Stories from Sunday, October 16, 2011

By COURTNEY LUKE SEMO News Service MALDEN, Mo. -- A juvenile was taken into custody after an explosive device was removed from his Malden residence Thursday. According to a release from the Dunklin County Sheriff's Department, the Malden Police Department had received a report from a resident located on West Dorothy Drive, east of Malden, stating his son had manufactured a homemade explosive device, and it was located in his residence...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Whether its the toothy grin of a traditional jack o' lantern or a sinister stare from one of its ghost-like brothers, pumpkins are a staple of fall. Some regions of the country face a shortage of this Halloween decoration, but two local family operations are keeping residents well supplied with every variety from the basic orange for carving to the more exotic, and edible, jerrahdale...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Among those wearing the uniform of a certified police officer on the campus of Three Rivers College are two women who see the importance of an education. A June graduate of the Missouri Sheriff's Association Law Enforcement Training Academy, Megan Wolfe started her law enforcement career working as a reserve for the college's Department of Public Safety. She subsequently was hired as a full-time officer in July...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Four local women became law enforcement officers for different reasons, but each has found her niche in the male-dominated field. One was inspired by an older brother serving with the Poplar Bluff Police Department, while two others had their interest take off during ride alongs. For another, it was a job as a dispatcher, which paved the way for her to become a patrol officer and now a detective...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Missouri Department of Transportation will hold an open-house community briefing from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, to discuss upcoming improvements to the Route PP bridge over Cane Creek in Butler County. The briefing will be at the Schultz and Summers office at 4800 West Blvd. in Poplar Bluff...

ST. ELIZABETH -- For the second year in a row, the Naylor Lady Eagles finished on the outside of the final four looking in. Naylor got down early and never recovered in a 12-1 loss to St. Elizabeth on Saturday in the MSHSAA Class 1 quarterfinals. "We got behind, we played a little tense," Naylor coach Gene Deckard said. "You have to have a break to get to the final four when you get down to eight and we didn't get much of a break drawing St. Elizabeth with the pitcher we were facing."...

ADVANCE -- With the match tied at one game each and Bloomfield down seven points early in the third game, it appeared the Lady Wildcats' reign as Stoddard County Activities Association tournament champs might come to a close. However, Bloomfield put together a furious rally of 10 straight points to seize control of the third game before holding on for the win over Dexter, 25-22, 16-25, 25-22...

Poplar Bluff took advantage of its second chance in the second half Friday night. The Mules opened district play with 18 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat Jackson 45-27 at Morrow Stadium. "It wasn't necessarily we were down, it was more like OK guys it's time to go," said Poplar Bluff senior Lorenzo Dailey, who scored three touchdowns...

MALDEN -- The founders of Cartuhersville were on to something when they named their town starting with the word Car. It actually was named after a congressman named Sam Caruthers but with the acceleration and size of their football team's running backs this year, the car theme fits...

DIXON -- When getting down early in games like East Carter has done so often lately, the Lady Redbirds have always had a little bit of faith to rally. In the MSHSAA Class 2 quarterfinal Saturday, the Lady Redbirds had a lot of Faith when they needed it the most...

Twin Rivers High School Booster Club will have its Family Frightfest fundraiser Saturday at the Twin Rivers High School. Dinner will start at 6 p.m. Admission is a $1 to the Halloween Cartoon Movie, which will begin at 7 p.m. The movie will be shown on the softball field backstop. Those planning to attend the movie are asked to bring lawn chairs or blankets...

By DAVID BELL (STORY COURTESY OF THE CURRENT LOCAL) It is four o'clock, a.m. You are awakened for a quick clean up and breakfast. After wolfing down your "fresh frozen" eggs with meat andbread you are whisked off to a large building for the morning briefing. ...

By BILL O'REILLY Every generation has a tendency to mock younger folks. It's in the American DNA. My father did it, my grandfather did it, and now, God help me, I'm doing it. Recently, I had occasion to travel to New Hampshire with seven children ranging in age from 3 to 16. Don't even ask how this happened. It was kind of like an earthquake: Things began to rumble, and soon there was destruction everywhere...

NEW YORK -- Kevin Garnett, 35, the Boston Celtics forward who has had a stellar career, was with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2004 when a teammate, Latrell Sprewell, augmented the national stock of unfortunate pronouncements. Dissatisfied with a three-year $21 million contract extension offer, Sprewell said: "I've got my family to feed."...

To the Editor: The Stage Company of Poplar Bluff is proud to present "The Christmas Story" this year at the Rodger's Theatre for our Christmas play. The play is directed by David Carroll and assistant director, Tosha Cooksey. We are decorating not only the stage area, but also the lobby of the historic Rodger's Theatre, which is located at 204 N. Broadway in downtown Poplar Bluff, Mo...

