Stories from Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Fans of "American Idol" and "America's Got Talent" will have the chance to watch and participate in a similar talent competition and win high-demand prizes. The Student Government Association of Three Rivers College will present the first-ever "Show Me Whatcha Got" talent competition Friday in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor MALDEN, Mo. -- Voters in the Malden R-1 School District approved a $3.2 million bond issue Tuesday by a vote of 384 to 130. Assistant Superintendent Robert Wilson was "very happy" the bond issue received the needed support this time after being narrowly defeated in November...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Neelyville, Mo., man faces up to four years in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday in connection with a hit-and-run accident that left a local teenager dead. Cletis W. Powell Jr., 35, of the 2700 block of County Road 246 pleaded guilty as charged to the Class D felony of tampering with physical evidence before Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett, according to Butler County Prosecuting Attorney, who described Powell's plea as being "open."...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Rick Santorum, the winner of the Republican preferential primary election in Missouri Tuesday, carried Butler and six area counties. The former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania received 1,970 votes in the seven counties or 50.6 percent of the 3,893 Republican votes cast in the seven counties. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor GREENVILLE, Mo. -- A Piedmont, Mo., man pleaded guilty Tuesday to lesser assault charges and was sentenced to 14 years in prison for causing serious injuries to his then 3-month-old daughter by shaking her. Justin L. Rogers, 23, pleaded guilty to two Class C felonies of second-degree assault before Circuit Judge Kelly Parker, according to Wayne County Circuit Clerk Darren Garrison...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Rick Santorum, the winner of the Republican preferential primary election in Missouri Tuesday, carried Butler and six area counties. The former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania received 1,970 votes in the seven counties or 50.6 percent of the 3,893 Republican votes cast in the seven counties. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor MALDEN, Mo. -- Voters in the Malden R-1 School District approved a $3.2 million bond issue Tuesday by a vote of 384 to 130. Assistant Superintendent Robert Wilson was "very happy" the bond issue received the needed support this time after being narrowly defeated in November...

Poplar Bluff's underclassmen are growing up in a hurry. The freshmen and sophomores combined for 32 points as the Mules ran away in the fourth quarter to beat Scott City 53-39 at Peters Gym. "That was big, they deserve it," Poplar Bluff senior Lance Gray said. "They've worked hard. Coach knew they were ready for it...

BERNIE -- Troy Kirkpatrick had 19 points for Bernie as it outscored Hayti in every quarter on the way to a win Tuesday, 71-43. Landon Woods added 15 points and David Baker finished with 14 for the Mules. "I'm real proud of our team," Bernie coach Brad Botsch said. "Hayti is coming off the Bootheel Conference Championship and we really stepped up and played well."...

NAYLOR -- Twin Rivers ended the Ozark Foothills Conference semifinal Tuesday night on a 15-2 run over the final 4:21. Unfortunately for the Royals, they trailed by 17 points at the beginning of the run. Clearwater had a solid all-around game until the end as the second-seeded Tigers advanced with a 51-47 win...

NAYLOR -- Go big or go home. That was the philosophy the top-seeded Doniphan Dons employed Tuesday night in the Ozark Foothills Conference semifinals as they out-sized a predominantly smaller Naylor team by starting their three big men, each over 6-foot-3...

By JOHN WILLEY Staff Writer A Mississippi native is the newest manager of the Poplar Bluff Kroger store. Adam Myers officially took the helm of the local store Jan. 15. He just recently found a place to live so his family will arrive this week, he said...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer In the 50 years L&M Barber Shop has been in operation, current owner Cecil Mullins, 71, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., has been cutting hair for 46 of them. With family in the business, Mullins, originally from Summersville, Mo., says barbering always interested him...

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded a $1,682,758 contract Wednesday to Joe's Bridge & Grading, Inc. of Poplar Bluff, Mo., to replace the decks on two westbound U.S. 60 bridges in Stoddard and New Madrid counties. The first bridge is located over the railroad west of Route 61 in Sikeston, Mo. The second bridge is located over the railroad located east of Route 25 near Dexter, Mo...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- Imperial regimes can crack when they are driven out of their major foreign outposts. The fall of the Berlin Wall did not just signal the liberation of Eastern Europe from Moscow. It prefigured the collapse of the Soviet Union itself just two years later...

To the Editor: I want to begin this letter by saying I am privileged to be an American that can enjoy the freedom of speech and freedom of the press. This letter is in reference to the recent article about the Puxico Marshall and the Puxico Board of Aldermen meeting. ...

To the Editor: I just want to thank SMTS for its wonderful service. My husband of 26 years passed on in June 2011. It's nice to have a reliable and dependable way to go shopping and to the doctors. Thanks for this wonderful service and dependable drivers who are always on time...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Appearing alongside CIA Director David Petraeus before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence last week, James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, said of Iran: "We don't believe they've actually made the decision to go ahead with a nuclear weapon."...

