Stories from Tuesday, November 22, 2011

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Brian Becker, the owner of semo.net who has been fighting with city officials over the open access issue for two years, was escorted out of the Poplar Bluff City Council meeting Monday night by two police officers...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A Local Historic Landmark designation for the Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church at 417 Oak St. was approved by the Poplar Bluff City Council Monday night. "This is one of the oldest remaining church structures in Poplar Bluff," City Planner Dennis Avery said. "The original building was constructed in 1886 and it housed the Poplar Bluff First Methodist Church South (relating back to the Civil War division)."...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer The Neelyville R-IV School Board voted to hire Dille and Traxel LLC of Poplar Bluff, Mo., as architects on a proposed project to move all students to the Neelyville campus. The firm worked on a project to renovate the Hillview campus about seven years ago, according to Superintendent Brad Hagood. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Resolutions to extend tax savings for two plants in the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park, but at a lower amount, were approved by the Poplar Bluff City Council Monday night. Briggs & Stratton Corporation will now pay 10 percent of its real estate taxes, and Starting USA Corporation will now pay 25 percent of its real estate taxes, according to City Manager Doug Bagby. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Two elderly people were rescued Monday, the start of the busy Thanksgiving travel week, from a vehicle partially submerged in a flooded ditch on Highway 60. Members of Butler County Sheriffs Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol responded at about 12:30 p.m. to the accident, which occurred two miles east of Highway T...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Brian Becker wants a circuit court judge to decide if he submitted enough valid signatures to have the open access issue placed on Poplar Bluff, Mo., ballots. Poplar Bluff Internet Inc., owned by Becker and doing business as semo.net, filed a petition for a declaratory judgment against the city of Poplar Bluff in Butler County Circuit Court late Friday afternoon...

By SEMO News Service Bob Parker, a rancher from Raymondville, Mo., has announced he will again be a candidate for Congress in Missouri's 8th Congressional District. Parker is hoping to unseat U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, a Cape Girardeau Republican, who has held the seat for the last 15 years. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Two bids for the demolition of the 84-year-old water tower at the Business 60/67 intersection were opened Monday in the Municipal Utilities office. Allstate Tower of Henderson, Ky. was the apparent low bidder at $55,910. Iseler Demolition of Romeo, Mich., submitted a bid of $72,370...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A Local Historic Landmark designation for the Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church at 417 Oak St. was approved by the Poplar Bluff City Council Monday night. "This is one of the oldest remaining church structures in Poplar Bluff," City Planner Dennis Avery said. "The original building was constructed in 1886 and it housed the Poplar Bluff First Methodist Church South (relating back to the Civil War division)."...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer The Neelyville R-IV School Board voted to hire Dille and Traxel LLC of Poplar Bluff, Mo., as architects on a proposed project to move all students to the Neelyville campus. The firm worked on a project to renovate the Hillview campus about seven years ago, according to Superintendent Brad Hagood. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Resolutions to extend tax savings for two plants in the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park, but at a lower amount, were approved by the Poplar Bluff City Council Monday night. Briggs & Stratton Corporation will now pay 10 percent of its real estate taxes, and Starting USA Corporation will now pay 25 percent of its real estate taxes, according to City Manager Doug Bagby. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Two bids for the demolition of the 84-year-old water tower at the Business 60/67 intersection were opened Monday in the Municipal Utilities office. Allstate Tower of Henderson, Ky. was the apparent low bidder at $55,910. Iseler Demolition of Romeo, Mich., submitted a bid of $72,370...

Employees of Butler County Publishing which includes the Daily American Republic, Insta Print, the Prospect-News and Puxico Press share their families' Christmas traditions and wish all their readers and customers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year...

BERNIE -- After two straight losses in the Class 2 title game, the Bernie Mules are hoping this is their year. The Mules lost to Sturgeon in the 2009-10 final by two points before losing in the championship game last March to Crane as they finished 57-11 over those two seasons...

