Stories from Monday, August 26, 2013

WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. -- As summer comes to a close, area residents are ready to celebrate the coming of autumn in the best possible way; with their friends and neighbors at the time-honored Williamsville/Black River Fire Department Labor Day Picnic in Williamsville Missouri...

2013 graduation rates This graduation rate measures the number of freshmen students who complete a regular high school diploma in four years.

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer "Smooth." Those are the words used by Neelyville R-IV administrators to describe the first week of classes. "This has been, as far as the operation of everything, probably the smoothest start I have had," said superintendent Brad Hagood. "I'm really pleased with how everything has been going."...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The first year of school performance scores that will be used in 2015 to accredit districts were made public Friday by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Area schools have already begun assessing their strengths and weaknesses to make improvements...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer In a small town like Qulin, Mo., the support of the community is instrumental to a great school year, according to Qulin librarian Stacey Doyle, who has worked in the district for 18 years. "We've always had good starts," she said. "We have a good group of kids, and our community always seems to be on board with getting our kids ready. They're prepared, and we're fortunate, because it's probably not like that in every school."...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer As Doniphan, Mo., resident Candi Maddox drove through the long grass of pasture near the Current River, a short gray yearling was the first of four horses to approach her utility vehicle. The gray's older companions, three retired race horses, headed immediately for the buckets of feed they knew would be in the back of the UTV. But Rainey wanted to be petted first and easily accepted the halter Maddox fit over the horse's head...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Nearly a dozen Poplar Bluffians recently "planted seeds" of the Christian message in a country where more than 95 percent of its citizens are Buddhists. Members of the Living Word Baptist Church on Township Line Road have gone on several mission trips over the years, including to countries in Eastern Europe and Mexico...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Patterson, Mo., community will recreate a significant part of its history Sept. 6-7 with the return of Civil War Days. The free two-day event will include re-enactors, music, food and events for children and adults...

By ERIN RAGAN SEMO News Service Opponents of House Bill 253 name education funding as the reason lawmakers should not vote for a veto override in an upcoming session of the Missouri Legislature. Over the past few months, Gov. Jay Nixon has traveled the state to campaign against an override of his veto. Supporters of the legislation say it would offer the first cut to Missourians' income taxes in 100 years if state revenue rises by $100 million annually...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Nowadays the federal government leavens its usual quotient of incompetence with large dollops of illegality. This is eliciting robust judicial rebukes, as when, last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia instructed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to stop "flouting the law." Judge Brett M. ...

Prepare: hard times a head Get prepared. This country is going to face some hard economic times. The new health reform and other things will damage an already weak struggling economy to the extent of despair. Pay as many debts as possible; save, save, save. Stretch every dollar. Be careful about taking new debts. Be as self sufficient as possible...

By SHARON RANDALL Scripps Howard News Service Trains. Can somebody tell me, please? What exactly is it about them? My grandchildren simply cannot seem to get their fill. Randy is 3. By day, he spends hours building wooden tracks for a series of small cars that are connected by magnets and go no farther than his room...

By BILL O'REILLY One of the highlights of my summer experience was the 50th reunion of my graduating class from St. Brigid elementary school on Long Island. Back in 1963, 60 children sat in a small classroom hoping for big things in the future. We had spent eight years together, but now high school beckoned, and all of our lives would change dramatically...

Sarah Elizabeth Gray of Jackson, Mo., and Benjamin Ralph Paynter of Poplar Bluff, Mo., announce their engagement. Gray is the daughter of Jesse and Janey Gray of Poplar Bluff. She is a 2006 graduate of Poplar Bluff Senior High. She graduated from Three Rivers Community College with an associate's degree in mass communication and from Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor's degree in mass communication with a television and film video production option. ...

Dustie Danielle Nash and Johnathan David Collins, both of Ellsinore, Mo., announce their engagement. Nash is the daughter of Wanda Kay Carpenter of Williamsville, Mo. She is a 2011 graduate of East Carter R-II High School and has an associate's degree from Three Rivers Community College in elementary education. She is employed with the Three Rivers Community College ACHIEVE Program and is a substitute teacher at East Carter R-II Schools...

Benjamin Thomas Burge and Ashley Nicole Dock, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo. have decided to be married at 4 p.m. Oct. 5, 2013 instead of May 31, 2014. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Betty Dock and granddaughter of Albert and Betty Coram, all of Poplar Bluff. Burge is grandson of Martha Burge of Essex, Mo. The bride-to-be is a 2011 graduate of Poplar Bluff High School. The bridegroom-to-be graduated from Richland High School in 2003 and is currently employed by Earl's Diner in Poplar Bluff...

Chaonia Cemetery cleaning to be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7. Descendants of those buried there and any other interested persons are encouraged to attend, and bring weedeaters, rakes and a sack lunch. Cecil Darnell of Williamsville, Mo. said, "Those who have cared for the cemetery until now are no longer able to do so, due to health issues and the infirmities of old age. We need to keep it up, as it won't take long for the wilderness to reclaim it."...

