Stories from Thursday, January 12, 2012

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor The 26th Heartland Agriculture and Natural Resources Expo (Ag Expo) Jan. 20-21 will be entertaining, as well as educational, and will fit perfectly into everyone's budget since admission is free. The event will be from 1 - 8 p.m. ...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer The popularity of video and role playing games has grown dramatically in recent years, and gaming clubs are cropping up in Poplar Bluff, Mo., to accommodate fans. Siera Phoenix, a division of Zani Coin and Collectibles, hosted a 36-hour gaming event from 7 p.m. Dec. 30 to 7 a.m. Jan. 1 for gamers. The event featured tournaments for Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer For O'Neal Elementary second-grader Jayce Jay, Tuesday's championship round of the Third Annual Thumbs Up Spelling Bee should have been a breeze. She had already out-spelled everyone else in her building grade level during competitions held since October...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor The 26th Heartland Agriculture and Natural Resources Expo (Ag Expo) Jan. 20-21 will be entertaining, as well as educational, and will fit perfectly into everyone's budget since admission is free. The event will be from 1 - 8 p.m. ...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer The popularity of video and role playing games has grown dramatically in recent years, and gaming clubs are cropping up in Poplar Bluff, Mo., to accommodate fans. Siera Phoenix, a division of Zani Coin and Collectibles, hosted a 36-hour gaming event from 7 p.m. Dec. 30 to 7 a.m. Jan. 1 for gamers. The event featured tournaments for Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer For O'Neal Elementary second-grader Jayce Jay, Tuesday's championship round of the Third Annual Thumbs Up Spelling Bee should have been a breeze. She had already out-spelled everyone else in her building grade level during competitions held since October...

Abigail Robbins Abigail Laraine Robbins, 7, of Conway, Ark., died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at her residence in Conway. Abby was born Feb. 23, 2004, in Little Rock, Ark. She was a second grade student at St. Joseph Catholic School in Conway. Abby enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and playing soccer...

By JOHN PRATT Mo. Dept. of Conservation As most of the hunting seasons are winding down, fishing seems to be catching more people's interest. Crappie fishing is of particular interest to Lake Wappapello anglers in recent days. So, the natural question is about whether the fish are biting. Well, that depends on which day you are talking about and the fisherman you are talking to...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Young deer hunters in Missouri killed 2,178 deer during the final portion of their special season Jan. 7-8, adding to a harvest record they set during the first portion in early November. "That's far and away the highest late portion harvest we've had," said Missouri Department of Conservation Resource Scientist Jason Sumners, "and I think it's completely because of the weather."...

Bass tournaments have been on my mind lately. The Current River Smallmouth Association hasn't had any winter events, but a smallmouth tourney will be the first one on the list for 2012. The first annual benefit tournament for the Carter County Nutrition Center is set for Feb. 18, fishing from Van Buren, Mo...

A week before their one and only home match, the Poplar Bluff wrestling team picked up a win as a team that included a showdown of two state-ranked 106 pounders. Poplar Bluff freshman Matt King edged Park Hills Central's Richard House 3-2 Tuesday in Park Hills as the Mules won the match 51-12...

VAN BUREN -- Quickly, name an area high school basketball player who averaged 17.5 points per game and 12.4 rebounds per game all while playing on a torn ACL in his right knee his junior year. Not enough information? Still with said torn ACL, which area baseball player garnered Class 1 All-State honors?...

By SHARON RANDALL Scripps Howard News Service How will you be remembered? What do you want people to say about you when you're gone? I recently lost a longtime friend, a man with a larger-than-life personality and a heart, soul and mind to match. I met Byron Donzis more than 25 years ago through my friend, Martha, who was working as his assistant. ...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- After every other conservative alternative to Mitt Romney crashed and burned (libertarian Ron Paul is in a category of his own), from the rubble emerges Rick Santorum. But he isn't just the last man standing. He is the first challenger to be plausibly presidential: knowledgeable, articulate, experienced, of stable character and authentic ideology...