DONIPHAN -- 109-44. The game really had no bearing on the district draw when the Doniphan Dons drove to Charleston on Feb. 22 for their regular-season finale. But it was embarrassing enough to remember. And it is used as a constant reminder of where they want to be...

IRONTON -- The Clearwater Tigers got out to a solid start to the season Monday night as they topped Bismarck, 71-54, in the first round of the Arcadia Valley Tournament. Clearwater won the first quarter 17-8 and were up by as many as 20 points in the first half...

JOPLIN, Mo.- On May 22, 2011 Joplin, Mo., was devastated by a F5 tornado that killed 156 people and left the city of Joplin in ruins. The high school, along with several of the athletic fields, was totally destroyed. The Federal Emergency Management Agency jumped into action. ...

To the Editor Thank you to Three Rivers College Volunteers for Veterans in providing the community with an 11/11/11 Veterans Day special evening at the Bess Activity Center. It was so much fun for us to dig out my husband's Army uniform and get dressed for the evening. Granted, his shirt didn't fit, so we outfitted me in it, including his medals. But his hat shined up with its solid brass insignia and his boots still fit! So, "top to bottom" he was authentic, and I represented "the middle half"...

By BILL O'REILLY With his poll numbers dropping like dissidents in Syria, President Barack Obama has to be hoping the national media will continue to help him out. Last time around, the network news organizations swooned over the junior senator from Illinois and marginalized his opponent, Sen. John McCain, as much as possible...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Born during what is mistakenly called the debt-ceiling "debacle" last summer, the supercommittee may die without sending Congress a 10-year $1.2 trillion (at least) deficit-reduction plan. This is not properly labeled a failure. ...

The the Editor: We are witnessing a great catastrophe in the Horn of Africa. A massive drought in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya has destroyed the crops and livestock that more than 13 million people depend on for food. Ongoing conflict in Somalia has made it even worse. According to the UN, 750,000 people could starve...

Hey old vet, gays are here I am replying to the vet sad about the repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell." Well, as a veteran myself, all I can say is, "Old Timer, you're from a different generation." Your generation also probably found it shameful that women came into the military. ...

Poplar Bluff R-I schools will dismiss early Wednesday for the Thanksgiving holiday and be closed Thursday and Friday. Regular class schedules will resume Monday. Dismissal times are: kindergarten center 1:30 p.m.; Eugene Field, Lake Road, Oak Grove and O'Neal elementary schools 1:45 p.m.; 5th and 6th Grade Center 12:25 p.m.; junior high 12:45 p.m.; and high school 12:55 p.m...

Laura Greenlee ROGERS, Ark. -- Laura Bessie Absheer Greenlee, 90, of Fayetteville, Ark., died Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, at the Willard Walker Hospice House in Fayetteville. Mrs. Greenlee was born on April 5, 1921, in Antigo, Wis. She enjoyed cooking and reading and she will be missed very much...

Mary Ann Street MALDEN, Mo. -- Mary Ann Street, 54, of Hayti, Mo., died Saturday Nov. 19, 2011, at Pemiscot Memorial Hospital. She was born April 15, 1957, at Osceola, Ark. On Nov. 5, 1978, she was married to Steven Allen Street on Nov. 5, 1978. He preceded her in death on Aug. 15, 2011...

Geneive George PUXICO, Mo. -- Geneive (Steward) George, 93, of Puxico, Mo., died Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, at Puxico Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Mrs. George was born Jan. 22, 1918, in Puxico. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Puxico and was a homemaker...

Denise Reed MALDEN, Mo. -- Janet Denise Reed, 43, of Taunton, Minn., formerly of the Malden area, died Thursday, Oct. 17, 2011, in Marshall, Minn. Mrs. Reed was born Oct. 12, 1968, at Gideon, Mo. She worked as a CNA in home health. She was married to Johnny Reed. He survives of Poplar Bluff, Mo...

George Flanigan MALDEN, Mo. -- George Darrell Flanigan, 54, of Malden, Mo., died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, at his home. Mr. Flanigan was born Jan. 13, 1957, in Gideon, Mo. He was an over the road truck driver. He attended Assembly of God Church in Clarkton, Mo...

William Mooney William D. Mooney, age 76, of Corpus Christi, Texas passed away on Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, in Corpus Christi. Bill was born on Feb. 11, 1935, to Marvin and Lorraine Mooney. He graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 1950. He served in the Navy from 1951 to 1972...

Hwy. 34 is 1-lane Wed. CLUBB, Mo. -- Traffic on Highway 34 between Wayne County Roads 215 and 216 will be reduced to one lane from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.Wednesday while Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a drainage pipe. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling in the work zone...

Altha Ogles DEXTER, Mo. -- Altha Louise Ogles, 89, of Dexter, Mo., died Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Ogles was born Feb. 2, 1922, in Parma, Mo. She was a member of Lighthouse Christian Center in Dexter. A former employee of the Elder Manufacturing Company in Dexter, she worked there for 19 years...

Qulin Lions Sunday dinner Sunday dinner at Qulin Lion Club from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Dec. 4. Cost at the door: $8, adults; $5, children. The menu included: cured ham, ham & beans, green beans & corn casserole, sweet potato casserole, scalloped potatoes and seven layer salad. Drinks and dessert also provided...

Activities at Twin Towers Twin Towers will end the month of November and welcome December with music. On Monday, Nov. 28 at 11:30 a.m., Chuck Bazzell will play and sing in the dining room. Lake View will provide free blood pressure and blood sugar checks from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 1...

Charles Stephens ADVANCE, Mo. -- Charles "Doc" Stephens, 85, of Bloomfield, Mo., died Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Stephens was born Nov. 23, 1925, at Bell City, Mo. He retired as general manager of G.C. ...

IRONTON -- The Clearwater Tigers got out to a solid start to the season Monday night as they topped Bismarck, 71-54, in the first round of the Arcadia Valley Tournament. Clearwater won the first quarter 17-8 and were up by as many as 20 points in the first half...

To the Editor Thank you to Three Rivers College Volunteers for Veterans in providing the community with an 11/11/11 Veterans Day special evening at the Bess Activity Center. It was so much fun for us to dig out my husband's Army uniform and get dressed for the evening. Granted, his shirt didn't fit, so we outfitted me in it, including his medals. But his hat shined up with its solid brass insignia and his boots still fit! So, "top to bottom" he was authentic, and I represented "the middle half"...

By BILL O'REILLY With his poll numbers dropping like dissidents in Syria, President Barack Obama has to be hoping the national media will continue to help him out. Last time around, the network news organizations swooned over the junior senator from Illinois and marginalized his opponent, Sen. John McCain, as much as possible...

Hey old vet, gays are here I am replying to the vet sad about the repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell." Well, as a veteran myself, all I can say is, "Old Timer, you're from a different generation." Your generation also probably found it shameful that women came into the military. ...

Geneive George PUXICO, Mo. -- Geneive (Steward) George, 93, of Puxico, Mo., died Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, at Puxico Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Mrs. George was born Jan. 22, 1918, in Puxico. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Puxico and was a homemaker...

George Flanigan MALDEN, Mo. -- George Darrell Flanigan, 54, of Malden, Mo., died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, at his home. Mr. Flanigan was born Jan. 13, 1957, in Gideon, Mo. He was an over the road truck driver. He attended Assembly of God Church in Clarkton, Mo...

Qulin Lions Sunday dinner Sunday dinner at Qulin Lion Club from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Dec. 4. Cost at the door: $8, adults; $5, children. The menu included: cured ham, ham & beans, green beans & corn casserole, sweet potato casserole, scalloped potatoes and seven layer salad. Drinks and dessert also provided...