife, Rachel, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Eric Morgan Batson and wife, Selena, of Georgia; one daughter, Ashley Marie McLane and husband, Lance, of Poplar Bluff; five grandchildren, Justus Sherrill, Madison Sherrill, Will Sherrill, Caitlyn McLane and Jaci McLane; two sisters, Joy Dawn Brown, of Kennett and Judith Frakes, of Kennett; several nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends, and his beloved dog, Dodge.. ...

Brad and Roxanne Carson of Poplar Bluff, Mo., had chosen the name Lachlan Isaac Carson for their 8-pound, 8-ounce son born at 11:23 p.m. March 10, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was 21 and one-half inches long...

Charles Goins DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Charles D. Goins, 66, of Naylor, Mo.,, died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Goins was born March 21, 1945, in Peach Orchard, Mo. He had been a machinist in the railroad industry. He had also worked at the L.A. Darling Plant in Corning, Ark., for more than 20 years as a warehouse specialist for several years...

Mercedes Currie Mercedes Currie, 66, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Currie was born April 26, 1945, in Chicago, Ill. She was a member of New Home Missionary Baptist Church. She was an LPN and had retired from Northwest Medical Center. She loved being a nurse and enjoyed being with family, grandchildren, sewing and playing bingo...

My husband wanted to know why I had decorated our house with Halloween decorations last month. I said because it made me happy. I guess I must really like this season. Have you noticed all of the beautiful, bright orange pumpkins that are now appearing at local markets? You should find roadside stands and stores selling your favorite Halloween decorations...

Eight members were present Wednesday, Sept. 14, when the Cane Creek Community Club met in the Craft Room at Twin Towers. President Glenda Phillips opened the meeting with the thought of the day: "Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something."...

Acorn crop good at Duck Creek By FRANK NELSON Mo. Dept. of Conservation It is that time of year again: time to assess this year's food production. In the timber, we can scan the tree tops and get an idea of the amount of acorns that have developed in the canopy...

Col. Ron Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, would like to inform the public of changes in the motorcycle driver testing program. Effective Sept. 1, the patrol implemented statewide changes to both the written and skills test for motorcycle drivers...

There were 61 entries in the Butler County Fair Horse Show this year. There was $793.30 paid back. We would like to thank again all the sponsors, workers and exhibitors for making this horse show possible. The results of the horse show are as follows:...

By FRANK CAMPA Mo. Dept. of Conservation There is quite a bit going on as far as the outdoors is concerned, but the priority right now, if you have not taken care of it yet, is hunter education certification! There are very few courses statewide remaining before firearms deer seasons begin...

By JIM LOW Mo. Dept. of Conservation JEFFERSON CITY -- Given one nesting season free of late freezes or frog-strangling rains, Missouri's wild turkey flock has pulled off one of the best hatches in several years. Resource Scientist Jason Isabelle, the Missouri Department of Conservation's (MDC) turkey specialist, today released results of the annual Wild Turkey Brood Survey. ...

BERNIE -- The long ball proved to be a hitter's best friend in Wednesday afternoon's fall baseball tourney semifinal contest between the Bernie Mules and Holcomb Hornets. Second-seeded Bernie and No. 3 seeded Holcomb combined for four home runs in the seven-inning contest. When the final out was recorded the Hornets left Bernie with a 10-4 upset-win and booked its ticket to play in today's fall baseball championship against top-seeded Cooter...

OMAHA, Neb. -- Union Pacific Railroad urges hunters to resist the temptation to hunt on railroad property this season. Wildlife will migrate and feed along the edges of freshly harvested fields, making these areas prime hunting spots. With many fields adjacent to Union Pacific tracks, hunters find it very tempting to hunt on or near the tracks...

With the fall weather arriving, the cool fronts seem to be having some effect on the bass fishing. The weights in the most recent tournaments seem to prove this as the weights are lower and fewer lunker bass are being weighed in. In the Chaonia Open tournament last week, anglers in 50 boats tested the water of Lake Wappapello. ...

Acorn crop good at Duck Creek By FRANK NELSON Mo. Dept. of Conservation It is that time of year again: time to assess this year's food production. In the timber, we can scan the tree tops and get an idea of the amount of acorns that have developed in the canopy...

Eight members were present Wednesday, Sept. 14, when the Cane Creek Community Club met in the Craft Room at Twin Towers. President Glenda Phillips opened the meeting with the thought of the day: "Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something."...

Mercedes Currie Mercedes Currie, 66, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Currie was born April 26, 1945, in Chicago, Ill. She was a member of New Home Missionary Baptist Church. She was an LPN and had retired from Northwest Medical Center. She loved being a nurse and enjoyed being with family, grandchildren, sewing and playing bingo...

Charles Goins DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Charles D. Goins, 66, of Naylor, Mo.,, died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Goins was born March 21, 1945, in Peach Orchard, Mo. He had been a machinist in the railroad industry. He had also worked at the L.A. Darling Plant in Corning, Ark., for more than 20 years as a warehouse specialist for several years...

Brad and Roxanne Carson of Poplar Bluff, Mo., had chosen the name Lachlan Isaac Carson for their 8-pound, 8-ounce son born at 11:23 p.m. March 10, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was 21 and one-half inches long...

George Sherrill KENNETT, Mo. -- George "Sonny" Brent Sherrill, 59, of Kennett, Mo., died Monday, Sept. 26, 2011. The son of Herman Tillman Sherrill and Vera Culbertson Sherrill, he was born Feb. 17, 1952, in Kennett. Survivors include his two sons, George Brent Sherrill and wife, Rachel, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Eric Morgan Batson and wife, Selena, of Georgia; one daughter, Ashley Marie McLane and husband, Lance, of Poplar Bluff; five grandchildren, Justus Sherrill, Madison Sherrill, Will Sherrill, Caitlyn McLane and Jaci McLane; two sisters, Joy Dawn Brown, of Kennett and Judith Frakes, of Kennett; several nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends, and his beloved dog, Dodge.. ...

Clyde Sullivan DONIPHAN, MO. -- Clyde N. Sullivan, 72, of Doniphan, Mo., died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan, Mo.

Three Rivers "Midnight Madness" is returning to its roots. After several years of being in the early evening, the first practice of the season for the men's and women's basketball teams will be just after midnight Friday at the Bess Activity Center...

By JIM LOW Mo. Dept. of Conservation JEFFERSON CITY -- Given one nesting season free of late freezes or frog-strangling rains, Missouri's wild turkey flock has pulled off one of the best hatches in several years. Resource Scientist Jason Isabelle, the Missouri Department of Conservation's (MDC) turkey specialist, today released results of the annual Wild Turkey Brood Survey. ...

OMAHA, Neb. -- Union Pacific Railroad urges hunters to resist the temptation to hunt on railroad property this season. Wildlife will migrate and feed along the edges of freshly harvested fields, making these areas prime hunting spots. With many fields adjacent to Union Pacific tracks, hunters find it very tempting to hunt on or near the tracks...

BERNIE -- The long ball proved to be a hitter's best friend in Wednesday afternoon's fall baseball tourney semifinal contest between the Bernie Mules and Holcomb Hornets. Second-seeded Bernie and No. 3 seeded Holcomb combined for four home runs in the seven-inning contest. When the final out was recorded the Hornets left Bernie with a 10-4 upset-win and booked its ticket to play in today's fall baseball championship against top-seeded Cooter...