Stories from Thursday, February 23, 2012

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Absentee voting for the April 3 city and school elections in Butler County began Tuesday in the office of County Clerk Tonyi Deffendall. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. It also will be open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 31. The deadline to vote absentee is 5 p.m. Monday, April 2...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer The next time you hear of a rocket being launched at Cape Canaveral, chances are Col. Glenn E. Hillis, son of Verna Roebuck and Glenn Hillis, Sr., of Poplar Bluff, Mo., played a large role in the blast off. "He has a very important job here at the 45th Space Wing," said Christopher Calkins, a media relations spokesman for the 45th Space Wing. ...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer East Carter R-II Elementary Principal Paul Lynch has been named the 2012 Southeast Missouri Distinguished Principal by the Southeast Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals. Lynch will be honored at the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals conference March 10 in Osage Beach, Mo., along with 11 other district representatives. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Our War Party has been temporarily diverted from its clamor for war on Iran by the insurrection against the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad. Estimates of the dead since the Syrian uprising began a year ago approach 6,000. And responsibility for the carnage is being laid at the feet of the president who succeeded his dictator-father Hafez al-Assad, who ruled from 1971 until his death in 2000...

Newt's not Bill Clinton Yeah, I'm just watching CNN a few minutes ago and seein' one of those goodie or newtie or whatever you call 'em ads and he's taking credit for going toe-to-toe with Bill Clinton, balancing the budget, making all the country solvent and all that stuff. ...

By FRANK CAMPA Mo. Dept. of Conservation Each spring and fall, activities seem to pick up in number exponentially the closer we get to the opening of hunting seasons. This year is no different. So, I always try to write at least one article that pertains to upcoming events so folks can cut it out and put it on their refrigerator...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor PUXICO, Mo. -- Months after its originally planned opening, work continues on a new visitor center at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge north of Puxico. The nearly 11,000-square-foot, single-story facility, funded through a $4.2 million grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, was expected to open sometime last fall after ground was broken in April of 2010...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor The Heartland Gobblers chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will host its 19th annual banquet and auction on March 10 at the Brown-Mabry American Legion Post 153 on Kanell Boulevard in Poplar Bluff, Mo. All sportsmen and women, conservationists and others are invited to attend, said Chapter President Chuck Stewart...

Three weeks before the midway point of the 2012 Legislative Session, I am proud to report the Senate has advanced the three priority bills I outlined in my opening day speech to help improve Missouri's business climate. I appreciate my colleagues swift work that culminated with the Senate now passing and sending all three measures to the Missouri House for similar consideration...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS If one manages to graduate from high school without the rudiments of algebra, geometry and trigonometry, there are certain relatively high-paying careers probably off-limits for life -- such as careers in architecture, chemistry, computer programming, engineering, medicine and certain technical fields. ...

You know I really don't like February because it's always kind of rainy and cold. Well according to the University of Delaware, February is the month to save money. In fact the week of February 19-26 has been set aside to remind people that it's a great time to think about ways to save a few more dollars. There are lots of ways to find money to save and some simple actions that can help you save more and spend less. Consider trying a few of these ideas:...

Esther Frazier GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Esther M. Frazier, 83, of Greenville, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012. Visitation well begin at 5 p.m. at Ruegg Funeral Home, Greenville. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Greenville Cemetery. A full obituary will follow in tomorrow's paper...

Bob Ogden NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Robert "Bob" Ogden, 56, of Corning, Ark., died Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Ogden was born March 13, 1955, in McComb, Ill. He was a farmer and enjoyed fishing, camping, farming, singing, going to church and his grandchildren...

Margaret Blue MALDEN, Mo. -- Margaret Lee Blue, 68, of Holcomb, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, at her son's residence in Dyersburg, Tenn. Mrs. Blue was born March 31, 1943, in Spring Valley, Ala. She attended New Hope General Baptist Church. On July 20, 1961, she was married to Larry Wayne Blue in Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. He preceded her in death on May 14, 1983...

