Stories from Tuesday, December 27, 2011

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Neelyville R-IV administrators hope to increase access to health-related careers for students, thanks to a $125,172 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health. The MFH's Health Care Workforce Development funding program supports projects that increase the number of health care practitioners in underserved areas and that encourage youth to consider health careers...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A rabid skunk marks the first animal to test positive for the disease in Reynolds County this year. "On Dec. 14, 2011, a skunk entered a pen where a mother dog and four puppies were located," said Gena Terlizzi, public information officer for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, in an e-mail earlier this week...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer There was no foul play involved in the drowning death of 58-year-old Fisk, Mo., resident Larry Boyer, according to an investigation completed today by law enforcement. Boyer's body was recovered around 4 p.m. Monday from the St. Francis River near Fisk. He was last seen at 11 p.m. Christmas day and authorities now believe the man's death was an accident...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A rabid skunk marks the first animal to test positive for the disease in Reynolds County this year. "On Dec. 14, 2011, a skunk entered a pen where a mother dog and four puppies were located," said Gena Terlizzi, public information officer for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, in an e-mail earlier this week...

While most teams are enjoying their holiday break, the Three Rivers Raiders are getting a jump start on the second half of the season. The Raiders are participating in the Fiesta Bowl Shootout with eight teams and will kick off against Salt Lake Community College at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Mesa, Ariz...

The 25th Poplar Bluff Showdown will be much like the previous editions with plenty of talent coming to Peters Gym and three tough tests for the host. The Mules have only won this tournament once and have an all-time record of 32-40 in the annual eight-team post-Christmas tournament which starts Wednesday...

BLOOMFIELD -- The Bernie Mules didn't start the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament this year as a strong favorite but a formidable team still exists a year after being state-runners up. The Mules, who drew the No. 6 seed, played a solid game Monday in the first round against a bigger Van Buren team...

BLOOMFIELD -- The athleticism of eighth-seeded Hayti Indians was apparent early on in their Bloomfield Christmas Tournament first round contest against the No. 9 Puxico. The battle of the Indian teams was really a track meet to begin with but Hayti got off to the better start and maintained the lead their whole game. ...

BLOOMFIELD -- For the Twin Rivers Royals, it was one of those games where the final score just didn't nearly indicate how well they played Monday afternoon. The 14th-seeded Royals led No. 3 Portageville, a team they lost to by 21 points earlier this season, at halftime...

The Women's Citizenship Club held its Christmas Party Dec. 7 at the beautifully decorated home of Mr. and Mrs. Marion West. Lunch was served by co-hosts: Mrs. West and Betty Jackson. They were assisted by Jean Butler and Gladys Hill. President Emily Rhodes called the meeting to order and LaVerne Matthews led the prayer...

Carole Eaker FISK, Mo. -- Carole Louise Eaker, 74, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 23, 2011, at The Manor in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Eaker was born Oct. 4, 1937, in Stubenville, Ohio. She lived around Poplar Bluff for several years and had formerly lived in Ohio. Mrs. Eaker was of the Pentecostal Faith, a homemaker and enjoyed playing piano and painting...

Bruce Thomason MALDEN, Mo. -- Bruce Thomason, 43, died Monday, Dec. 26, 2011, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden, Mo.

Bob Gordon DEXTER, Mo. -- Bobby Lee Gordon, 79, of Dexter, Mo., died Monday, Dec. 26, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Gordon was born Dec. 16, 1932, in Dexter. He was a former truck driver for Gibson Lime Company in Dexter and a veteran of the United States Army...

Clyde Atchison WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. -- Clyde Wayne Atchison, 88, of Williamsville, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011. Mr. Atchison born Jan. 21, 1923, in Round Spring, Mo. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946, from which he received four bronze stars. ...

Dorothy Whitehead BERNIE, Mo. -- Dorothy Whitehead, 84, of Festus, Mo., formerly of Bernie, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in The Villa's at DeSoto, Mo. Mrs. Whitehead was born May 18, 1927, in Bernie. She was a homemaker. On June 26, 1946, she married Raymond Whitehead in Piggott, Ark. He survives...

Harold Hicks GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Harold Truman Hicks, 81, of Shook, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Hicks was born Nov. 19, 1930, in Shook. He worked at Davis Paint Company in St. Louis, Mo., and also at A.J. Korn Plumbing for many years. ...

Irvin Laumb LESTERVILLE, Mo. -- Irvin A. Laumb, 93, of Black, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Festus, Mo. Mr. Laumb was born Dec. 31, 1919, in Rushford, Minn. He was retired as a laborer at Valley Springs Youth Ranch. Mr. Laumb enjoyed taking care of horses and working outside...

Lola Cox Lola Mae Cox, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 23, 2011, at her residence. Mrs. Cox was born Aug. 13, 1935, in Holcomb, Mo. She attended Mt. Zion Baptist Church and was a homemaker. Mrs. Cox had earlier retired as a programmer for Southwestern Bell. She enjoyed spending time with her family, reading, fishing and cooking...

