Stories from Friday, December 30, 2011

n JULY July 3 -- Black River Medical Center announced plans to open its three-bed hospital by the end of the year, but said it will quickly expand to 100-150 beds. July 6 -- Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center is reconsidering the location for its new hospital...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff, Mo., Kmart is safe, at least for the time being, according to Sears Holdings Corp., which on Thursday announced locations of the first round of underperforming stores to close as part of cost cutting measures...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission has obtained $251,100 from FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to enable four area ambulance districts to purchase nine 12 lead cardiac monitors/defibrillators...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission has obtained $251,100 from FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to enable four area ambulance districts to purchase nine 12 lead cardiac monitors/defibrillators...

Amanda Elaine and Ryan John Bader of Campbell, Mo., have chosen the name Brooklyn June Bader for their 7-pound, 4-ounce daughter born at 1:48 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011 at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family Birth Place in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Grandparents are Marilyn Trout of Broseley, Mo., and Stan and Pam Bader of Campbell...

Michael Griggs connected on a tying 3-pointer and Kendric McCain got a steal early in the fourth quarter Thursday night. But a blocked shot and a rebound that got away on a missed free throw suddenly put the Poplar Bluff Mules behind. It started a late surge by Forrest City, which closed out a 61-47 win at Peters Gym with a 20-6 run...

MESA, Ariz. -- Will Holifield was the unlikely hero Thursday night for the Three Rivers Raiders. Holifield made a 3-pointer with just more than 2 seconds remaining to lift the Raiders to a dramatic 70-67 win over Arizona Western in the semifinals of the Fiesta Bowl Shootout...

The 25th Poplar Bluff Showdown will have a new champion. Tupelo, the defending champion by a technicality, was knocked out by Maplewood-Richmond Heights 62-59 while Booker T. Washington held off cross-town rival Kirby 52-46 in the semifinals Thursday night at Peters Gym...

Julia Dragon won twice and set a school record while Marissa Burroughs and Sarah Crites also picked up individual wins as the Poplar Bluff swim team won a home meet Thursday. The Lady Mules won the 200 and 400-freestyle relays with Crites, Dragon, Campbell Keele and Ashley Stonecipher...

STE. GENEVIEVE -- The Greenville Bears came out of the gate a touch slow at the Warrior Winter Classic against St. Vincent Thursday night. The Indians outscored the Bears by 10 in the first quarter and won, 66-48. "We came out flat the first quarter," Greenville coach Marc Crane said. "They had a lot of pressure on us which I warned the boys St. Vincent would pressure the whole game."...

DYERSBURG -- A fast start Thursday gave the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules a 2-1 finish and fifth place at the Dyersburg Tournament. The Lady Mules led 14-4 after the first quarter and rolled to a 64-40 win over Brighton (Tenn.). Poplar Bluff (5-6) led 36-15 at halftime, committing just two first-half turnovers...

By KATHLEEN PARKER WASHINGTON -- Callista Gingrich has done something she might come to regret -- succumbed to the Twitter fairy and opened the door to unwelcome scrutiny. Until now, the flawlessly coiffed Callista has been granted a fairly generous berth in the public arena. ...

WASHINGTON -- The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is famously liberal and frequently reversed. Recently, however, a unanimous three-judge panel of this court did something right when it held that bone marrow donors can be compensated. In effect, it revised a law, the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) of 1984, because of a medical technique developed since then...

Ashley Robertson earned a Master's of Science degree in Library Science from the University of North Texas during its December 2011 commencement exercises. A native of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Robertson is the daughter of Marshall and Nevada Young. She is currently the Children's Library and Youth Coordinator for the Poplar Bluff Public Library...

Raymond Foutch Raymond Eugene Foutch, 92, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

The Poplar Bluff Garden Club's (FGCA) last meeting of the year was held at Judy Duncan's beautifully decorated home. Duncan and Rose Brown presented a program "Decorating with Recycled Items." They truly inspired everyone with how to turn everyday used items into beautiful table arrangements...

