Stories from Thursday, July 5, 2012

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Butler County jury recently awarded more than $250,000 to a former local couple who sued their builder for damage caused to their home by water leaking in its basement. After deliberating for an hour Thursday night, the jury came back with its verdict in favor of Dr. ...

This column is being written in the midst of a power outage that has reduced many parts of the mid-Atlantic to primitive conditions. I have no right to complain. We installed a small generator after the last big power failure ("Snowmageddon") and at least have been able to sleep in air-conditioned comfort. We sincerely pity the million-plus people in our area and surrounding states who are coping with 95-plus temperatures and no power at all...

Fisk Community Library annual and only fundraiser will be Thursday, July 12 through Saturday, July 14 at the new community center at 500 Garfield St. in Fisk, Mo. (Next to city hall). Sale hours will be 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 7 a.m. through 1 p.m. on Saturday. Items include many fiction and nonfiction books, clothes, furniture, kitchen items and decorations. Everything is clean, organized and marked to sell...

My favorite veggie is getting ripe. There's nothing better than fresh, delicious tomatoes. We have over 1,000 different varieties of tomatoes. You can find ripe tomatoes in nearly every color. When buying fresh tomatoes at local markets, choose firm, smooth tomatoes with good color and no wrinkles or cracks. They should be pleasant smelling and yield to light pressure when squeezed...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Fifty-six years ago, Andy Griffith launched his film career during a hot summer in Piggott, Ark. The Poplar Bluff High School band had a role - albeit brief - in the movie, which has been preserved for all time. The occasion was the filming of the movie, "A Face in the Crowd," which has been included in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. ...

PUXICO, Mo. -- The deadline for entries in the annual Mingo Swamp Flora and Fauna Photography Contest has been extended for the second consecutive year. Entries now will be taken through the close of business on Aug. 3, said Mingo Swamp Friends Vice President Vergial Harp. The original deadline was July 1...

Weather conditions seem right for sitting under the air conditioner, but a normal winter outdoor activity takes center stage this week. Last Friday and Saturday, the Butler County Coon Hunters Club put on two UKC wild coon hound events. The temperatures were high, but there were hunters who did not mind taking a chance to win either a show or hunt...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Deer hunters in Southeast Missouri will see a few minor regulations changes when the hunting seasons kick in this fall, with most designed to offer more hunting opportunity. The most notable change will occur during what was known as the December muzzleloader season...

James Weathers FISK, Mo. -- James W. Weathers, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at The Manor in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk, Mo.

James Birchfield QULIN, Mo. -- James Birchfield, 60, of Qulin, Mo., died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at his daughter's residence in Bardwell, Ky. Funeral arrangements are pending with White-Sanders Funeral Home in Qulin, Mo.

Paul Barker Qulin, Mo. -- Paul Donald Barker Sr., 74, of Qulin, Mo., died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at his residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with White-Sanders Funeral Home in Qulin, Mo.

Charles Pullam PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Charles Pullam, 41, of Piedmont, Mo., died Thursday, July 5, 2012, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont.

Stella Hicks MALDEN, Mo. -- Stella Hicks, 95, of Malden, Mo., died Tuesday, July 3, at Golden Living Center in Malden. Funeral arrangements are pending with Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden.

Johnny Morton PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Johnny Morton, 75, of Piedmont, Mo., died Tuesday, July 3, 2012, at Des Peres Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont.

Alice Yates -- Piedmont, Mo. Stella Hicks -- Malden, Mo. Mary Lee Grobe -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Johnny Morton -- Piedmont, Mo. Charles Pullam -- Piedmont, Mo. James Birchfield -- Qulin, Mo. James Weathers -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Paul Barker -- Qulin, Mo. Hilda Martin -- Doniphan, Mo...

Hilda Martin DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Hilda Martin, 90, of Doniphan, Mo., died Monday, July 2, 2012, at the Ripley County Memorial Hospital in Doniphan. Mrs. Martin was born Aug. 15, 1921 in Poyner, Mo., to the late Willie and Celia Pennington Magruder. She was a homemaker who enjoyed reading, baking and spending time with family and friends...

Charles D. McGee DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Charles D. McGee, 74, of Doniphan, Mo., died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Edwards Funeral Home of Doniphan.

Alice Yates PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Alice (McCullough) Yates, 83, of Piedmont, Mo., died Sunday, July 1, 2012, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center, in Piedmont, Mo. Mrs. Yates was born on Nov. 11, 1928 in Pevely, Mo. Many of her early years, the family lived in St. Louis, Mo. During her teen years, they moved to a farm near Piedmont and she graduated from Piedmont High School at the age of 15...

An opening reception for the 25th Annual Pictures by the People exhibit will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Margaret Harwell Art Museum. The winners will be honored and their entries shown at that time. More information will be in Friday's newspaper, including photos of some of the winning entries...

Greg and Allison Bell of Broseley have chosen the name Blayne Turner Bell for their 7-pound, 14-ounce son born at 2:16 p.m. Thursday, May 24, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was 20 inches long. Grandparents are Terry and Renae Hicks and Greg and Peggy McDonald, all of Poplar Bluff; great-grandparents, Mary Thurman, Marvin and Mildred Hicks, Eva Toole, Thurlow and Betty Webb, all of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Wanda McDonald of Malden...

After graduating high school at Scott County Central, Donnie McClinton was unsure about which college to attend and weighing his options. That is when former Three Rivers Raider and friend Fred Johnson stepped in and suggested McClinton attend Three Rivers. Looking back, McClinton couldn't have made a better choice...

Katelyn Suzanne Ligons and Josh Dewayne Ligons of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Nash Isaac Ligons for their 5-pound, 6-ounce son born at 8:26 a.m. Monday, June 11, 2012, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was 19 inches long...

