Stories from Friday, October 14, 2011

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer For the 2011 Halloween season, thrill seekers are in for a treat: the historic Poplar Bluff depot, which already boasts a handful of ghost stories, is being transformed into a haunted attraction. According to volunteer Subrina Berger, one of the most popular stories surrounding the depot is about the "gray lady."...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Students in the Poplar Bluff R-1 School District exceeded the statewide figures on the Missouri Assessment Program(MAP) tests in the spring of 2011. During a school board meeting Thursday night, Patty Robertson, associate superintendent for curriculum, commended the teachers and principals for their "dedication and commitment" to help students improve their MAP scores...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Poplar Bluff R-1 School District continues to improve its attendance and graduation rates, according to the Missouri Assessment Program's Adequate Yearly Progress reports. The graduation rate for Poplar Bluff High School students jumped to 81.8 percent in 2011, an increase of 3.1 percent. This is the highest rate in the past four years and ties the 2007 rate...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Six principals discussed Missouri Assessment Program(MAP) scores and school improvement plans during a nearly three-hour Poplar Bluff School Board meeting Thursday night. O'Neal Elementary School Principal Lorenzo Sandlin Jr. focused on curriculum materials, instructional practices and the sequencing of instruction...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A Thriller-inspired flash mob will be among the attractions at the Three Rivers College Halloween Safe Zone Oct. 29. Volunteer Subrina Berger said the event is termed a "flash mob" because dancers will not be on display before dance begins. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Poplar Bluff R-1 School District continues to improve its attendance and graduation rates, according to the Missouri Assessment Program's Adequate Yearly Progress reports. The graduation rate for Poplar Bluff High School students jumped to 81.8 percent in 2011, an increase of 3.1 percent. This is the highest rate in the past four years and ties the 2007 rate...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A Thriller-inspired flash mob will be among the attractions at the Three Rivers College Halloween Safe Zone Oct. 29. Volunteer Subrina Berger said the event is termed a "flash mob" because dancers will not be on display before dance begins. ...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer For the 2011 Halloween season, thrill seekers are in for a treat: the historic Poplar Bluff depot, which already boasts a handful of ghost stories, is being transformed into a haunted attraction. According to volunteer Subrina Berger, one of the most popular stories surrounding the depot is about the "gray lady."...

Although Three Rivers is on fall break, the men's basketball team has been hard at work. The Raiders have had two-a-day practices the last few days in preparation for their only home scrimmage of the preseason as they will play at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday at the Bess Activity Center...

The East Carter softball team is in unfamiliar territory while the Naylor Lady Eagles are making trips deep into the MSHSAA State Playoffs a habit. The Lady Redbirds will play in their first-ever Class 2 quarterfinal game at 4 p.m. Saturday in Dixon while the Lady Eagles will play at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Elizabeth in their third straight Class 1 quarterfinal appearance...

JACKSON -- Poplar Bluff started the championship season in cross country off with a bang Thursday. Five runners earned all-conference honors by placing in the top 10 for Poplar Bluff as the Lady Mules placed second as a team and the Mules were three points from finishing third...

ADVANCE -- The Bloomfield Lady Wildcats will get the opportunity to try for a three-peat in the Stoddard County Activities Association volleyball tournament. With a 25-23, 25-14 win Thursday night over host Advance, the top-seeded Lady Wildcats will square off with Dexter for the championship Friday...

It turned out to be a pretty sorrowful night for the Poplar Bluff Mules on Senior Night. Down to just four seniors on the varsity, the Mules dropped a 5-1 decision to West Plains Thursday night at Whiteley Field. "Collectively we are making mistakes that we shouldn't have," Poplar Bluff coach Jamie Waddell said. "Our knowledge of the game, we have it, it's just the last couple games it's been where's their knowledge?"...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- The 34th Annual Ozark Heritage Festival and Crafts Show on the McKenzie Creek Greenway begins today and continues through Saturday at Piedmont. The festival is one of the premier craft shows in Southeast Missouri. Admission to the festival will be free. People are urged to park on lots along Main Street and walk to the festival. The main entrance will be located on Ash Street. There will be a handicap parking lot off Birch Street...

To the Editor: The East Carter R-2 Yearbook staff would like to thank the following sponsors for contributing to our 2011-12 yearbook. Without help, our all color yearbook would not be possible. The 2011-12 Gold East Carter Yearbook sponsors were: Show Me Vinyl, Van Buren, Mo.; DaveS, Grandin, Mo.; Jostens--Jim Dumont and Mark Williams; Dr. ...

When New York's District 9 went Republican, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, explained that the district, which has been in Democratic hands since 1923, is "a very difficult district for Democrats." By that standard, the entire nation may go Republican in 2012...

Gay picture is disgusting I'm calling about the picture of the two homosexual men kissing in your Tuesday, Sept. 20, edition. How disgusting! Couldn't you have left the picture out? It's a sad day for many American people who know that homosexuality is wrong. ...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The tea party's splendid successes, which have altered the nation's political vocabulary and agenda, have inspired a countermovement -- Occupy Wall Street. Conservatives should rejoice and wish for it long life, abundant publicity and sufficient organization to endorse congressional candidates deemed worthy. All Democrats eager for OWS' imprimatur, step forward...

AARP driving program set AARP Driver Safety Program will be held from 12:30 - 4: 30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20 at First Baptist Church. Space is limited. Contact Bob Harrell, instructor, 573-785-0633, before class. Cost is $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers...

