Stories from Sunday, March 4, 2012

Rep. Kent Hampton announces he is seeking re-election for state representative in the new 150th District. Hampton, a native of Malden, Mo., currently represents the 163rd District in the Missouri House of Representatives and, barring a primary opponent, will be seeking reelection in the Nov. 6 general election...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor With nearly 20 years of law enforcement experience, including two terms as sheriff, Mark Dobbs again is asking the citizens of Butler County to vote him back into office one more time. Dobbs filed Friday for sheriff in the upcoming Republican primary. He is seeking a third four-year term and will be challenged in the primary by Ed Strenfel, who is the county's presiding commissioner...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor CORNING, Ark. -- Five contests will be decided in the May 22 primary election in Clay County, Ark. Thursday was the final day for filing in Clay County. Sheriff Gerald McClung of Rector, Ark., is being challenged by former sheriff Ronnie Cole of Piggott, Ark...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A local woman keeps traditional farm living alive by cooking on a nearly 100-year-old wood cook stove. Mary Pennington, 75, says she and her husband Earl, 80, bought the stove more than 25 years ago from a PB Auto Parts estate sale. Pennington grew up cooking on a wood stove and already owned one. However, the one they purchased from the estate sale was in better condition with green and cream trim...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer SDLqThe chemo will not bethe death of me," 35-year-old Bernie, Mo.,resident Becky Dennington wrote in the fall of 2010, shortly after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. "But in a sense, I feel like that first drop of chemo is going to mark the endof THIS Beck. This blonde-haired, healthy, goofy, giddy Beck."...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Keeping their children safe is the utmost concern of all parents; however, according to statistics, nearly 2,000 children are reported missing or abducted each day in the United States. How many parents have the information law enforcement needs to conduct a viable search? Imagine having to gather that information under the most stressful circumstances in your life. ...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Agriculture is big business and the success of area farmers affects the entire community. Agriculture is a business, whose owners' success means there is food on area tables and clothes to wear. Farmers also play a role in producing medicines, books, ink, plastics and almost everything one uses...

EDITOR'S NOTE: Michael Lance has a unique outlook on the farmers and bankers relationship. He is a third generation Butler County farmer, who developed an interest in the world of finance when he was in college and is a loan officer at First Missouri State Bank...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Lee and Denise Lewis and their children, Kylee and Carter, of Fisk, Mo., were selected as the 2011 Butler County, Mo., Fair Farm Family by the Butler County University of Missouri Extension Council and local Farm Bureau. ...

By RAY MASSEY and ANN ULMER Agricultural Economics Extension Crop insurance offers producers a way to manage risk associated with commodity production and prices. Crop insurance can decrease the production risk associated with weather, pests and insects and the price risk associated with fluctuating markets. ...

Kids' will benefit I'm calling Speak Out about the article in here, "Who Will Benefit from the Twin Rivers Building a New Middle School? The kids now will benefit, and also the kids in the future will benefit to try to pull all the kids a little closer together. ...

PHOTO AVAILABLE Clyde Sterling Harwell of Poplar Bluff, Mo., celebrated his 90th birthday on Saturday, Feb. 18 at Temple Baptist Church Annex. Harwell was born Feb. 17, 1922 in Hendrickson, Mo. He served in the U. S. Army during World War II. He is a retired, self-employed plumber. Harwell spent some years in Arizona,working as a plumber in addition to the years he worked his trade in Poplar Bluff...

Melinda and Paul Phillips of Springfield, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Jessica Lann Pruitt of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Christopher Lynn Teague, also of Poplar Bluff. The bridegroom-elect is the son of Sherley Teague of Fisk, Mo., and the late Roger Teague...

Mark and Joy Waddell of Ballwin, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Gretchen LeeAnn Waddell, also of Ballwin to Brian Witte Barwick of St. Louis, Mo. The bridegroom-elect is the son of Brad and Syreda Barwick of Poplar Bluff, Mo. The bride-elect is a 2004 graduate of Parkway West High School in St. ...

Bernard, Jr. and Eva Baltz of Poplar Bluff, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter Maria Elizabeth Baltz of Fayetteville, Ark., to Joseph Raymond Pohlman of Oklahoma City, Okla. The bridegroom-to-be is the son of James and Mary Pohlman of Memphis, Tenn...

Jerry Parks BATESVILLE, Ark. -- Jerry Thomas Parks, 69, of Sulphur Rock, Ark., died Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, in a local hospital. He was born Sept., 22, 1942 in Dudley, Mo. Survivors include his wife, Linda Parks of the home; two sons, Jerry Lee Parks of Texas and John Thomas Parks of Batesville, Ark.; a daughter, Erin Parks Walters of Sulphur Rock; a brother, Darrol Parks of Michigan; and several nieces and nephews; three grandchildren: and one great-grandchild...

Betty Wallace PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Betty Wallace, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday March 2, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. A visitation will begin at 1:30 p.m. Monday followed by the funeral service at 2:30 p.m. in Ruegg Funeral Home chapel in Piedmont, Mo...