Mary Grobe FISK, Mo. -- A memorial service will be held for Mary Lee Grobe of Poplar Bluff, Mo., whose remains were found several years after she went missing. Mrs. Grobe was born Aug. 22, 1929 in Qulin, Mo. She had lived in Butler County most of her life...

Alice Yates -- Piedmont, Mo. Stella Hicks -- Malden, Mo. Mary Lee Grobe -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Johnny Morton -- Piedmont, Mo. Charles Pullam -- Piedmont, Mo. James Birchfield -- Qulin, Mo. James Weathers -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Paul Barker -- Qulin, Mo. Hilda Martin -- Doniphan, Mo...

Fisk Community Library annual and only fundraiser will be Thursday, July 12 through Saturday, July 14 at the new community center at 500 Garfield St. in Fisk, Mo. (Next to city hall). Sale hours will be 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 7 a.m. through 1 p.m. on Saturday. Items include many fiction and nonfiction books, clothes, furniture, kitchen items and decorations. Everything is clean, organized and marked to sell...

My favorite veggie is getting ripe. There's nothing better than fresh, delicious tomatoes. We have over 1,000 different varieties of tomatoes. You can find ripe tomatoes in nearly every color. When buying fresh tomatoes at local markets, choose firm, smooth tomatoes with good color and no wrinkles or cracks. They should be pleasant smelling and yield to light pressure when squeezed...

PUXICO, Mo. -- The deadline for entries in the annual Mingo Swamp Flora and Fauna Photography Contest has been extended for the second consecutive year. Entries now will be taken through the close of business on Aug. 3, said Mingo Swamp Friends Vice President Vergial Harp. The original deadline was July 1...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Fifty-six years ago, Andy Griffith launched his film career during a hot summer in Piggott, Ark. The Poplar Bluff High School band had a role - albeit brief - in the movie, which has been preserved for all time. The occasion was the filming of the movie, "A Face in the Crowd," which has been included in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. ...

Weather conditions seem right for sitting under the air conditioner, but a normal winter outdoor activity takes center stage this week. Last Friday and Saturday, the Butler County Coon Hunters Club put on two UKC wild coon hound events. The temperatures were high, but there were hunters who did not mind taking a chance to win either a show or hunt...

James Weathers FISK, Mo. -- James W. Weathers, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at The Manor in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk, Mo.

Charles Pullam PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Charles Pullam, 41, of Piedmont, Mo., died Thursday, July 5, 2012, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont.

Stella Hicks MALDEN, Mo. -- Stella Hicks, 95, of Malden, Mo., died Tuesday, July 3, at Golden Living Center in Malden. Funeral arrangements are pending with Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden.

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Deer hunters in Southeast Missouri will see a few minor regulations changes when the hunting seasons kick in this fall, with most designed to offer more hunting opportunity. The most notable change will occur during what was known as the December muzzleloader season...

Johnny Morton PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Johnny Morton, 75, of Piedmont, Mo., died Tuesday, July 3, 2012, at Des Peres Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont.

Alice Yates -- Piedmont, Mo. Stella Hicks -- Malden, Mo. Mary Lee Grobe -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Johnny Morton -- Piedmont, Mo. Charles Pullam -- Piedmont, Mo. James Birchfield -- Qulin, Mo. James Weathers -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Paul Barker -- Qulin, Mo. Hilda Martin -- Doniphan, Mo...

An opening reception for the 25th Annual Pictures by the People exhibit will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Margaret Harwell Art Museum. The winners will be honored and their entries shown at that time. More information will be in Friday's newspaper, including photos of some of the winning entries...

Alice Yates PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Alice (McCullough) Yates, 83, of Piedmont, Mo., died Sunday, July 1, 2012, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center, in Piedmont, Mo. Mrs. Yates was born on Nov. 11, 1928 in Pevely, Mo. Many of her early years, the family lived in St. Louis, Mo. During her teen years, they moved to a farm near Piedmont and she graduated from Piedmont High School at the age of 15...

Charles D. McGee DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Charles D. McGee, 74, of Doniphan, Mo., died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Edwards Funeral Home of Doniphan.

Hilda Martin DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Hilda Martin, 90, of Doniphan, Mo., died Monday, July 2, 2012, at the Ripley County Memorial Hospital in Doniphan. Mrs. Martin was born Aug. 15, 1921 in Poyner, Mo., to the late Willie and Celia Pennington Magruder. She was a homemaker who enjoyed reading, baking and spending time with family and friends...

Greg and Allison Bell of Broseley have chosen the name Blayne Turner Bell for their 7-pound, 14-ounce son born at 2:16 p.m. Thursday, May 24, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was 20 inches long. Grandparents are Terry and Renae Hicks and Greg and Peggy McDonald, all of Poplar Bluff; great-grandparents, Mary Thurman, Marvin and Mildred Hicks, Eva Toole, Thurlow and Betty Webb, all of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Wanda McDonald of Malden...

James Birchfield QULIN, Mo. -- James Birchfield, 60, of Qulin, Mo., died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at his daughter's residence in Bardwell, Ky. Funeral arrangements are pending with White-Sanders Funeral Home in Qulin, Mo.

Katelyn Suzanne Ligons and Josh Dewayne Ligons of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Nash Isaac Ligons for their 5-pound, 6-ounce son born at 8:26 a.m. Monday, June 11, 2012, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was 19 inches long...

After graduating high school at Scott County Central, Donnie McClinton was unsure about which college to attend and weighing his options. That is when former Three Rivers Raider and friend Fred Johnson stepped in and suggested McClinton attend Three Rivers. Looking back, McClinton couldn't have made a better choice...