Stories from Monday, April 30, 2012

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Jury selection began this morning in Carter County in the trial of a Poplar Bluff, Mo., woman charged in connection with a 2009 boating accident on Current River that left two people dead and three others injured...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A semi accident on U.S. 67 south of the Black River bridge in northern Butler County caused a power outage for 1,700 Ozark Border Electric Cooperative customers at 2 p.m. Sunday. "The truck ran into a 65-foot pole, knocking out two feeder lines," Ozark Border's General Manager Stan Estes said...

By DAN K. THOMASSON Scripps Howard News Service Whatever the outcome of President Barack Obama's efforts to keep the 3.4 percent interest rate on college loans from doubling July 1, it is clear that the system badly needs a new approach. Keeping the current rate is about the only thing the president and his presumptive Republican opponent in November, Mitt Romney, seem to agree is necessary. For both candidates, it is merely a matter of practical politics...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Among the GOP victories in 2010, none was sweeter than that of Marco Rubio. The charismatic young Cuban-American challenged Gov. Charlie Crist in a Senate primary, ran him out of the party and swept to victory by 19 points in a three-way race...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- Last year President Obama ordered U.S. intervention in Libya under the grand new doctrine of "Responsibility to Protect." Moammar Gaddafi was threatening a massacre in Benghazi. To stand by and do nothing "would have been a betrayal of who we are," explained the president...

Rosemary Smith CORNING, Ark. -- Rosemary Smith, 81, of Corning, Ark., died April 28, 2012, at home. Mrs. Smith was a homemaker. She was a member of Art Club and Birthday Club, and enjoyed painting and American Indian Artifacts. She was a member of Success Baptist Church, where she was a children's Sunday school teacher in Success, Ark...

Emboldened by signals that the U.S. Supreme Court may uphold parts of Arizona's immigration law, legislators and activists across the country say they are gearing up to push for similar get-tough measures in their states. "We're getting our national network ready to run with the ball, and saturate state legislatures with versions of the law," said William Gheen, president of Americans for Legal Immigration. "We believe we can pass it in most states."...

Irvin Emmons DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Irvin Emmons, 76, of Doniphan, Mo., died Monday, April 30, 2012, at Ripley County Memorial Hospital in Doniphan. Funeral arrangements are pending with Edwards Funeral Home of Doniphan.

Clinging to a 2-shot lead in the 66th Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational, Blake Driskell found his ball nestled against the base of a tree Sunday afternoon. His tee shot on the par-4 11th at Westwood Hills Country Club sailed to the right, a few yards from the pro shop and behind a tree. Driskell's only play was to punch it out to the fairway and chip on while his nearest competitor was already on the green in two shots...

NEOSHO -- Crowder was just too much for Three Rivers over the weekend. After losing to Crowder on Saturday afternoon for their first loss of the Region XVI Tournament, the Lady Raiders lost 5-1 Sunday in the championship game as the Lady Roughriders captured the title by going undefeated...

Bobie Beck BERNIE, Mo. -- Bobie Lee Beck, 68, of Bernie, Mo., died Friday, April 27, 2012, at Missouri Southern Health Care in Dexter, Mo. Mr. Beck was born on Nov. 15, 1943, in Flint, Mich. He worked for many years in a factory. Survivors include one son, Randell Beck of Dexter; two daughters, Renea DeProw of Dexter and Tina Taylor of Spring, Texas; two brothers, Timothy Dale Beck of Bernie and Roger Beck of Arnold, Mo.; and eight grandchildren...

Russell Kennedy II SIKESTON, Mo. -- Russell Eugene Kennedy II, 39, of Atlanta, Ga., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, April 27, 2012, in Atlanta as the result of a motorcycle accident. Funeral arrangements are pending with Driver Funeral Service of Sikeston, Mo...

Earnest Carnahan Jr. ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Earnest B. Carnahan Jr., 86, of Ellsinore, Mo., died Saturday, April 28, 2012, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Carnahan was born March 12, 1926, in Garwood, Mo. He was a lifetime resident of Ellsinore and was a retired farmer. ...

Harold Lee Simpson of Puxico was recently honored with a 50-year Masonic certificate. Simpson was initiated Fellow Craft Second Degree Feb. 27, 1959, and passed April 22, 1959. He was raised to Master Mason May 30, 1959, and he got Proficiency May 21, 1960. Worshipful Master was Leo Pitts, and the secretary was Garrett Barthe...

NEOSHO -- The Three Rivers Raiders' offense struggled against the Crowder pitching staff. The Raiders had a total of eight hits in two losses at Crowder on Sunday, 4-1 and 10-0. "We ran into a couple pitchers that threw the ball well," Three Rivers coach Stacey Burkey said. "We couldn't get anything going."...

Irvin Emmons DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Irvin Emmons, 76, of Doniphan, Mo., died Monday, April 30, 2012, at Ripley County Memorial Hospital in Doniphan. Funeral arrangements are pending with Edwards Funeral Home of Doniphan.

Clinging to a 2-shot lead in the 66th Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational, Blake Driskell found his ball nestled against the base of a tree Sunday afternoon. His tee shot on the par-4 11th at Westwood Hills Country Club sailed to the right, a few yards from the pro shop and behind a tree. Driskell's only play was to punch it out to the fairway and chip on while his nearest competitor was already on the green in two shots...

Emboldened by signals that the U.S. Supreme Court may uphold parts of Arizona's immigration law, legislators and activists across the country say they are gearing up to push for similar get-tough measures in their states. "We're getting our national network ready to run with the ball, and saturate state legislatures with versions of the law," said William Gheen, president of Americans for Legal Immigration. "We believe we can pass it in most states."...