Stories from Thursday, May 3, 2012

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Dexter, Mo., woman is to appear in court today after being charged with sexually assaulting a teenage boy. Larissa A. Hurley, 37, was to appear this morning before Associate Circuit Judge Joe Satterfield for arraignment on the Class C felony of second-degree statutory rape...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., teenager was placed on probation Tuesday after pleading guilty to throwing Molotov cocktails into a local church, and then setting the church on fire when the devices didn't work. Dylan W. Causbie, 17, of the 200 block of County Road 437 pleaded guilty as charged to the Class C felony of second-degree arson, according to Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor VAN BUREN, Mo. -- A Carter County jury deliberated for three hours Wednesday before acquitting a Poplar Bluff, Mo., woman of multiple felonies in connection with a 2009 boating accident on Current River. A five-man and seven-woman jury reached its verdict after beginning its deliberations at 10:51 a.m. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor VAN BUREN, Mo. -- A Carter County jury deliberated for three hours Wednesday before acquitting a Poplar Bluff, Mo., woman of multiple felonies in connection with a 2009 boating accident on Current River. A five-man and seven-woman jury reached its verdict after beginning its deliberations at 10:51 a.m. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor VAN BUREN, Mo. -- A Carter County jury deliberated for three hours Wednesday before acquitting a Poplar Bluff, Mo., woman of multiple felonies in connection with a 2009 boating accident on Current River. A five-man and seven-woman jury reached its verdict after beginning its deliberations at 10:51 a.m. ...

UCAN Mother's Day flower sale In time for Mother's Day, May 13, the 3rd Annual UCAN Annual Benefit Flower Sale will be held Saturday, May 12, at Poplar Bluff Realty, 1800 N. Westwood Blvd. The sale will begin at 9 a.m. and stay open until all the locally grown flowers and baskets have been sold...

Last week, the Missouri Senate had an honest and deliberative debate about state priorities as it passed its version of Missouri's $24 billion budget. The approved budget placed emphasis on protecting education and essential state services without raising taxes...

Charlie Rimel DEXTER, Mo. -- Charlie Rimel of Dexter, Mo., died on Thursday, May 3, 2012, at his residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Wesley Pyles kept Doniphan from touching third base Wednesday afternoon while Brandon Stuckenschneider cleared the bases and then some. The Poplar Bluff freshman hit a bases-loaded triple, circling the bases in the process, to punctuate a 7-run third inning as the Mules beat Doniphan 10-0 at Strenfel Memorial Field...

By SHARON RANDALL Scripps Howard News Service In 10 days, I traveled to five states (six, if you count Nevada, where I live) in three time zones, to speak at five, count 'em, separate events. For some people -- politicians and touring musicians and wanted felons on the lam -- this might seem purely routine...

Campbell center fundraiser The Daisy Morris Nutrition Center will host a "Spring Fest" fundraiser at the Campbell Community Center on June 2. Events prior to the Spring Fest will be a talent contest held at 2 p.m. each Saturday during May at the Campbell Jim Morris Civic Center in downtown Campbell. ...

I've always wanted to start a column with the phrase, "a long time ago" and this article fills the desire because it is about something that happened a long time ago. Jerome Kenner left me with some material a few weeks ago and mentioned that I had not written about the barge that was sunk during the tornado that hit Poplar Bluff, Mo., "a long time ago."...

By JOHN PRATT Mo. Dept. of Conservation I had some questions come up the other day about the legality of culling of fish by anglers. According to the Wildlife Code of Missouri, it is illegal to cull fish after they have been taken into possession. The regulation states that any species of fish taken into actual possession, unless released unharmed immediately after being caught, shall continue to be included in the daily limit of the taker for the day when taken...

Bruce Wilson PUXICO, Mo. -- Bruce Wilson, 58, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Puxico, Mo., died Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are pending with Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico.

Eddie Miller ELLINGTON, Mo. -- Eddie Miller of Centerville, Mo., died Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Crystal City, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellington.

