Stories from Monday, August 12, 2013

Significant changes to the way traffic flows through the 5th and 6th Grade Center means parents are once again being urged to be patient and allow plenty of time to drop off children, especially on the first day of school. Classes resume at Poplar Bluff schools Thursday...

Students and teachers returning to the classrooms this week mean increased traffic on the roadways of Southeast Missouri at a time when the state is experiencing a nearly 20-percent decrease in traffic-related deaths. After 2012 when the state experienced a 4-percent increase in traffic deaths, officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol want to see the number of fatalities continue on this year's downward trend...

From the stage to the studio, there are a lot of talented people from the surrounding communities. Some of these familiar faces will be featured here one Sunday a month. VAN BUREN, Mo. -- For artist Pat Orr, oil paint and a brush capture more than the view from below the Highway 60 bridge of the sun setting over the water or the lush green trees surrounding a family house. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Three Poplar Bluff, Mo., men were charged Friday after having been caught in the act of allegedly burglarizing a rural home in which they had to escape by jumping out a window. Lee Aaron Jones Jr., 21, of the 1800 block of Alice Street, Brandon Mikel Chappell, 26, of the 200 block of East Midland and Lee Anthony Abraham Jr., 21, of the 1000 block of West Henry were charged with the Class B felonies of first-degree burglary and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and the Class C felony of stealing by Butler County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Ted Thompson.. ...

City worker harassment All of the negative comments regarding the City Workers in Poplar Bluff needs to stop. The city workers provide services for the community that ensure we are safe from harm and comfortable in our daily lives. I am speaking of your policeman, firemen and those that make sure that you have electricity, water and working sewers and for your pleasure cable. ...

Joy Ukachi-Nyampong and George Nyampong of Jacksonville, Fla. announce the engagement of their daughter, Nora Nneka Eekanya of Kansas City, Mo., to Frank Harrison Smith, also of Kansas City. Smith is the son of Catherine Stelte Smith and Dr. Gilbert Smith of Poplar Bluff, Mo...

To the Editor: A big THANK YOU to all the citizens of Butler County and surrounding area for joining us at the 2013 Butler County Fair! We could not have done it without you! We had a plus with outstanding weather this year. A big thanks to all the volunteers, Fair Board members and sponsors who supported us. ...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- Jen Psaki, blameless State Department spokeswoman, explained that the hasty evacuation of our embassy in Yemen was not an evacuation but "a reduction in staff." This proved a problem because the Yemeni government had already announced (and denounced) the "evacuation" -- the word normal folks use for the panicky ordering of people onto planes headed out of country...

Three Poplar Bluff, Mo., students received awards at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. Industry leaders representing more than 1,100 businesses, corporations, trade associations and unions recognized the students for their demonstrated excellence in 98 hands-on occupational and leadership contests, such as robotics, criminal justice, aviation maintenance and public speaking. All contests are designed, run and judged by industry using industry standards...

Correction The name of one of Grace Thomas' surviving brothers, Clifton Porter, was misspelled in her obituary Friday.

Ruth Starr PIEDMONT, Mo. -- E. Ruth Starr, 95, of Ironton, Mo., died Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013, at The Baptist Home in Ironton. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

Area residents wanting to learn first hand about the responsibilities and duties of a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper will have the chance to do so by attending a Community Alliance Program this fall at Troop E in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The mission of the Community Alliance Program is to provide personal interaction between area citizens and the patrol. It is designed to allow the public to learn more about the patrol's purpose and role within the law enforcement community...

By CLIFFORD D. MAY Scripps Howard News Service I like bipartisanship as much as the next guy. Still, the Washington Post headline Monday was disheartening: "Embassy, consulate closures applauded on both sides of the aisle." I don't doubt that intelligence analysts had evidence indicating that a terrorist attack was imminent. ...

Merrel Cloud MALDEN, Mo. -- Merrel Devon Cloud, 90, was received in heaven on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, while at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born May 22, 1923, in Rector, Ark., to Robert Cloud and Nevada (Malin) Cloud. Mr. Cloud married the love of his life, Oleda (Brandt) Cloud, in Malden, Mo., on Aug. 15, 1942...

Earline Adamson FISK, Mo. - Earline Ida Adamson, 77, of Crystal City, Mo., formerly of DeSoto, Mo., died Friday, Aug. 9, 2013 at Crystal Oaks in Crystal City, Mo. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Saturday at Mahn Funeral Home in Festus, Mo. There will also be a visitation from 5 - 8 p.m. Sunday at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. The funeral service will be Monday at 10 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with Don Boyd officiating. Burial will be at Little Brushy Cemetery in Wappapello, Mo...

Ralph Davis Ralph Davis, 90, of Nixa, passed away Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013, in his home, after a long illness. He was born to Homer and Virginia (Davis) Davis, in Walnut Ridge, Ark., June 10, 1923. He was raised in Poplar Bluff, Mo., until age 19, when he joined the Army Air Corps in 1942. ...

Jerry Richmond DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Jerry L. Richmond, 80, of Grandin, Mo., died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013, at his home after a 16-month-long battle with cancer. Jerry was born in Ripley County, Mo., on March 30, 1933. He was the son of Roy and Evelyn (Freeman) Richmond...

Michael Braden IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO -- Michael Joseph Braden, 51, of Idaho Falls died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013, at his home surrounded by his family. He was born May 15, 1962, in Zilwaukee, Mich., to Harold Wayne Braden and Carol Jean Branum Braden. His family moved several times during Mike's childhood, settling in Poplar Bluff, Mo. where he graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 1980...

Practices start Monday for all six sports to be played this fall at Poplar Bluff High School. The Lady Mules softball team will start bright and early at Bacon Park with a two-a-day tryout that starts at 6 a.m. and lasts an hour-and-forty-five minutes. They will return back to the field in the evening for an hour-and-a-half session at 6 p.m...

Carr Vernon will be walking on hallowed ground, playing the best amateur golfers in the world starting Monday. "I'm really going to take in a lot," said Vernon, who qualified for the 113th U.S. Amateur to be played in Boston. The tournament will be held at The Country Club, one of the original five clubs of the USGA...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor The 26th annual Women Aware Conference Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. is being planned around the theme "Believe...Achieve." Conference organizers selected the subject to go with keynote speaker Liz Murray's message...