Stories from Monday, December 5, 2011

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A benefit at the Black River Coliseum Saturday will assist charities that provide shoes to children, including the locally run Sole Providers. The Glass Slipper Benefit will begin at 6 p.m. The event features a dinner catered by Tasteful Creations, dancing and music provided by the Chimes of Freedom Band. For an additional donation, photos will be taken in front of a three-dimensional pumpkin carriage created by Christy Moore...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Dexter, Mo., woman is in jail facing drug-related charges after her 16-month granddaughter nearly overdosed on unknown medication the infant swallowed while in her care. Carla Lutes, 44, of the 100 block of Forrest Lane was charged Friday on the Class C felony of possession of a controlled substance (hydrocodone) and the Class A misdemeanor of possession of drug paraphernalia by Stoddard County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Andy Rehmer.. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., teenager has been charged with stabbing her boyfriend with a pair of scissors and striking him repeatedly, including with a liquor bottle. Brittany L. Jackson, 19, of the 2000 block of Schweitzer was charged with the Class C felony of second-degree domestic assault and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action by Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A very wet November plus the early December rainfall has already made 2011 the second wettest year in Poplar Bluff, Mo., according to available records. "Rainfall at the Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport set a record of 11.67 inches in November," said Pat Spodes, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service at Paducah, Ky., which maintains the instruments at the airport...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A very wet November plus the early December rainfall has already made 2011 the second wettest year in Poplar Bluff, Mo., according to available records. "Rainfall at the Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport set a record of 11.67 inches in November," said Pat Spodes, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service at Paducah, Ky., which maintains the instruments at the airport...

Lindsy Brooke Johnson of Harviell, Mo., and Cody David Wilson of Campbell, Mo., were married on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011, at the Hemingway/Pheiffer House in Piggott, Ark. Brother Steve Sanders of Doniphan, Mo., performed the double-ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Randy Johnson of Harviell. Her grandparents are Alvie and Jane Johnson of Harviell, and Carlena Jones of Naylor, Mo., and the late Armand Jones...

Tom Mangnall Jr. ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Tom William Mangnall, Jr., 43, of High Ridge, Mo., died Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011 at his residence. He was born May 9, 1968 in Kirkwood, Mo. Mr. Mangnall was a lifetime resident of High Ridge and was a carpenter with the Local 1839 of Washington, Mo. He was of the Protestant faith...

Loyd McCain BERNIE, Mo. -- Loyd Denzil McCain, 83, of Bernie, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 2, 2011, in the Golden Living Center in Malden, Mo. He was born on July 23, 1928, in Bernie. Mr. McCain was a farmer; had served as Civil Defense director of Bernie for numerous years and currently was owner/operator of Southern Missouri Car Parts in Bernie. He also had served as an evangelist through his life and attended Unity Full Gospel Church of Bernie...

VAN BUREN -- Neelyville couldn't overcome a fast start by Liberty-Mountain View in the championship of the Lady Dawg Classic on Saturday night. Liberty led by 10 after one quarter and held off a third-quarter charge by the Lady Tigers for a 73-60 win...

Monopoly Allied Waste Services, an out-of-state owned company, is attempting to monopolize the local trash collection services in the Poplar Bluff area. In their attempt to do so they have purchased both local landfills, Butler Co. Landfill and Lemons Landfill at Bloomfield...

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a Capital Report column prepared by Nita Jane Ayres when she served as a state representative for District 62 which is located in southwestern Missouri. Ayres gave the Daily American Republic newspaper permission to reprint her column...

By OLIVER NORTH MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. -- Our Fox News crew is here wrapping up our 100th "War Stories" documentary -- with some of the "stars" of previous episodes. Though most of the Marines here are recent veterans of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, their present focus is on the next trouble spots. Thanks to inept national security planning in Washington, there are more vulnerabilities today than there were just three years ago. At the top of the list: Iran...

Green Thumb Garden Club of Poplar Bluff announces the establishment of the Green Thumb Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship award is $750 and was established to honor the memory of members who have provided wisdom and leadership to Green Thumb Garden Club over the years...

PB native honored as teacher Former Poplar Bluffian Kelly O'Connor is a recipient of the 2011 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Awards. She received a crystal apple to mark her achievement and was honored during a ceremony Nov. 13 at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis. She also will be considered in the state teacher's contest...

Poplar Bluff High School Drama Club will perform The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson at the Kay M. Porter Theatre. Performance dates are 7 p.m. Dec. 9, 10, 12 and 2 p.m. Dec. 11. Admission is $3.

