Stories from Thursday, August 2, 2012

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer More than 470 students, nearly half the district's enrollment, turned out for the Twin Rivers Back to School Fair at the high school gym Wednesday. Each student who visited the fair could receive a backpack stuffed with school supplies, a hair cut, vision and dental screenings and even a physical for sports, all at no charge...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Rainfall is still 10 inches below normal at the Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport as the relentless 2012 heat wave continues to set records. "The average mean temperature for July in Poplar Bluff was 84.3. It is the third hottest July," said Allan Curtis, assistant director of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center at Champaign, Ill...

The 2012-2013 school year for the Poplar Bluff R-I School District will begin on Thursday, Aug. 16. Teachers report for workshops Aug. 13-15. Students registering in the Poplar Bluff R-I School District for the first time will need to have a birth certificate, Social Security number and immunization record in order to complete the registration process. The locations and dates for registration at the various grade levels are as follows:...

The 2012-2013 school year for the Poplar Bluff R-I School District will begin on Thursday, Aug. 16. Teachers report for workshops Aug. 13-15. Students registering in the Poplar Bluff R-I School District for the first time will need to have a birth certificate, Social Security number and immunization record in order to complete the registration process. The locations and dates for registration at the various grade levels are as follows:...

Twin Rivers High School will host Ninth Grade Orientation in the high school cafeteria at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13, for all incoming ninth grade students. Important information will be distributed. Due to limited space, only the ninth grade student and a parent/guardian should plan to attend...

It's Canning Season! Judging from the phone calls and office visits, the gardens in the area are looking good. Gardeners get a lot of satisfaction out of harvesting delicious veggies. Many people are canning for the first time this year. Now is the time to not be too creative with canning...

Producers are urged to report crop losses resulting from a weather-related disaster event within 15 days of the disaster or when the loss first becomes apparent, this includes crops covered by crop insurance, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and crops without insurance coverage, said Aaron Sandlin, Butler County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director...

Three Rivers College has announced that Richard McGill has been named interim Dean for Career Education and Workforce Development, overseeing career and technical programs and workforce training. "I'm excited and honored to have the opportunity to serve in this role," McGill said in a press release from Three Rivers. ...

Linda Morgan, leader, presided over the weekly meeting of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) MO 734 held at at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 25, at First Presbyterian Church, corner of Oak and Main streets. In attendance were 15 TOPS and four KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly) members...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Ted Cruz's victory in Tuesday's Texas Republican runoff for the U.S. Senate nomination is the most impressive triumph yet for the still-strengthening tea party impulse. And Cruz's victory coincides with something conservatives should celebrate, the centennial of the 20th century's most important intra-party struggle. ...

To the Editor: In DAR's July 22, 2012, edition of Speak Out, Sign of the Times writer blames unions for the economic meltdown. Halliburton's workers in Iraq and Afghanistan are not union workers and they are getting high dollar. Are they paying income tax? I doubt it...

Leave God in it Yes, I see on the news where Obama is stuck on the Bain Corp. concerning Mr. Romney again. Ah, at least Mr. Romney is a gentleman. He's not calling Obama out on the abortions that he's stands for. He's not calling out Obama on the gay marriages which is a abomination of the God that he stands for. ...

By MONA CHAREN If just one man had given his life by throwing himself atop his girlfriend to shield her from bullets in that Aurora, Colo., theater, it would have been cause for amazement. That three apparently did so is deeply affecting. People earn the Medal of Honor for such courage and self-sacrifice in the military. There is no equivalent in ordinary life -- or what should be ordinary life...

Virginia Ellsworth BERNIE, Mo. -- Violet Virginia Ellsworth, 92, of O'Fallon, Mo., died Tuesday, July 31, 2012, at Garden View Care Center in O'Fallon. Mrs. Ellsworth was born on May 12, 1920, in Bernie, Mo. She was a member of Pilgrim's Rest Church in Fairdealing, Mo., a former caterer with Serv O Nation in St. Louis and a former cook at Newberry's in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

Hopefully, August will be a little bit cooler than normal, but the long-range weather forecast doesn't look like it will be any different than what we have been experiencing. So far, Mother Nature has ignored our neighborhood when it comes to rainfall. During the month of July, we have collected less than an inch in the rain gauges...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor The SEMO Friends of NRA will be celebrating its 20th year of supporting the shooting sports during its annual banquet, scheduled for Aug. 18 at the Black River Coliseum. "This is going to be our biggest and best," said FNRA Committee Chairman Tim Heuiser of the event...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Area bowhunters have an opportunity to sharpen their skills before the fall hunting season, while at the same time helping those in need. The 2nd annual St. Jude Archery Shoot, scheduled for Aug. 11, is a joint effort of the Indian Creek Bowhunters archery club and the Poplar Bluff St. Jude Heroes team to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn...