By CANDICE DAVIS Mo. Dept. of Conservation CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center will hold a Discover Nature Women Fishing Clinic on June 2 from 9 a.m. to noon. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, this is a free opportunity for women to learn the essentials of fishing, as well as the types of equipment needed and how to filet their big catch of the day...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor The mother of a young man killed in a Current River boating accident began having seizures shortly after a verdict of not guilty was rendered on the woman accused of causing the crash. Gwen Horner, whose 25-year-old son, Josh Burson, was killed remains non-responsive this morning at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, according to her daughter, Sarah Hobbs...

UCAN Mother's Day flower sale In time for Mother's Day, May 13, the 3rd Annual UCAN Annual Benefit Flower Sale will be held Saturday, May 12, at Poplar Bluff Realty, 1800 N. Westwood Blvd. The sale will begin at 9 a.m. and stay open until all the locally grown flowers and baskets have been sold...

Pauline Bean DEXTER, Mo. -- Pauline Bean, 101, of Jefferson City, Mo., died Saturday, April 28, 2012, Oak Tree Villas in Jefferson City. She was born on Oct. 9, 1910, in Scott County, Mo. Mrs. Bean was a homemaker and mother to her children all her life. She was a member of Richwoods Methodist Church in Scott County until moving to Jefferson City when health issues prevented her active participation in church life...

Sue Ann Amelio KOKOMO, Ind. -- Sue Ann Amelio, 58, of Logansport, Ind., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, April 28, 2012, in Kokomo, Ind. She was born Jan. 9, 1954 and was married to Francis T. Amelio. He preceded her in death. Mrs. Amelio loved her family and friends so much she would do anything and everything for them. She also enjoyed spending time with her sons, and her grandchildren...

Wouldn't you love to have fresh relish, bread and butter pickles, chunks, dill pickles, and sweet pickles? Well, now is the time to plant cucumber seeds and seedlings. In fact, according to the Vegetable Planting Calendar, you can plant anytime this month...

KENNETT -- Malden's Dylan Earnheart led his team into the finals of the Bootheel Conference tournament. Earnheart had five strikeouts and five hits over seven innings as the Green Wave beat Senath-Hornersville in the semifinals on Wednesday, 5-2. The title game will be 4 p.m. Thursday as the Green Wave try to dethrone the Indians who have won the last two titles...

Betty Watson Betty J. Watson, 82, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Watson was born March 19, 1930 in Piedmont, Mo. She was of the Protestant faith, and was a homemaker. During her early years Mrs. Watson worked at the Family Shoe Store in Poplar Bluff. She enjoyed quilting, crocheting, playing bingo and cards and collecting pig figurines...

Russell Kennedy Russell E. "Rusty" Kennedy II, 38, of Atlanta, Ga., died Friday, April 27, 2012, in Atlanta, Ga., as the result of a motorcycle accident. Mr. Kennedy was born June 18, 1973, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was a 1991 graduate of Poplar Bluff High School where he excelled in sports, especially football. ...

Loyd Jarrett DEXTER, Mo. -- Loyd Jarrett Jr.,32, of Dexter, died Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are pending with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

The Margaret Harwell Art Museum will host an opening reception on from 6-8 p.m. Friday for its May exhibit, "Bronzes by Joy Kroeger Beckner." The public is invited to attend this event at no charge, and the artist will be on hand to discuss her work...

Bruce Wilson PUXICO, Mo. -- Bruce Wilson, 58, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Puxico, Mo., died Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are pending with Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico.

Campbell center fundraiser The Daisy Morris Nutrition Center will host a "Spring Fest" fundraiser at the Campbell Community Center on June 2. Events prior to the Spring Fest will be a talent contest held at 2 p.m. each Saturday during May at the Campbell Jim Morris Civic Center in downtown Campbell. ...

