Stories from Wednesday, January 16, 2013

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A production company from Nashville, Tenn., stopped by Jim & Jerry's Restaurant & Pub Wednesday, hoping to film local "characters" for a reality show proposal. Creative Fuel Media is heading up the project. The company is co-owned by husband and wife Brian Speciale and Jodi Jones. ...

By ERIN RAGAN SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Matt Bowyer, a wildlife biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation, taps his hand quickly on the roof of the pickup's cab, signaling the driver to slow down. A beam from a handheld spotlight swoops to the right...

By SCOTT MOYERS SEMO News Service Attorney General Chris Koster is asking an appeals court to reinstate Missouri's ban on flag-burning, though the move was seen as pointless by some in light of a landmark 1989 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that would supersede any lower court's decision...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Rivers, creeks and lakes in Southeast Missouri rose quickly due to more than four inches of rain in some areas over the weekend. Numerous state and county roads were covered during the flash flooding, resulting in some vehicles becoming stranded...

SEMO News Service A bill that would do away with retirement benefits for members of the Missouri General Assembly has been filed by Rep. Donna Lichtenegger, R-Jackson. House Bill 93 would stop members of the Missouri House and Senate from accruing creditable service for a state retirement plan starting in 2014, according to a news release sent Friday by Lichtenegger's office...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce's 75th Annual Banquet offers residents the chance to beat the blistery January weather with "Paradise Bluff," a tropical luau. The event begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Black River Coliseum. Tickets are $35 if purchased by 5 p.m. Wednesday; tickets purchased after Jan. 16 will be $45 per person...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Members of the community have called on fledgling group Stop the Violence Poplar Bluff to be different from those which came before it, and fell by the wayside without accomplishing lasting change. "The thing that disturbs me is that for ages and ages, people have been getting together, but what happens after we get together is what makes all the difference in the world," Shaun Thompson said Monday evening during a meeting at Poplar Bluff High School. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor With more than 30 years of library leadership, Sue Crites Szostak is returning to her Butler County roots. Szostak, 56, of Columbia, Tenn., will begin work as the new director of the Poplar Bluff Public Library on Jan. 21...

Three Rivers College baseball coach Stacey Burkey was honored recently at the American Baseball Coaches Association's annual convention in Chicago. Burkey, who is entering his 20th season leading the Raiders, was recognized along with 20 other college coaches for his 25 years in coaching...

To the Editor: Last summer while on a drive (67 North) we struck something on the roadway that caused a flat tire immediately. We managed to cross over and turn back toward town near the overpass. Within a few minutes three young men stopped to help us. ...

By GEORGE F. WILL "I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it." -- Col. Nathan Jessep to Lt. Daniel Kaffee...

By GEORGE F. WILL "Even victors are by victories undone." -- John Dryden WASHINGTON -- Democrats not allergic to arithmetic must know the cost of their "fiscal cliff" victory. When they flinched from allowing all of George W. Bush's tax rates, especially those on middle-class incomes, to expire, liberalism lost its nerve and began what will be a long slide into ludicrousness...

Maybe it costs too much I would like to add my two cents worth to the lady's letter about the hard of hearing on TV commercials all I can hear is from captions also even Channel 17 the home town preacher. I can't hear or watch because of no captions. I talk to my preacher. I can't hear because of no captions, but nothing had been changed. Maybe it cost too much...

Willcut graduates Wm. Woods Heather Willcut of Poplar Bluff, Mo., graduated with a Education Specialist degree during the winter commencements at William Woods University in Fulton, Mo. She was one of 240 December graduates.

How to tell flu from cold The common cold and flu are caused by different viruses but can have some similar symptoms, making them tough to tell apart. In general, the flu is worse and symptoms are more intense. COLDS: Usual symptoms include stuffy or runny nose, sore throat and sneezing. Coughs are hacking and productive. It's unusual to have fever, chills, headaches and body aches, and if they do occur, they are mild...

