Stories from Thursday, February 16, 2012

By MELISSA MILLER SEMO News Service Now is not the time to raise tax assessments on Missouri farmers, say proponents of resolutions in the legislature to repeal an agricultural land tax increase. Under a policy set by the State Tax Commission in December, Missouri's most productive farm land will face a higher tax rate...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Poplar Bluff businesses draw many customers from six surrounding counties, Aaron Arnett reported at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce's quarterly luncheon Monday, confirming the area is a "hub" in Southeast Missouri. Arnett represents ArnettMuldrow & Associates of Greenville, S.C., which recently performed a retail market analysis for the area...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer "Will you partner with us to let the beauty of crystal clear music stream through our music room? Your help will not only improve the sound quality of music in our classroom but will ignite students' imagination and love of music through vivid musical experiences." -- Greenville Elementary music teacher Tracy King says of her desire to improve her students' experience with a new music system...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- The Big Springs Resource Conservation and Development Council recently received a Missouri Department of Natural Resources grant to help clean up dumped tires on the Mark Twain National Forest. The grant from Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Solid Waste Management Program will focus on cleaning up the Mark Twain National Forest around Ripley, Shannon and Carter Counties...

The 19th Annual Lions Club Auction will be held from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 18, on City Cable's Channel 2 and on their web site @ http://www.ustream.tv/channel/poplar-bluff-lions-club. According to Lions Club member, Brad Barwick, all proceeds from the auction will used by the Poplar Bluff Lions Club locally to help those with impaired vision or hearing. ...

Arthur Harvey Arthur Harvey, 83, formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

A fish fry will be held Friday at Northside Nutrition Center. Bill Anderson and friends will entertain from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The complete menu includes catfish or chicken sandwich, French fries, baked beans, coleslaw, cornbread.

Out with the old and in with the new ... it's that time of the year to clean out the freezer. I'll always have fond memories of my mom's freezer. It was so full she had to hold the lid down with a big rock. Let me tell you, my freezer isn't like that. Now is the time to take stock of what's in the freezer, decide what to pitch, and give it a good cleaning. Try to replace the frozen foods each year...

The Poplar Bluff FFA is hosting an alumni formation meeting on Feb. 23. The meeting will be held at the Poplar Bluff High School in the Student Center (cafeteria). The purpose is to promote the FFA organization, FFA activities and agricultural education on the local, state and national levels...

To the Editor, I am disgusted by the Associated Press story "Primary turnout sets record for low turnout" that appeared on the front page of the 13 Feb 2012 edition of the Daily American Republic. The facts of the story may not be in dispute. But the story itself follows on the heels of at least two previous ones -- also from the Associated Press, also on the front page -- that ran in the DAR. ...

Tournament time has already arrived in Southeast Missouri, with an event on Current River Feb. 18. The First Annual Benefit Tournament for the Carter County Nutrition Center is set for that date. The entry fee is $60 per boat, with either a single angler or a team of two. There also is a big bass pot with a $5 entry for person. The payback on the big bass is 70 percent and 30 percent...

To the Editor, On Sunday mornings, while sitting in the pew, I read our church's Brief Statement of Faith, which includes the following: " . . . ignoring God's commandments we . . . exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care."...

By GEORGE F. WILL NEW YORK -- James and Jeanne Harmon reside in and supposedly own a five-story brownstone on Manhattan's Upper West Side, a building that has been in their family since 1949. But they have, so to speak, houseguests who have overstayed their welcome by, in cumulative years, more than a century. They are the tenants -- the same tenants -- who have been living in the three of the Harmons' six apartments that are rent controlled...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Yes, Virginia, there is a religious war going on. It is for the soul of America. And traditional Christianity is besieged. In a January visit to the Vatican, American bishops were warned by Benedict XVI that "radical secularism" posed "grave threats" to their Catholic faith. Your religious freedom is being circumscribed, said the pope. The U.S. government may seek to force you to collaborate in what are "intrinsically evil practices."...

Edna Hastings -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Arthur Harvey -- Formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo. Jean Hudgens -- Doniphan, Mo.

VINCENNES, Ind. -- The Three Rivers Lady Raiders were overwhelmed in the second half Wednesday night. The Lady Raiders were down four at halftime before being outscored by 26 in the second half as they lost to Vincennes, 92-62. "We were down five with about 10 minutes to go and the ball just stopped going in the hole for us," Three Rivers coach Jeff Walk said. "They kind of steeped up the defensive pressure on us and we didn't make some shots and next thing you know, it got out of hand on us."...

LESTERVILLE -- The Clearwater Tigers played well on both ends of the floor in the second half Wedneday night to open the Black River League Tournament with a 73-40 win against East Carter. "Nice win to start off the conference tournament," Clearwater coach Louis Bell said...

By JOHN PRATT Mo. Dept. of Conservation This year is the 75th anniversary of the Missouri Department of Conservation. As such, I am going to include some articles about the history of the department. One of the most striking things to me is the forest of Missouri. Missouri is a forested state, and about 85 percent of the land is in private ownership...

The Butler County Health Department Board of Trustees will meet in regular session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, at the Butler County Health Department.

With the snow Monday, Poplar Bluff freshman Cassidy Harris had a rare day off -- no basketball or swimming. Harris, however, will be busy over the next few days. The Lady Mules basketball team finishes the regular season tonight at Peters Gym before Harris makes a trip to St. Louis for an appearance in the MSHSAA state swimming championships starting Friday afternoon...

Jean Hudgens DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Nalla "Jean" Hudgens, 71, of Doniphan, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mrs. Hudgens, daughter of Gilbert and Virginia Mae (Kirby) Gwin, was born Aug. 25, 1940, in Indianapolis, Ind. She was a housewife and enjoyed puzzle books, handcrafts and doing income taxes...

Will and Jennifer Miles Atkinson of West Plains, Mo., have chosen the name Harper Ellis Atkinson for their 7-pound, 2-ounce daughter born at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012 at St. John's Mercy Hospital, Springfield, Mo. Harper was 20 1/2" in length...