Alexander Betzhold Alexander Stanton Betzhold, 13, of Argyle, Texas, died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012. He was born on July 6, 1998, in Dallas, Texas. The youth was a straight-A honors student at Argyle Middle School and excelled at University Interscholastic League "number sense" math contests. He played baseball, football, basketball, and dreamed of becoming a professional athlete. He was extremely active in his church youth group and was loved by his church family and community...

Mini Farm dog beware To the dog owners in Batson Mini Farm. If you are the owner of a large, brown Blood Hound, and care anything about him, you better keep it home. I am tired of it getting into my trash and scattering it all over my yard. Yes, I know it is that particular dog because I have caught him in the act two times...

Norma Headley CORNING, Ark. -- Norma Headley, 86, of Corning, Ark., died Friday, Feb. 7, 2012, at Corning Therapy and Living Center in Corning. Born July 10, 1925 in Corning, Mrs. Headley was a sales clerk for Wood's Department Store and Thomas Brothers Hardware. She was a member of House of Prayer in Corning where she served as treasurer for 50 years...

Mary Trout DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Mary Kay Trout, 63, of Doniphan, Mo., died Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, at her residence. Ms. Trout was born Oct. 22, 1948, in Indiana. She was a restaurant cook. She enjoyed playing bingo and other games, reading and crafts. Surviving are one daughter, Sheila Parsons of Myrtle, Mo.; two sisters, Pam and Cathy; three grandchildren; one great-grandson; and a special friend, Terry Gilmore...

Mike Dunn LESTERVILLE, Mo. -- Michael "Mike" Dunn, 64, of Lesterville, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, at Stonecrest Healthcare in Viburnum, Mo. Mr. Dunn was born on March 8, 1947, at Oates, Mo. He served 16 years in the U.S. Air Force and was a veteran of Vietnam. He was a retired self-employed roofer...

Barbra Lee DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Barbra Irene (Tucker) Lee, 60, former resident of Doniphan, Mo., died at her home in Estill Springs, Tenn., on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. Mrs. Lee was born Nov. 20, 1951, in Doniphan, Mo. She enjoyed quilting, cooking, reading her Bible and spending time with her family and friends...

Lillian Thompson DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Lillian Beatrice (Hampton) Thompson, 86, formerly of Doniphan, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, at Gardenview Care Center in Chesterfield, Mo. Mrs. Thompson, daughter of Charles A. and Zelpha Anna (Wade) Hampton, was born Dec. 19, 1925, in Swift, Mo...

Opha Ollar DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Opha Lee Ollar, 96, life-long resident of Ripley County, Mo., died on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012 at her residence in rural Doniphan, Mo. Mrs. Ollar was born July 2, 1915, at Bennett, Mo. She retired as a factory worker with Vitronic Manufacturing. Mrs. Ollar was a 60-year member of Eastern Star and attended Briar Missionary Baptist Church. She enjoyed working with flowers and being with her grandchildren...

Mary Cunning Mary N. (Greason) Cunning, 95, of Columbia, Mo., and a retired former Poplar Bluff schoolteacher died Monday, Jan 23, 2012, at South Hampton Place in Columbia. Mrs. Cunning was born July 16, 1916 in Wynne, Ark. She received her B.S. in Education from Arkansas State University and later received a Masters Degree in Education. ...

Mark Austin FISK, Mo. -- Mark R. Austin, 47, of Broseley, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Austin was born Oct. 30, 1964, in St. Louis, Mo. He lived at Broseley most of his life. He lived in Bowling Green, Ky. ...

Norma Carnes Norma (May) Seesengood Carnes, 85, a resident of Springfield, Mo., since 1993, and formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, at Christian Health Care East in Springfield. Mrs. Carnes was born Dec. 13, 1926 in McGee, Mo. She was of the Baptist faith, and was a homemaker. ...

Rebecca McFatridge MALDEN, Mo. -- Rebecca Ruth McFatridge, 83, of Gideon, Mo., died Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. McFatridge was born Feb. 1, 1929, in Risco, Mo. She was a retired postmaster. She was married to Ira Stover. He preceded her in death...

Ramona Estep Ramona K. Estep, 59, of Chaffee, Mo., died Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, at Benchmark Health Care of Greenville, Mo. Mrs. Estep was born July 8, 1952 in St. Louis, Mo. She was a former secretary for the St. Louis School System, and was a homemaker. Mrs. Estep was a member of Chaffee General Baptist Church. She enjoyed being a homemaker and taking care of her family, especially her grandchildren...