Need a blood pressure check? Visit the Blood Pressure Clinic which will be held from 9 - 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Qulin Nutrition Center.

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Over 50 members of the First United Methodist Church participated in SERVE2011 on Saturday, Sept. 10. Volunteers met in the Christian Life Center at 8 a.m. for fellowship, fun and community service and prayer before heading out to serve in the community...

The Agee Community Club met at Ryan's on Wednesday, Oct. 12, with Jackie Gallamore as hostess. President Jeanie Figgins opened the meeting with the group repeating the club motto. Invocation was given by Shirley Johnson. Cathy Womack read the devotional from II Corinthians 9:6, 7 and 10. ...

The children of Bill and Nelda Burge of Puxico, Mo. invite family and friends to their 50th wedding anniversary celebration which will be a reception from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23 at Puxico City Hall. The Burges were high school sweethearts and married Oct. 21, 1961, at Providence Baptist Church near Puxico in which they are both still active members...

The children and grandchildren of Wayne and Carole Grisham of Naylor, Mo., invite family and friends to join in the celebration of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary from 2 - 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 22 in the Living Word Baptist Church Fellowship Room, 456 Township Line Rd., Poplar Bluff, Mo...

Family and friends of Maridel (Howard) Reed of Poplar Bluff, Mo., celebrated her 90th birthday at a dinner hosted by her children. Mrs. Reed was born Oct. 8, 1921 to Charles and Mary Agee Howard in the Agee Community, which was named after her maternal grandfather, William Agee. ...

Lanny Stewart of Harviell, Mo., and Kim Stewart of Fairdealing, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Amanda Dawn Stewart, to James Mark Daughhetee. The bridegroom-to-be is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Daughhetee of Poplar Bluff, Mo. The bride-elect has an associate's degree in early childhood from Three Rivers College and currently is employed at Early Headstart in Poplar Bluff...

Rachel and Rene Gotiear of Lawton, Okla. and Barry and Teresa Fritts of Poplar Bluff, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Amanda Marie Fritts of Poplar Bluff, to David Ulises Torres, also of Poplar Bluff. The bridegroom-elect is the son of David and Adelita Torres of Poplar Bluff...

Odessa Downing DEXTER, Mo. -- Odessa Downing, 84, of Dexter, Mo., died Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, at Cypress Point Nursing Facility in Dexter. Mrs. Downing was born on Jan. 30, 1927, in Holliday, Tenn. She lived in St. Louis, Mo., before moving to Dexter in 1985. She worked in housekeeping at the Golden Living Center in Dexter...

Janet Pratt PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Janet L. Pratt, 61, of St. Charles, Mo., died Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis, Mo. A visitation will be held at 10:30 a.m. today followed by the funeral services at 3 p.m. at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont, Mo. Burial will be at Masonic Cemetery in Piedmont...

Jerry Keirsey, Sr. Qulin, MO. -- Jerry Gail Keirsey, Sr., 76, of Qulin died Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Keirsey was born April 30, 1935 in Braggadocio, Mo. He had lived at Qulin since 1941. He was a member of Qulin Lions Club and formerly served on the Wappapello Community Water Board...

Alan Greer ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Alan Curtis Greer, 62, of Ellsinore, Mo. died Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, in the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The son of the late William Curtis "Sonny" Greer and Diantha L. (Burak) Greer, he was born March 31, 1949 in Leachville, Ark...

Gary Dowdy DEXTER, Mo. -- Gary Don Dowdy, 63, of Dexter, Mo., died on Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, in Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. He was born on Nov. 27, 1947, in Dexter. Mr. Dowdy was a veteran of the United States Army and served in the Vietnam War. He was an engineer with Federal Mogul, a farmer and was the Southeast Missouri area dealer for Hardy Wood Burning Stoves for 15 years. He also was a member of the American Legion Post No. 59 and a member of the Locomotion Car Club...

Larry Street PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Larry Street, 59, of Jackson, Mo., formerly of Piedmont, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, in Paducah, Ky. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Monday at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont, Mo. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Masonic Cemetery in Piedmont...

Odell Wyatt DEXTER, Mo. -- Odell Nathaniel Wyatt, 61, of Dexter died Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011 in the emergency room of the Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Mr. Wyatt was born on Nov. 2, 1949 at Gideon, Mo. Mr. Wyatt was a member of the Kingdom Hall Of Jehovah's Witnesses and the produce manager and maintenance supervisor at the Dexter Save-A-Lot...

Sarah Sheppard NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Sarah Norma Hagar Sheppard, 78, of De Soto, Mo., formerly of the Naylor and Fairdealing areas, died Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011 at Desoto. She was born Feb. 10, 1933, in Reyno, Ark. She was a homemaker. On March 24, 1952, she was married to Vurl "Dick" Sheppard. He preceded her in death on March 10, 2006...