Peggy Head NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Peggy Ann Head, 63, of Neelyville, Mo., died Monday, Dec. 26, 2011, at her residence. Mrs. Head was born July 28, 1948, in Qulin, Mo. She was a lifelong resident of the area. Mrs. Head was a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Corning, Ark., and enjoyed helping in ministry and spending time with family...

Pat Cross DEXTER, Mo. -- Pat Cross, 83, of Bernie, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Cross was born Sept. 8, 1928, in Bernie and lived there most of his life. He and his family also lived in Chicago for 20 years where he worked for Meyers Material. Mr. Cross was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers and he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of the Christian Church in Bernie...

Marlin McClintock VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Marlin Dale McClintock, 82, of Van Buren, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 23, 2011, at his residence. Mr. McClintock was born Sept. 13, 1929, in Mountain View, Mo. He was a lifetime resident of Van Buren. Mr. McClintock was a businessman and entrepreneur who in 1950 owned and operated the Hawthorne Motel and the Arrowhead Motel. ...

Ruby Dowdy DEXTER, Mo. -- Ruby Dowdy, 95, of Malden, Mo., died Monday, Dec. 26, 2011, at the Golden Living Center in Malden. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Mo.

William Littrell NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- William "Beaver" Littrell Sr. 60, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 23, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Littrell was born Dec. 7, 1951, in St. Louis, Mo. He enjoyed fishing, spending time with his family, going to the movies, spending time at home and watching and feeding birds. Mr. Littrell worked as a machinist at Briggs & Stratton...

Lola Cox Lola Mae Cox, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 23, 2011, at her residence. Mrs. Cox was born Aug. 13, 1935, in Holcomb, Mo. She attended Mt. Zion Baptist Church and was a homemaker. Mrs. Cox had earlier retired as a programmer for Southwestern Bell. She enjoyed spending time with her family, reading, fishing and cooking...

Harold Hicks GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Harold Truman Hicks, 81, of Shook, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Hicks was born Nov. 19, 1930, in Shook. He worked at Davis Paint Company in St. Louis, Mo., and also at A.J. Korn Plumbing for many years. ...

Dorothy Whitehead BERNIE, Mo. -- Dorothy Whitehead, 84, of Festus, Mo., formerly of Bernie, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in The Villa's at DeSoto, Mo. Mrs. Whitehead was born May 18, 1927, in Bernie. She was a homemaker. On June 26, 1946, she married Raymond Whitehead in Piggott, Ark. He survives...

Carole Eaker FISK, Mo. -- Carole Louise Eaker, 74, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 23, 2011, at The Manor in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Eaker was born Oct. 4, 1937, in Stubenville, Ohio. She lived around Poplar Bluff for several years and had formerly lived in Ohio. Mrs. Eaker was of the Pentecostal Faith, a homemaker and enjoyed playing piano and painting...

Bruce Thomason MALDEN, Mo. -- Bruce Thomason, 43, died Monday, Dec. 26, 2011, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden, Mo.

Bob Gordon DEXTER, Mo. -- Bobby Lee Gordon, 79, of Dexter, Mo., died Monday, Dec. 26, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Gordon was born Dec. 16, 1932, in Dexter. He was a former truck driver for Gibson Lime Company in Dexter and a veteran of the United States Army...

The Women's Citizenship Club held its Christmas Party Dec. 7 at the beautifully decorated home of Mr. and Mrs. Marion West. Lunch was served by co-hosts: Mrs. West and Betty Jackson. They were assisted by Jean Butler and Gladys Hill. President Emily Rhodes called the meeting to order and LaVerne Matthews led the prayer...

BLOOMFIELD -- For the Twin Rivers Royals, it was one of those games where the final score just didn't nearly indicate how well they played Monday afternoon. The 14th-seeded Royals led No. 3 Portageville, a team they lost to by 21 points earlier this season, at halftime...

BLOOMFIELD -- The athleticism of eighth-seeded Hayti Indians was apparent early on in their Bloomfield Christmas Tournament first round contest against the No. 9 Puxico. The battle of the Indian teams was really a track meet to begin with but Hayti got off to the better start and maintained the lead their whole game. ...

BLOOMFIELD -- The Bernie Mules didn't start the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament this year as a strong favorite but a formidable team still exists a year after being state-runners up. The Mules, who drew the No. 6 seed, played a solid game Monday in the first round against a bigger Van Buren team...

While most teams are enjoying their holiday break, the Three Rivers Raiders are getting a jump start on the second half of the season. The Raiders are participating in the Fiesta Bowl Shootout with eight teams and will kick off against Salt Lake Community College at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Mesa, Ariz...

Ruby Dowdy DEXTER, Mo. -- Ruby Dowdy, 95, of Malden, Mo., died Monday, Dec. 26, 2011, at the Golden Living Center in Malden. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Mo.