Harold Durrow WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. -- Harold Wayne Durrow, 67, of Williamsville, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, at St. Francis Medical Center, Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was born Oct. 31, 1944, at Taskee, Mo. Mr. Durrow was a lifelong resident of Wayne County, Mo. ...

Paul Schuerenberg SIKESTON, Mo. -- Paul Schuerenberg, 94, of Gray Ridge, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Arrangements are incomplete with Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston, Mo.

Rosenell Johnson MALDEN, Mo. -- Rosenell Johnson, 94, of Risco, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Johnson was born on Aug. 23, 1917, in Turrell, Ark. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Risco. On Dec. 22, 1933, she was married to Albert Sidney Johnson at Marion, Ark. He preceded her in death on Nov. 18, 1998...

Ellen Jo Dowdy DEXTER, Mo. -- Ellen Jo Dowdy, 67, of Dexter, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Dowdy was born on Aug. 1, 1944, in Dexter. She was member of the Heartland Quilting Guild and the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a homemaker...

Loeta Morgan PARMA, Mo. -- Loeta Morgan, 80, died Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Morgan was born on April 24, 1931, in Hayti, Mo. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Parma and had been a 4-H Leader. On Aug. 21, 1954, she was married to Ted Morgan in New Madrid, Mo. He survives of the home...

Sharon Lopez DEXTER, Mo. -- Sharon Lopez, 71, of Dexter, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. She was born on Feb. 20, 1940, in Aurora, Ill. She was a member of the Eagles Aerie in Streator, Ill., where she had lived for many years. She moved to Dexter in November of 2011...

Kermitt and Marge Willis of Greenville, Mo., will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary at 2 p.m. Saturday with a party at the home of Louellen and Bruce Goin, 2723 Mill St. Hosting the party are their children: Kermitt Willis and Josh Willis of Ellsinore, Mo., Jane Brooks, Travis Willis and Louellen Goin of Poplar Bluff, Tom Willis of Piedmont, Mo., Haven Willis of Greenville, and Paula McAlister of Cincinnati, Ohio. ...

The East Carter R-11 Accelerated School second quarter honor roll is as follows: FIRST GRADE Jason Carter, Skylar Davis, Abigail Dinsmore, Wyatt Downs, Holden Green, Madison Hayman, Emma Head, Austin Hosenfeld, Mathias Jackson, Elizabeth Larkins, Clare Scott, Mark White and Addison Wilder...

Most of us live busy lives and eat on the run. As a person always watching my weight, I know that fast food can add a lot of extra calories and fat. So how can you eat well in the drive-thru lane? First, say NO to super-size. Be sensible and enjoy the regular size food items and skip the mega meals. ...

By SARAH DENKLER University of Missouri Extension Ag Expo 2012 will feature educational programs on Friday and the traditional Kid's Gardening Adventure on Saturday. The Expo will be held on Friday, Jan. 20 and Saturday, Jan. 21 at the Black River Coliseum in downtown Poplar Bluff. Admission is free for the Ag Expo and to all events held at the expo...

By PHYLLIS FLANIGAN County Program Director Jan. 20 and 21 will mark the 26th anniversary of the Heartland Agriculture and Natural Resources Expo (Ag Expo), which will be held at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Ag Expo has continued to grow and add new events during the past 25 years under the direction of the Butler County University of Missouri Extension Council and the Ag Club of Three Rivers College...

Loeta Morgan -- Parma, Mo. Sharon Lopez-- Dexter, Mo. Harold Durrow -- Williamsville, Mo. Ellen Jo Dowdy -- Dexter, Mo. Rosenell Johnson -- Risco, Mo. Paul Schuerenberg -- Gray Ridge, Mo.

Turkey call class offered WINONA, Mo., -- The Twin Pines Conservation Education Center will be hosting a turkey call making workshop on Feb. 3 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Feb. 4 from 8 a.m. until everyone is done. The workshop is open to anyone ages 12 and up...

