Stories from Wednesday, January 23, 2013

By ERIN RAGAN SEMO News Service Two Democrats considering a bid for a nomination to run in a special election for Missouri's 8th Congressional District are banking on conservative values, connections in the party and ties to the region's agricultural community for support...

Ed Boyt DEXTER, Mo. -- Ed Boyt, 80, of Dexter, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013. Funeral arrangements are pending with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

By MONA CHAREN Who said this about a world leader: He's a "political coward -- an essentially unchallenged leader who nevertheless is unwilling to lead or spend political capital to advance the cause of compromise"? Was it perhaps John Boehner describing Barack Obama? No, though the shoe would certainly fit. It was Barack Obama describing Binyamin Netanyahu...

Billy Jo Edwards DEXTER, Mo. -- B.J. Edwards, 30, of Park Hills, Mo., died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter, Mo. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be with full Military Honors in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo...

Marcia Hogan Marcia Kay Hogan, 42, died Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013. Ms. Hogan was born Feb. 25, 1970. Survivors include three children, Christopher Cody Danner, Dennis Jeffrey Danner and Jennifer Nicole Danner; and one brother, Billy Gene Hogan Jr. She was preceded in death by her father, Billy Gene Hogan Sr. and mother Vera Mae McNew-Hogan...

Nellie Franklin PUXICO, MO. -- Nellie Franklin, 86, of Puxico, Mo. died Monday, Jan. 21, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico.

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Senate hearings on the nomination of Chuck Hagel to be defense secretary will be a distinctive Washington entertainment, a donnybrook without drama. He should be confirmed: Presidents are due substantial deference in selecting Cabinet members because they administer presidential policies and, unlike judicial appointments, they leave when their nominators do. ...

PIEDMONT -- Van Buren seized all momentum from the start Saturday night in the Black River League championship. Against the odds of playing as the underdog in the top seed and defending champion's gym, the Lady Dawgs didn't allow a field goal to Clearwater in the first 8:51 of the game...

Nadine Ford DEXTER, Mo. -- Nadine Joyce Ford, 73, of rural Advance, Mo., died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Tillman Cemetery near Advance...