Take Off Pounds Sensibly--TOPS MO 734 -- met at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15. Linda Morgan, leader, called the meeting together with 26 TOPS and four KOPS members present. The secretary's report read by Lou Ann Wrather was approved. Helen Rollins, TOPS, and Jada Joyner, KOPS, were the best losers...

Qulin Fire Protection District will hold their 1st Annual Chili Cook-Off from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 26 at the Lions' Club Building in Qulin, Mo. Admission $10, adults, $5, children -- 8 and under. All old tickets will be honored. Come eat and vote for your favorite chili...

The Northside Nutrition center will have fish fry on Friday, Feb. 24. Acy Green will entertain from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The menu will consist of catfish or sloppy Joe, French fries, baked beans, coleslaw and cornbread.

An awards ceremony was held recently at the Poplar Bluff Boys and Girls Club for the participants of the Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl National Poster Contest. The contest is done in partnership with the National Federated Garden Clubs and the US Forest Service. This year the Poplar Bluff Garden Club worked with the Boys and Girls Club and received lots of support from this group...

New St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is already making an impact with local coaches. Matheny, along with assistant hitting coach John Mabry, hosted a coaching clinic that focused on character building and changing the culture of youth baseball earlier this month at Westminster Christian Academy near St. Louis...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The Three Rivers Raiders had Arkansas Baptist down but couldn't finish the job Wednesday. The Raiders led by double digits in the second half but let up down the stretch as the Buffaloes got the comeback win, 78-70. It was the program's first-ever loss to Arkansas Baptist after netting nine straight wins to begin the series that started in the 2006-07 season...

JACKSON -- Trailing by seven points early in the fourth quarter Wednesday night, Kendric McCain provided the spark to rally the Poplar Bluff Mules. McCain scored 14 fourth-quarter points and had four steals over the final 5 minutes as the Mules surged past Jackson 59-51 in the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 semifinal...

Bob Ogden -- Corning, Ark. Margaret Blue -- Holcomb, Mo. Esther Frazier -- Greenville, Mo.

The Women's Citizenship Club met at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 1, in the Altrusa Room at Twin Towers. President Emalee Rhodes called the meeting to order. Prayer was led by Laverne Matthews. After lunch, Cathy Plunkett introduced guest speakers: Bob and Elaine Harrell, who spoke on "55 Alive Driving Introduction." A class will be held from noon - 4 p.m., Friday, Feb. ...

The Auxiliary of Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center recently awarded $14,833 in Scholarship Reimbursement Tuition for the Fall 2011 semester to the following individuals: Brian Bates, Leona Bergen-RN, Rachael Brodell, Jason Evans, Ryan Fowler, Kim Jinkerson, RN, Christopher Killian, Sonya Parr, Carrie Shepard, Brenda Sparkman- RN, Alexandra Thomas, Betty Weaver-RN, and Jamie Wilburn...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The Three Rivers Lady Raiders can't seem to shake their latest funk or stay healthy. Three Rivers tied the game early in the second half before faltering late in a 73-62 loss at Arkansas Baptist. The Lady Raiders have now lost five straight games...

The Missouri Star Quilters met Feb. 9 and the meeting was called to order by President Teresa Rueck. The minutes were approved as published. No treasurer report was given as Tess Butler was absent with family illness. The committee reports include:...

Raul, Sergio and David Gutierrez, owners of DEACERO, S.A. de C.V., and David and Doug Libla, co-owners of Mid Continent Nail Corporation, announce the acquistion of Libla Industries, Inc., by DEACERO USA, Inc. effective Feb. 23. Libla Industries, Inc. does business as Mid Continent Nail Corporation...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS If one manages to graduate from high school without the rudiments of algebra, geometry and trigonometry, there are certain relatively high-paying careers probably off-limits for life -- such as careers in architecture, chemistry, computer programming, engineering, medicine and certain technical fields. ...