Stories from Sunday, February 26, 2012

By DAVID SILVERBERG Asssociate Editor Ann Smith of Poplar Bluff, Mo., who is the Head Start Program director with the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency in Winona, Mo., is the Butler County Community Resource Council 2011 Person of the Year...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Butler County is back in Missouri Senate District 25, according to the tentative Senate redistricting map approved early Thursday in Jefferson City. Doug Libla, who is one of the two announced Republican candidates in District 25, started out campaigning in the seven counties that had comprised District 25 for the past 10 years. Then, a new map came out placing him in District 33, which had nine counties and included the West Plains area...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- An investigation into a pack of cigarettes being passed to a Stoddard County Jail trusty led to three area residents being charged Friday with drug-related offenses. Matthew A. Taylor, 28, of Batesville, Ark., was charged with the Class D felony of delivering an imitation controlled substance by Stoddard County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Rehmer...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor An engineer by trade, Gary Gaines wanted to broaden his perspective when he joined the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, an agency where he has spent more than two decades overseeing the state's environmental resources...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Magnum Chili Masters from the Mid Continent Steel and Wire plant captured first place among 29 entrants in the chili cook off at the Black River Coliseum Saturday. "We are thrilled and shocked," said Leann Jones, whose recipe was determined by the judges to be the best. "This was our first year in the chili cook off."...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Asssociate Editor Ann Smith of Poplar Bluff, Mo., who is the Head Start Program director with the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency in Winona, Mo., is the Butler County Community Resource Council 2011 Person of the Year...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Butler County is back in Missouri Senate District 25, according to the tentative Senate redistricting map approved early Thursday in Jefferson City. Doug Libla, who is one of the two announced Republican candidates in District 25, started out campaigning in the seven counties that had comprised District 25 for the past 10 years. Then, a new map came out placing him in District 33, which had nine counties and included the West Plains area...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- An investigation into a pack of cigarettes being passed to a Stoddard County Jail trusty led to three area residents being charged Friday with drug-related offenses. Matthew A. Taylor, 28, of Batesville, Ark., was charged with the Class D felony of delivering an imitation controlled substance by Stoddard County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Rehmer...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Magnum Chili Masters from the Mid Continent Steel and Wire plant captured first place among 29 entrants in the chili cook off at the Black River Coliseum Saturday. "We are thrilled and shocked," said Leann Jones, whose recipe was determined by the judges to be the best. "This was our first year in the chili cook off."...

By BILL O'REILLY If you watched the movie "The Exorcist," you know that the Catholic Church believes there is an active evil in the world that at times must be confronted. Thus, the Church trains certain priests to perform rites that expel evil from troubled human beings. Exorcisms are rare, but they happen...

Officials can't play marbles Yeah, I watch the news -- Fox News. I watch CNBC, CNN. I watch all this junk that we're watching. I just want to know one question. If you're here illegal, how do you receive legal stuff? I mean legal benefits. To me when I went to school the word illegal was illegal. You wasn't allowed anything. If you done something wrong, you went to the corner or you got your butt busted. So, how are these people getting this legal stuff? That's what I want to say...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The Midwest begins on the western slopes of the Allegheny Mountains, around Rick Santorum's Pittsburgh, birthplace of the Ohio River, the original highway into the Midwest. Pittsburgh fueled the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794, an early eruption of Western resentment of the overbearing East, which taxed the whiskey that Westerners made from their grain. ...

By BETSY HART Scripps Howard News Service I've retold some stories of infidelity in this space: Namely, there's Casey, a woman involved with a married man whose affair ended when, after his divorce, he cheated on her. Then there's the unrelated story of "Denise," whose marriage is in the process of healing from an affair that her husband had...

Three River College has released the Fall 2011 Dean's List. Students who were enrolled in 12 or more semester hours and who earned an average GPA of 3.5 or better are named to the Dean's list. Area students are listed below in alphabetical order by city:...

Marion and Frances Winters of Poplar Bluff, Mo., will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary from 1 - 3 p.m., Saturday, March 3, 2012, at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1600 S. 11th St., Poplar Bluff. All family and friends are invited to drop by and wish them well...

Mr. and Mrs. Wallace M. Kellams announce the engagement of their daughter, Lauren Elizabeth Kellams to Aaron Jacob Bidewell, all of Portageville, Mo. The bridegroom-to-be is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Bidewell, also of Portageville Both the bride-to-be and the bridegroom-to-be are graduates of Portageville High School. She is currently a student at the University of Missouri School of Pharmacy while is he employed by the South Pemiscot School District as a teacher and head basketball coach...

The Puxico PTO Spring Pageant, which is open to everyone, will be held Saturday, March 3. Early registration is $20 for the first entry; a sibling entry will be $10 for each additional entry. Photogenic is optional and is $5. Deadline for early registration is Feb. ...