Jo Ann Cookson PUXICO, Mo. -- Jo Ann Cookson, 71, of Wappapello, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The daughter of the late William "Short" and Imogene Hartwell Braswell, she was born on Dec. 31, 1939, in Lavelle, Mo...

Aileen Summers Aileen Summers, 81, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Bobbie Smith QULIN, Mo. -- Bobbie G. Smith, 67, of Fagus, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011 at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Smith was born Sept. 18, 1944, in Pollard, Ark. He attended Ash Hill General Baptist Church and had worked as a foreman on construction. He enjoyed welding, woodworking and fishing...

Charolette Jones FISK, Mo. -- Charolette M. Jones, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, at her son's residence. Mrs. Jones was born May 11, 1935, in St. Louis, Mo. She had lived around Poplar Bluff since 1967 and was a member of the First Church of God in Poplar Bluff. She was a homemaker and enjoyed working puzzles, crocheting, camping and playing cards...

Margaret Garrison COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Margaret Adelle Walton Garrison, 84, of Columbia, Mo., the mother of Ann Korschgen (Carl) of Columbia, Mo., and Janet Garrison (John Molberg) of Tallahassee, Fla., passed away on Dec. 25, 2011. She was born in Marshall, Mo., on March 17, 1927 to Cecil and Eva Walton into a family of five daughters and one son. ...

Patrick Baird Patrick Charles Baird, 64, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died unexpectedly Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Baird was born Jan. 21, 1947, in Carthage, Mo. He had retired as a Captain from the Missouri Highway Patrol Troop E in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Baird enjoyed spending time with his family, golfing, flying, walking, politics and cooking...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Starting as a carrier, Paul Woods is now in his 70th year of working for the Daily American Republic. The rural Ellsinore, Mo., resident has worked in just about all phases of producing and distributing a newspaper, including the mailroom, pressroom, linotype operator, composing department and outdoor writing. He also worked in the commercial printing department...

T. Rivers board member attends workshop Lee Lewis, a member of the Twin Rivers R-X Board of Education, attended Essential Board Member Certification training sponsored by the Missouri School Boards' Association in Clayton, Mo., on Dec. 9-10, 2011. The two-day workshop series placed a strong emphasis on improving student achievement by providing guidance to board members on appropriate ways to evaluate and influence student performance in their local districts. ...

BLOOMFIELD -- Antonio Primer was on the spot for the Kennett Indians at the end of the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament championship game Thursday night. The 6-foot-3 junior put his team ahead for good with about a minute to play, got key rebounds on both ends and hit a late free throw as the Indians earned their third straight title with a 55-52 victory over Portageville...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The second-seeded Notre Dame Bulldogs and the third-seeded Scott County Central Braves were supposed to play the most competitive game of the night Thursday at the Southeast Missourian Christmas tournament. Neither team got the memo...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Charleston's trademark defense was at its suffocating best Thursday night, especially during a first half that saw Central score just 12 points. The fourth-seeded Tigers felt the sting, losing 50-39 to top-seeded Charleston in the semifinals of the Southeast Missourian Christmas tournament at the Show Me Center...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor PIEDMONT, Mo. -- An enthusiasm for conservation and a passion for helping others has earned Wayne County Conservation Agent Brian Towe the title of Missouri Department of Conservation 2011 Southeast Region Agent of the Year...

Mabel Hamilton PIGGOTT, Ark. -- Mabel L. Hamilton, 91, of Qulin, Mo., died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. She was born Oct. 1, 1920. Survivors include two sons, Nolan Hamilton and Dale Hamilton; two daughters, Mary Spradling and Sue Welty; one sister, Helen Schrader; eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren...

MESA, Ariz. -- Will Holifield was the unlikely hero Thursday night for the Three Rivers Raiders. Holifield made a 3-pointer with just more than 2 seconds remaining to lift the Raiders to a dramatic 70-67 win over Arizona Western in the semifinals of the Fiesta Bowl Shootout...

