Stories from Thursday, December 22, 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...

Lt. Col. Rodney Ginter of Columbia, Mo., recently was appointed the new commander for the Missouri Army National Gaurd's 205th Military Police Battalion, based in Poplar Bluff, Mo. During the recent ceremony, the battalion guidon was passed to Ginter to symbolize the transfer of authority and responsibility...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer This year's Community Christmas Dinner hosted by the First United Methodist Church, 500 N. Main St., on Wednesday, Dec. 14, was a huge success. "We prepared 864 rolls," said Peter Tinsley, who directed the community dinner, "put a roll on every plate and still ran out."...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A Butler County family whose home was destroyed by fire just days before Christmas is the most recent addition to the list of those still in need this holiday season, according to organizers of Project Christmas Promise...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer "If someone gave you a gas card for Christmas," Jeff Shawan, president of the board of U-CAN (United Cancer Assistance Network) explains, "you might think that a bit strange. Perhaps it would seem a bit odd to you if a loved one paid your electric bill for December. How about if Santa brought you a case of Ensure, the liquid nutritional drink?"...

Rep. Don Wells of Cabool, Mo., has announced his intention to run for the Missouri State Senate in District 33, which includes Butler, Reynolds, Ripley, Carter, Shannon, Dent, Oregon, Howell and Texas counties. "I am running because I can make a difference for the betterment of the 33rd Senate. I intend to represent all of the people in the district," Wells said...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer "If someone gave you a gas card for Christmas," Jeff Shawan, president of the board of U-CAN (United Cancer Assistance Network) explains, "you might think that a bit strange. Perhaps it would seem a bit odd to you if a loved one paid your electric bill for December. How about if Santa brought you a case of Ensure, the liquid nutritional drink?"...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A Butler County family whose home was destroyed by fire just days before Christmas is the most recent addition to the list of those still in need this holiday season, according to organizers of Project Christmas Promise...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer This year's Community Christmas Dinner hosted by the First United Methodist Church, 500 N. Main St., on Wednesday, Dec. 14, was a huge success. "We prepared 864 rolls," said Peter Tinsley, who directed the community dinner, "put a roll on every plate and still ran out."...

Rep. Don Wells of Cabool, Mo., has announced his intention to run for the Missouri State Senate in District 33, which includes Butler, Reynolds, Ripley, Carter, Shannon, Dent, Oregon, Howell and Texas counties. "I am running because I can make a difference for the betterment of the 33rd Senate. I intend to represent all of the people in the district," Wells said...

Lt. Col. Rodney Ginter of Columbia, Mo., recently was appointed the new commander for the Missouri Army National Gaurd's 205th Military Police Battalion, based in Poplar Bluff, Mo. During the recent ceremony, the battalion guidon was passed to Ginter to symbolize the transfer of authority and responsibility...

Lane and Ashley Hill of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Shelby Layne Hill for their 6-pound, 12.2-ounce daughter born at 1:52 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Grandparents are Jan and Doug Bennett, Donny and Flo Armes and Bill Hill, all of Poplar Bluff, and Terrel and Willard Wallace of Tennessee...

BROSELEY -- Doniphan and Twin Rivers rallied in the second half Wednesday to play for fifth place in the Lady Royals Classic. Megan Hipps scored 10 of her game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter to lead Doniphan past Naylor 55-41. Twin Rivers edged Sikeston 46-43 after Tori Cole's 3-pointer with 1:18 remaining gave the Lady Royals a 1-point lead...

BROSELEY -- Hannah Noe caught a long pass, turned and let fly a long shot just before the horn sounded the end of the third quarter Wednesday night. The Dexter sophomore's prayer was answered, capping a memorable run for the Lady Bearcats in the semifinal of the Lady Royals Classic...

With the holidays on us, Scott Phelps with the Southeast Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force warns area residents to be cautious of telephone and e-mail scams. "I get calls every day about (scams involving) Publisher's Clearinghouse, the FBI" and even the "Federal Crime Department," which does not exist, Phelps said...

The inclusion of the "bootheel" in the boundaries of Missouri has been credited to John Hardeman Walker, a landowner and influential citizen of Southeast Missouri. Walker was born in Tennessee in 1794 and came to the New Madrid area of the Territory of Missouri at the age of 16. ...

By ANN McFEATTERS Scripps Howard News Service WASHINGTON -- Nearly 4,500 American lives lost. More than 100,000 Iraqi lives lost. More than 32,000 U.S. soldiers gravely wounded. A cost to U.S. taxpayers of more than $800 billion. Mission accomplished?...

