Stories from Wednesday, December 21, 2011

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A vote a day keeps the other colors from winning, according to Dancing with PB Stars competitor and green team member Subrina Berger. And the donation that accompanies participation in this all-in-good-fun competition and fundraiser from Sacred Heart Catholic School also helps ensure a parochial school education can be available to any child, regardless of income, says Berger...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Butler County Commission has accepted the low bid of $61,728 from Mathis & Associates of Poplar Bluff, Mo., for an engineering study of the Drainage District 12 Ring Levee. This study is required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in order to meet FEMA standards to once again certify this levee on the east side of Poplar Bluff as compliant...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer The Twin Rivers R-X School Board voted to terminate a coach and a board position was vacated at Tuesday night's monthly meeting. Baseball coach Denver Stuckey was released of his coaching duties by a 4-1 vote in executive session, upholding administration recommendations. Brian Leutert, Lee Lewis, Roger Baxter and Jill Worley voted in favor of the motion, while Charlie Barker voted against it. Donna Sue Ashcraft-Fincher and Sonya Dugger were absent...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Qulin, Mo., woman and a teenager may face charges in connection with a recent burglary in which a safe was stolen from a home. Deputies with the Butler County Sheriff's Department believe Reba Lee Irby, 52, and a 15-year-old burglarized the Qulin home of George Birchfield, who reported his home in the 100 block of D Street was entered between 7:30 p.m. Friday and 12:30 a.m. Saturday, according to Sgt. Brandon Waggoner...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A resolution annexing the Dodge dealership property, owned by Larry and Robyn Hillis, into the city was approved by the Poplar Bluff City Council Monday night. "It will be part of the Eight Points Commercial Development," City Manager Doug Bagby said...

By PATRICK SULLIVAN SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Officials involved in the Jacque Waller disappearance investigation no longer will have access to testimony that claims Clay Waller confessed to killing his wife. James Clay Waller Sr., the only person Clay Waller allegedly recounted murdering Jacque Waller to, died Tuesday morning in a Cape Girardeau nursing home, Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Clifton confirmed Tuesday afternoon. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A resolution annexing the Dodge dealership property, owned by Larry and Robyn Hillis, into the city was approved by the Poplar Bluff City Council Monday night. "It will be part of the Eight Points Commercial Development," City Manager Doug Bagby said...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Qulin, Mo., woman and a teenager may face charges in connection with a recent burglary in which a safe was stolen from a home. Deputies with the Butler County Sheriff's Department believe Reba Lee Irby, 52, and a 15-year-old burglarized the Qulin home of George Birchfield, who reported his home in the 100 block of D Street was entered between 7:30 p.m. Friday and 12:30 a.m. Saturday, according to Sgt. Brandon Waggoner...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Butler County Commission has accepted the low bid of $61,728 from Mathis & Associates of Poplar Bluff, Mo., for an engineering study of the Drainage District 12 Ring Levee. This study is required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in order to meet FEMA standards to once again certify this levee on the east side of Poplar Bluff as compliant...

By PATRICK SULLIVAN SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Officials involved in the Jacque Waller disappearance investigation no longer will have access to testimony that claims Clay Waller confessed to killing his wife. James Clay Waller Sr., the only person Clay Waller allegedly recounted murdering Jacque Waller to, died Tuesday morning in a Cape Girardeau nursing home, Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Clifton confirmed Tuesday afternoon. ...

BROSELEY -- The Clearwater Lady Tigers came out on a roll to start the second half Tuesday. The Lady Tigers led by 10 at the break and scored the first 13 points of the third quarter as they went on to beat Portageville 67-33 in the consolation quarterfinals of the Lady Royal Classic...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Several new small businesses will open or expand in Southeast Missouri in the next few months because of the help of an award-winning, nationally-recognized program that recently concluded in Poplar Bluff, Mo. After six weeks of evening classes, 19 aspiring entrepreneurs graduated from the Operation JumpStart (OJS) small business training program held at the Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce in October and November...

Neelyville Fourteen miles south of Poplar Bluff is the town of Neelyville. Founded as a timber shipping point on the Missouri Pacific Railroad in the early 1870s. First called Neely's after the owner of the land where the town was located. Very large lumber mills have been located there and a tram roads ran out to bring in the timber. ...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER "Ask Osama bin Laden ... whether I engage in appeasement." -- Barack Obama, Dec. 8, 2011 WASHINGTON -- Fair enough. Barack Obama didn't appease Osama bin Laden. He killed him. And for ordering the raid and taking the risk, Obama deserves credit. Credit for decisiveness and political courage...

By MONA CHAREN President Obama spoke at the annual meeting of the Union for Reform Judaism last week, and he gave the attendees that ol' time religion -- liberalism. Not surprisingly, since Reform Judaism is, in Richard Brookhiser's timeless phrase, "the Democratic Party with holidays" -- it was well-received...

Narvell Beck MALDEN, Mo. -- Narvell M. Beck, 80, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Campbell, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, at Westwood Hills Health Care Center in Poplar Bluff. Funeral arrangements are pending with Bradshaw Funeral Home of Malden, Mo...

