Stories from Monday, November 11, 2013

By ALEX WEST Staff Writer A surprise proposal had a celebrity audience for one local woman. Alissa Ervin, of Poplar Bluff, agreed to marry her boyfriend of more than a year, Tyson Milner of Washington, Mo., in front of Florida Georgia Line during the duo's meet and greet at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis last weekend...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Area residents will have several opportunities to honor veterans at Veterans Day programs Monday. Originally called Armistice Day, it celebrated the ending of World War I. POPLAR BLUFF VETERANS WALL The Poplar Bluff Veterans Council will present the Veterans Day program at the Veterans Memorial Wall in front of the Black River Coliseum at 11 a.m. Monday...

Deputies letter to Strenfel To Presiding Commissioner Ed Strenfel, As the law enforcement arm of Butler County, we, the deputies, feel compelled to approach you as the elected official who oversees our budget. There are some glaring financial disparities in regards to our department as compared to other areas overseen by the county...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer With influences like Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, the guys of Black River Blues bring an authentic "country blues hillbilly rock 'n roll" sound to Southeast Missouri. Drummer Jim Hager of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and lead vocalist and harmonica player Darin Stevens of Doniphan, Mo., first played together in another band before deciding they wanted to delve into blues. ...

Thirteen Butler County deputy sheriffs are requesting a pay increase equal to what unionized county highway workers and custodians are making. They presented a three-page letter to Butler County Commissioners Ed Strenfel, Jeff Darnell and Butch Anderson Friday...

N'ville suspect arrested, accused of rape By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A Neelyville, Mo., man held by Ripley County authorities is accused of forcible rape in an incident that occurred last week. Roger Dale Hawkins, 49, was apprehended Tuesday by a Butler County Sheriff's Department deputy following a short foot pursuit...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer By the time a sniper's shot nearly took James Crawford Price's right foot in 1944, the 24-year-old was the only one in his unit still strong enough to carry a bazooka. Long weeks on combat patrol in the extreme heat and swamps of the Philippine Island of Leyte quickly ate away at the men of the 32nd Infantry Division, which was nicknamed the "Red Arrow"...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer For most of us, Christmas is celebrated with family and friends. Unfortunately not everyone has family with whom they can share Christmas. Carrie Owens, Oakdale Care Center's Activity Director, explained, "This is true for 38 residents of Oakdale's Behavioral Health Facility and 33 residents of their Skilled Care Facility."...

Unhappy taxpayer I'm calling about Speak Out on Friday, Oct. 18th -- "Don't you dare cut WIC!" The only response I have is it takes a lot of nerve for someone who steals from my paycheck each week to supplement farmers to pay for somebody else's groceries instead of my own. Thank you...

Michael A. Campbell ANNAPOLIS, Mo. -- Michael A. Campbell, 58, of Annapolis, Mo., died Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, at the Ironton County Hospital as a result of an automobile accident. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Happy Zion Baptist Church in Annapolis. Funeral services will follow at noon Tuesday at the church with the Rev. Steve Naff officiating...

Henry P. Kestner DEXTER, Mo. -- Henry P. Kestner, 89, of Dudley, Mo., died Friday, Nov. 8, 2013 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. Sunday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Danny Collins officiating. Burial will follow in the Dudley Cemetery...

Lt. Col. James Lewis KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Lt. Col. James David Lewis taught people how to live. With family all around, he followed the angels from his home in a Kansas City suburb on Nov. 3, 2013. Jim Dave grew up in Poplar Bluff, Mo., with two brothers, Ed and Knox "Kay," and Knox Quinn ("Pock"). ...

Art Richmond DONIPHAN, Mo. -- William Arthur (Art) Richmond, 73-year-old resident of Doniphan, Mo., died Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, at his residence. Mr. Richmond was born Jan. 12, 1940, in Thayer, Mo. He had worked in the Timber industry and also was the owner-operator of Art's Diesel Service for 30 plus years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and of the Baptist Faith. Art loved spending time with his family and friends, woodworking, music, singing and dancing...

Dorothy Johannsen DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Dorothy Johannsen, 67, of Cherokee Village, Ark., died Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, at her residence. Mrs. Johannsen, daughter of Claude Lee and Hazel (Coonce) Geary, was born June 19, 1946, in Qulin, Mo. She worked in manufacturing. Mrs. Johannsen enjoyed cooking, fishing, boating, camping and especially spending time with her children and grandchildren...

Herbert Dale Herbert Joseph Dale, Jr., 84, life-long resident of Ripley County, Mo., died Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, at the Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan, Mo. Mr. