Stories from Sunday, August 5, 2012

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Twin Rivers voters will again vote Tuesday to approve or reject a no-tax-increase bond issue to fund a new $3.5 million, 43,000-square foot middle school at Broseley, Mo. "Shall Twin Rivers Reorganized School District No. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Proposed Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 asks voters Tuesday to tackle the long-debated relationship between religious freedom and public schools. The measure would amend the constitution to ensure two provisions: the right of Missouri citizens to express their religious beliefs and the right of school children to pray and acknowledge God voluntarily in schools. It would also require schools to display the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The contest for the Republican nomination for sheriff has created the most interest in the Aug. 7 primary election in Butler County. Sheriff Mark Dobbs, who is seeking his third four-year term, is being challenged by Presiding Commissioner Ed Strenfel and Wayne Gilmore...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer After rejecting a $0.86 per $100 assessed valuation tax levy increase in April 2012 to fund $4.5 million in new construction, Neelyville voters will now decide on a $0.275 increase to fund improvements to existing facilities...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Registration will remain open through Monday for a conference to be held this week concerning autism spectrum disorders. TouchPoint Autism Services will hold their 2012 Summer Institute on Autism Spectrum Disorders from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Friday at the Black River Coliseum...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor DUDLEY, Mo. -- "I was really excited," exclaimed 12-year-old Dakota Stroupe, moments after feeling the rush of beating wings from releasing a male wood duck back into the wild last weekend. "I liked playing with the ducks and doves."...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Eighteen primary election contests for county officials, including 10 for commissioner, five for sheriff and one each for collector, coroner and public administrator, will be decided Tuesday by voters in six area counties...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor There are no contests for state senator or state representative in Tuesday's primary election in Butler County, but voters in Reynolds, Ripley, Stoddard and Wayne counties will help decide legislative nominees. County clerks have mailed out new voter registration cards which list the legislative districts for where the voters reside. Changes in the House and Senate districts were made during the redistricting process in 2011...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Twin Rivers voters will again vote Tuesday to approve or reject a no-tax-increase bond issue to fund a new $3.5 million, 43,000-square foot middle school at Broseley, Mo. "Shall Twin Rivers Reorganized School District No. ...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer After rejecting a $0.86 per $100 assessed valuation tax levy increase in April 2012 to fund $4.5 million in new construction, Neelyville voters will now decide on a $0.275 increase to fund improvements to existing facilities...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Eighteen primary election contests for county officials, including 10 for commissioner, five for sheriff and one each for collector, coroner and public administrator, will be decided Tuesday by voters in six area counties...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor There are no contests for state senator or state representative in Tuesday's primary election in Butler County, but voters in Reynolds, Ripley, Stoddard and Wayne counties will help decide legislative nominees. County clerks have mailed out new voter registration cards which list the legislative districts for where the voters reside. Changes in the House and Senate districts were made during the redistricting process in 2011...

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...

By DAN K. THOMASSON Scripps Howard News Service The Chick-fil-A controversy over same-sex marriage holds some keys to the questionable advice President Barack Obama got from Rahm Emanuel when he was White House chief of staff. Emanuel, now the mayor of Chicago, has told the fast-food vendor that its restaurants aren't welcome in his city -- joining the chief executives of several other big cities with large gay and lesbian constituencies who have done the same in what can only be described as a clear case of political pandering.. ...

Is there a better solution? Dear Speak Out: I read the ballot that was in the paper about the Twin Rivers School bond issue and I find it very offensive that the wording is a coverall blanket statement. I prefer our tax money be spent for a specific project. ...

PHOTO AVAILABLE George and Sheryl Ridens of Poplar Bluff, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Jera Lee Ridens to Robert O'Neal Morse, both of St. Louis, Mo. Morse is the son of Julia Harlow and Bob and Cathy Morse, all of Cuba, Mo. The bride-to-be is a 2002 graduate of Poplar Bluff High School. She earned an associate's degree from Three Rivers College in 2004 and an associate's degree in radiologic technology from Arkansas State University in 2006. She is employed by Esse Health...

Mallory Mae Robison and James Aaron Goins, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo., were married at 2 p.m., Saturday, July 14, 2012, at Fellowship General Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff. Rev. Bud Goins performed the double-ring ceremony. Parents of the bride are Rick and Debbie Robison, also of Poplar Bluff...