Many Missourians experience small earthquakes weekly, especially in Southeast Missouri. To mark earthquake awareness month in Missouri, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the State Emergency Management Agency, the Missouri Seismic Safety Commission and others are partnering during the month of February to provide critical information to Missourians about earthquakes in the New Madrid Seismic Zone...

Rev. Thomas Norris, Sr. Rev. Thomas Raymond Norris, Sr. went to be with the Lord Feb. 4, 2012, in Kingman, Ariz., at the age of 86 years. Born May 21, 1925, in Ashland, Ohio to the late Clayton and Flossie Norris. He has six siblings: Sam Norris, Charles Backmon, Don Yoha, Marilyn Gray, Rozella Keck and Sandy Norris...

Alma Payton PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Alma Verneil (Reed) Payton, 80, of Springfield, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. Visitation will begin at noon Sunday followed by the funeral at 2 p.m. at the Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont, Mo. Burial will be in the Rowland Woods Cemetery in Patterson, Mo...

Norma Headley CORNING, Ark. -- Norma Headley, 86, of Corning, Ark., died Friday, Feb. 7, 2012, at Corning Therapy and Living Center in Corning. Born July 10, 1925 in Corning, Mrs. Headley was a sales clerk for Wood's Department Store and Thomas Brothers Hardware. She was a member of House of Prayer in Corning where she served as treasurer for 50 years...

Rev. Thomas Norris Sr. -- Kingman, Ariz. Mary Cunning -- Columbia, Mo. Norma Headley -- Corning, Ark. Alexander Betzhold -- Argyle, Texas Mark Austin -- Broseley, Mo. Rebecca McFatridge -- Gideon, Mo. Mike Dunn -- Lesterville, Mo. Norma Carnes -- Springfield, Mo...

Norma Headley CORNING, Ark. -- Norma Headley, 86, of Corning, Ark., died Friday, Feb. 7, 2012, at Corning Therapy and Living Center in Corning. Born July 10, 1925 in Corning, Mrs. Headley was a sales clerk for Wood's Department Store and Thomas Brothers Hardware. She was a member of House of Prayer in Corning where she served as treasurer for 50 years...

Lillian Thompson DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Lillian Beatrice (Hampton) Thompson, 86, formerly of Doniphan, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, at Gardenview Care Center in Chesterfield, Mo. Mrs. Thompson, daughter of Charles A. and Zelpha Anna (Wade) Hampton, was born Dec. 19, 1925, in Swift, Mo...

Barbra Lee DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Barbra Irene (Tucker) Lee, 60, former resident of Doniphan, Mo., died at her home in Estill Springs, Tenn., on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. Mrs. Lee was born Nov. 20, 1951, in Doniphan, Mo. She enjoyed quilting, cooking, reading her Bible and spending time with her family and friends...

Opha Ollar DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Opha Lee Ollar, 96, life-long resident of Ripley County, Mo., died on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012 at her residence in rural Doniphan, Mo. Mrs. Ollar was born July 2, 1915, at Bennett, Mo. She retired as a factory worker with Vitronic Manufacturing. Mrs. Ollar was a 60-year member of Eastern Star and attended Briar Missionary Baptist Church. She enjoyed working with flowers and being with her grandchildren...

Mike Dunn LESTERVILLE, Mo. -- Michael "Mike" Dunn, 64, of Lesterville, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, at Stonecrest Healthcare in Viburnum, Mo. Mr. Dunn was born on March 8, 1947, at Oates, Mo. He served 16 years in the U.S. Air Force and was a veteran of Vietnam. He was a retired self-employed roofer...

Mary Trout DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Mary Kay Trout, 63, of Doniphan, Mo., died Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, at her residence. Ms. Trout was born Oct. 22, 1948, in Indiana. She was a restaurant cook. She enjoyed playing bingo and other games, reading and crafts. Surviving are one daughter, Sheila Parsons of Myrtle, Mo.; two sisters, Pam and Cathy; three grandchildren; one great-grandson; and a special friend, Terry Gilmore...

Alexander Betzhold Alexander Stanton Betzhold, 13, of Argyle, Texas, died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012. He was born on July 6, 1998, in Dallas, Texas. The youth was a straight-A honors student at Argyle Middle School and excelled at University Interscholastic League "number sense" math contests. He played baseball, football, basketball, and dreamed of becoming a professional athlete. He was extremely active in his church youth group and was loved by his church family and community...

Mini Farm dog beware To the dog owners in Batson Mini Farm. If you are the owner of a large, brown Blood Hound, and care anything about him, you better keep it home. I am tired of it getting into my trash and scattering it all over my yard. Yes, I know it is that particular dog because I have caught him in the act two times...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Appearing alongside CIA Director David Petraeus before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence last week, James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, said of Iran: "We don't believe they've actually made the decision to go ahead with a nuclear weapon."...