O'Neal Elementary School has released the names of students on the second quarter A & B Honor Rolls. A Honor Roll Second Grade--Adison Asher, Britney Bascom, Kaitlyn Bradford, Kaleigh Bradford, Lunden Bruce, Zhoe Bumpus, Kannon Carr, James Conley-Halliburton, Kerrigan Conley-Halliburton, Mason Cook, Morgan Courtney, Mackie Decker, Collin Glick, Dawson Greenwall, Alonna Haley, Lehman Hedrick, Allison Hicks, Macilyn Hillis, Colin Jackson, Jayce Jay, Jacob Joseph, Olivia Kirkman, Addison Kirkman, Elizabeth Ledbetter, Morgan Logsdon, Macey Lutey, Dani Mahurin, Makenzie Mahy, Ian Martinez, Logan Massey, Kylyn Maxwell, Skye McCluskey, Salah McCormack, Rusty McFann, Amelia Mirza, Kinsey Parkey, Rena Payne, Christian Pritchett, Lexy Rowland, Riley Slater, Noah Scott, Rhylee Sprague, Myles Stark, Tate Taylor, Gatlin Taylor, Taylor Tinsley, Jada Vaughn, Jordan Vinyard, Max Wangler, Darian Webb, Davis White, Natalie Whitehead, Braedon Williams and Izabella Young.. ...

Edward Pirc will celebrate his 90th birthday on March 3, 2012. Born and raised in Neelyville, he has remained in the community as a lifelong resident and farmer. Friends and neighbors are invited to join Mr. Pirc and his family for an open house at the Neelyville Nutrition Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 3. No gifts please...

Ruth Wood DEXTER, Mo. -- Ruth Wood, 86, of Dexter, Mo., died Friday, Feb. 24, 2012, at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter. Funeral arrangements are pending with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Charles Cantrell DEXTER, Mo. -- Charles Cantrell, 56, of Dexter, Mo., died Friday, Feb. 24, 2012, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Cantrell was born on Jan. 14, 1956, in Conran, Mo. He was a veteran of the United States Marines Corps...

Forrest Sullivan PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Forrest A. Sullivan, 84, of Piedmont, Mo., died Friday, Feb. 24, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Sullivan was born June 6, 1927, in Wayne County, Mo. He graduated from Greenville High School and enlisted in the U.S. ...

Brittney Henson LESTERVILLE, Mo., -- Brittney Candis "Candie" Henson, 24, of St. Ann, Mo., died Friday, Feb. 24, 2012, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. She was born Sept. 8, 1987, in Farmington, Mo. She attended Black River Baptist Church...

CORNING, Ark. -- A contest has developed in the May 22 primary election for the Democratic nomination for sheriff/collector in Clay County, Ark. Sheriff Gerald McClung of Rector filed Friday to seek re-election to his third two-year term. He is being challenged by former sheriff Ronnie Cole of Piggott, who filed Thursday -- the first day for filing...

Richard Crouch Richard "Rocky" Crouch, 60, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012, at Jefferson City, Mo. Mr. Crouch was born Sept. 6, 1951 in Springfield, Mo. He attended Mizzou on a football scholarship until a knee injury ended his football career; he graduated from Drury College in 1973. ...

Dorothy Kearby Dorothy M. Kearbey, 96, a former resident and Poplar Bluff school teacher, died Thursday at Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan, Mo. Mrs. Kearbey was born July 9, 1915 in Carter County, Mo. She graduated from Ellsinore High School and received her Bachelor's degree in Education from Cape State College in 1951. ...

Ceclia Conner PUXICO, Mo. -- Ceclia Jackson Conner, 79, of Puxico, Mo., died Friday, Feb. 24, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mrs. Conner was born Aug. 21, 1932, at Jacksonville, Ill. She was a member of New Life Baptist Church, WMU and New Beginning Class in Wappapello...

SIKESTON - Dexter kept a tight lid on Notre Dame. They held the Lady Bulldogs to 32 percent shooting, their leading scorer to two points and under 40 points for the fifth time this season. The Lady Bearcats won their second straight MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 title on Friday night shrugging aside the Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs 62-38 at the Sikeston Field House...

Billy Ray Sanders Sr. DEXTER, Mo. -- Billy Ray Sanders, Sr., 62, of Dexter, Mo., died Friday, Feb. 24, 2012, at his home. Mr. Sanders was born on June 1, 1949 in Essex, Mo. He had lived in Essex and Dexter all his life. Mr. Sanders had worked in the sanitation department at Tyson Foods and was a member of the Lighthouse Christian Center in Dexter...

JACKSON -- The Poplar Bluff Lady Mules got behind Jackson again Friday night but this time they couldn't find their way out of the hole . The Lady Indians came out gunning in the second quarter of the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 title game and built a 10-point halftime lead before claiming it's first district crown since 2007 by a final score of 58-39...

