Stories from Thursday, October 24, 2013

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Southeast Missouri counties have some of the lowest life expectancies in the state, lower than countries like Malaysia and Kuwait, according to a recent Missouri Hospital Association Report. The lowest life expectancy is found in Pemiscot County, with 71.3 years, followed by Carter (71.9), Ripley (72) and Dunklin (72.4). Butler County is 11th lowest at 73.8 years...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A Williamsville, Mo., man has been issued a cease and desist letter urging him to "immediately cease making defamatory statements" against a local school official. The letter, from Mickes Goldman O'Toole, LLC, is addressed to Brian Becker on behalf of Greenville R-II Superintendent Todd Porter. It states failure to immediately cease making defamatory statements "may result in legal action against you."...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer WILLOW SPRINGS, Mo. -- Three Rivers College made official Tuesday an agreement that will allow it to open the institution's sixth full service off-campus location. The college will partner with Missouri State University to provide college-level courses in Willow Springs. The pair signed an agreement during a ceremony at Willow Springs High School to form the South Central Education Consortium...

Solution to Obamacare Yeah, I was just watching the news on Crossfire -- he don't like this here health care system that the Democrats have put forward and he's got ideas on how to take care of everything and how to stop this stuff pre-existing conditions and stuff like that. ...

The National Drug Take Back Day will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday. Any unwanted medications can be dropped for proper disposal. Collection sites in this area include: Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce, 1111 W. Pine Blvd., Poplar Bluff, Mo., sponsored by Poplar Bluff Police Department...

By MONA CHAREN The constipated debut of Obamacare has reduced the president of the United States to the status of TV pitchman. "Act now" to get this great product, he exhorted listeners on Monday, offering testimonials from one of the rare successful purchasers, promising limitless benefits and low prices, and even an 800 number. ...

Qulin Middle School has released the Honor and Merit Rolls students for the 1st Quarter. Honor Roll Fifth GradeGage Barton, Briana Elsworth, Blake Jordan, Ashley Langley, Hunter Lourance, Drew Love, Cody McCrory, Karson Null and Tyler Suiter. Merit Roll...

To the Editor: When I read the article in the DAR on Oct. 15, 2103, regarding the "Protestors Making a Point," I was amazed to read the quote from Representative Jason Smith's district director Darren Lingle. "Never could I have imagined that an American President would barricade our national parks, rivers and monuments to score political points," Smith's letter stated. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "We told you you would lose!" wail the Beltway bundlers of the Republican establishment. "We told you you would lose!" moan neoconservative columnists from their privileged perches on the op-ed pages of the Beltway press. "Look at what Ted Cruz and this Tea Party people did to us," wails the GOP establishment. "Look what has happened to our brand." And 2014 was looking wonderful...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Fishing for several species, at Wappapello Lake anyway, seems to be going well, according to Dave Maddux at Slabber Daves Sporting Goods. "The crappies were in the shallow flats, but now they're on the edge of the river channel," Maddux reported...

Poplar Bluff's three volleyball seniors were together again on the court Tuesday night at Peters Gym. A month ago it didn't look like that may happen. Samantha Gatewood has returned from an ankle injury, joining fellow seniors Miranda Dunlap and Kaylie Tackett for their final home match, a 25-13, 25-18 loss to Paragould (Ark.)...

CAMPBELL -- It's a good thing there's still over a week to go before Halloween. Before passing out candy to the trick-or-treaters, the Greenville Lady Bears and Campbell Lady Camels need a little more time to shore up their volleyball passing. Each teams' coach felt afterwards that passing cost them a set before Greenville went on to win the deciding third set for an 18-25, 25-12, 25-14 win...

Three Rivers has dismissed Johnnie McGhee from the men's basketball team. "He is no longer a member of our team," coach Gene Bess said. "He messed up on a team policy and is now no longer a member of our team and we regret it for him and for our team but we have standards that we want to uphold."...

BROSELEY -- The Twin Rivers Lady Royals snapped a five-game losing streak Tuesday night as they swept Gideon in two tight sets, 25-23, 25-23. The Lady Royals (7-16-3) hadn't won a set since beating Campbell back on Oct. 4. Ashley Kennedy led Twin Rivers in digs with 24 while also assisting on 12 points...

Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center is competing in the 2013 Medline Pink Glove Dance Video Competition with the goal of winning a $25,000 donation for the United Cancer Assistance Network (UCAN) and international social media attention. The video features participants dancing and wearing pink-colored exam gloves to raise awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer through mammograms...