Mary Burton Mary E. Burton, 66, a longtime resident of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, March 2, 2012, at her residence after a brief fight with cancer. Mrs. Burton was born July 15, 1945, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was a homemaker and she enjoyed painting, quilting, cooking, baking, sewing, and gardening...

DONIPHAN, MO. -- Charlie LeRoy Ezell, 56, lifelong resident of Doniphan, Mo., died Thursday, March 1, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Ezell, son of LeRoy and Mary Sue (Davis) Ezell, was born Aug. 17, 1955, in Fairdealing, Mo. He was a carpenter, insurance adjustor, and an assistant manager of NAPA Auto Parts. He was an avid member of the NRA and was of the General Baptist faith. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and telling funny stories...

Ralph Paul Ward Ralph Paul Ward, 73, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., gently passed away with his family by his side on Thursday, March 1, 2012 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He joined his beloved mother just 15 days after she went home to be with the Lord. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday March 4, 2012, at Fowler-Sullivan Chapel in Poplar Bluff...

Wilma Ball VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Wilma Bedell Ball, 95, of Van Buren, Mo., died Friday, March 2, 2012, in Riverways Manor Nursing Home in Van Buren. The daughter of Ura Vincent and Beulah (Short) Buffington, she was born Jan. 5, 1917, in Great Falls, Mont...

Regina Jones Regina J. (Fox) Jones, 91, of Flint, Mich., formerly of Fredericktown, Mo., died Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, at The Maple Place in Flint. Mrs. Jones was born March 19, 1921, in Chicago, Ill. She was a special education teacher for many years and had retired in Alton, Ill. Mrs. Jones was a lifelong member of the Methodist faith, and had been active in the Methodist Church while living in Fredericktown, Mo...

Arvel Braschler DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Arvel William Braschler, 88, a retired farmer of the Pratt Community, died Friday March 2, 2012 in Ripley County Memorial Hospital, only three weeks before his 89th birthday. Mr. Braschler was born on March 23, 1923, to parents John and Minnie (Boxx) Braschler. ...

Lola LeGrand WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. -- Lola F. LeGrand, 84, of Waterloo, Ill., formerly of Ellsinore, Mo., died March 1, 2012, in Waterloo, Ill., Mrs. LeGrand was born Sept. 10, 1927, to the late Earl Eaton and the late Lettie (Maricle) Eaton, in Rector, Ark. She was a past member of the Williamsville First Baptist Church and later, the Valmeyer First Baptist Church. She was a very good singer and enjoyed playing the piano...

Gaylord Harvey Jr. VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Gaylord Lenn Harvey Jr., 50, of Doniphan, Mo., died Friday, March 2, 2012, in Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Harvey was born Oct. 6, 1961, in the U.S. Naval Hospital in Key West, Fla. He had lived in Doniphan, Mo., for the past year and was formerly of Corpus Christi, Texas. He was owner of Harv's Home Repair and Remodeling and was proud of his business. He was a NASCAR fan and loved to watch sports...

By SHARON RANDALL Scripps Howard News Service He's studying the image in the camera's viewfinder (that's been turned to face him), trying to make sense of what he sees. Suddenly, he gets it: It's him! A smile crinkles the corners of his mouth and lights a spark in his eyes. Shaking his head, he hoots, "Woo-ooo!"...

"The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. The next and most urgent counsel is to take stock of reality." -- William F. Buckley Sept. 11, 1964 WASHINGTON -- On that evening 48 years ago -- it was still summer, early in the presidential campaign -- Buckley, whose National Review magazine had given vital assistance to Barry Goldwater's improbable capture of the Republican nomination, addressed the national convention of the conservative Young Americans for Freedom. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A proposed permanent fix for Highway T at Lake Wappapello will be discussed during an information meeting from 4-6 p.m. Monday at the Bill Emerson Memorial Visitor Center. The Missouri Department of Transportation is considering construction of a channel crossing road which would be higher and wider than the current bypass road, but built along a similar path just south of the bypass. MoDOT reports the new road will accommodate large vehicles, trucks and trailers...

BLOOMFIELD -- After a tough loss to swallow in the final week of the regular season, the Doniphan Donettes changed their attitudes and decided to just have fun and see what happens. In the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 tournament, the fifth-seeded Donettes had fun knocking off two higher seeds, including top-seeded Kennett, on their way to the championship game...

FARMINGTON -- There's always next year. That isn't typically a statement made when a high school basketball team's season ends, but it's a fact for the Dexter Lady Bearcats. The senior-less Lady Bearcats went a step farther in the MSHSAA Class 4 playoffs by reaching the quarterfinals but came up short in their quest as they lost to Miller Career Academy 51-34 Saturday night at Farmington Civic Center...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor The benefits of peanuts in the diet have long been known around the world. Today, farmers in Southeast Missouri and northeast Arkansas are learning the legume can be of benefit to them and will easily fit into their crop rotations...

