Stories from Sunday, March 25, 2012

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor With fuel prices on the rise and the unstable economy, the Poplar Bluff Police Department is encouraging local businesses and residents to consider upgrading their security systems to better protect themselves...

Linda Cohn, longtime anchor for ESPN's "SportsCenter," will deliver the commencement address at the 2012 graduation ceremonies for Three Rivers College, the college announced Thursday in a press release. "I want the college and its students to be affiliated with impactful personalities," said college president Dr. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Seven bids were opened Friday for the construction of the folded diamond interchange at Bypass 67 and Oak Grove Road. The interchange will improve access to the seven-story Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, which is under construction on the south side of Oak Grove Road, the proposed Eight Points Commercial Development being planned on the north side of Oak Grove Road and to the schools on the west side of Bypass 67...

By KASIE HUNT Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Vice President Dick Cheney had a heart transplant Saturday and is recovering at a Virginia hospital, his office said. An aide to Cheney disclosed that the 71-year-old, who has had a long history of cardiovascular trouble including numerous heart attacks, had been waiting for a transplant for more than 20 months...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Penny McGath is the new executive director of Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc. "I'm really excited and very humbled to be selected out of 30 some applicants," McGath said Friday. "I will be jumping in with both feet when I start on April 11."...

Underline Studios owner Dalton "Doc" O'Conner began learning the business in 2006, while still a high school student. After graduation in 2009, he officially opened his business on the northeast end of Poplar Bluff. A musician himself, O'Conner says he started his business because he saw a need in the area...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Penny McGath is the new executive director of Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc. "I'm really excited and very humbled to be selected out of 30 some applicants," McGath said Friday. "I will be jumping in with both feet when I start on April 11."...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor With fuel prices on the rise and the unstable economy, the Poplar Bluff Police Department is encouraging local businesses and residents to consider upgrading their security systems to better protect themselves...

Twin Rivers-Fisk has released its honor and merit rolls for the third quarter. Honor Roll 5th Grade: Breanna Foulk, Sarah Inman, Bobby Long, Bailey Moore, Carlee Pruett, Morgan Tyler, Jentri Worley, Joseph Wright 6th Grade: Shaina Chaffin, Cassi Cochran, Sarah Conner, Olivia Douglas, Hannah Finley, Catey Hester, Kaitlyn Kelley, Hannah Phillips, Besse Sanchez, Kyle Stewart, Chelsie Thornton, Hannah Thurmon, Jasmine Ward, Kayleigh Wilkerson, Sarah Wright, Britni Wyrick...

The Women's Citizenship Club held a meeting at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 7 in the Altrusa Room at Twin Towers. President Emily Rhodes called the meeting to order; prayer was led by LaVerne Matthews. After lunch, Cathy Plunkett introduced guest speaker, Officer Greg Brainard, who has been involved in police work for 23 years. He talked about senior scams, illustrating various crimes by citing ones occurring in Poplar Bluff. He also discussed fraud and financial exploitation...

By OLIVER NORTH WASHINGTON -- Nine years ago this week, President George W. Bush ordered more than 250,000 troops in a U.S.-led coalition to cross the "berm" on the border of Kuwait and head into Iraq. Weeks later, Saddam Hussein's brutal regime was finished, and the despot was in hiding. ...

Training vs. good ole boy Yeah. Of the four candidates running for sheriff, two of them have no law enforcement training. For an office as important to the community as sheriff, we need a professional law enforcement trained officer not some good ole boy that thinks it would just be fun to be sheriff. Thank you...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- On Monday the Supreme Court begins three days of oral arguments concerning possible -- actually, probable and various -- constitutional infirmities in Obamacare. The justices have received many amicus briefs, one of which merits special attention because of the elegant scholarship and logic with which it addresses an issue that has not been as central to the debate as it should be...

To the Editor: Our recent Lions Club TV Auction was a resounding success. Thanks to the merchants of our town we had lots of quality items to auction during the seven house we were on the air. A special thanks goes to our corporate sponsors: Hefner's Furniture and Appliance, Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, Sterling Bank, Baldwin Chevrolet, Black River Medical Center, Southern Bank, Black River Health Care Inc...

PHOTO AVAILABLE Darren and Lucinda LaBine of Broseley, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Julia AnnMarie LaBine, also of Broseley, to Robert Dale Henson of Poplar Bluff, Mo. Henson is the son of Dale and Connie Henson of Patterson, Mo. The bride-to-be is a 2009 graduate of Twin Rivers High School and is currently attending Three Rivers College studying business administration...

Casey Elizabeth Acre and Jerry Don Wills, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo., were married Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at Grace Christian Fellowship Church in Poplar Bluff. Rev. Brian Sharp officiated at the double-ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Larry Acre, Jr., of Benton, Mo., and Emily Smith of Poplar Bluff...

Robert and Darla Twidwell of Greenville, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Chelci Twidwell, also of Greenville, to Chad Hutson of Benton, Mo. The bridegroom-to-be is the son of Stephen Hutson of Marble Hill, Mo., and Cheryl Montgomery of Benton...

