Stories from Friday, July 6, 2012

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor State officials are investigating the death of a Poplar Bluff, Mo., man who died Thursday afternoon in police custody after he allegedly disrobed and caused a disturbance inside a local convenience store. As part of the investigation into the death of Charles A. Riels, 40, an autopsy will be performed at 1 p.m. today by Dr. Russell Deidiker at Mineral Area Regional Medical Center in Farmington, Mo., according to Butler County Coroner Jim Akers...

VAN BUREN, Mo. - Due to the unusually hot and dry conditions that have persisted throughout the region, Ozark National Scenic Riverways has issued an immediate ban on open fires within the park. The fire ban prohibits all campfires and other open fires, including those in pedestal charcoal grills. The ban does allow the use of camp stoves and grills with lids. Please ensure that charcoal is cold before disposal. The use of fireworks continues to be prohibited in the park...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The 36th Judicial Circuit has seen a 60 percent increase in the number of children in foster care in the last year and has the second highest count in the Southeast Missouri region, but the Butler and Ripley county court advocate program CASA had to make cuts July 1 due to a shrinking budget...

Three Rivers College is reorganizing its academic leadership structure, and has appointed a long-time division chair to the new position of Dean of Academic Instruction. Dr. Mary Lou Brown, former division chair for Business, Math, Education, Science and Technology at Three Rivers, will serve as the dean of academic instruction. Brown will oversee the administration of all academic curriculum at Three Rivers...

Three Rivers College has hired Dr. Angela Totty as the new vice president for Student Success. Totty holds a doctoral degree in educational leadership and a specialist's degree in community college administration from Arkansas State University, and will join the Three Rivers staff Aug. ...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer A group of volunteers from First Methodist Church recently did it's park in helping Joplin recover from a devastating tornado. The Volunteer in Missions team recently spent a long weekend (Thursday through Sunday, May 17-20) in the city working to rebuild a Little League baseball park. The team included Jon Gerdes, Joe Vallow, Pat Jakylovich, Rev. Dave Huck and Peter and Gail Tinsley...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor State officials are investigating the death of a Poplar Bluff, Mo., man who died Thursday afternoon in police custody after he allegedly disrobed and caused a disturbance inside a local convenience store. As part of the investigation into the death of Charles A. Riels, 40, an autopsy will be performed at 1 p.m. today by Dr. Russell Deidiker at Mineral Area Regional Medical Center in Farmington, Mo., according to Butler County Coroner Jim Akers...

VAN BUREN, Mo. - Due to the unusually hot and dry conditions that have persisted throughout the region, Ozark National Scenic Riverways has issued an immediate ban on open fires within the park. The fire ban prohibits all campfires and other open fires, including those in pedestal charcoal grills. The ban does allow the use of camp stoves and grills with lids. Please ensure that charcoal is cold before disposal. The use of fireworks continues to be prohibited in the park...

The Daily American Republic was provided incorrect information regarding defense witnesses testifying in a recent civil trial held in Butler County. A written summary provided by the plaintiffs' attorney, Steve Walsh, said the defense called Mike Broege, son of the late Keith Broege, to testify during the trial; however, the DAR has since learned that information was incorrect...

Arthur Miller DEXTER, MO.- Arthur J. "A.J." Miller, 84, of Bloomfield, Mo., died Thursday, July 5, 2012, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Miller was born in New Hamburg, Mo. on Feb. 29, 1928. He had grown up in Chaffee, Mo., and had lived in California, Washington...

Melissa Bateman DEXTER, MO. - Melissa Marie Bateman, 27, of Dexter, Mo. died at her home Wednesday, July 4, 2012. She was born on Dec. 20, 1984, at Fort Hood, Texas. She had grown up in Mattoon, Ill. and moved to Dexter 10 years ago. She attended the Lighthouse Christian Center in Dexter...

Delbert Cahow DEXTER, Mo. - Delbert "Del" Cahow, 68, of Advance, Mo., died Tuesday, July 3, 2012, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Cahow was born in Little Prairie near Caruthersville, Mo. Oct. 14, 1943. He had lived most of his life in Dexter, Mo. until moving to Advance in 2005. He had worked in maintenance for the Dexter Public Schools for many years before his retirement. He attended the Faith Baptist Church in Advance...

Debra Carlton NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Debra Louise Carlton, 48, of Fulton, Mo., died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at the University Hospital in Columbia, Mo. Mrs. Carlton was born June 3, 1964 at St. Louis, Mo. She had lived in Callaway County for four years. She had been a certified nursing assistant at the Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan, Mo., where she formerly lived. She enjoyed fishing, camping, the outdoors and her dogs. She was of the Baptist Faith...

Johnny Morton PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Johnny Morton, 75, of Piedmont, Mo., died Tuesday, July 3, 2012, at Des Peres Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Morton was born April 24, 1937 at Jonesboro, Ark., and had lived in the Peachtree community for many years. He was a retired mechanic for McDonnell-Douglas in St. Louis and was a long time member of the Peachtree General Baptist Church...