Last week, the Missouri Senate had an honest and deliberative debate about state priorities as it passed its version of Missouri's $24 billion budget. The approved budget placed emphasis on protecting education and essential state services without raising taxes...

Barricade is needed at river I read with great sadness the story about the two young men who recently drowned in Black River . . . passengers in a car driven by a young woman who said the three had been drinking all night. Two young men are dead, and at least three families are devastated for a lifetime...

By JOHN PRATT Mo. Dept. of Conservation I had some questions come up the other day about the legality of culling of fish by anglers. According to the Wildlife Code of Missouri, it is illegal to cull fish after they have been taken into possession. The regulation states that any species of fish taken into actual possession, unless released unharmed immediately after being caught, shall continue to be included in the daily limit of the taker for the day when taken...

By JIM LOW Mo. Dept. of Conservation JEFFERSON CITY -- Resource Scientist Jeff Beringer has a piece of advice for Missouri outdoors people and landowners: Be bear aware. Beringer is the bear specialist for the Missouri Department of Conservation. When someone sees a bear somewhere in the Show-Me State, they call him. His phone rings more often each spring, and this year is no exception...

Loyd Jarrett DEXTER, Mo. -- Loyd Jarrett Jr.,32, of Dexter, died Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are pending with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Sue Ann Amelio KOKOMO, Ind. -- Sue Ann Amelio, 58, of Logansport, Ind., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, April 28, 2012, in Kokomo, Ind. She was born Jan. 9, 1954 and was married to Francis T. Amelio. He preceded her in death. Mrs. Amelio loved her family and friends so much she would do anything and everything for them. She also enjoyed spending time with her sons, and her grandchildren...

The Margaret Harwell Art Museum will host an opening reception on from 6-8 p.m. Friday for its May exhibit, "Bronzes by Joy Kroeger Beckner." The public is invited to attend this event at no charge, and the artist will be on hand to discuss her work...

UCAN Mother's Day flower sale In time for Mother's Day, May 13, the 3rd Annual UCAN Annual Benefit Flower Sale will be held Saturday, May 12, at Poplar Bluff Realty, 1800 N. Westwood Blvd. The sale will begin at 9 a.m. and stay open until all the locally grown flowers and baskets have been sold...

I've always wanted to start a column with the phrase, "a long time ago" and this article fills the desire because it is about something that happened a long time ago. Jerome Kenner left me with some material a few weeks ago and mentioned that I had not written about the barge that was sunk during the tornado that hit Poplar Bluff, Mo., "a long time ago."...

Pauline Bean DEXTER, Mo. -- Pauline Bean, 101, of Jefferson City, Mo., died Saturday, April 28, 2012, Oak Tree Villas in Jefferson City. She was born on Oct. 9, 1910, in Scott County, Mo. Mrs. Bean was a homemaker and mother to her children all her life. She was a member of Richwoods Methodist Church in Scott County until moving to Jefferson City when health issues prevented her active participation in church life...

Russell Kennedy Russell E. "Rusty" Kennedy II, 38, of Atlanta, Ga., died Friday, April 27, 2012, in Atlanta, Ga., as the result of a motorcycle accident. Mr. Kennedy was born June 18, 1973, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was a 1991 graduate of Poplar Bluff High School where he excelled in sports, especially football. ...

Betty Watson Betty J. Watson, 82, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Watson was born March 19, 1930 in Piedmont, Mo. She was of the Protestant faith, and was a homemaker. During her early years Mrs. Watson worked at the Family Shoe Store in Poplar Bluff. She enjoyed quilting, crocheting, playing bingo and cards and collecting pig figurines...

KENNETT -- Malden's Dylan Earnheart led his team into the finals of the Bootheel Conference tournament. Earnheart had five strikeouts and five hits over seven innings as the Green Wave beat Senath-Hornersville in the semifinals on Wednesday, 5-2. The title game will be 4 p.m. Thursday as the Green Wave try to dethrone the Indians who have won the last two titles...