Stories from Monday, September 16, 2013

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A Poplar Bluff, Mo., woman who fell from a vehicle early Friday evening on Highway AA is in serious condition at a St. Louis, Mo., hospital, according to Butler County Sheriff's Department. The incident, which occurred near Highway B, is still under investigation, Sheriff Mark Dobbs said Saturday...

Dr. Jon Hagler, Missouri Director of Agriculture, will be the keynote speaker for the 48th Annual Truman Day Rally Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Poplar Bluff ELKS on outer road, Highway 67 North. Festivities will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a social hour and music by Brittany Beers. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Butler County Republicans will honor area veterans during the annual "Freedom Isn't Free" Banquet at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 in the Poplar Bluff Aad Grotto at 3102 Kennedy Lane. This building can be reached by going east on Barron Road from the Municipal Utilities office and turning north at the first curve. The cost is $25 per person...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport received 10.37 more inches of rain during the summer of 2013 than in 2012 and the average temperature was 2.7 degrees cooler Rainfall at the airport totaled 17.51 inches during the three summer months, according to the National Weather Service at Paducah, Ky. This was the wettest summer since 2009 when 14.40 inches fell...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor WAPPAPELLO LAKE, Mo. -- Emergency responders and industry personnel from across Southeast Missouri worked side-by-side last week to hone their skills and develop relationships as they participated in oil spill response training at Wappapello Lake...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer As a newly appointed member of the Coordinating Board for Higher Education, a Poplar Bluff, Mo., attorney will be able to offer input on how Missouri universities and community colleges are funded, as well as policies that impact the way they do business and educate students...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer With guidelines for keeping Camp Latonka in operation being released by the Girl Scouts of Missouri Heartland, volunteers with the Save Camp Latonka group are now working to formulate a three-year plan by the October deadline...

The Ripley County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the Eighth Annual Ozark Regional Timberfest, sponsored by Stihl chainsaws, Oct. 11- 12. The event will be held at the Ripley County Fairgrounds, with gate admission at $6 for adults, $3 for students and children 5 and under will be admitted free...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer From 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, the first "Adoption Picnic," sponsored by Kiwanis Club and Key Club and River Radio Group, will be held at Bacon Park. Lunch and activities will be provided free for all who attend. T-shirts also will be available for the first 50 who join the festivities...

By ERIN RAGAN SEMO News Service Former Missouri congressman Bill Burlison is making a third attempt at rejoining the political world in a run for the Missouri House of Representatives. Burlison, a Democrat from Wardell, Mo., was canvassing for the 2014 election Wednesday and not immediately available for comment, though his wife confirmed he is seeking the House seat held by Rep. Steve Hodges, a Democrat from East Prairie, Mo. Hodges faces term limits in the November 2014 election...

TOPS MO 734 Take Off Pounds Sensibly was called to order at 10 a.m. Wednesday3. Fifteen TOPS and three KOPS were present as leader Linda Morgan called the meeting. Lou Ann Wrather read the secretary's report following roll call. The best losers were Julia Moore for TOPS and Millie McClannahan for KOPS. Chapter members wished a happy birthday to Judy Colvin. Lou Roach won the exchange chart drawing and Gladys Hill won the Gotcha Box drawing...

William (Bill) and Freda Bryan of Poplar Bluff, Mo., celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends at a dinner hosted by Freda Bryan's sisters, Betty Dover of Poplar Bluff and Sandra Harrison of Fisk, Mo. The couple was married July 18, 1963. They have lived in Poplar Bluff since then...

AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary to Post 29 met Sept. 3. The meeting was opened with prayer by Chaplain Shirley Clark. Minutes were read by secretary Jewel Scholl and approved with corrections. Patsy Phelan, third vice-president, presented nursing home visits for the month: Oakdale, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2 p.m., root beer floats; Westwood Hills, Thursday, Sept. 12, refreshments; and Whispering Oaks, Sept. 24, 1 p.m., Bingo and refreshments...

First Grade: Lake Road's first grade student of the month is Mason Bridgewater. Mason is in Ms. Tooke's classroom this year. He is the son of Amy Bridgewater of Poplar Bluff and Eric Bridgewater. Mason really loves his family. He said he really likes playing with his brother Wade and cousin Nick. ...

