Stories from Wednesday, August 28, 2013

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Attempts to reach an agreement on the value of the Wealth Management property needed for the expansion of Oak Grove Road in Poplar Bluff, Mo., have not been successful. Robert and Robin Whelan, owners of the property at the southwest corner of Oak Grove Road and Westwood Boulevard, filed a motion for change of judge on June 20, but no action was taken while new appraisals were being obtained...

By KEITH LEWIS SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- There are more indications Cape Girardeau could be a filming location for 20th Century Fox's feature film "Gone Girl." A person involved with the production visited a local business about doing design work Monday, and a moving truck and two trailers connected to the motion-picture industry are in a parking lot along Independence Street...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Mississippi man was sentenced Monday afternoon to more than four years in federal prison for attempting to rob a Doniphan, Mo., bank in November. Patrick E. Newman, 46, of Blue Mountain, Miss., was sentenced to 51 months on one felony count of bank robbery by U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr., according to the U.S. Attorney's Office...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc. would like to have a Culture Fair during the fourth annual Iron Horse Festival on Saturday, Oct. 5. A meeting to discuss a Culture Fair will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday with a social period followed by a dinner at 6 p.m...

The Three Rivers College Patrons of the Arts Society has revealed its 2013-14 season, which will include the return of the Moscow Festival Ballet, an Eagles tribute contest, bluegrass duo Dailey and Vincent, and three children's shows. The Patrons also announced that it would be expanding their children's show offerings with performances in Dexter and Sikeston...

By KATHLEEN PARKER WASHINGTON -- If I had a son, he would look like Christopher Lane, the 22-year-old Australian baseball player shot dead while jogging in Oklahoma. If I had a father, he'd look like Delbert Belton, the 88-year-old World War II veteran beaten to death in Spokane, Wash...

Kearbey reunion will be Aug. 31 The Sam Kearbey reunion will be held Saturday, Aug. 31, at Bacon Park. Lunch will begin at 12:30 p.m. Please bring a covered dish. Soft drinks will be served.

3 Springs Cemetery meeting Sat. The annual meeting of the Three Springs Cemetery will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the cemetery with a potluck lunch to follow. Anyone interested in helping with the upkeep of the cemetery can contact Betty Harwell at (573) 989-4110...

By SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writer WASHINGTON (AP) -- Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday that a large-scale chemical weapons attack occurred in Syria. There are still many questions about chemical weapons, some of which can be answered easily and some of which can't...

Oprah's handbag Yeah, I was just listening the other day about that Oprah Winfrey in Switzerland about the handbag and I was reading today's paper about it. You know this tourism place said they apologized, the Swiss government apologized, the store owner apologized and then it goes on to say like it's Oprah Winfrey's fault like she lied about the whole thing the way I read the paper. Don't sound like much of an apology to me. Thank you. Bye...

MALDEN -- For the first time in school history, the Malden Green Wave will need to replace the SEMO Conference's top football player. Last November, Romello McCoy became the school's first-ever Carr Award winner after rushing for 2,106 yards, 31 touchdowns on the ground, one receiving score and a kickoff return for a TD...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS This week begins my 34th year serving on George Mason University's distinguished economics faculty. You might imagine my surprise when I received a letter from its Office of Equity and Diversity Services notifying me that I was required to "complete the in-person Equal Opportunity and Prevention of Sexual Harassment Policies and Procedures training." This is a leftist agenda for indoctrination, thought control and free speech suppression to which I shall refuse to submit. ...

To the Editor: There are still "Good Samaritans" in Poplar Bluff. What are we talking about? My husband, Roger, a strong, busy man with no known health issues was trimming our yard and fell lifeless on August 14th. A stranger to our family, but one that lives just down the street, saw him lying in the yard by his running mower and realized something was very wrong. ...

Eubanks reunion Saturday The children of Oscar and Daisy Eubanks are having a reunion starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Broseley Senior and Community Senior. Registration will begin at 10 a.m. with a potluck lunch following at noon. The Eubanks invite their friends and acquaintances to attend the reunion. For more information, contact Don Eubanks at (573) 967-3269...

Gertie Rodier MALDEN, Mo. -- Gertie Rodier, 85, of Malden, formerly of Gideon, Mo., died Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013, at Golden Living Center in Malden. Visitation will be from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The graveside funeral will follow beginning at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Stanfield Cemetery...

Debra Proctor NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Debra Marie Proctor, 60, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, 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...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The odds appear to be stacked against a young, inexperienced Southeast Missouri State football team this season. Coach Tony Samuel doesn't see things that way. He doesn't see why the Redhawks can't be a surprise Ohio Valley Conference contender, like they were in 2010 when they captured the program's first OVC title and gained the program's first playoff berth on any level...

Mary Sheppard NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Mary Ann Sheppard, 82, of Doniphan, Mo., formerly of Fairdealing, Mo., died Saturday Aug. 24, 2013, at Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. Ms. Sheppard was born Dec. 12, 1930, in Neelyville. She was member of Naylor Pentecostal Church and had served as Sunday school teacher and assistant Sunday school secretary. She was a homemaker who enjoyed quilting, embroidering and gardening...

Nelda Montgomery PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Nelda S. Montgomery, 63, of Piedmont died Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. The funeral service will follow at noon at the funeral home chapel with the Rev. John Hinklin officiating. Burial will be in Flatwoods Cemetery near Piedmont...

Robert Layne Robert Leonard Layne, 59, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Aug. 26, 2013, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Layne was born Jan. 1, 1954, in Poplar Bluff. He was a graduate of Poplar Bluff High School Class of 1971 and attended two years of college. ...

MALDEN -- Gunner Jones opened up some eyes late last season. Back as one of just six seniors on the Malden Green Wave football team, Jones was added as a new wrinkle to the offense late last season and it paid off. In an Oct. 20 game against Dexter, Jones burst out in the open field for touchdown runs of 75 and 61 yards. The following week in the Green Wave's first MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 playoff game against St. Pius X, Jones found the end zone twice more on rushes of 24 and 18 yards...