Stories from Saturday, December 8, 2012

Editor's Note: This is the second of three stories about the McLane Family whose life was turned topsy-turvy when their third child turned out to be their third, fourth and fifth. By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Triplets! Lance and Ashley McLane of Poplar Bluff, Mo., knew carrying and delivering triplets would be high risk. Delivering healthy babies was foremost in their thoughts. Ashley had gone into labor early with both their daughters...

Bob Blair DEXTER, Mo. Bob Blair, 77, of Dexter, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Visitation will be from 5:30-8 p.m. Friday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Josh Carpenter and the Rev. Steve Tippen officiating. Burial follow at the Taylor Cemetery in rural Essex...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- Let's understand President Obama's strategy in the "fiscal cliff" negotiations. It has nothing to do with economics or real fiscal reform. This is entirely about politics. It's Phase 2 of the 2012 campaign. The election returned him to office. The fiscal cliff negotiations are designed to break the Republican opposition and grant him political supremacy, something he thinks he earned with his landslide 2.8-point victory margin on Election Day...

Billy C. Morris CORNING, Ark. -- Billy C. Morris, 61, of Corning, Ark., passed away Dec. 5, 2012 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Born Aug. 29, 1951 in Texarkana, Ark., Mr. Morris was an electrician and former pastor at Hickoria Missionary Baptist Church in Hickoria, Ark.. He loved his grandson and his dog Peanut...

Roma Warren NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- A celebration in heaven took place on Dec. 6, 2012 as Roma Lee (West) Warren, 74, of Naylor, Mo. entered the gates of home. Though family and friends grieve the loss of her bright guiding light, as earth and all there on would grieve the lost of the sun rays, we rejoice in her release to heaven. This one who loved, sheltered and held so many in now is the arms of God...

Fisk Elementary School has chosen its students of the month for November. They include James McCollough, kindergarten, Ariana Gracie Foulk, first grade, and Warren Thurman, second grade. McCollough is the son of Kevin and Katherine McCollough of Fisk. He is in Mrs. Wombles' class. His favorite food is Vienna sausages and his favorite animal is a turtle...