Patricia Samples CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Patricia Ann Samples, 70, of Campbell, Mo., died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mrs. Samples was born Sept. 9, 1941, in Doniphan, Mo. She was a member of Stanfield Baptist Church...

Food drive to help St. Vincent The Butler County FSA office is partnering with the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank to participate in the fourth annual Feds Feed Families Food Drive, said Aaron Sandlin, executive director of the Butler County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN For John Roberts, it is Palm Sunday. Out of relief and gratitude for his having saved Obamacare, he is being compared to John Marshall and Oliver Wendell Holmes. Liberal commentators are burbling that his act of statesmanship has shown us the way to the sunny uplands of a new consensus...

To the Editor, I'm 69-year-old grey-haired grandmother. I'm furthermore crippled up with arthritis so much that it's difficult to walk very far. My back hurts, my feet hurt, my everything hurts. But apparently I'm also a dangerous "extreme right-wing" terrorist according to a new study, titled "Hot Spots of Terrorism and Other Crimes in the United States, 1970-2008," and conducted by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) at the University of Maryland, and funded in part by the Department of Homeland Security. ...

By MONA CHAREN It has traditionally been liberals, not conservatives, who have looked to the courts to implement their policy preferences. Whether it was racial and sex preferences, abortion, gay marriage, capital punishment or the "rights" of illegal aliens, liberals have attempted to move the country left by judicial fiat...

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. MHAM received 117 entries for this year's competition from local photographers within a 100-mile radius of Poplar Bluff. Winners were selected by Tim Peluso, a professional photographer for Relentless Media Productions...

The Poplar Bluff Thunder bounced back in a big way after their worst loss of the season. Following a 12-1 loss in the first game of a doubleheader to Paragould Senior Legion in which the Thunder had just five hits and four errors, Poplar Bluff won the second game 13-6 Thursday at Strenfel Memorial Field...

After an impressive 34-5 summer, the Poplar Bluff Thunder are off to the double-elimination Senior Babe Ruth state tournament. The Thunder will face New Madrid at 1:15 p.m. Saturday with the winner advancing to face the Arch City-Chaffee winner. Poplar Bluff has won three of four games against New Madrid but the lone loss was the first of the season for the Thunder...

Rhino's completed a perfect season with a near perfect game Thursday night. Shelby Sievers struck out nine, walked one and allowed no hits before she and her Rhino's teammates plated 12 third-inning runs to beat Big Dog 15-0 in the championship of the Park Department Senior League Tournament at McLane Park...

Charles McGee DONIPHAN, MO. - Charles Darrell McGee, 75, of Doniphan, Mo., died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at the Saint Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. McGee was born Dec. 20, 1936, in Bethlehem, Pa. Mr. McGee served in the U.S. Navy for 24 years as a Russian/Hebrew linguist and was a veteran of the Vietnam war. He developed language programs at Engineering Research Associates in Reston, Va., and later worked at the radio station in Doniphan. He was of the Catholic faith...

James Weathers Fisk, Mo. - James W. Weathers, 73, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at The Manor in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Weathers was born Dec. 28, 1938, in Malden, Mo. He had lived around Broseley, Mo., and Poplar Bluff most of his life and was a member of Highland Drive Church of Christ. He was a farmer...

Donald Barker, Sr. QULIN, MO. - Paul Donald Barker, Sr., 74, of Qulin, Mo., died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Barker was born Oct. 3, 1937, in Trumann, Ark. He was a member of Oglesville General Baptist Church and has served as a deacon since 2002. He served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1962 and was owner operator of D&J Concrete. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

Billie Ward Billie June Ward, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, July 5, 2012, at her residence. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel. The funeral service will begin at 1:30 p.m. Monday in the funeral chapel with Rev. Dennis Ward officiating. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. Monday at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo...

James Birchfield QULIN, MO. - James Birchfield, 60, of Qulin, Mo., died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at his daughter's residence in Bardwell, Ky. Mr. Birchfield was born July 6, 1951, in Qulin. He had lived around Qulin most of his life and was a self-employed mechanic...

Ray C. Davis PIEDMONT, Mo. - Ray C. Davis, 83, of Piedmont died Thursday, July 5, 2012, at his home near Piedmont. He was born Feb. 16, 1929, at Sturdivant, Mo. He was a Korean War Veteran, serving in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952. He was a medic and was discharged as a Staff Sergeant with a Korean Service Medal, Combat Medic Badge and 1 Bronze Camp Star. ...

Billie C. Williams, Sr. VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Billie C. Williams, Sr., 80, Van Buren, Mo., died Thursday, July 5, 2012, in Springfield, Mo. He was born Aug. 6, 1931, in Crystal City, Mo. Mr. Williams had resided in Van Buren for the past 50 years and was formerly of Southern Illinois. ...