Jan. 18 - 19 will mark the 27th anniversary of the Heartland Agriculture and Natural Resources Expo (Ag Expo), which will be held at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Ag Expo has continued to grow and add new events during the past 26 years under the direction of the Butler County University of Missouri Extension Council and the Ag Club of Three Rivers College...

Bring your children to the Ag Expo on Saturday, Jan. 19 anytime from 9 a.m. until noon to experience Garden Adventures for Kids. This hands-on event will be held by the Poplar Bluff Master Gardeners in the upstairs foyer of the Black River Coliseum. ...

An agricultural photography contest will be held at Ag Expo 2013 on Friday, Jan. 18 and Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo.. The contest is open to everyone and all entries must relate to agriculture in some way. Entries must be 5 x 7 or 8 x 10, framed and ready to stand. ...

To the Editor, Here is another New Year, 2013. I do wish everyone a nice New Year. I wonder if many people make . . . wonder how people who are superstitious are going to live this year? I have known some people who were so superstitious, they had a very hard time leading a normal life. A black cat would almost send them around the bend...

In addition to all the exhibitors, contests and educational seminars at Ag Expo 2013, there will also be entertainment offered both Friday, Jan. 18 and Saturday, Jan. 19. There will be gospel, jazz and country music for your listening pleasure. Musical entertainment will be provided throughout the event. ...

There is still time to register for the Ag Expo Beauty Pageant which will be held at the 27th annual Ag Expo 2013 on Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The divisions include: 9:30 a.m., Baby Girl, birth to 12 months; 10 a.m., Toddler Girl, 13 to 23 months; 10:30 a.m., Petite Miss, 2 to 4 years; 11 a.m., Tiny Miss, 5 to 7 years; 11:30 a.m., Little Miss, 8 to 12 years; noon, Junior Miss, 13 to 15 years; and 12:30 p.m., Miss Ag Expo, 16 to 20 years...

Prientus Hastings DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Prientus Lee Hastings, 82, of Doniphan, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. Mr. Hastings, son of Walter Hastings and Hazel (Hackworth) Hastings, was born Aug. 23, 1929, in Doniphan...

By REG HENRY Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fair warning. No matter what your political leanings, this column may shock or appall you. That is because, despite my proudly held liberal leanings, I intend to say something nice about a particular freshman congressman, a Republican of a conservative bent...

Juanita Umfleet DEXTER, Mo. -- Juanita Umfleet, 90, of Dexter, Mo., died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, at her home. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Josh Carpenter officiating. Burial will be in Triplett Cemetery near Dexter...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "Chuck Hagel is out of the mainstream of thinking ... on most issues regarding foreign policy," says GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham. Neocon William Kristol concurs: Hagel is "out on the fringes." But where, exactly, is the mainstream on foreign policy in 2013?...

Lester Henry ELLINGTON, Mo. -- Lester Henry, 88, of Desloge, Mo., formerly of Ellington, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at NHC Healthcare in Desloge. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Monday at McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellington, Mo. The funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Ellington City Cemetery...

Monroe Statler DEXTER, Mo. -- Monroe Statler, 90, of Bloomfield, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Golden Living Center in Bloomfield. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Triplett cemetery...

Carol Richman PUXICO, Mo. -- Carol Richman, 51, of Wappapello, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the home of her daughter in Fenton, Mo. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico, Mo. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Wayne Burchett officiating. Burial will be in Richman Cemetery in Wappapello...

Patricia Brown GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Patricia Diane Brown, 54, of Greenville, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, at Barnes Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home in Greenville.

Betty Henry Betty Ann Henry, 69, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of St. Louis, Mo., died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. The arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

The Agee Community Club Met on Jan. 11, at Ryan's. Nadine Johnson was this month's hostess. Jacque Gallamore gave the invocation. Club President Cathy Womack opened the meeting with the ladies reciting the Club Motto, "When the heart is full of love, the world if full of beauty." Roll call was answered with, "How I spent my Christmas." Womack read the devotional from Galatians 2:20-21. ...