By SYD HAYMAN Staff Writer The Child Concern Center, an organization that assists families and individuals in need, is asking for more community volunteers. The center offers a thrift store and food pantry and works with families on their specific needs...

By LINDA REDEFFER SEMO News Service MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Some 1.25-inch pipe and a few old tractor tires have kept cattle on Lester and Ima Jo Barks' farm from being thirsty. With farm ponds and creeks drying up, Lester Barks needed a way to get water to his cattle more easily than trucking in tanks of water. So, working in conjunction with the local USDA farm service office, he built his cattle a water system...

After spending just a season on Poplar Bluff High School's soccer sideline last school year, a great opportunity fell into Rusty Crafton's lap in July. A chance to head coach both the Mules and the Lady Mules. Crafton, who assisted just during the Lady Mules' spring season, was set to take over for head coach Jamie Waddell, who resigned from the position in order to lessen his work load. ...

Jamie Lynch MALDEN, Mo. -- Jamie Lee Lynch, 37, of Malden, Mo., died Sunday, July 29, 2012, in Dexter, Mo. Mr. Lynch was born June 18, 1975, in New Orleans, La. He was of the Catholic faith and was employed by Gateway Shoes in Dexter. On June 10, 2011, he was married to Rebecca Diann Johnson Lynch in Malden. She survives of the home...

James Dale Greer James Dale Greer, 72, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, July 28, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Greer was born Nov. 10, 1939 in Fisk, Mo. He was a member of the Rombauer General Baptist Church. Mr. Greer enjoyed hunting and fishing, and collecting and polishing rocks...

Ruth A. Taylor Ruth A. Taylor, 93, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, July 26, 2012 at the Mark Twain Caring Center. Ms. Taylor was born Oct. 6, 1918, at Cotton Plant, Ark. She had lived in Poplar Bluff since 1980, but was previously a resident of Chicago, Ill. A retired housekeeper, she loved to cook, read, visit with friends and attend church. She was a member of New Home Missionary Baptist Church...

Elmer Evans NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Elmer V. Evans, 91, of Naylor, Mo., died Tuesday, July 31, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Evans was born March 9, 1921, in Pageland, S.C., to Richard Evans and Annie Laney Evans. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and had retired from Caterpillar Tractor Co., in Peoria, Ill...

Bertha Spicer Bertha Spicer, 99, of Calumet City, Ill., formerly of Butler County, Mo., died Sunday, July 29, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Spicer was born July 10, 1913, in Forest City, Ark. She was a member of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church near Broseley, Mo., and was a homemaker. Mrs. Spicer enjoyed spending time with her family, doing missionary work and sewing...

Virginia Nicholson LAKE CHARLES, La. -- Virginia Arnold Nicholson, 90, died Tuesday, July 31, 2012, in a local care center. Mrs. Nicholson was born in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and was a resident of Lake Charles. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and a member of the Vic Club. She also was a member of the American Legion Post and the Enterprise Club. She served as a Pink Lady at LCMH. She retired from nursing with WCCH after 30 years of service...

Lee Hester Sr. DEXTER, Mo. -- Lee Arthur "Pops" Hester, Sr., 78, of Essex, Mo., died Sunday, July 29, 2012, at his home. Mr. Hester was born on August 24, 1933, in Armorel, Ark. He had lived his entire life in Southeast Missouri and had lived in Essex for more than 45 years. He was honorably discharged after serving two years in the U.S. Army. He worked for the A.F. Evans family for more than 35 years...