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa -- The Three Rivers Lady Raiders had their regular season come to a disappointing end Saturday. Three Rivers was down 23 at halftime before losing at Iowa Western, 90-51. Abbie Warren was the leading scorer for Three Rivers with 12 points while Tazonda Gibbs had 11 and Tara Porter finished with eight...

From Staff Reports First Community Insurance Group has locations at 2911 N. Westwood Blvd. and 2340 S. Broadway, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and also has an insurance representative located in the First Community Bank locations in Malden, and Cape Girardeau. Being located in farming communities and serving farmers with their needs has been an important part of the First Community Insurance Group heritage...

From Staff Reports Farm Bureau Insurance was originally created to fill a need - to provide insurance coverages to farmers and other rural residents of Missouri, said agent James Chad Parker in Poplar Bluff. The membership and leaders of Missouri Farm Bureau recognized the opportunity that they could create companies that would provide insurance coverage to benefit this important group of people...

By SAM ATWELL University Extension I'm starting this article by expanding on information from last year. Now is the time to address bad spots in your rice fields from 2011. There is no better time to address 2011 problems than after harvest while it's still on your mind. ...

By SARAH R. DENKLER University Extension When considering commercial agriculture production in Southeast Missouri blueberries may not come to mind but it is one of the many specialty crops grown in Missouri that have seen a rise in popularity due to the high content of healthy antioxidants. ...

EDITOR'S NOTE: Michael Lance has a unique outlook on the farmers and bankers relationship. He is a third generation Butler County farmer, who developed an interest in the world of finance when he was in college and is a loan officer at First Missouri State Bank...

Kids' will benefit I'm calling Speak Out about the article in here, "Who Will Benefit from the Twin Rivers Building a New Middle School? The kids now will benefit, and also the kids in the future will benefit to try to pull all the kids a little closer together. ...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Lee and Denise Lewis and their children, Kylee and Carter, of Fisk, Mo., were selected as the 2011 Butler County, Mo., Fair Farm Family by the Butler County University of Missouri Extension Council and local Farm Bureau. ...

By RAY MASSEY and ANN ULMER Agricultural Economics Extension Crop insurance offers producers a way to manage risk associated with commodity production and prices. Crop insurance can decrease the production risk associated with weather, pests and insects and the price risk associated with fluctuating markets. ...

Jerry Parks BATESVILLE, Ark. -- Jerry Thomas Parks, 69, of Sulphur Rock, Ark., died Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, in a local hospital. He was born Sept., 22, 1942 in Dudley, Mo. Survivors include his wife, Linda Parks of the home; two sons, Jerry Lee Parks of Texas and John Thomas Parks of Batesville, Ark.; a daughter, Erin Parks Walters of Sulphur Rock; a brother, Darrol Parks of Michigan; and several nieces and nephews; three grandchildren: and one great-grandchild...

Bernard, Jr. and Eva Baltz of Poplar Bluff, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter Maria Elizabeth Baltz of Fayetteville, Ark., to Joseph Raymond Pohlman of Oklahoma City, Okla. The bridegroom-to-be is the son of James and Mary Pohlman of Memphis, Tenn...

PHOTO AVAILABLE Clyde Sterling Harwell of Poplar Bluff, Mo., celebrated his 90th birthday on Saturday, Feb. 18 at Temple Baptist Church Annex. Harwell was born Feb. 17, 1922 in Hendrickson, Mo. He served in the U. S. Army during World War II. He is a retired, self-employed plumber. Harwell spent some years in Arizona,working as a plumber in addition to the years he worked his trade in Poplar Bluff...

Betty Wallace PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Betty Wallace, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday March 2, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. A visitation will begin at 1:30 p.m. Monday followed by the funeral service at 2:30 p.m. in Ruegg Funeral Home chapel in Piedmont, Mo...

Regina Jones Regina J. (Fox) Jones, 91, of Flint, Mich., formerly of Fredericktown, Mo., died Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, at The Maple Place in Flint. Mrs. Jones was born March 19, 1921, in Chicago, Ill. She was a special education teacher for many years and had retired in Alton, Ill. Mrs. Jones was a lifelong member of the Methodist faith, and had been active in the Methodist Church while living in Fredericktown, Mo...

Ralph Paul Ward Ralph Paul Ward, 73, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., gently passed away with his family by his side on Thursday, March 1, 2012 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He joined his beloved mother just 15 days after she went home to be with the Lord. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday March 4, 2012, at Fowler-Sullivan Chapel in Poplar Bluff...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Thelma Allen, 78, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Piedmont, Mo., died on March 2, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, Poplar Bluff, MO. Mrs. Allen was born Feb. 25, 1934, to the late Charles Henderson and the late Floy (Allen) Henderson, in Patterson, Mo. She was raised in the Lake Creek Community...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Thelma Allen, 78, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Piedmont, Mo., died on March 2, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, Poplar Bluff, MO. Mrs. Allen was born Feb. 25, 1934, to the late Charles Henderson and the late Floy (Allen) Henderson, in Patterson, Mo. She was raised in the Lake Creek Community...