Ruth Baker BERNIE, Mo. -- Ruth H. Baker, 73, of Bernie, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, at her daughter's residence in Dexter, Mo. Mrs. Baker was on March 3, 1938, born in Parma, Mo. She was a homemaker. On Nov. 28, 1953, she was married to Donald L. Baker. He survives of the home...

Ronald Brown DEXTER, Mo. - Ronald Brown, 61, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, in the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born on July 9, 1950 at Parma, Mo. Mr. Brown was a former Architect with Grojean Architects at Sikeston. He was married to Linda Powell Foote on April 28, 1990 at Puxico, Mo. Mrs. Brown preceded him in death on July 1, 2008...

Ruth Baker BERNIE, Mo. -- Ruth H. Baker, 73, of Bernie, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, at her daughter's residence in Dexter, Mo. Mrs. Baker was on March 3, 1938, born in Parma, Mo. She was a homemaker. On Nov. 28, 1953, she was married to Donald L. Baker. He survives of the home...

Odell Wyatt DEXTER, Mo. -- Odell Nathaniel Wyatt, 61, of Dexter died Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011 in the emergency room of the Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Mr. Wyatt was born on Nov. 2, 1949 at Gideon, Mo. Mr. Wyatt was a member of the Kingdom Hall Of Jehovah's Witnesses and the produce manager and maintenance supervisor at the Dexter Save-A-Lot...

Larry Street PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Larry Street, 59, of Jackson, Mo., formerly of Piedmont, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, in Paducah, Ky. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Monday at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont, Mo. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Masonic Cemetery in Piedmont...

Odessa Downing DEXTER, Mo. -- Odessa Downing, 84, of Dexter, Mo., died Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, at Cypress Point Nursing Facility in Dexter. Mrs. Downing was born on Jan. 30, 1927, in Holliday, Tenn. She lived in St. Louis, Mo., before moving to Dexter in 1985. She worked in housekeeping at the Golden Living Center in Dexter...

The children and grandchildren of Wayne and Carole Grisham of Naylor, Mo., invite family and friends to join in the celebration of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary from 2 - 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 22 in the Living Word Baptist Church Fellowship Room, 456 Township Line Rd., Poplar Bluff, Mo...

To the Editor: The Stage Company of Poplar Bluff is proud to present "The Christmas Story" this year at the Rodger's Theatre for our Christmas play. The play is directed by David Carroll and assistant director, Tosha Cooksey. We are decorating not only the stage area, but also the lobby of the historic Rodger's Theatre, which is located at 204 N. Broadway in downtown Poplar Bluff, Mo...

By BILL O'REILLY Every generation has a tendency to mock younger folks. It's in the American DNA. My father did it, my grandfather did it, and now, God help me, I'm doing it. Recently, I had occasion to travel to New Hampshire with seven children ranging in age from 3 to 16. Don't even ask how this happened. It was kind of like an earthquake: Things began to rumble, and soon there was destruction everywhere...

By DAVID BELL (STORY COURTESY OF THE CURRENT LOCAL) It is four o'clock, a.m. You are awakened for a quick clean up and breakfast. After wolfing down your "fresh frozen" eggs with meat andbread you are whisked off to a large building for the morning briefing. ...

DIXON -- When getting down early in games like East Carter has done so often lately, the Lady Redbirds have always had a little bit of faith to rally. In the MSHSAA Class 2 quarterfinal Saturday, the Lady Redbirds had a lot of Faith when they needed it the most...

Poplar Bluff took advantage of its second chance in the second half Friday night. The Mules opened district play with 18 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat Jackson 45-27 at Morrow Stadium. "It wasn't necessarily we were down, it was more like OK guys it's time to go," said Poplar Bluff senior Lorenzo Dailey, who scored three touchdowns...

ST. ELIZABETH -- For the second year in a row, the Naylor Lady Eagles finished on the outside of the final four looking in. Naylor got down early and never recovered in a 12-1 loss to St. Elizabeth on Saturday in the MSHSAA Class 1 quarterfinals. "We got behind, we played a little tense," Naylor coach Gene Deckard said. "You have to have a break to get to the final four when you get down to eight and we didn't get much of a break drawing St. Elizabeth with the pitcher we were facing."...

Ronald Brown DEXTER, Mo. - Ronald Brown, 61, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, in the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born on July 9, 1950 at Parma, Mo. Mr. Brown was a former Architect with Grojean Architects at Sikeston. He was married to Linda Powell Foote on April 28, 1990 at Puxico, Mo. Mrs. Brown preceded him in death on July 1, 2008...