Stories from Monday, April 1, 2013

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Growing up witnessing flash floods and storm clouds develop in Poplar Bluff, Jeremy Goodwin never imagined one day he would be an award-winning TV meteorologist. The CBS affiliate WIBW chief meteorologist's story begins on the south side of Poplar Bluff, in an apartment in the Karen West apartments...

By M. QUEISER Staff Sgt. James Stafford wants to be more than just the local Missouri Army National Guard recruiter; he wants to be a positive influence to the area. "This sounds kind of cheesy, but I follow the 'it takes a village to raise a child concept'," said Stafford. "I want the young people in my area to know I'm someone they can come and talk to, whether they're going to join or not."...

Gaylon Strong MALDEN, Mo. -- Gaylon Woodrow Strong, 64, of Malden, Mo., died Thursday, March 28, 2013, at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter, Mo. Visitation will be from 10-11:30 a.m. Monday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Graveside funeral services will begin at noon Monday at Rosewood Cemetery...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- As the unendurable monotony of the offseason ends, celebrate baseball's return with mental calisthenics. Everyone knows it was former Atlanta Manager Dave Bristol who said, "Only trouble I ever had with chewing tobacco was that the orthodontist said my daughter was going to have to give it up because of her braces." But do you know:...

Hey, isn't that the spring bunny? By BILL O'REILLY Because this is the holiest week of the year on the Judeo-Christian calendar, it might be useful to look at how theology is faring in the age of secularism. As you may know, there is a movement in America to remove the word "God" from the currency, to replace the word "Christmas" with "winter" and to replace the word "Easter"' with "spring." On Long Island, where I live, one school is running a "spring egg hunt" with a special appearance by the "Spring Bunny.". ...

Terry Wayne and Alice Isabell Cheshire announcement the engagement of their daughter, Megan Dawn Cheshire, to Cody Allen Leach, all of Poplar Bluff, Mo. Leach is the son of Rick and Pam Dahlgren of Poplar Bluff, and Chris and Heather Leach, also of Pocahontas, Ark...

Zella McManus, Hunter, Mo., will celebrate her 100th birthday on Tuesday, April 2, 2013, with an open house. Family and friends are encouraged to stop by her house any time in the afternoon or evening to have some cake and ice cream and to wish her a happy birthday. Hunter is a very small town, so everyone knows where she lives. Also, there will be posters and signs for anyone who strays...