To the Editor: I want to begin this letter by saying I am privileged to be an American that can enjoy the freedom of speech and freedom of the press. This letter is in reference to the recent article about the Puxico Marshall and the Puxico Board of Aldermen meeting. ...

Poplar Bluff's underclassmen are growing up in a hurry. The freshmen and sophomores combined for 32 points as the Mules ran away in the fourth quarter to beat Scott City 53-39 at Peters Gym. "That was big, they deserve it," Poplar Bluff senior Lance Gray said. "They've worked hard. Coach knew they were ready for it...

BERNIE -- Troy Kirkpatrick had 19 points for Bernie as it outscored Hayti in every quarter on the way to a win Tuesday, 71-43. Landon Woods added 15 points and David Baker finished with 14 for the Mules. "I'm real proud of our team," Bernie coach Brad Botsch said. "Hayti is coming off the Bootheel Conference Championship and we really stepped up and played well."...

NAYLOR -- Twin Rivers ended the Ozark Foothills Conference semifinal Tuesday night on a 15-2 run over the final 4:21. Unfortunately for the Royals, they trailed by 17 points at the beginning of the run. Clearwater had a solid all-around game until the end as the second-seeded Tigers advanced with a 51-47 win...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer In the 50 years L&M Barber Shop has been in operation, current owner Cecil Mullins, 71, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., has been cutting hair for 46 of them. With family in the business, Mullins, originally from Summersville, Mo., says barbering always interested him...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- Imperial regimes can crack when they are driven out of their major foreign outposts. The fall of the Berlin Wall did not just signal the liberation of Eastern Europe from Moscow. It prefigured the collapse of the Soviet Union itself just two years later...

To the Editor: I just want to thank SMTS for its wonderful service. My husband of 26 years passed on in June 2011. It's nice to have a reliable and dependable way to go shopping and to the doctors. Thanks for this wonderful service and dependable drivers who are always on time...

Many Missourians experience small earthquakes weekly, especially in Southeast Missouri. To mark earthquake awareness month in Missouri, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the State Emergency Management Agency, the Missouri Seismic Safety Commission and others are partnering during the month of February to provide critical information to Missourians about earthquakes in the New Madrid Seismic Zone...

Rev. Thomas Norris, Sr. Rev. Thomas Raymond Norris, Sr. went to be with the Lord Feb. 4, 2012, in Kingman, Ariz., at the age of 86 years. Born May 21, 1925, in Ashland, Ohio to the late Clayton and Flossie Norris. He has six siblings: Sam Norris, Charles Backmon, Don Yoha, Marilyn Gray, Rozella Keck and Sandy Norris...

Alma Payton PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Alma Verneil (Reed) Payton, 80, of Springfield, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. Visitation will begin at noon Sunday followed by the funeral at 2 p.m. at the Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont, Mo. Burial will be in the Rowland Woods Cemetery in Patterson, Mo...

Ramona Estep Ramona K. Estep, 59, of Chaffee, Mo., died Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, at Benchmark Health Care of Greenville, Mo. Mrs. Estep was born July 8, 1952 in St. Louis, Mo. She was a former secretary for the St. Louis School System, and was a homemaker. Mrs. Estep was a member of Chaffee General Baptist Church. She enjoyed being a homemaker and taking care of her family, especially her grandchildren...

Rebecca McFatridge MALDEN, Mo. -- Rebecca Ruth McFatridge, 83, of Gideon, Mo., died Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. McFatridge was born Feb. 1, 1929, in Risco, Mo. She was a retired postmaster. She was married to Ira Stover. He preceded her in death...

Norma Carnes Norma (May) Seesengood Carnes, 85, a resident of Springfield, Mo., since 1993, and formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, at Christian Health Care East in Springfield. Mrs. Carnes was born Dec. 13, 1926 in McGee, Mo. She was of the Baptist faith, and was a homemaker. ...

Mary Cunning Mary N. (Greason) Cunning, 95, of Columbia, Mo., and a retired former Poplar Bluff schoolteacher died Monday, Jan 23, 2012, at South Hampton Place in Columbia. Mrs. Cunning was born July 16, 1916 in Wynne, Ark. She received her B.S. in Education from Arkansas State University and later received a Masters Degree in Education. ...

Norma Headley CORNING, Ark. -- Norma Headley, 86, of Corning, Ark., died Friday, Feb. 7, 2012, at Corning Therapy and Living Center in Corning. Born July 10, 1925 in Corning, Mrs. Headley was a sales clerk for Wood's Department Store and Thomas Brothers Hardware. She was a member of House of Prayer in Corning where she served as treasurer for 50 years...