The Poplar Bluff City Hall and the Butler County Courthouse will be closed Friday and Monday for the Christmas weekend. However, Butler County Collector Brenda Fox will have her office open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to give county residents an additional day to pay their real estate and personal property taxes...

ELLSINORE, MO. -- Joanne Alcorn, 84, of Farmington, Mo. died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011 at her residence in Farmington, Mo. Mrs. Alcorn was born Feb. 10, 1927 in Steeleville, Mo. Mrs. Alcorn had resided in Farmington since moving from St. Louis, Mo. in 1990. ...

David Hanner David Hanner, 87, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Hanner was born Jan. 31, 1924, in Harviell, Mo. He was of the Church of Christ faith. Before moving to Poplar Bluff in 1959, he was a farmer and sawmill owner. ...

Brandon and Jessica Crawford of Auxvasse, Mo., have chosen the name Bane Douglas Crawford for their 7-pound, 10-ounce son who was born at 4:56 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, at Boone Hospital in Columbia, Mo. Grandparents are Bryan and Pam Crawford of Hatton, Mo., Phil and Treena Murray and Bill and Heather Wilson, all of Poplar Bluff, Mo...

MALDEN, MO. -- Charles Willard Walker, 82, of Gideon, Mo. died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Walker was born Sept. 28, 1929, in Risco, Mo. He was a member of the United Pentecostal Church. He married Morene M. Walker March 5, 1963, in Dexter, Mo. She preceded him in death May 10, 2011...

Martha Beck Martha M. Beck, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, at The Manor in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Beck was born Aug. 11, 1928, in St. Louis, Mo. She was a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, and was a retired waitress. Mrs. Beck enjoyed teaching others about the Bible, dancing, fishing and traveling...

MALDEN, MO. -- Norvell M. "Bill" Beck, 80, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, at Westwood Hills Health Care Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Beck was born Oct. 23, 1931, in Sikeston, Mo. He formerly had lived in Campbell, Mo. He attended Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Poplar Bluff. He served in the U.S. Army and was a retired teacher and coach...

The Christmas Bird Count is the longest-running wildlife census in the world. Data from the nearly 2,000 count circles is recorded and made available for scientists and individuals in order to assess bird populations and guide conservation action. This will be the 112th official Christmas Bird Count...

Nicholas Longbottom Nicholas Longbottom, 57, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor There's good news for duck hunters in Southeast Missouri: duck populations are up considerably over recent years, and the fall migration is expected to be one of the best in memory. Unfortunately, there's also some bad news, and right now, it's been outweighing the good as far as many hunters are concerned...

Christmas is just around the corner. "How did it get here so quickly," my wife asked. It seems only a few days ago, we were sweltering in heat. Now it is winter and we still have shirt sleeve weather. Anyway, just to get it over with officially, I want to wish all my readers a Merry Christmas. I hope you get something under the tree that will make your hunting and fishing experience better this coming year...

BROSELEY -- Doniphan and Twin Rivers rallied in the second half Wednesday to play for fifth place in the Lady Royals Classic. Megan Hipps scored 10 of her game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter to lead Doniphan past Naylor 55-41. Twin Rivers edged Sikeston 46-43 after Tori Cole's 3-pointer with 1:18 remaining gave the Lady Royals a 1-point lead...

ELLSINORE, MO. -- Joanne Alcorn, 84, of Farmington, Mo. died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011 at her residence in Farmington, Mo. Mrs. Alcorn was born Feb. 10, 1927 in Steeleville, Mo. Mrs. Alcorn had resided in Farmington since moving from St. Louis, Mo. in 1990. ...

MALDEN, MO. -- Charles Willard Walker, 82, of Gideon, Mo. died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Walker was born Sept. 28, 1929, in Risco, Mo. He was a member of the United Pentecostal Church. He married Morene M. Walker March 5, 1963, in Dexter, Mo. She preceded him in death May 10, 2011...

Nicholas Longbottom Nicholas Longbottom, 57, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

The Christmas Bird Count is the longest-running wildlife census in the world. Data from the nearly 2,000 count circles is recorded and made available for scientists and individuals in order to assess bird populations and guide conservation action. This will be the 112th official Christmas Bird Count...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor There's good news for duck hunters in Southeast Missouri: duck populations are up considerably over recent years, and the fall migration is expected to be one of the best in memory. Unfortunately, there's also some bad news, and right now, it's been outweighing the good as far as many hunters are concerned...