Sharon Lopez DEXTER, Mo. -- Sharon Lopez, 71, of Dexter, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. She was born on Feb. 20, 1940, in Aurora, Ill. She was a member of the Eagles Aerie in Streator, Ill., where she had lived for many years. She moved to Dexter in November of 2011...

Loeta Morgan PARMA, Mo. -- Loeta Morgan, 80, died Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Morgan was born on April 24, 1931, in Hayti, Mo. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Parma and had been a 4-H Leader. On Aug. 21, 1954, she was married to Ted Morgan in New Madrid, Mo. He survives of the home...

Ellen Jo Dowdy DEXTER, Mo. -- Ellen Jo Dowdy, 67, of Dexter, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Dowdy was born on Aug. 1, 1944, in Dexter. She was member of the Heartland Quilting Guild and the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a homemaker...

Rosenell Johnson MALDEN, Mo. -- Rosenell Johnson, 94, of Risco, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Johnson was born on Aug. 23, 1917, in Turrell, Ark. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Risco. On Dec. 22, 1933, she was married to Albert Sidney Johnson at Marion, Ark. He preceded her in death on Nov. 18, 1998...

Harold Durrow WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. -- Harold Wayne Durrow, 67, of Williamsville, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, at St. Francis Medical Center, Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was born Oct. 31, 1944, at Taskee, Mo. Mr. Durrow was a lifelong resident of Wayne County, Mo. ...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- After every other conservative alternative to Mitt Romney crashed and burned (libertarian Ron Paul is in a category of his own), from the rubble emerges Rick Santorum. But he isn't just the last man standing. He is the first challenger to be plausibly presidential: knowledgeable, articulate, experienced, of stable character and authentic ideology...

A week before their one and only home match, the Poplar Bluff wrestling team picked up a win as a team that included a showdown of two state-ranked 106 pounders. Poplar Bluff freshman Matt King edged Park Hills Central's Richard House 3-2 Tuesday in Park Hills as the Mules won the match 51-12...

Bass tournaments have been on my mind lately. The Current River Smallmouth Association hasn't had any winter events, but a smallmouth tourney will be the first one on the list for 2012. The first annual benefit tournament for the Carter County Nutrition Center is set for Feb. 18, fishing from Van Buren, Mo...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Young deer hunters in Missouri killed 2,178 deer during the final portion of their special season Jan. 7-8, adding to a harvest record they set during the first portion in early November. "That's far and away the highest late portion harvest we've had," said Missouri Department of Conservation Resource Scientist Jason Sumners, "and I think it's completely because of the weather."...

By JOHN PRATT Mo. Dept. of Conservation As most of the hunting seasons are winding down, fishing seems to be catching more people's interest. Crappie fishing is of particular interest to Lake Wappapello anglers in recent days. So, the natural question is about whether the fish are biting. Well, that depends on which day you are talking about and the fisherman you are talking to...

Kermitt and Marge Willis of Greenville, Mo., will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary at 2 p.m. Saturday with a party at the home of Louellen and Bruce Goin, 2723 Mill St. Hosting the party are their children: Kermitt Willis and Josh Willis of Ellsinore, Mo., Jane Brooks, Travis Willis and Louellen Goin of Poplar Bluff, Tom Willis of Piedmont, Mo., Haven Willis of Greenville, and Paula McAlister of Cincinnati, Ohio. ...

Most of us live busy lives and eat on the run. As a person always watching my weight, I know that fast food can add a lot of extra calories and fat. So how can you eat well in the drive-thru lane? First, say NO to super-size. Be sensible and enjoy the regular size food items and skip the mega meals. ...

By PHYLLIS FLANIGAN County Program Director Jan. 20 and 21 will mark the 26th anniversary of the Heartland Agriculture and Natural Resources Expo (Ag Expo), which will be held at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Ag Expo has continued to grow and add new events during the past 25 years under the direction of the Butler County University of Missouri Extension Council and the Ag Club of Three Rivers College...