Stories from Sunday, May 20, 2012

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer As Three Rivers College closes the door on a landmark year, it took time Friday to honor the contributions of its employees at the second annual Achievement, Contribution and Excellence (ACE) Awards.  It has been a year of advancement for the college, said President Dr. Devin Stephenson during the event, which was held at the Gamma HealthCare Conference Center...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Tears and sweat streamed down the faces of the 1,600 hikers as they ended the inaugural walk for the United Cancer Assistance Network honoring the inspiring Sarah Jarboe White, who died Jan. 23 after fighting a courageous battle with cancer. Collectively, they raised $53,000 to help cancer patients in Butler and Stoddard Counties. About 150 of the walkers, who were dressed in purple shirts, are cancer survivors...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc. board members are having a reception at 5:15 p.m. Monday in USBank's main lobby at 200 S. Main St. to introduce their new executive director, Penny McGath. She will give a brief description of current progress and what she has planned for Downtown. Everyone will have the opportunity to speak with her...

The following awards were given: • The President's Impact Award and trophy was given to the Facilities and Safety and Security Team, which includes Scott Wiggs, Michelle Madsen, Matt McGraw, Brian Newman, Andy Starnes, Eddie Redmond, Rob Tomlinson, Guy Nicholson, Mark Hopper and Bud Pinner. ...

Southeast Missouri State University has named 2,531 students to its Dean's List for academic achievement during the spring 2012 semester. Students named to the list earned at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and completed at least 12 degree credit hours during the spring semester...

Qulin Middle School 4th Quarter Honor Roll 5th Grade: Emmalee Casinger, Wyatt Doser, Leanne Harris, Allen Hendrix, Kiera Hosentfeld-Williams, Kaitlyn LaChance, Brady Leutert, Michaela Martin- Tidwell, Aaron Mittelstadt, Emily Ollis, Lindsay Rhodes, Noah Smothers, Josiah Suiter and Hayden Thomas...

By GEORGE F. WILL TEWKSBURY, Mass. -- Russ Caswell, 68, is bewildered: "What country are we in?" He and his wife Pat are ensnared in a Kafkaesque nightmare unfolding in Orwellian language. This town's police department is conniving with the federal government to circumvent Massachusetts law -- which is less permissive than federal law -- in order to seize his livelihood and retirement asset. ...

By SHARON RANDALL Scripps Howard News Service I first met Steve when he was a high-school freshman playing basketball for my husband. Of all the great kids we knew over the years, Steve was one of the finest. I'll always be grateful for the eulogy he gave at my husband's memorial service. ...

Hope you're not afraid of the dark: Poplar Bluff Public Library's summer reading program revels in all things that go bump in the night. This year's children's program DREAM BIG, READ and teens' WE OWN THE NIGHT kick off June 1 at the library. Participants will have a chance to win a wide range of prizes -- including bicycles, a Kindle Fire tablet, an animal adoption, restaurant gift certificates and more -- by joining in on the fun and completing reading logs...

Lendel and Linda Hall of Poplar Bluff, Mo., will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday, May 20. The couple was married May 20, 1962 in Doniphan, Mo. They have three children: Steve Hall, his wife Sandy, of Poplar Bluff, Jeff Hall, his wife Jerilynn, of Walla Walla, Wash., and Julia Reinking, her husband, Gary, of Indianapolis, Ind., and six grandchildren: Kevin Hall of Omaha, Neb., Greg Hall of Poplar Bluff, Josh and Janelle Hall of Walla Walla, and Jordan and Katie Reinking of Indianapolis.. ...

Felicia Marie Burton and Joel Christopher Padgett, Jr., of Charlotte, N. C. announce their engagement. The bride-elect is the daughter of Roger and Debbie Burton of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and James and Georgia Neivel of Shakopee, Minn. Her grandparents are Wilma Duncan of Poplar Bluff and the late Donald Duncan, Jerry and Patsy Burton of Conroe, Texas, Ronald and JoAnna Jones of Jackson, Mo., and the late Mr. and Mrs. George O'Connell of Syracuse, N.Y...