DEXTER, MO. -- Ronald "Bud" Lowery, 74, died Friday, Dec. 9, 2011, at his residence in Bernie, Mo. He was a member of the Elk General Baptist Church and served as a teacher. Mr. Lowery retired after 40 years from Adams and McCord Painting Contractors in Dexter...

Jimmy and Pamela Holden of Puxico, Mo. have chosen the name Liam Isaiah Holden for their 10-pound, one ounce son born at 5:52 a.m. Friday, Sept. 23, 2011. Grandparents are Garry and Tresa Cook of Puxico, Bev Holden of Fisk, Mo., and the late Jim Holden. Great-grandparents are Eldon and Rose Mary Stroup of Puxico and Edna Prince of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and the late Joyce Cook...

Martha Beck Martha M. Beck, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, at The Manor in Poplar Bluff. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

PIEDMONT, MO. -- Nettie Thelma Logsden, 99, of Piedmont, died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center, in Piedmont. A visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Friday. The funeral services will follow beginning at 1 p.m, Both will take place at Ruegg Funeral Homes, of Piedmont. A full Obituary will follow in Thursday's newspaper...

Amanda and Jonathan Martin of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Madelynn Harper LeeAnn Martin for their 6-pound, 9-ounce daughter, who was born at 1:15 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Grandparents are Roger Martin of Jefferson City, Mo., and Richard and Debbie Ward of Poplar Bluff...

James Mann James "Jim" Parker Mann, 68, of Fairdealing, Mo. died Monday, Dec. 19, 2011 at his residence. Mr. Mann was born Oct. 20, 1943 in Poplar Bluff and grew up in the family home in Van Buren, Mo. He was a graduate of Van Buren High School and received his Masters Degree from the University of Missouri. ...

NEEYLVILLE, MO. -- Donald L. Luebben, 46, of Neelyville died Monday, Dec. 19, 2011, at his home. Mr. Luebben was born Sept. 21, 1965, in Denver, Colo. He had lived in Butler County since 1979 and formerly had lived in Dayton, Ohio. He attended Calvary Community Church in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He worked in maintenance at Lake Road School in Poplar Bluff. His hobbies were small engine repair, camping, watching football and spending time with his boys...

PUXICO, MO. -- John Arnold, 68, of Puxico died Monday at his home. Mr. Arnold had lived in Puxico for 30 years. He was born Jan. 17, 1943, in Wardell, Mo. He had formerly lived in Tennessee. Mr. Arnold attended the Brown General Baptist Church. He was retired from the Southeast Coop...

Frank Wylie Frank Wylie of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete and will be handled by Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home of Poplar Bluff.

EMINENCE, Mo. -- Owls have fascinated mankind for centuries, from the wise owl of the Greek goddess Athena to Winnie the Pooh's friend. On Saturday evening, Jan. 7, join a park ranger on an Owl Prowl to learn more about these creatures of the night. Explore fact and folklore about these little understood hunters of the night. Using recorded owl calls, the ranger will hopefully encourage the owls to respond and perhaps entice them to approach close enough for a good look see...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- William "Bill" Arthur Markel III, 67, of Columbia, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011. His final days were spent surrounded by family and friends that Bill greatly loved. Bill was born Jan. 23, 1944, in St. Louis, Mo., to Dr. Arthur Dean Markel and Laura Marie (Gayle) Markel...

ELLINGTON, MO. -- Mitchel F. Gore, 94, of Ellington, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Gore was born Jan. 27, 1917, at Blairs Creek in Shannon County, Mo. He attended several Assemblies of God in Ellington, Dagonia, Mo. and St. Louis, Mo...

BUNKER, Mo. -- James Holt, 72, of Bunker, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, at his residence. Arrangements are pending with McSpadden Funeral Home in Bunker.

Hwy. Patrol assigns new troopers JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Recent graduates of the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Law Enforcement Academy in Jefferson City will report for duty on Jan. 2, including five who will be patrolling the roadways of Southeast Missouri...

AMVETS Auxiliary meets AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary to Post 29 met on Monday, Dec. 5. Dinner was served at 6 p.m. and the meeting followed. Chaplain Shirley Clark opened with prayer before reporting she had mailed 14 sympathy and birthday cards, sent a bud vase to Ethel Johnson who had been hospitalized and that they lost two members this month. Breakfast food was provided for the Joyce Reed Family this month...

LESTERVILLE, Mo. -- Dewey Kelley of Lesterville, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, at his home. Funeral arrangements are pending with McSpadden Funeral Home of Lesterville.

Frances Montague ELLINGTON, Mo. -- Frances A. Montague, 93, of Ellington, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, at her home. Funeral arrangements are pending with McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellington.

BUNKER, Mo. -- James Holt, 72, of Bunker, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, at his residence. Arrangements are pending with McSpadden Funeral Home in Bunker.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- William "Bill" Arthur Markel III, 67, of Columbia, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011. His final days were spent surrounded by family and friends that Bill greatly loved. Bill was born Jan. 23, 1944, in St. Louis, Mo., to Dr. Arthur Dean Markel and Laura Marie (Gayle) Markel...