Dolores Ryan Dolores L. Ryan, 93, of Williamsville, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 4, 2011, at her home. Mrs. Ryan was born Oct. 15, 1918, in Herrin, Ill. She had lived in Williamsville for 11 years. Mrs. Ryan was of the Baptist faith. Retired, she had worked as a nurse's aide. She liked wildlife and writing...

Glenneth Robison DEXTER, Mo. -- Glenneth Jewell Goff Robison, 91, of Jackson, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, at Jackson Manor. Mrs. Robison was born July 16, 1920, in Stoddard County. A former resident of Bloomfield, she had worked as a seamstress at Elder Manufacturing in Bloomfield...

Jim Montgomery GIDEON, Mo. -- Jimmy Lee "Jim" Montgomery, 67, of Clarkton, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, at Gideon Care Center. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Gideon, Mo. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Earnest Puckett officiating. Burial will be in Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton...

Three Rivers College students, high school students, and community musicians will unite for a band, choir and wind ensemble concert on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center. The concert will begin at 7 p.m., with performances by the Three Rivers College Symphonic Band, Collegiate Choir, the Heartland Winds and Percussion Ensemble, and high school choir students from the surrounding area...

Kenneth Dock MALDEN, Mo. -- Kenneth Raymond Dock, 81, of Dexter, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, at his home. Mr. Dock was born Nov. 15, 1930, in Malden, Mo. He was of the Baptist faith, and a veteran. He had worked as a brick mason. On May 3, 1950, he married Emma Sue Reynolds at Piggott, Ark. She survives...

Bob Richmond PUXICO, Mo. -- George Robert "Bob" Richmond, 65, of Wappapello, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, at his home near Wappapello. Funeral arrangements are pending with Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico, Mo.

Kevin Stroup ELLINGTON, Mo. -- Kevin Stroup, 40, of Ellington, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, at his home. Funeral arrangements are pending with McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellington.

Patricia Morgan PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Patricia Morgan, 79, of Piedmont, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, at her residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Homes of Piedmont.

Pauline Gray BUNKER, Mo. -- Pauline Gray of Bunker, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, at Salem Memorial Hospital in Salem, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with McSpadden Funeral Home of Bunker.

By OLIVER NORTH MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. -- Our Fox News crew is here wrapping up our 100th "War Stories" documentary -- with some of the "stars" of previous episodes. Though most of the Marines here are recent veterans of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, their present focus is on the next trouble spots. Thanks to inept national security planning in Washington, there are more vulnerabilities today than there were just three years ago. At the top of the list: Iran...

Patricia Morgan PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Patricia Morgan, 79, of Piedmont, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, at her residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Homes of Piedmont.

Kevin Stroup ELLINGTON, Mo. -- Kevin Stroup, 40, of Ellington, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, at his home. Funeral arrangements are pending with McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellington.

Jerry Brown MALDEN, Mo. -- Jerry Brown, 60, of Gideon, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, at his home. Funeral arrangements are pending with Bradshaw Funeral Home of Malden, Mo.

Three Rivers College students, high school students, and community musicians will unite for a band, choir and wind ensemble concert on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center. The concert will begin at 7 p.m., with performances by the Three Rivers College Symphonic Band, Collegiate Choir, the Heartland Winds and Percussion Ensemble, and high school choir students from the surrounding area...

Kenneth Dock MALDEN, Mo. -- Kenneth Raymond Dock, 81, of Dexter, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, at his home. Mr. Dock was born Nov. 15, 1930, in Malden, Mo. He was of the Baptist faith, and a veteran. He had worked as a brick mason. On May 3, 1950, he married Emma Sue Reynolds at Piggott, Ark. She survives...

Jim Montgomery GIDEON, Mo. -- Jimmy Lee "Jim" Montgomery, 67, of Clarkton, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, at Gideon Care Center. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Gideon, Mo. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Earnest Puckett officiating. Burial will be in Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton...

Poplar Bluff High School Drama Club will perform The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson at the Kay M. Porter Theatre. Performance dates are 7 p.m. Dec. 9, 10, 12 and 2 p.m. Dec. 11. Admission is $3.

PB native honored as teacher Former Poplar Bluffian Kelly O'Connor is a recipient of the 2011 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Awards. She received a crystal apple to mark her achievement and was honored during a ceremony Nov. 13 at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis. She also will be considered in the state teacher's contest...

Pauline Gray BUNKER, Mo. -- Pauline Gray of Bunker, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, at Salem Memorial Hospital in Salem, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with McSpadden Funeral Home of Bunker.