Bonnie Curd PUXICO, Mo. -- Bonnie D. Curd, 82, of Puxico, Mo., died Saturday, March 24, 2012, at the home of her daughter, Terresa Isaac in Puxico. Funeral arrangements are pending with Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico.

Orval Deweese MALDEN, Mo. -- Orval Henry Deweese, 80, of Gideon, Mo., died Friday, March 23, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Deweese was born March 28, 1931, at Philadelphia, Miss. He was a member and deacon of First Baptist Church in Gideon. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and was a teacher and principal for 34 years before retiring. He held a Masters degree as a Specialist in Education from Mississippi State University...

Jeanette Ream PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Eleanor Jeanette Ream, 83, of Piedmont, Mo., died Friday, March 23, 2012, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center in Piedmont. Mrs. Ream was born Oct. 17, 1928, to the late John Lacy Bunyard and to the late Lucille (Melton) Bunyard, in Arcadia, MO. ...

The Qulin Lion Club will serve Sunday Dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, April 1. The meal will include barbecue chicken, baked beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, green beans, coleslaw, drink and dessert. The cost of the meal is $8 for adults and $5 for children...

Adele de Rullan SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Evelyn Adele (Bauer) de Rullan, 72, of Santa Monica, Calif., died Sunday, March 18, 2012, at the Santa Monica UCLA Hospital in Santa Monica, Calif., after a lengthy illness. Ms. Rullan was born Sept. 21, 1939, to Loren and Rosalie Bauer in West Plains, Mo. She was a graduate of Sacred Heart Elementary School in Poplar Bluff, Mo.; the 1957 class of Poplar Bluff Senior High School; and Miss Hickey's Business School in St. Louis, Mo...

Keith Turner NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Keith O'Neil Turner, 43, of Harviell, Mo., died Wednesday, March 21, 2012, at Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Turner was born Jan. 28, 1969, in Poplar Bluff and was a lifelong resident of Butler County. He was of the Baptist faith...

Paul Hess Paul F. Hess, 73, of Poplar Bluff, MO., died Friday, March 23, 2012, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Hess was born Aug. 10, 1938, in St. Joseph Mo. As a young child he moved to Joplin, Mo., where he attended St. Peters Grade School before moving to Kansas City to begin preparation for the seminary by attending St. John's High School. He attended Cardinal Glennon College in St. Louis until 1961 when he entered the U.S. Army...

Wilber Winchester Wilbur V. Winchester, 90, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, March 22, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Winchester was born June 13, 1921, in Advance, Mo. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Poplar Bluff and had retired as regional manager for Singer Sewing Machine Co...

Thrust into the ace role for the Poplar Bluff baseball team, sophomore Wesly Pyles answered the call. The lefty stuck out eight and allowed two hits in four shutout innings Friday as the Mules beat Clearwater 12-0 in five innings at Strenfel Memorial Field...

The Three Rivers Raiders were never out of either game Saturday afternoon at Roger Pattillo Field but took two more tallies in the loss column. The Raiders were held to two hits in a 2-0 loss to start the day against the Crowder Roughriders and then blew two leads in the second game for an 8-7 loss...

MALDEN -- Michael Snider's bat, arm and glove all played huge parts Friday afternoon in Twin Rivers' revenge over Malden. The junior shut out the Green Wave on the hill, made two key defensive plays and broke open the scoreboard with an RBI triple as the Royals beat Malden 2-0 to pay back last spring's district 1 championship loss to the Green Wave...

PHOTO AVAILABLE Darren and Lucinda LaBine of Broseley, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Julia AnnMarie LaBine, also of Broseley, to Robert Dale Henson of Poplar Bluff, Mo. Henson is the son of Dale and Connie Henson of Patterson, Mo. The bride-to-be is a 2009 graduate of Twin Rivers High School and is currently attending Three Rivers College studying business administration...

Casey Elizabeth Acre and Jerry Don Wills, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo., were married Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at Grace Christian Fellowship Church in Poplar Bluff. Rev. Brian Sharp officiated at the double-ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Larry Acre, Jr., of Benton, Mo., and Emily Smith of Poplar Bluff...

Orval Deweese MALDEN, Mo. -- Orval Henry Deweese, 80, of Gideon, Mo., died Friday, March 23, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Deweese was born March 28, 1931, at Philadelphia, Miss. He was a member and deacon of First Baptist Church in Gideon. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and was a teacher and principal for 34 years before retiring. He held a Masters degree as a Specialist in Education from Mississippi State University...

The Qulin Lion Club will serve Sunday Dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, April 1. The meal will include barbecue chicken, baked beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, green beans, coleslaw, drink and dessert. The cost of the meal is $8 for adults and $5 for children...

Thrust into the ace role for the Poplar Bluff baseball team, sophomore Wesly Pyles answered the call. The lefty stuck out eight and allowed two hits in four shutout innings Friday as the Mules beat Clearwater 12-0 in five innings at Strenfel Memorial Field...