Stories from Thursday, January 26, 2012

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer As counterfeiters work to perfect their fake bills, area merchants and law enforcement officials must be especially vigilant to combat it, Three Rivers College Director of Public Safety Scott Wiggs explained to merchants at a counterfeit seminar Wednesday...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer With geocaching gaining popularity worldwide, the University of Missouri Extension office is teaming with the U.S. Forest Service to offer a free Geocaching 101 class Saturday. "Geocaching is a worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasures," explained Extension youth program assistant Dara Shulse. ...

Sarah White Sarah Kathryn (Jarboe) White, 31, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Sarah was born Sept. 4, 1980, in Poplar Bluff. She was a member of The Bluff Church in Poplar Bluff, and was a schoolteacher at the Poplar Bluff 5th and 6th Grade Center. ...

By JOE JEREK Mo. Dept. of Conservation JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation received two positive test results for Chronic Wasting Disease from 1,077 tissue samples taken from free-ranging deer harvested by hunters in north-central Missouri during the 2011 fall firearms deer season...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor For the 14th consecutive year, waterfowl hunters in Missouri will have an extended season for snow and Ross' geese. The "light goose conservation order" will begin Feb. 1 and continue through April 30. Initiated in 1999 by the U.S. ...

Can spring be very far away? This thought came to me this week as we had our first Easter flower bud (a jonquil) pop open. At our acreage in western Butler County, many strange things have happened, but this is the earliest we have had Easter flowers bloom. There are several plants with blooms ready to burst forth, but they will probably wait a few days until it warms up a little...

ST. LOUIS -- The Three Rivers Raiders made one comeback in the second half but another was just too much. The Raiders trailed by 11 and battled back to tie the game before losing at St. Louis Community College 78-72 Wednesday. The Raiders are just 2-5 after starting the season 13-3 and fell to 6-6 in games decided by single digits...

ST. LOUIS -- The Three Rivers Lady Raiders ran into a familiar problem Wednesday night. Once again, they got down double digits in the second half before battling back to get within one but lost to St. Louis Community College 76-74. "A tough loss," Three Rivers coach Jeff Walk said. "When you make plays to get right where you want to and we have kids that are non-shalant in the last two minutes when it is really important, they are just not taking it serious enough."...

To the Editor, As we begin our annual observance of National Catholic Schools Week, we want to express our deep appreciation for all those in the community and your paper for what they have done for Sacred Heart School children over the past year. We especially thank your staff for their wonderful coverage of the Dancing with the P.B. Stars. The community's support of this fundraiser was outstanding!...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- An Illinois lawyer who had a way with words once characterized a particular argument as weaker than soup made from the shadow of a pigeon that died of starvation. The argument for Mitt Romney benefiting from South Carolina's voting is almost as weak as Lincoln's soup, but here it is:...

Blessings passed forward I would like to say thank you to Dale Gaebler and the fellows at the bus garage on Maud St. The beautiful Christmas floats and decorations have been so enjoyable during this Christmas season, so I'm passing the blessings forward. Thank you. Bye...

Virginia Jones Ruminer DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Orpha Virginia Jones Ruminer, 70, of Doniphan, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Ruminer, daughter of Lonnie and Mable (O'Donnley) Tharp, was born April 24, 1941, in Kennett, Mo. She had owned and operated a convenience store in rural Ripley County, Mo. ...

Wilson Barber MALDEN, Mo. -- Wilson L. Barber, 60, of Malden, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Barber was born April 12, 1951, in Gray Ridge, Mo. He was baptized on May 16, 2010, at the Zion Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Malden...

Clelah Bradley DEXTER, Mo. -- Clelah W. Bradley, 59, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The daughter of the late Willie Monrow and Bonnie Hicks Medley, she was born in Poplar Bluff on July 27, 1952. ...

Wilbur Walker Wilbur L. Walker, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

Ever wonder just how long you can keep that leftover bowl of delicious spaghetti, tuna salad, or package of ground chuck? I just hate to open a container and it has green "stuff" growing on it! Just how long can you safely keep raw and cooked foods in your refrigerator and freezer?...

Wilson Barber -- Malden, Mo. Clelah Bradley -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Virginia Ruminer -- Doniphan, Mo. Ruby Curtis -- Dexter, Mo. Kelvin Wooten -- Dexter, Mo. Wilbur Walker -- Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Audrie Harrison and Haley Voegtline have been selected as the January and December Students of the Month at O'Neal School Audrie is the first grader in Mrs. Sells classroom. Audrie is the 7-year-old daughter of Brian and Jennifer Harrison. She has an older brother and sister, Joshua and Sophia, who she loves and admires very much. ...

ST. LOUIS -- The Three Rivers Lady Raiders ran into a familiar problem Wednesday night. Once again, they got down double digits in the second half before battling back to get within one but lost to St. Louis Community College 76-74. "A tough loss," Three Rivers coach Jeff Walk said. "When you make plays to get right where you want to and we have kids that are non-shalant in the last two minutes when it is really important, they are just not taking it serious enough."...

Can spring be very far away? This thought came to me this week as we had our first Easter flower bud (a jonquil) pop open. At our acreage in western Butler County, many strange things have happened, but this is the earliest we have had Easter flowers bloom. There are several plants with blooms ready to burst forth, but they will probably wait a few days until it warms up a little...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor For the 14th consecutive year, waterfowl hunters in Missouri will have an extended season for snow and Ross' geese. The "light goose conservation order" will begin Feb. 1 and continue through April 30. Initiated in 1999 by the U.S. ...

Kelvin Wooten DEXTER, Mo. -- Kelvin Wooten, 43, of Dexter, Mo., died on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012. Funeral arrangements are pending with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Ruby Curtis DEXTER, Mo. -- Ruby Curtis, 97, of Dexter, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012, at the Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Funeral arrangements are pending with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

ASHLAND, Mo. -- The City of Ellington, Mo., has been nominated for the Missouri Rural Water Association's Water System of the Year Award. Criteria include overall operations, financial responsibility, managerial effectiveness, regulatory compliance and participation within the industry...

Poplar Bluff High School has named its Students of the Month for November and December. For November: Makala McIver, daughter of Cindy and Jim McIver, enjoys reading, bowling and band. She is involved in Girl Scouts and her church. She is a member the marching band, color guard, Beta Club, Literary Club and symphonic band...