Frank Wylie Frank Wylie of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, at his home. Arrangements are incomplete and will be handled by Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home of Poplar Bluff.

PUXICO, MO. -- John Arnold, 68, of Puxico died Monday at his home. Mr. Arnold had lived in Puxico for 30 years. He was born Jan. 17, 1943, in Wardell, Mo. He had formerly lived in Tennessee. Mr. Arnold attended the Brown General Baptist Church. He was retired from the Southeast Coop...

James Mann James "Jim" Parker Mann, 68, of Fairdealing, Mo. died Monday, Dec. 19, 2011 at his residence. Mr. Mann was born Oct. 20, 1943 in Poplar Bluff and grew up in the family home in Van Buren, Mo. He was a graduate of Van Buren High School and received his Masters Degree from the University of Missouri. ...

DEXTER, MO. -- Ronald "Bud" Lowery, 74, died Friday, Dec. 9, 2011, at his residence in Bernie, Mo. He was a member of the Elk General Baptist Church and served as a teacher. Mr. Lowery retired after 40 years from Adams and McCord Painting Contractors in Dexter...

Jimmy and Pamela Holden of Puxico, Mo. have chosen the name Liam Isaiah Holden for their 10-pound, one ounce son born at 5:52 a.m. Friday, Sept. 23, 2011. Grandparents are Garry and Tresa Cook of Puxico, Bev Holden of Fisk, Mo., and the late Jim Holden. Great-grandparents are Eldon and Rose Mary Stroup of Puxico and Edna Prince of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and the late Joyce Cook...

Martha Beck Martha M. Beck, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, at The Manor in Poplar Bluff. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Several new small businesses will open or expand in Southeast Missouri in the next few months because of the help of an award-winning, nationally-recognized program that recently concluded in Poplar Bluff, Mo. After six weeks of evening classes, 19 aspiring entrepreneurs graduated from the Operation JumpStart (OJS) small business training program held at the Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce in October and November...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER "Ask Osama bin Laden ... whether I engage in appeasement." -- Barack Obama, Dec. 8, 2011 WASHINGTON -- Fair enough. Barack Obama didn't appease Osama bin Laden. He killed him. And for ordering the raid and taking the risk, Obama deserves credit. Credit for decisiveness and political courage...

By MONA CHAREN President Obama spoke at the annual meeting of the Union for Reform Judaism last week, and he gave the attendees that ol' time religion -- liberalism. Not surprisingly, since Reform Judaism is, in Richard Brookhiser's timeless phrase, "the Democratic Party with holidays" -- it was well-received...

Narvell Beck MALDEN, Mo. -- Narvell M. Beck, 80, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Campbell, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, at Westwood Hills Health Care Center in Poplar Bluff. Funeral arrangements are pending with Bradshaw Funeral Home of Malden, Mo...

Amanda and Jonathan Martin of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Madelynn Harper LeeAnn Martin for their 6-pound, 9-ounce daughter, who was born at 1:15 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Grandparents are Roger Martin of Jefferson City, Mo., and Richard and Debbie Ward of Poplar Bluff...

PIEDMONT, MO. -- Nettie Thelma Logsden, 99, of Piedmont, died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center, in Piedmont. A visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Friday. The funeral services will follow beginning at 1 p.m, Both will take place at Ruegg Funeral Homes, of Piedmont. A full Obituary will follow in Thursday's newspaper...

ELLINGTON, MO. -- Mitchel F. Gore, 94, of Ellington, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Gore was born Jan. 27, 1917, at Blairs Creek in Shannon County, Mo. He attended several Assemblies of God in Ellington, Dagonia, Mo. and St. Louis, Mo...

EMINENCE, Mo. -- Owls have fascinated mankind for centuries, from the wise owl of the Greek goddess Athena to Winnie the Pooh's friend. On Saturday evening, Jan. 7, join a park ranger on an Owl Prowl to learn more about these creatures of the night. Explore fact and folklore about these little understood hunters of the night. Using recorded owl calls, the ranger will hopefully encourage the owls to respond and perhaps entice them to approach close enough for a good look see...

Hwy. Patrol assigns new troopers JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Recent graduates of the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Law Enforcement Academy in Jefferson City will report for duty on Jan. 2, including five who will be patrolling the roadways of Southeast Missouri...

AMVETS Auxiliary meets AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary to Post 29 met on Monday, Dec. 5. Dinner was served at 6 p.m. and the meeting followed. Chaplain Shirley Clark opened with prayer before reporting she had mailed 14 sympathy and birthday cards, sent a bud vase to Ethel Johnson who had been hospitalized and that they lost two members this month. Breakfast food was provided for the Joyce Reed Family this month...

LESTERVILLE, Mo. -- Dewey Kelley of Lesterville, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, at his home. Funeral arrangements are pending with McSpadden Funeral Home of Lesterville.

Frances Montague ELLINGTON, Mo. -- Frances A. Montague, 93, of Ellington, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, at her home. Funeral arrangements are pending with McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellington.