Stories from Friday, November 25, 2011

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Patience is the most important thing to remember on Black Friday, explained Dean Lewis of Qulin, Mo., at 5:30 a.m. from the front of a line of more than 100 people outside Big Lots. Nationwide, experts warned deep price cuts by retailers might still not be enough to bring in shoppers this holiday weekend. ...

Fallen soldier Spc. James Roland Burnett Jr. was greeted Friday at Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport by a small group that included family and friends, Gov. Jay Nixon and nine members of the U.S. Army Honor Guard as he began his final journey to Wayne County, Mo., where he asked that his ashes be scattered...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer With a focus on early intervention, Poplar Bluff R-I School District has expanded its Graduation Center to serve not only high school students, but also grades fifth through eighth. The district is two months into its new program, which was made possible with a $75,000 Title V grant. R-I matches that with a little more than $37,000 in district funds...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Following the shopping fervor of Black Friday, consumers across the country are encouraged to support small, local businesses on Small Business Saturday. Small Business Saturday was created by American Express in 2010 and has since grown. In 2011, American Express is again sponsoring the nationwide observance, which has received support from President Barack Obama...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Patience is the most important thing to remember on Black Friday, explained Dean Lewis of Qulin, Mo., at 5:30 a.m. from the front of a line of more than 100 people outside Big Lots. Nationwide, experts warned deep price cuts by retailers might still not be enough to bring in shoppers this holiday weekend. ...

Fallen soldier Spc. James Roland Burnett Jr. was greeted Friday at Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport by a small group that included family and friends, Gov. Jay Nixon and nine members of the U.S. Army Honor Guard as he began his final journey to Wayne County, Mo., where he asked that his ashes be scattered...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Following the shopping fervor of Black Friday, consumers across the country are encouraged to support small, local businesses on Small Business Saturday. Small Business Saturday was created by American Express in 2010 and has since grown. In 2011, American Express is again sponsoring the nationwide observance, which has received support from President Barack Obama...

The Three Rivers Raiders have been working on their free throws in practice and it was evident Thursday night. Three Rivers, which was shooting just 53 percent from the free-throw line entering the game, went 33-for-36 as it cruised past Dyersburg State on Thanksgiving at the Bess Activity Center, 126-57...

Fighting through adversity has taken on a new, personal meaning for Three Rivers sophomore Bobby Peebles Jr. in recent years. Peebles, who committed to playing basketball at Mineral Area after graduating McCluer North High School in 2009, lost his grandfather Richard Fries earlier that year before tearing his ACL and meniscus in his left knee in late December...

QUINCY, Ill. -- Lance Gray's 3 at the buzzer in overtime gave the Poplar Bluff Mules a good start to their season Thursday night. Gray's game-winning shot finished a late comeback by the Mules to beat Algonquin (Ill.) Jacobs 50-49 in the opener of the Quincy Thanksgiving Tournament...

MoDOT on a slippery slope Our state, in an odd move, is wishing to turn I-70 into a toll road. My opinion, MoDOT cannot control their overzealous spending habits. Yes, many of our roads are in bad shape, but that's because they don't know how to properly tax and then spend the revenues necessary, not only for the upkeep, but future improvements. ...

Zach Vincent with fellow scouts from First Christian Church Troop 166 is completing his Eagle Scout Project with the cooperation of the Poplar Bluff Garden Club and the Oak Grove School. In previous years a former teacher, Vicki Risinger, wrote a grant in cooperation with the U. ...

David Bearden PIEDMONT, Mo. -- David L. Bearden, 74, lifelong resident of Piedmont, Mo., died Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011, in his home surrounded by his loving family. David was born March 28, 1937, to the late Arthur David Bearden and the late Hazel Lee Williams, in Piedmont. David spent his childhood on the family farm, where he was born. He attended and graduated from the Piedmont Schools, now known as Clearwater R-1. David was saved as a young boy at the local Nazarene Church in Piedmont...

Buren Lee Buren Lee, 86, of Benton, Mo., formerly of Sikeston, Mo., and Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Lee was born July 5, 1925, in Campbell, Mo. He was a member of Unity Baptist Church in Benton, and was a former member of First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff where he served as a deacon. ...

Mitchell Scowden Mitchell Lynn Scowden, 53, of St. Louis, Mo., died Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011, at the St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis from complications related to a long term illness. He was born June 10, 1958 at Advance, Mo. He was raised in Wayne County and loved hunting, fishing and spending time in nature. His passion in life was hunting arrow heads and other Indian artifacts...

John Henson VAN BUREN, Mo. -- John D. Henson, 94, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Van Buren, Mo., died Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Henson was born Dec. 19, 1916 in Williamsville, Mo. He had lived in Poplar Bluff for the past five years and was formerly of Van Buren. ...

Freddie Sims DONIPHAN, Mo. - Freddie Edmond Sims, 81, of Doniphan, Mo., died Tuesday evening, Nov. 22, 2011, at Ripley County Memorial Hospital in Doniphan. Mr. Sims, son of William and Pearl (Geary) Sims, was born Oct. 27, 1930, in Gideon, Mo. He was retired from the U.S. Postal Service and was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. Mr. Sims was a member of the First Assembly of God Church...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Carmelita Crawford Smith, 78, of Steele, Mo., formerly of Malden, Mo., died Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011, at Rivers Oaks Care Center in Steele. She was born Aug. 12, 1933, at Malden. She was a secretary at Malden Fruit Market until it closed. She later became an Avon and Stanley product sales representative. On Nov. 3, 1970, She was married to Roy Lee "Johnny" Smith at Kennett, Mo. He preceded her in death on March 16, 1997...

Cathy Freeman CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Cathy D. Freeman, 62, of Campbell, Mo., died Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell. Mrs. Freeman was born on Aug. 31, 1949, in Holcomb. She was a member of the General Baptist Church in Campbell. She was a homemaker...

John Gallamore John Ray Gallamore, 58, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011, at his home. John was born Jan. 22, 1953, and raised in Poplar Bluff. He attended Poplar Bluff Senior High School, graduating in 1971. He attended ITT Tech School in Louisville, Ky., and came back to Poplar Bluff and attended classes at Three Rivers College. He became a meat-cutter in 1972 and worked several years for Gowan's Foodliner and Town & Country Grocers...

Sandra Blunt Sandra Hilborn Blunt, 67, of Jonesboro, Ark., went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011. She attended Trinity Church of Jonesboro, Ark. Sandra was born Jan. 13, 1944, at St. Louis, Mo. She was the daughter of Ralph and Beulah Lafferty Hilborn...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor For the second time in less than 24 hours, Butler County deputies had to rescue someone from a vehicle stranded in water. "We received a report at 6:45 a.m. Tuesday that a car was stranded on County Road 543 northeast of Poplar Bluff," said Deputy Frankie Casteel, chief communications officer...

By SHARON RANDALL Scripps Howard News Service I never meant to instigate a fight between my sister and her daughter. Why would I want to do that? Lord knows, when it comes to fighting, they don't need any help from me. Did you notice that I said "instigate"? That was the word my mother liked to use to justify her part in any fight with her mother or eight sisters or any other woman in her family, including my sister and me...

ARCADIA VALLEY -- The Clearwater Tigers rebounded to finish third at the Arcadia Valley Thanksgiving Tournament by beating West County 57-47 on Thursday. Ethan Roach and Tim Jackson each had 13 points to lead the Tigers. Chris Fox chipped in with 10 points in the win...

Fighting through adversity has taken on a new, personal meaning for Three Rivers sophomore Bobby Peebles Jr. in recent years. Peebles, who committed to playing basketball at Mineral Area after graduating McCluer North High School in 2009, lost his grandfather Richard Fries earlier that year before tearing his ACL and meniscus in his left knee in late December...

The Three Rivers Raiders have been working on their free throws in practice and it was evident Thursday night. Three Rivers, which was shooting just 53 percent from the free-throw line entering the game, went 33-for-36 as it cruised past Dyersburg State on Thanksgiving at the Bess Activity Center, 126-57...

MoDOT on a slippery slope Our state, in an odd move, is wishing to turn I-70 into a toll road. My opinion, MoDOT cannot control their overzealous spending habits. Yes, many of our roads are in bad shape, but that's because they don't know how to properly tax and then spend the revenues necessary, not only for the upkeep, but future improvements. ...

David Bearden PIEDMONT, Mo. -- David L. Bearden, 74, lifelong resident of Piedmont, Mo., died Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011, in his home surrounded by his loving family. David was born March 28, 1937, to the late Arthur David Bearden and the late Hazel Lee Williams, in Piedmont. David spent his childhood on the family farm, where he was born. He attended and graduated from the Piedmont Schools, now known as Clearwater R-1. David was saved as a young boy at the local Nazarene Church in Piedmont...

John Gallamore John Ray Gallamore, 58, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011, at his home. John was born Jan. 22, 1953, and raised in Poplar Bluff. He attended Poplar Bluff Senior High School, graduating in 1971. He attended ITT Tech School in Louisville, Ky., and came back to Poplar Bluff and attended classes at Three Rivers College. He became a meat-cutter in 1972 and worked several years for Gowan's Foodliner and Town & Country Grocers...

Sandra Blunt Sandra Hilborn Blunt, 67, of Jonesboro, Ark., went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011. She attended Trinity Church of Jonesboro, Ark. Sandra was born Jan. 13, 1944, at St. Louis, Mo. She was the daughter of Ralph and Beulah Lafferty Hilborn...

ARCADIA VALLEY -- The Clearwater Tigers rebounded to finish third at the Arcadia Valley Thanksgiving Tournament by beating West County 57-47 on Thursday. Ethan Roach and Tim Jackson each had 13 points to lead the Tigers. Chris Fox chipped in with 10 points in the win...