Sara LaShea and Nick Doyle Richmond of Ellsinore, Mo., have chosen the name June Marie Richmond for their 7-pound, 8-ounce daughter born at 3:17 p.m., Saturday, July 28, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau, Mo. June was 19 and one-quarter inches long...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer In less than two hours, staff at Aire Solutions Heating & Air Conditioning gave away 500 Chick-fil-A sandwiches in a local show of support for national Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day Wednesday. (The event was born after the chain's owner came under heave attack nationwide for his religious view on gay marriage.) Aire Solutions staff also accepted donations for the United Gospel Rescue Missions' yearly chili cook-off, collecting $1,287...

Young girls and boys and young ladies from the area are invited to participate in the annual Heartland Pageants, to be held in Dexter on Sunday, Sept. 2. The pageants will be held Bearcat Event Center on the campus of Dexter Schools on Grant Street...

Producers are urged to report crop losses resulting from a weather-related disaster event within 15 days of the disaster or when the loss first becomes apparent, this includes crops covered by crop insurance, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and crops without insurance coverage, said Aaron Sandlin, Butler County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director...

Linda Morgan, leader, presided over the weekly meeting of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) MO 734 held at at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 25, at First Presbyterian Church, corner of Oak and Main streets. In attendance were 15 TOPS and four KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly) members...

Young girls and boys and young ladies from the area are invited to participate in the annual Heartland Pageants, to be held in Dexter on Sunday, Sept. 2. The pageants will be held Bearcat Event Center on the campus of Dexter Schools on Grant Street...

Producers are urged to report crop losses resulting from a weather-related disaster event within 15 days of the disaster or when the loss first becomes apparent, this includes crops covered by crop insurance, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and crops without insurance coverage, said Aaron Sandlin, Butler County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director...

Producers are urged to report crop losses resulting from a weather-related disaster event within 15 days of the disaster or when the loss first becomes apparent, this includes crops covered by crop insurance, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and crops without insurance coverage, said Aaron Sandlin, Butler County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director...

Producers are urged to report crop losses resulting from a weather-related disaster event within 15 days of the disaster or when the loss first becomes apparent, this includes crops covered by crop insurance, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and crops without insurance coverage, said Aaron Sandlin, Butler County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director...

Producers are urged to report crop losses resulting from a weather-related disaster event within 15 days of the disaster or when the loss first becomes apparent, this includes crops covered by crop insurance, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and crops without insurance coverage, said Aaron Sandlin, Butler County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director...

Producers are urged to report crop losses resulting from a weather-related disaster event within 15 days of the disaster or when the loss first becomes apparent, this includes crops covered by crop insurance, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and crops without insurance coverage, said Aaron Sandlin, Butler County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director...

Producers are urged to report crop losses resulting from a weather-related disaster event within 15 days of the disaster or when the loss first becomes apparent, this includes crops covered by crop insurance, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and crops without insurance coverage, said Aaron Sandlin, Butler County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director...

Producers are urged to report crop losses resulting from a weather-related disaster event within 15 days of the disaster or when the loss first becomes apparent, this includes crops covered by crop insurance, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and crops without insurance coverage, said Aaron Sandlin, Butler County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director...

Producers are urged to report crop losses resulting from a weather-related disaster event within 15 days of the disaster or when the loss first becomes apparent, this includes crops covered by crop insurance, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and crops without insurance coverage, said Aaron Sandlin, Butler County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director...

Producers are urged to report crop losses resulting from a weather-related disaster event within 15 days of the disaster or when the loss first becomes apparent, this includes crops covered by crop insurance, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and crops without insurance coverage, said Aaron Sandlin, Butler County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director...

Producers are urged to report crop losses resulting from a weather-related disaster event within 15 days of the disaster or when the loss first becomes apparent, this includes crops covered by crop insurance, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and crops without insurance coverage, said Aaron Sandlin, Butler County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director...

Producers are urged to report crop losses resulting from a weather-related disaster event within 15 days of the disaster or when the loss first becomes apparent, this includes crops covered by crop insurance, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and crops without insurance coverage, said Aaron Sandlin, Butler County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director...

Producers are urged to report crop losses resulting from a weather-related disaster event within 15 days of the disaster or when the loss first becomes apparent, this includes crops covered by crop insurance, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and crops without insurance coverage, said Aaron Sandlin, Butler County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director...

Producers are urged to report crop losses resulting from a weather-related disaster event within 15 days of the disaster or when the loss first becomes apparent, this includes crops covered by crop insurance, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and crops without insurance coverage, said Aaron Sandlin, Butler County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director...