James Rodebush VAN BUREN, Mo. -- James Wesley Rodebush of Van Buren, Mo., died Saturday, May 19, 2012, at his cabin near Van Buren. Funeral arrangements are pending with McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren. Condolences: www.mcspaddenfh.com

Virginia Gulledge FISK, Mo. -- Virginia G. Gulledge, 86, of Chesterfield, Mo., died Saturday, May 19, 2012 at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield. Mrs. Gulledge was born June 11, 1925, in Gibson County, Ind. She had lived in the St. Louis area for about eight years. ...

Charles Campbell DEXTER, Mo. -- Charles Evertt Campbell, 87, of Dexter, Mo., died Thursday, May 17, 2012, in Gideon Care Center in Gideon, Mo. Mr. Campbell was born on Oct. 24, 1924, in Painton, Mo. He had lived in the Essex and Dexter, Mo. area. He had worked as a truck driver most of his life in Indiana and Michigan. He was a member of the Teamsters Union and had attended the Sweet Prospect General Baptist Church in Dexter...

Diana Williford PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Diana "Nanna" Kay (Cole) Williford, 63, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday May 17, 2012 at her residence with her husband and sister at her side following several lengthy illnesses. Mrs. Williford was born March 12, 1949 in Bonne Terre, Mo. She was preceded in death by parents, Homer D. Cole and Eileen Virginia 'Shannon' Cole; a sister, Brenda C. Cole; and a brother, Gayland R. Cole...

Edward Cheeks Edward Nathaniel Cheeks, 90, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, May 10, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Cheeks was born Sept. 3, 1921, in Poplar Bluff. He was a member of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church. ...

Lura Gray Lura F. "Honeys" Gray, 73, of Poplar Bluff died Saturday, May 19, 2012, at Mark Twain Caring Center. Mrs. Gray was born June 7, 1938, in Poplar Bluff and had retired from AT&T as a secretary. She was a member of First Baptist Church and was an Awana Leader. She enjoyed spending time with her family especially her grandchildren and also enjoyed aerobics with her friends...

Michael Gibson Jr. NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Michael David Gibson Jr., 35, of Houston, Texas, formerly of Doniphan, Mo., died Sunday, May 13, 2012, in Houston. Mr. Gibson was born Feb. 20, 1977, in Lubbock, Texas. He had served in the U.S. Air Force and the Missouri National Guard...

Gerold Young DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Gerold Melvin Young, 70, of Oxly, Mo., died Friday, May 18, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Young, the son of Melvin and Ruth (Maynard) Young, was born June 7, 1941, in Delaplaine, Ark. He was an owner/operator of Fairdealing Tool and Die and a member of the Doniphan First Baptist Church. Mr. Young enjoyed hunting and spending time with his children and grandchildren...

William Jones MALDEN, Mo. -- William Leo Jones, 44, of Malden, Mo., died Friday, May 18, 2012, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter, Mo. Mr. Jones was born on Oct. 3, 1967, in Kennett, Mo. He was a scrap metal dealer. Surviving are his girlfriend, Rhonda Ferguson of the home; one son, Billy Jones of Malden; two daughters, Amber Jones of Malden and Melissa Jones of Campbell, Mo.; three step-daughters, Sasha Douglas and Avrie Douglas, both of Malden and Megan Oxley of Campbell; his father, Pat Jones of Campbell and his mother, Carolyn West of Holcomb, Mo.; one brother, Jim Jones of Dexter; and one step-brother, Anthony West of Holcomb.. ...

All it took to get Ali Frazier on track and on her way to the MSHSAA Class 4 state championship was a joke and some good advice Saturday. The Poplar Bluff junior scratched her first three throws in the shot event of the sectional meet at Sam Giambelluca Track & Field Complex and had just one more toss left...