BLOOMFIELD -- Playing without their leader in junior Tori Cole who was out with an ankle injury, the Twin Rivers Lady Royals filled in the gaps Saturday afternoon. The third-seeded Lady Royals scored the first 26 points of the game as they beat East Prairie in the first round of the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 tournament Saturday at Bloomfield High School, 56-27...

VAN BUREN -- The East Carter Redbirds outscored Puxico by six points in the second half but came short, 68-65, in the first round of the MSHSAA Class 2 District 2 tournament. Puxico (12-9) had a balanced night on offense with nine guys scoring. Nathan Martin had a team-high 14 points for the Indians. Corey Messer added 11 points while Zach Tucker had 10...

Returning to the Bess Activity Center for the first time in six games did little to stop the Lady Raiders' latest losing streak. The Lady Raiders trailed by five at halftime and for the duration of the second half before Crowder pulled away for the Region XVI win Saturday afternoon, 86-70...

BLOOMFIELD -- After losing to East Prairie on a buzzer beater early in the season at the Bernie Invitational, the Twin Rivers Royals made sure they took care of business early Saturday afternoon. The Royals jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter and cruised to a 70-48 win in the opening round of the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 tournament at Bloomfield High School...

ELLINGTON, Mo. -- Bobby "Bob" J. Love, 80, of Ellington died Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Love was born Aug. 10, 1931, in Memphis, Tenn. He was saved and baptized on Feb. 6, 2012. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served during the Korean Conflict...

Mr. and Mrs. Wallace M. Kellams announce the engagement of their daughter, Lauren Elizabeth Kellams to Aaron Jacob Bidewell, all of Portageville, Mo. The bridegroom-to-be is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Bidewell, also of Portageville Both the bride-to-be and the bridegroom-to-be are graduates of Portageville High School. She is currently a student at the University of Missouri School of Pharmacy while is he employed by the South Pemiscot School District as a teacher and head basketball coach...

Edward Pirc will celebrate his 90th birthday on March 3, 2012. Born and raised in Neelyville, he has remained in the community as a lifelong resident and farmer. Friends and neighbors are invited to join Mr. Pirc and his family for an open house at the Neelyville Nutrition Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 3. No gifts please...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The Midwest begins on the western slopes of the Allegheny Mountains, around Rick Santorum's Pittsburgh, birthplace of the Ohio River, the original highway into the Midwest. Pittsburgh fueled the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794, an early eruption of Western resentment of the overbearing East, which taxed the whiskey that Westerners made from their grain. ...

Billy Ray Sanders Sr. DEXTER, Mo. -- Billy Ray Sanders, Sr., 62, of Dexter, Mo., died Friday, Feb. 24, 2012, at his home. Mr. Sanders was born on June 1, 1949 in Essex, Mo. He had lived in Essex and Dexter all his life. Mr. Sanders had worked in the sanitation department at Tyson Foods and was a member of the Lighthouse Christian Center in Dexter...

Dorothy Kearby Dorothy M. Kearbey, 96, a former resident and Poplar Bluff school teacher, died Thursday at Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan, Mo. Mrs. Kearbey was born July 9, 1915 in Carter County, Mo. She graduated from Ellsinore High School and received her Bachelor's degree in Education from Cape State College in 1951. ...

Ceclia Conner PUXICO, Mo. -- Ceclia Jackson Conner, 79, of Puxico, Mo., died Friday, Feb. 24, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mrs. Conner was born Aug. 21, 1932, at Jacksonville, Ill. She was a member of New Life Baptist Church, WMU and New Beginning Class in Wappapello...

JACKSON -- The Poplar Bluff Lady Mules got behind Jackson again Friday night but this time they couldn't find their way out of the hole . The Lady Indians came out gunning in the second quarter of the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 title game and built a 10-point halftime lead before claiming it's first district crown since 2007 by a final score of 58-39...

BLOOMFIELD -- After losing to East Prairie on a buzzer beater early in the season at the Bernie Invitational, the Twin Rivers Royals made sure they took care of business early Saturday afternoon. The Royals jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter and cruised to a 70-48 win in the opening round of the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 tournament at Bloomfield High School...

BLOOMFIELD -- Playing without their leader in junior Tori Cole who was out with an ankle injury, the Twin Rivers Lady Royals filled in the gaps Saturday afternoon. The third-seeded Lady Royals scored the first 26 points of the game as they beat East Prairie in the first round of the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 tournament Saturday at Bloomfield High School, 56-27...

VAN BUREN -- The East Carter Redbirds outscored Puxico by six points in the second half but came short, 68-65, in the first round of the MSHSAA Class 2 District 2 tournament. Puxico (12-9) had a balanced night on offense with nine guys scoring. Nathan Martin had a team-high 14 points for the Indians. Corey Messer added 11 points while Zach Tucker had 10...