Three Rivers Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the conference room of the Bess Activity Center, Three Rivers College. The guest speaker will be Kevin Anderson, Business Development Specialist with Butler County University of Missouri Extension...

Rae-Ann Riddle, the 12-year-old daughter of Jeff and Charlotte Riddle of Dexter, Mo., recently competed in the 2013 Missouri Pre-Teen National American Miss pageant in Columbia, Mo. As a semi-finalist, Riddle competed against 160 young women between the ages of 10-13 from across Missouri...

One in five people will have a panic attack once in their lifetime. What would you do when this happens to a co-worker, loved one, or church member? Attend the Mental Health First Aid course to recognize symptoms of mental health problems, how to help and how to guide the person to professional help. ...

A clothing drive to benefit Haven House will be held by Maurices, in the Mansion Mall Sunday and continues through Aug. 31. Haven House is the local battered women's shelter, which also provides hotline, support groups and advocacy to women and their children who have been victimized by domestic violence...

John Childers CAMPBELL, Mo. -- John S. Childers, 49, of Campbell died Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Landess Funeral Home of Campbell.

Debra Proctor NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Debra Marie Proctor, 60, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Aug. 23, 2013, at her residence. She was born Nov. 19, 1952, at Poplar Bluff, to the late Willie James Burkett and Bertha Willcut Burkett. She enjoyed the outdoors, plants and spending time with her grandchildren...

Daryl Hollis MALDEN, Mo. -- Daryl Hollis, 50 of Malden died Friday, Aug. 23, 2013, at his residence. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Bradshaw Funeral Home Chapel in Malden. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Bradshaw Chapel. Burial will be the Rosewood Cemetery in Malden...

Gladys Waters Gladys Lucy Louise Waters, 82, formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away in Benton, Ark., at Saline Memorial Hospital, Friday, Aug. 23, 2013. Mrs. Waters was born Jan. 30, 1931 in Pinson, Ala., to John Wesley and Cora Belle Partain Rice...

Hoyte Clark MALDEN, Mo. -- Hoyte Junior Clark, 66, of Risco, Mo., died Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013, at Southeast Missouri Hospital of Cape Girardreau, Mo. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday until the 2 p.m. funeral at the Bradshaw Funeral Home Chapel in Malden...

Kay Jerls JACKSON, Mo. -- Rosalyn "Kay" Jerls, 56, of Puxico, Mo. passed away Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013 at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born Feb. 5, 1957 in Cape Girardeau, the daughter of Paul B. and Marjorie L. Mabrey Brown...

Terry DeJournett BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Terry Wayne DeJournett, 63, of Bloomfield died Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013, at his home. A private memorial graveside service will be held at a later date. Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.Online condolences:www.watkinsfuneralhome.com...

Harold Greenwall Harold Greenwall, 77, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Greenwall was born May 18, 1936 to the late Frank M. and Cora Mae (Smith) Greenwall at Williamsville, Mo. He enjoyed fishing and he worked in a factory making pre-hung doors and windows...

Lex Drum, Teresa Grimes Markos and Colby Robertson will join the Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame this fall. The trio will be inducted during a banquet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3 at Westwood Hills Country Club, the Sports Hall of Fame announced this week...

Jackson Scott Walters is the name Amber Lomax and Scott Walters, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen for their 5-pound, 3-ounce son born at 7:18 a.m., Monday, July 29, 2013, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Jackson was 18 and one-half-inches long...

Pete Peterson FORTH SMITH, Ark. -- Merrill "Pete" Peterson, 79, of Vian, Okla., formerly of Fort Smith, died Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013, in Fort Smith. Pete was born Dec. 6, 1933, in Shell Lake, Wis. Pete was retired from Ash Grove Concrete as a sales representative and was a member of the American Concrete Institution. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force and a former member of Saint Bartholomew's Episcopal Church...

Abigail Lee Darnell is the name Jaime and William Darnell of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen for their 6-pound, 13-ounce daughter born at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, 2013, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Abigail was 19-inches long. Grandparents are Denise and Wayne Darnell of Poplar Bluff and Billy and Tammy Rush of Corning, Ark...

Lilly Belle Massey is the name Joseph and Michelle Massey of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen for their 6-pound, 8-ounce daughter born at 3:52 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Lilly was 19 inches long. Grandparents are Cheryl and Alan Buttry and Doug Clark, all of Poplar Bluff, and Larry and Alliece Massey of Leroy, Ala. Great-grandparents are Mildred Clark of Homosassa Springs, Fla., and Corene Becker and Gene and Lois Gunn, all of Poplar Bluff...

ST. CLAIR -- Kameron Misner's first pass during the preseason jamboree Friday night went for six. On a fourth-and-9, the sophomore quarterback rolled out and hit an open Collin Jones. The senior tight end slipped past a defender for a 25-yard touchdown, the first of four for the Mules...