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, the weekly meeting TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) MO 734 was convened by leader Linda Morgan. Three KOPS and 17 TOPS members were present. The secretary's report was ready by Lou Ann Wrather and approved. The best weekly losers were Wanda Flurry, TOPS, and Gladys Hill, KOPS. Shirley Wheat, TOPS, and Mae Greenwood, KOPS, were named best losers for September. The club thanked Rob's Flowers for the complimentary flowers for the monthly best losers...

Ronald Brown DEXTER, Mo. - Ronald Dennis Brown, 61, a resident of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced by the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter...

George O. Barks DEXTER. Mo. - George Barks, 69, of Dexter, Mo. died Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011 at his residence. Mr. Barks was born Jan. 13, 1942 in Charleston, Mo. On Aug. 17, 1962, he married to Lola Akridge in Essex, Mo. Mrs. Barks survives of the home...

Joseph DePalma DESOTO, Mo. - Joseph Allen "Joey" DePalma, 29, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011 at the Sunshine Home in Poplar Bluff. Mr. DePalma was born Aug. 22, 1982 in Orlando, Fla. Survivors include his father, Eugene Rene DePalma of Paddle Creek, Mich.; his mother, Rhonda Lynn (Maloney) Aroian, De Soto, Mo.; one sister and one brother: Rebecka Hanrahan of De Soto, and Jeffery Aroian of Orlando.; one niece; four nephews; and his grandmother: Carol Schrum of De Soto...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Former Poplar Bluffian and Christian contemporary artist Tom Lovato will be returning to his former place of employment, Hays Music Store, to perform and sign copies of his new CD from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday. As a teen and young adult, Lovato never imagined one day he'd be singing Christian music. ...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer For the 2011 Halloween season, thrill seekers are in for a treat: the historic Poplar Bluff depot, which already boasts a handful of ghost stories, is being transformed into a haunted attraction. According to volunteer Subrina Berger, one of the most popular stories surrounding the depot is about the "gray lady."...

It turned out to be a pretty sorrowful night for the Poplar Bluff Mules on Senior Night. Down to just four seniors on the varsity, the Mules dropped a 5-1 decision to West Plains Thursday night at Whiteley Field. "Collectively we are making mistakes that we shouldn't have," Poplar Bluff coach Jamie Waddell said. "Our knowledge of the game, we have it, it's just the last couple games it's been where's their knowledge?"...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Former Poplar Bluffian and Christian contemporary artist Tom Lovato will be returning to his former place of employment, Hays Music Store, to perform and sign copies of his new CD from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday. As a teen and young adult, Lovato never imagined one day he'd be singing Christian music. ...

Joseph DePalma DESOTO, Mo. - Joseph Allen "Joey" DePalma, 29, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011 at the Sunshine Home in Poplar Bluff. Mr. DePalma was born Aug. 22, 1982 in Orlando, Fla. Survivors include his father, Eugene Rene DePalma of Paddle Creek, Mich.; his mother, Rhonda Lynn (Maloney) Aroian, De Soto, Mo.; one sister and one brother: Rebecka Hanrahan of De Soto, and Jeffery Aroian of Orlando.; one niece; four nephews; and his grandmother: Carol Schrum of De Soto...

George O. Barks DEXTER. Mo. - George Barks, 69, of Dexter, Mo. died Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011 at his residence. Mr. Barks was born Jan. 13, 1942 in Charleston, Mo. On Aug. 17, 1962, he married to Lola Akridge in Essex, Mo. Mrs. Barks survives of the home...

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, the weekly meeting TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) MO 734 was convened by leader Linda Morgan. Three KOPS and 17 TOPS members were present. The secretary's report was ready by Lou Ann Wrather and approved. The best weekly losers were Wanda Flurry, TOPS, and Gladys Hill, KOPS. Shirley Wheat, TOPS, and Mae Greenwood, KOPS, were named best losers for September. The club thanked Rob's Flowers for the complimentary flowers for the monthly best losers...

AARP driving program set AARP Driver Safety Program will be held from 12:30 - 4: 30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20 at First Baptist Church. Space is limited. Contact Bob Harrell, instructor, 573-785-0633, before class. Cost is $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The tea party's splendid successes, which have altered the nation's political vocabulary and agenda, have inspired a countermovement -- Occupy Wall Street. Conservatives should rejoice and wish for it long life, abundant publicity and sufficient organization to endorse congressional candidates deemed worthy. All Democrats eager for OWS' imprimatur, step forward...

Although Three Rivers is on fall break, the men's basketball team has been hard at work. The Raiders have had two-a-day practices the last few days in preparation for their only home scrimmage of the preseason as they will play at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday at the Bess Activity Center...

The East Carter softball team is in unfamiliar territory while the Naylor Lady Eagles are making trips deep into the MSHSAA State Playoffs a habit. The Lady Redbirds will play in their first-ever Class 2 quarterfinal game at 4 p.m. Saturday in Dixon while the Lady Eagles will play at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Elizabeth in their third straight Class 1 quarterfinal appearance...

ADVANCE -- The Bloomfield Lady Wildcats will get the opportunity to try for a three-peat in the Stoddard County Activities Association volleyball tournament. With a 25-23, 25-14 win Thursday night over host Advance, the top-seeded Lady Wildcats will square off with Dexter for the championship Friday...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer For the 2011 Halloween season, thrill seekers are in for a treat: the historic Poplar Bluff depot, which already boasts a handful of ghost stories, is being transformed into a haunted attraction. According to volunteer Subrina Berger, one of the most popular stories surrounding the depot is about the "gray lady."...