The 25th Poplar Bluff Showdown will have a new champion. Tupelo, the defending champion by a technicality, was knocked out by Maplewood-Richmond Heights 62-59 while Booker T. Washington held off cross-town rival Kirby 52-46 in the semifinals Thursday night at Peters Gym...

DYERSBURG -- A fast start Thursday gave the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules a 2-1 finish and fifth place at the Dyersburg Tournament. The Lady Mules led 14-4 after the first quarter and rolled to a 64-40 win over Brighton (Tenn.). Poplar Bluff (5-6) led 36-15 at halftime, committing just two first-half turnovers...

Michael Griggs connected on a tying 3-pointer and Kendric McCain got a steal early in the fourth quarter Thursday night. But a blocked shot and a rebound that got away on a missed free throw suddenly put the Poplar Bluff Mules behind. It started a late surge by Forrest City, which closed out a 61-47 win at Peters Gym with a 20-6 run...

Julia Dragon won twice and set a school record while Marissa Burroughs and Sarah Crites also picked up individual wins as the Poplar Bluff swim team won a home meet Thursday. The Lady Mules won the 200 and 400-freestyle relays with Crites, Dragon, Campbell Keele and Ashley Stonecipher...

STE. GENEVIEVE -- The Greenville Bears came out of the gate a touch slow at the Warrior Winter Classic against St. Vincent Thursday night. The Indians outscored the Bears by 10 in the first quarter and won, 66-48. "We came out flat the first quarter," Greenville coach Marc Crane said. "They had a lot of pressure on us which I warned the boys St. Vincent would pressure the whole game."...

BLOOMFIELD -- Doniphan senior James Moore came through in the clutch Thursday night. Moore made five free throws with less than one minute remaining as the Dons held on to beat Dexter 62-55 in the third-place game of the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament...

By KATHLEEN PARKER WASHINGTON -- Callista Gingrich has done something she might come to regret -- succumbed to the Twitter fairy and opened the door to unwelcome scrutiny. Until now, the flawlessly coiffed Callista has been granted a fairly generous berth in the public arena. ...

WASHINGTON -- The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is famously liberal and frequently reversed. Recently, however, a unanimous three-judge panel of this court did something right when it held that bone marrow donors can be compensated. In effect, it revised a law, the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) of 1984, because of a medical technique developed since then...

By SHARON RANDALL Scripps Howard News Service At the end of a year, I like to look back, count my blessings and give thanks for whatever the new year may bring. The older I get, the more I think the only real difference we can make in life is to be grateful. It's simple, but not always easy...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The second-seeded Notre Dame Bulldogs and the third-seeded Scott County Central Braves were supposed to play the most competitive game of the night Thursday at the Southeast Missourian Christmas tournament. Neither team got the memo...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Charleston's trademark defense was at its suffocating best Thursday night, especially during a first half that saw Central score just 12 points. The fourth-seeded Tigers felt the sting, losing 50-39 to top-seeded Charleston in the semifinals of the Southeast Missourian Christmas tournament at the Show Me Center...

BLOOMFIELD -- Antonio Primer was on the spot for the Kennett Indians at the end of the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament championship game Thursday night. The 6-foot-3 junior put his team ahead for good with about a minute to play, got key rebounds on both ends and hit a late free throw as the Indians earned their third straight title with a 55-52 victory over Portageville...

Charolette Jones FISK, Mo. -- Charolette M. Jones, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, at her son's residence. Mrs. Jones was born May 11, 1935, in St. Louis, Mo. She had lived around Poplar Bluff since 1967 and was a member of the First Church of God in Poplar Bluff. She was a homemaker and enjoyed working puzzles, crocheting, camping and playing cards...

Raymond Foutch Raymond Eugene Foutch, 92, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor PIEDMONT, Mo. -- An enthusiasm for conservation and a passion for helping others has earned Wayne County Conservation Agent Brian Towe the title of Missouri Department of Conservation 2011 Southeast Region Agent of the Year...