Stories from Friday, December 23, 2011

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer As one approaches the River of Life Church, 338 Hazel St., Poplar Bluff, Mo., during this holiday season, they are overwhelmed by a huge white paper snowflake which dominates the entry. The snowflake is the creation of local artist, Heather Maahs, who spent over 100 hours with donated poster board, an Exacto knife, glue and a small budget to create her vision of Jesus. ...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer As one approaches the River of Life Church, 338 Hazel St., Poplar Bluff, Mo., during this holiday season, they are overwhelmed by a huge white paper snowflake which dominates the entry. The snowflake is the creation of local artist, Heather Maahs, who spent over 100 hours with donated poster board, an Exacto knife, glue and a small budget to create her vision of Jesus. ...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Doniphan native Matt Rogers was one five players released by the Indiana Pacers on Thursday according to the Indianapolis Star. Rogers did not play in the Pacers' preseason opener but did get in on Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls for three minutes of action. Rogers had two rebounds and a block...

BROSELEY -- You've heard of the "12 Days of Christmas?" The Dexter Lady Bearcats introduced fans to the "Four Days of Domination" at the Lady Royals Classic. The top-seed Lady Bearcats won their first three games by an average of 54.7 points and Thursday night in the championship, they were up 21 after the first 7 minutes...

BROSELEY -- Despite a rough start to the season, which earned Twin Rivers the No. 10 seed in their own Lady Royals Classic, the host did a fine job playing spoiler nightly this week. The Lady Royals earned their third upset Thursday evening as they topped the Doniphan Donettes, 56-48, for the fifth place title...

By BETSY HART Scripps Howard News Service My four children -- the youngest is already 10 -- are now beyond the "little kid" toy range when it comes to Christmas lists. Case in point: The youngest opened her list this year by asking for an iPhone 4S (not a chance, honey). And then, a page of requests later, she closes with: "remember, this will be a fun Christmas if everyone gets what they would like."...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- When discussing his amazingness, Newt Gingrich sometimes exaggerates somewhat, as when, discussing Bosnia and Washington, D.C., street violence, he said, "People like me are what stand between us and Auschwitz." (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jan. 16, 1994). What primarily stands between us and misrule, however, is the Constitution, buttressed by an independent judiciary...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS Republicans and Democrats, liberals as well as conservatives, have bought into anti-Chinese trade demagoguery. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested that tariffs against China are a "key part of our 'Make It in America' agenda." During his 2010 campaign, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., called his tea party-backed Republican challenger, Sharron Angle, "a foreign worker's best friend." In a recent news conference, President Barack Obama gave his support to the anti-China campaign, declaring that China "has been very aggressive in gaming the trading system to its advantage," adding that "we can and should take action against countries that are keeping their currencies undervalued ... ...

BUNKER, MO. -- James Luther Holt Sr., 72, of Bunker, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Holt was born May 14, 1940, in Bunker. He was a retired equipment operator for a construction company. His hobbies were hunting and fishing...

Nicholas Longbottom Nicholas E. "Nick" Longbottom, 57, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Longbottom was born June 1, 1954 in Poplar Bluff. He was a member of Oak Grove New Beginnings Church in Poplar Bluff, and most recently had been attending the Family Worship Center. ...

Curtis Hendricks FISK, MO. - Curtis Ray Hendricks, 75, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Hendricks was born March 28, 1936 in Broseley, Mo. He had lived in the Poplar Bluff area most of his life. He was a member of Southside Assembly of God Church and a member of the Broseley Gospel Choir...

ELLINGTON, Mo. -- Dewey J. Kelley, 63, of Lesterville, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Kelley was born Jan. 11, 1948, in Lesterville. He was in the logging business. His hobbies were talking on the CB, hunting, riding 4-wheelers, collecting guns, running his dogs and visiting with friends and family...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Sharon Mae Kruse, 69, of Dexter, Mo., died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011, at the Missouri Southern Healthcare Emergency Room in Dexter. She was born Nov. 8, 1942 in Corning, Ark. Mrs. Kruse was a member of the Light House Christian Center in Dexter. She was married to James Kruse in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Kruse survives...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Robert Lynn "Bob" Foushee, 61, of St. Peters, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, at his home. Mr. Foushee was born on Jan. 11, 1950 at Gideon, Mo. He had a faith in God, was a former accountant, was an avid St. Louis Cardinal fan since 1957, having attended many baseball games and World Series games that the Cardinals participated in. ...

GIDEON, MO. -- Margaret Ogden, 79, of Gideon died Friday, Dec. 23, 2011 at the Gideon Care Center. Bradshaw Funeral Home of Gideon is in charge of arrangements.

ELLINGTON, MO. -- Frances A. Montague, 93, of Ellington, Mo. died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, at her residence. She was born Dec. 9, 1918 in Bristol, Tenn. She was a Red Hatter. She was a photographer in the U.S. Army. Before her retirement, she worked for several government agencies including the Pentagon, HUD and the U.S. Forest Service. She worked longest for HUD...

Neelyville water/sewer rate meeting A town meeting to discuss Neelyville water and sewer rates will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, at the Neelyville City Hall. Residents of the city of Neelyville are asked to attend.1

By BETSY HART Scripps Howard News Service My four children -- the youngest is already 10 -- are now beyond the "little kid" toy range when it comes to Christmas lists. Case in point: The youngest opened her list this year by asking for an iPhone 4S (not a chance, honey). And then, a page of requests later, she closes with: "remember, this will be a fun Christmas if everyone gets what they would like."...

Nicholas Longbottom Nicholas E. "Nick" Longbottom, 57, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Longbottom was born June 1, 1954 in Poplar Bluff. He was a member of Oak Grove New Beginnings Church in Poplar Bluff, and most recently had been attending the Family Worship Center. ...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Robert Lynn "Bob" Foushee, 61, of St. Peters, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, at his home. Mr. Foushee was born on Jan. 11, 1950 at Gideon, Mo. He had a faith in God, was a former accountant, was an avid St. Louis Cardinal fan since 1957, having attended many baseball games and World Series games that the Cardinals participated in. ...

ELLINGTON, MO. -- Frances A. Montague, 93, of Ellington, Mo. died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, at her residence. She was born Dec. 9, 1918 in Bristol, Tenn. She was a Red Hatter. She was a photographer in the U.S. Army. Before her retirement, she worked for several government agencies including the Pentagon, HUD and the U.S. Forest Service. She worked longest for HUD...

ELLINGTON, Mo. -- Dewey J. Kelley, 63, of Lesterville, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Kelley was born Jan. 11, 1948, in Lesterville. He was in the logging business. His hobbies were talking on the CB, hunting, riding 4-wheelers, collecting guns, running his dogs and visiting with friends and family...

Curtis Hendricks FISK, MO. - Curtis Ray Hendricks, 75, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Hendricks was born March 28, 1936 in Broseley, Mo. He had lived in the Poplar Bluff area most of his life. He was a member of Southside Assembly of God Church and a member of the Broseley Gospel Choir...

Neelyville water/sewer rate meeting A town meeting to discuss Neelyville water and sewer rates will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, at the Neelyville City Hall. Residents of the city of Neelyville are asked to attend.1