Austin Barousse made his jump to reach the MSHSAA Class 4 state track and field championships in the pole vault but had to watch the 400-meter relay Saturday. Turns out, the Mules didn't need him. With freshman Manuel Isaac running in Barousse's place, the 400-relay of Nick Pattillo, Jordan Emmons and Kimbrayl Miller punched their ticket to Jefferson City by placing fourth at the sectional meet held at the Sam Giambelluca Track & Field Complex...

GREENVILLE -- "Go out with a bang, Coach Hill." On the route from Greenville up Highway 67 to the Piedmont exit at Highway 34, posters of encouragement for the Greenville Bears baseball team lined the side of the road on the way to the MSHSAA Class 2 District 2 championship against Clearwater on Thursday...

By BILL O'REILLY My late father was a man of strong opinion. He despised phonies, cowards and liars. He named names -- sometimes in very close proximity to those being singled out. A veteran of World War II, he recognized a weasel when he saw one. But my dad never denigrated rich people in general...

Southeast Missouri State University has named 2,531 students to its Dean's List for academic achievement during the spring 2012 semester. Students named to the list earned at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and completed at least 12 degree credit hours during the spring semester...

Hope you're not afraid of the dark: Poplar Bluff Public Library's summer reading program revels in all things that go bump in the night. This year's children's program DREAM BIG, READ and teens' WE OWN THE NIGHT kick off June 1 at the library. Participants will have a chance to win a wide range of prizes -- including bicycles, a Kindle Fire tablet, an animal adoption, restaurant gift certificates and more -- by joining in on the fun and completing reading logs...

Felicia Marie Burton and Joel Christopher Padgett, Jr., of Charlotte, N. C. announce their engagement. The bride-elect is the daughter of Roger and Debbie Burton of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and James and Georgia Neivel of Shakopee, Minn. Her grandparents are Wilma Duncan of Poplar Bluff and the late Donald Duncan, Jerry and Patsy Burton of Conroe, Texas, Ronald and JoAnna Jones of Jackson, Mo., and the late Mr. and Mrs. George O'Connell of Syracuse, N.Y...

Lura Gray Lura F. "Honeys" Gray, 73, of Poplar Bluff died Saturday, May 19, 2012, at Mark Twain Caring Center. Mrs. Gray was born June 7, 1938, in Poplar Bluff and had retired from AT&T as a secretary. She was a member of First Baptist Church and was an Awana Leader. She enjoyed spending time with her family especially her grandchildren and also enjoyed aerobics with her friends...

Gerold Young DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Gerold Melvin Young, 70, of Oxly, Mo., died Friday, May 18, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Young, the son of Melvin and Ruth (Maynard) Young, was born June 7, 1941, in Delaplaine, Ark. He was an owner/operator of Fairdealing Tool and Die and a member of the Doniphan First Baptist Church. Mr. Young enjoyed hunting and spending time with his children and grandchildren...

William Jones MALDEN, Mo. -- William Leo Jones, 44, of Malden, Mo., died Friday, May 18, 2012, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter, Mo. Mr. Jones was born on Oct. 3, 1967, in Kennett, Mo. He was a scrap metal dealer. Surviving are his girlfriend, Rhonda Ferguson of the home; one son, Billy Jones of Malden; two daughters, Amber Jones of Malden and Melissa Jones of Campbell, Mo.; three step-daughters, Sasha Douglas and Avrie Douglas, both of Malden and Megan Oxley of Campbell; his father, Pat Jones of Campbell and his mother, Carolyn West of Holcomb, Mo.; one brother, Jim Jones of Dexter; and one step-brother, Anthony West of Holcomb.. ...

By BILL O'REILLY My late father was a man of strong opinion. He despised phonies, cowards and liars. He named names -- sometimes in very close proximity to those being singled out. A veteran of World War II, he recognized a weasel when he saw one. But my dad never denigrated rich people in general...