Jennifer House MALDEN, MO. - Jennifer Ann House, 37, of Malden, Mo., died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at Dexter, Mo. She was born Dec. 20, 1974, at Farmington, Mo. She was married to Tim House, who survives. Also surviving are one son, Chandler House of the home; mother, Nancy Shoemaker of Malden; and two brothers, Ben Shoemaker of Dexter and Tony Shoemaker of Malden...

Bobby Pullam PIEDMONT, Mo. - Bobby Pullam, 41, of Piedmont, Mo. died Thursday, July 5, 2012, at the Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was born Aug. 10, 1970, at Poplar Bluff, Mo. and had lived in Piedmont for many years. He was a carpenter and had worked for Wesbecher Construction in Marble Hill, Mo. He was of the Baptist faith...

Melissa Bateman DEXTER, MO. - Melissa Marie Bateman, 27, of Dexter, Mo. died at her home Wednesday, July 4, 2012. She was born on Dec. 20, 1984, at Fort Hood, Texas. She had grown up in Mattoon, Ill. and moved to Dexter 10 years ago. She attended the Lighthouse Christian Center in Dexter...

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. MHAM received 117 entries for this year's competition from local photographers within a 100-mile radius of Poplar Bluff. Winners were selected by Tim Peluso, a professional photographer for Relentless Media Productions...

Charles McGee DONIPHAN, MO. - Charles Darrell McGee, 75, of Doniphan, Mo., died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at the Saint Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. McGee was born Dec. 20, 1936, in Bethlehem, Pa. Mr. McGee served in the U.S. Navy for 24 years as a Russian/Hebrew linguist and was a veteran of the Vietnam war. He developed language programs at Engineering Research Associates in Reston, Va., and later worked at the radio station in Doniphan. He was of the Catholic faith...

U of Ark. Dean's List The following area students have been named to the Chancellor's or Dean's List at the University of Arkansas Jamie Fritts Kinesiology of Poplar Bluff, Mo., senior, College of Education and Health Professions; Ashley Moline of Poplar Bluff, Mo., sophomore, Apparel Studies, Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences;...

Donald Barker, Sr. QULIN, MO. - Paul Donald Barker, Sr., 74, of Qulin, Mo., died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Barker was born Oct. 3, 1937, in Trumann, Ark. He was a member of Oglesville General Baptist Church and has served as a deacon since 2002. He served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1962 and was owner operator of D&J Concrete. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

Billie Ward Billie June Ward, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, July 5, 2012, at her residence. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel. The funeral service will begin at 1:30 p.m. Monday in the funeral chapel with Rev. Dennis Ward officiating. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. Monday at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo...

The Poplar Bluff Thunder bounced back in a big way after their worst loss of the season. Following a 12-1 loss in the first game of a doubleheader to Paragould Senior Legion in which the Thunder had just five hits and four errors, Poplar Bluff won the second game 13-6 Thursday at Strenfel Memorial Field...

James Birchfield QULIN, MO. - James Birchfield, 60, of Qulin, Mo., died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at his daughter's residence in Bardwell, Ky. Mr. Birchfield was born July 6, 1951, in Qulin. He had lived around Qulin most of his life and was a self-employed mechanic...

Ray C. Davis PIEDMONT, Mo. - Ray C. Davis, 83, of Piedmont died Thursday, July 5, 2012, at his home near Piedmont. He was born Feb. 16, 1929, at Sturdivant, Mo. He was a Korean War Veteran, serving in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952. He was a medic and was discharged as a Staff Sergeant with a Korean Service Medal, Combat Medic Badge and 1 Bronze Camp Star. ...

By MONA CHAREN It has traditionally been liberals, not conservatives, who have looked to the courts to implement their policy preferences. Whether it was racial and sex preferences, abortion, gay marriage, capital punishment or the "rights" of illegal aliens, liberals have attempted to move the country left by judicial fiat...

Bobby Pullam PIEDMONT, Mo. - Bobby Pullam, 41, of Piedmont, Mo. died Thursday, July 5, 2012, at the Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was born Aug. 10, 1970, at Poplar Bluff, Mo. and had lived in Piedmont for many years. He was a carpenter and had worked for Wesbecher Construction in Marble Hill, Mo. He was of the Baptist faith...

Billie C. Williams, Sr. VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Billie C. Williams, Sr., 80, Van Buren, Mo., died Thursday, July 5, 2012, in Springfield, Mo. He was born Aug. 6, 1931, in Crystal City, Mo. Mr. Williams had resided in Van Buren for the past 50 years and was formerly of Southern Illinois. ...

Jennifer House MALDEN, MO. - Jennifer Ann House, 37, of Malden, Mo., died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at Dexter, Mo. She was born Dec. 20, 1974, at Farmington, Mo. She was married to Tim House, who survives. Also surviving are one son, Chandler House of the home; mother, Nancy Shoemaker of Malden; and two brothers, Ben Shoemaker of Dexter and Tony Shoemaker of Malden...

Food drive to help St. Vincent The Butler County FSA office is partnering with the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank to participate in the fourth annual Feds Feed Families Food Drive, said Aaron Sandlin, executive director of the Butler County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)...