By SHARON RANDALL Scripps Howard News Service In the drugstore, when I got lost looking for shampoo and ended up on the "Back to School" aisle, I saw a mother with three young children picking out school supplies. The girl wanted everything pink. The boy wanted anything "Spider-Man." The baby wanted something to chew on. And the mother wanted a break...

By BILL O'REILLY Here's the crime story of the week. New York City cops busted a heroin ring comprised of five religious Jews, all male. Prosecutors allege that the men sold a variety of hard drugs out of a Brooklyn apartment but would not provide the narcotics from Friday evening through Saturday morning because of Shabbat. The rest of the week, they would sell you all the heroin, cocaine and oxycodone you want...

Randall Pickard FISK, Mo. -- Randall James Pickard, 54, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013, at Naylor, Mo. Mr. Pickard was born June 29, 1959, in Tulsa, Okla. He had served in the U.S. Army. He was a truck driver for Prairie Farms for several years and later was an owner/operator as an over the road truck driver...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- At 4 a.m. on Jan. 1, 1959, an hour when there never were commercial flights from Havana, David Atlee Phillips was lounging in a lawn chair there, sipping champagne after a New Year's Eve party, when a commercial aircraft flew low over his house. He surmised that dictator Fulgencio Batista was fleeing because Fidel Castro was arriving. He was right. Soon he, and many others, would be spectacularly wrong about Cuba...

Robbie Hardgrave DONIPHAN, Mo. --Robbie Jo Hardgrave, 87, of Doniphan, Mo., died Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013, at her residence in rural Ripley County. Mrs. Hardgrave, daughter of Willie and Verbie (Manning) Jenkins, was born Oct. 12, 1925, in Knoxville, Ark. She was a housewife. Mrs. Hardgrave enjoyed crocheting, fishing, reading, working with flowers, farming and she especially loved raising her children...

Melba Cantrell DEXTER, Mo. -- Melba Ann Cantrell, 66, of Washington, La., formerly of Dexter, died Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013, at her home. Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. Sunday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Chapel in Dexter. Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Tim Russell officiating...

Louetta Johnson MALDEN, Mo. -- Louetta Marie "Tootie" Johnson, 54, of Kennett, Mo., died Friday, Sept. 13, 2013, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Monday at Bradshaw Funeral Home of Malden. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton, Mo...

Brian Richardson CLARKTON, Mo. -- Brian "Bull" Keith Richardson, 39, of Clarkton, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Richardson, son of Jerry and Peggy Richardson, was born April 22, 1974, in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

Twin Towers has an activity scheduled every day, Monday through Friday. Beginning at 9 a.m., Monday, when the P.A.C.E. (People with Arthritis Can Exercise) class meets in the Assembly Room. The program is led by a certified teacher from the Independent Living Center. Then, at 11:30 a.m., "Inner Peace" will sing gospel songs for everyone who enjoys lunch in the dining room. Tuesday, the Back Street Boys will sing and play a variety of songs during the lunch hour...

Charles McCormick Charles "Chuck" McCormick, 69, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Sept. 13, 2013, at Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. Graveside funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. in Bernie Cemetery...

MALDEN -- Malden's run defense struggled in the first half Friday night in its SEMO South opener against Portageville. After a tongue-lashing from their coaches at halftime, things just came together in the second half, which in turn, helped set the offense in motion...

Frank Haney HANDY, Mo. -- Charles "Frank" Franklin Haney, 71, of Handy died Friday, Sept. 13, 2012, at his home. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. Tuesday until the funeral service begins at 1 p.m., at Handy Church. Burial will follow in Handy Church Cemetery. Edwards Funeral Home of Doniphan, Mo., is in charge of arrangements...

The Tau Psi beauty pageant will be held Saturday, Sept. 21, at Neelyville City Park. Registration will begin at 11 a.m. with the pageant starting at noon. Girls are asked to wear pageant wear, and boys are asked to wear formal wear or "Sunday best." The entry fee is $20. Categories are as follows: boys, 0-23 months and 2-4 years; girls, 0-12 months, 13-23 months, 2-4 years, 5-7 years, 8-10 years, 11-13 years and 14-18 years. For more information, contact Shannon Davis at 573-989-3302...