John Beard John Otho Beard, 94, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Friday, Aug. 23, 2013, at The Manor in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Beard was born April 25, 1919, in Carrington, Mo., to Louis and Elfia Way Beard. On June 1, 1946, he married Caroline Chiles, and later married Betty L. Rooffener in Camdenton, Mo., on March 27, 1965. Betty died in December of 1999...

Poplar Bluff native Ben Hansbrough signed a one-year deal with a Spanish basketball team, Herbalife Gran Canaria, according to the team website. The 6-foot-3 Hansbrough returns to European basketball after his rookie season in the NBA playing for the Indiana Pacers. He had previously played in Germany and Slovenia after going undrafted out of college...

CLEVELAND (AP) -- An 8-year-old Cleveland Indians fan with cerebral palsy had a wish straight out of Hollywood: He asked two of his favorite players to hit home runs. And Carlos Santana and Jason Kipnis sure know how to follow a script. Before Saturday's game against the Minnesota Twins, Niko Lanzarotta and his family were on the field watching the Indians take batting practice. The youngster met several players and asked Santana and Kipnis if they would hit knock one out of the park for him...

Don't force smoke on others I'd like to comment on the drive to have Poplar Bluff smoke-free in public places. It's not good for the health of our young people working in restaurants. I know several teenagers who don't smoke, but need jobs so bad they're willing to breathe that in. ...

By PAT BUCHANAN Christopher Lane, a 22-year-old Australian here on a baseball scholarship, was shot and killed while jogging in Duncan, Okla., population 23,000. He died where he fell. Police have three suspects, two black and one white. The latter said they were bored and decided to shoot Lane for "the fun of it."...

By BETSY HART Scripps Howard News Service As a young woman new to the world of work and loving it, I actually went through a phase in which I hoped I would not be able to bear children. Seriously. I've written before about my ambivalence about having a family -- before I had four children, of course. Yet I'm not sure I've shared that little tidbit!...

Robert Layne Robert Layne, 59, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Aug. 26, 2013, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

By MONA CHAREN Buried in a New York Times story about the economy was this arresting statistic: Median family income for black Americans has declined a whopping 10.9 percent during the Obama administration. It has declined for other groups as well -- 3.6 percent for non-Hispanic whites and 4.5 percent for Hispanics - but the figure for blacks is huge. It measures declines since June 2009, when the recession officially ended...

The Naylor Lady Eagles have reached that rarefied air in athletics where they are competing against their own limitations. After a runner-up finish in the MSHSAA Class 1 State Championship last season and two consecutive years of making it to the quarterfinals, a loss of any kind has become unacceptable. The bar has been set so high it has become intangible...

Charlene Brandt PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Charlene Brandt, 62, of Mill Spring, Mo., died Monday, August 26, 2013, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont.

Sarah Roberts MALDEN, Mo. -- Sarah Nell Roberts, 79, of Clarkton, Mo., died Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013, at her residence. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Lynn Oak Cemetery in Clarkton...

Carol Ross PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Carol Jo Ross, 73, of Piedmont died Sunday, August 25, 2013, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Eaton Cemetery...

A familiar face is back in Poplar Bluff's dugout this fall. Lisa Boyer returns for her ninth season as head coach of the Lady Mules softball team, but first since 2007. "It's great coming back," said Boyer, who has a 112-79 record. "I don't think I realized how much I missed it until I got back in there and started doing it every day."...

There will be not one but two Missouri state softball championships this year, and unlike boxing, there's not shot at a unified anything. In April, MSHSAA decided to hold both a fall and spring state softball tournament, starting this school year. Each member high school must pick which it will participate in. ...

David Sinsabaugh NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- David Charles Sinsabaugh, 73, of Naylor, Mo., died Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013, at his residence. Mr. Sinsabaugh was born in 1940 in Poplar Bluff. He was a member of the American Legion in Naylor and served as a Marine during the Vietnam conflict. He was a retired lance corporal gunner, and he enjoyed golf and playing pool...

Deborah McClintock MALDEN, Mo. -- Deborah Jean McClintock, 58, of Dexter, died Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be at Sanfield Cemetery in Clarkton, Mo...

George Clark VAN BUREN, Mo. -- George Warren Clark, 88, of Van Buren died Sunday, August 25, 2013, in Van Buren. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday at McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home...

Hazel Crouch BERNIE, Mo. -- Hazel Vivian Gregory Walker Crouch, 92, of Bernie, Mo., died Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013, at her residence. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. today at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Bill Pennington officiating. Burial will follow in the Bernie Cemetery...

Nancy Carlton NEELYVILLE, Mo., -- Nancy Carlton, formerly of Naylor, Mo., Oct. 29, 1939, to Aug. 21, 2013, was preceded in death by her husband, William Carlton; children, Edward James Carlton, Anthony Lewis Carlton, Debra Louise Carlton and Vicki Lynn Carlton; and great-grandchildren, Rae-leigh Elizabeth Hoke and Konner Gage Carlton. ...