Curtis and Colleen Ethridge announce the engagement of their daughter, Ashley Marie Ethridge, to Andrew Eugene Fox, all of Poplar Bluff, Mo. Fox is the son of Dennis and Sue Fox, also of Poplar Bluff. The bride-to-be is a 2004 graduate of American School in Lansing, Ill. She attended Three River College and is employed by the Poplar Bluff Police Department...

Marian Kulak Marian Jewel Kulak, 86, of Doniphan, Mo., died Tuesday, July 17, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mrs. Kulak was born May 17, 1927, in Adrian, Mich. She was a housewife and had lived in Doniphan since 1994...

There is still time to register for a free Babysitting course. Deadline to register is Monday, Aug. 6.! The Butler County University of Missouri Extension Center, Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, and the Butler County Health Center will offer a Babysitting Basics Short Course on Tuesday, Aug. 7. It will be held from a.m. to 4 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church. The Babysitting Basics workbook, meals, and snacks are provided by the sponsors. The course is free of charge...

Barbara Webb VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Barbara L. Webb, 78, of Fort Worth, Texas, died Monday, March 12, 2012, in Fort Worth. Mrs. Webb was born Feb. 3, 1934 in Grand Junction, Colo. She had lived in Fort Worth for the past year and was formerly of Thayer, Mo.. She had also lived in Van Buren years ago and loved the area. She was a chef and was of the Baptist faith...

Delmer Underwood BLOOMFIELD, Mo. --Delmer R. Underwood, 87, of Bloomfield, Mo., died Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012, in Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Underwood was born on June 16, 1925, in Bloomfield. He had lived in Bloomfield all of his life and was a former Mayor...

Eric Plummer PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Eric C. Plummer, 46, of Van Buren, Mo., died Saturday, July 28, 2012, in Van Buren, Mo. Mr. Plummer was born Feb. 10, 1966, in Bonne Terre, Mo. He grew up in Pevely, Mo., Doniphan, Mo., and the State of Wyoming. He made his adult home in Piedmont, MO. ...

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) MO 734 held its weekly meeting at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 1 at the First Presbyterian Church in Poplar Bluff, Mo. When the leader, Linda Morgan convened the meeting there were 19 TOPS and four KOPS members in attendance...

Columbia, Mo. -- University of Missouri Extension Council members from across the state learned about emerging research at MU and how it connects to citizens during the seventh annual Council to Campus conference, June 22-23. "MU's research and extension programs have public value and improve citizens' quality of life by reducing costs to society, empowering citizens to implement change, protecting the environment or building the economy," said HC Russell, chair of the State Extension Council...

Whitney N. Belote and Justin M. Kneir of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Bo Wade Michael Kneir for their 7-pound, 7-ounce son born at 2:58 a.m., Tuesday, July 17, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Grandparents are Mike and Cheryl Kneir of Poplar Bluff, Tom and Cheryl Bledsoe of Campbell, Mo., and James Belote of Piggott, Ark...

Dan Cathy, a devout Southern Baptist, was merely expressing his personal religious views during an interview with the Baptist Press Association. Cathy also happens to be the owner of Chick-fil-A, a fast-food franchise located in 39 states. He also happened to say he did not support gay marriage because of his religious views...

With all the medals at the XXX Summer Olympics being awarded, Xtreme Gymnastics recently took home some medals as well. Xtreme recently sent 11 athletes to the AAU Age Group Nationals in Wisconsin Dells, Wisc. and brought back five all-around champions...

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...

Marian Kulak Marian Jewel Kulak, 86, of Doniphan, Mo., died Tuesday, July 17, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mrs. Kulak was born May 17, 1927, in Adrian, Mich. She was a housewife and had lived in Doniphan since 1994...

Is there a better solution? Dear Speak Out: I read the ballot that was in the paper about the Twin Rivers School bond issue and I find it very offensive that the wording is a coverall blanket statement. I prefer our tax money be spent for a specific project. ...

Barbara Webb VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Barbara L. Webb, 78, of Fort Worth, Texas, died Monday, March 12, 2012, in Fort Worth. Mrs. Webb was born Feb. 3, 1934 in Grand Junction, Colo. She had lived in Fort Worth for the past year and was formerly of Thayer, Mo.. She had also lived in Van Buren years ago and loved the area. She was a chef and was of the Baptist faith...

Columbia, Mo. -- University of Missouri Extension Council members from across the state learned about emerging research at MU and how it connects to citizens during the seventh annual Council to Campus conference, June 22-23. "MU's research and extension programs have public value and improve citizens' quality of life by reducing costs to society, empowering citizens to implement change, protecting the environment or building the economy," said HC Russell, chair of the State Extension Council...

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...