DEXTER -- Dexter head coach Justin Peden was not on the sidelines Friday night. Dexter athletic director Derek Urhahn and Superintendent Dr. Thomas Sharp declined comment Friday morning, saying they can't discuss personnel matters. Peden did not return a call for comment Friday. Assistant coach Brian Becker handled the head coaching duties as Sikeston cruised to 403 yards of offense and a 34-0 win...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Down 7 early in the fourth quarter, the Poplar Bluff football team was looking to get the ball back Friday night. The Mules held Cape Central to a pair of 1-yard runs to bring up a third-and-long when quarterback Dennis Vinson dropped back to pass from his own 25-yard line...

ST. LOUIS -- Bailey Davidson was a blink of the eye away from running a sub-17 minute race at the 8th annual Forest Park XV Festival on Saturday in St. Louis. Davidson, a senior at Poplar Bluff, finished 11th in 17:00.4. Three other Mules were behind him...

The Women's Citizenship Club held its Sept. 4 meeting at the new location of the Kay Porter Edgewood Children's Home. The meeting began with a luncheon hosted by Lola Crain and Emalee Rhodes. Several other members assisted the hostesses with the luncheon enjoyed by the 12 members present and a guest, Judy Potter. Laverne Matthews blessed the meal...

TOPS MO 734 Take Off Pounds Sensibly was called to order at 10 a.m. Wednesday with 12 TOPS and two KOPS present. Leader Linda Morgan called the meeting. Following roll call, Lou Ann Wrather read the secretary's report and Cindy Bishop read the exercise report. The treasurer's report will be read next week...

Registration is now open for schools wanting to participate in the Fifth Annual Southeast Missouri Regional Spelling Bee to be held March 8 at Three Rivers College. Participating schools must complete their registration by Oct. 15 and complete a school-wide spelling bee before Feb. ...

WAPPAPELLO LAKE, Mo. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake is looking for volunteers to help remove trash and litter along roadways and designated locations on Saturday, Sept. 28, as they celebrate National Public Lands Day 2013 (NPLD). This national event is sponsored by the Toyota Motor Corporation...

By MONA CHAREN In March 2012, President Obama whispered to placeholder Russian president Dmitri Medvedev that he needed "space" on matters like missile defense until 2013. "After my election, I'll have more flexibility," the president blurted into an unsuspected open microphone. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "It was a damn near-run thing," said the Duke of Wellington. The Iron Duke was speaking of Waterloo. And for the United States, it was a damn near-run thing that we are not now in a major war -- with an enraged Arab and Muslim world viewing sickening videos of dead and dying Syrian women and children from U.S. missile strikes...

By DALE McFEATTERS This is the season of advice on how to get a job and how to get ahead in the job you already have. Here are three tips from the files of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Foster an enigmatic image. Cultivate an aura of mystery. Always project great confidence...

Scottie and Jordan Lindsay of Poplar Bluff, Mo. are the parents of a 7-pound, 6-ounce daughter named Reecie Grace Lindsay born at 5:25 a.m. July 26, 2013, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Reecie was 20 inches long. Her grandparents are Louie and Carol Lindsay of Broseley, Mo., and Steve and Sheliah Reece of Malden, Mo...

By KATHLEEN PARKER WASHINGTON -- As I read Vlad's op-ed in The New York Times, a Judy Collins tune kept replaying in my head: "Isn't it rich? Isn't it queer?" The song, actually written by Stephen Sondheim, although it is Collins' signature hit, is "Send in the Clowns" and seems an apt soundtrack for current events. ...

McRone Cemetery meeting The annual meeting for the McRone Cemetery will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in Grandin, Mo.

Linda Gilliam Linda Gilliam, 60, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013, at her residence. Arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

CAPE GIRARDEU -- For the second Saturday night in-a-row, the Dexter Lady Bearcats battled Notre Dame for the championship of a tournament. This time it was for the 48-team field Dig for Life Classic Gold Bracket, but the Lady Beacats were turned away at the Show Me Center...

Let's Talk correction In Sunday's edition of the Daily American Republic's Let's Talk section on page 4A, Jerry Wills name was misspelled. We regret the error.

Vietnam veterans group activities The local Chapter 1056 of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), along with the Associates of VVA, has been busy the past month with various activities. The Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America (AVVA) are spouses, family members, friends or otherwise supporters of VVA...