Stories from Monday, April 22, 2013

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A 56-mile Spring Dogwood/Redbud Driving Tour is being promoted by the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee. "Dogwoods and redbud trees bloom in a profusion of purple, pink and white. Add the spring color of fruit trees and you have the makings of a gorgeous spring driving tour," said Rose Anne Huck, tourism committee chairman. "The tour takes 1.5 hours without stops and follows the fall colors tour which started last year."...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff School District will hold on Tuesday the second of three meetings designed to inform parents about a program that will provide a laptop next year to every junior high student. Two sessions will be held, one at 5:30 and one at 7 p.m., at Kay Porter Theatre on the high school campus. Parents of next year's seventh grade class have been invited, as well as any other community member interested in more information...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer More than once, Oak Grove Elementary teacher Joy Dunlap Burke has used her own lunchtime to leave campus and purchase food for a student with food sensitivities who had forgotten his meal. Burke often arrives early and leaves late, joking with colleagues she would sleep at school if she could...

Why not stock popular brands? This is an open letter to WalMart, Kroger, all the big stores. You know Cork is a real super good brand and they make good coffee. Folger's makes a lot, too, but the Black Silk brand--you go to Kroger. WalMart or anywhere and they are always out of it. ...

Cane Creek Community Club met Wednesday, April 10, at Twin Towers. Seven members were present. Glenda Phillips, president, opened the meeting with the thought of the day --"Spring in the world! And all things are made new." Roll call was answered with thoughts of Easter. Marie Boxx's devotion was from Kindrick's Pearls of Wisdom writings in the book, "Chicken Soup for the Golden Soul." She also read Job 12:12 --"It is wisdom found among the aged. Does not long life bring understanding."...

By BILL O'REILLY On Monday night, I went before a live television audience and tried to put the Boston terror attack into some perspective. I told the viewers that as an American, I was angry. I said the attack was vile and cowardly, designed to injure innocent people including children. I put forth that the Nazis did that kind of thing...

Bill and Rosalie Jones of Poplar Bluff, Mo., celebrated 60 years of marriage Sunday, April 21, 2013. The couple was married at the home of the bride's parents, Hilda and Loyd Hopkins, with the bridegroom's grandfather, Sidney Jones, performing the ceremony near Jonesboro, Ark...

Alfred Evans MALDEN, Mo. -- Alfred Leroy Evans, 50, of Malden died Friday, April 19, 2013, at his residence. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the Stanfield Cemetery...

Kurt Luecke and Fawn Luecke announce the engagement of their daughter, Katelyn Ann Luecke, to Jared Matthew Kester, all of Poplar Bluff, Mo. Kester is the son of Jim Kester and Becki Gilkey, also of Poplar Bluff. The bride-to-be is a 2007 graduate of Poplar Bluff High School, who earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Arkansas State University and is employed by the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center...

DORA -- The Neelyville Tigers allowed just four runs over the course of three games over the weekend as they won the Dora Wood Bat Tournament title. The Tigers (16-1) defeated Bakersfield 9-1 Friday and followed that with a win over Seymour (Ark.). On Saturday, Neelyville took a 5-1 win over Hartville in the championship...

Charles Gillum PUXICO, Mo. -- Charles Gillum, 72, of Wappapello, Mo., died Sunday, April 21, 2013, at his home. Funeral services are pending with Morgan Sifford Funeral Home of Puxico, Mo.

Wanda Wagster FISK, Mo. -- Wanda Lee Wagster, 81, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, April 20, 2013, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born Aug. 15, 1931, at Fisk, the daughter of the late Leon C. and Marie Darby Collard. She was a member of Eastern Star, Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion and the Eagles. ...

Robert Johnson Sr. BERNIE, Mo. -- Robert Lee Johnson Sr., 84, of Bernie, Mo., died Saturday, April 20, 2013. Visitation will begin from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie. Funeral services will follow at noon at the funeral home. Burial will follow in the Bernie cemetery with full military honors...

Emily Knuckles Emily Marie Knuckles, 74, a lifetime resident of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Saturday, April 20, 2013, at her home.  Mrs. Knuckles was born May 16, 1938, in Parma, Mo. She was a cook for the Missouri Youth Services and enjoyed cooking and being with family and bowling. She was of the Baptist faith...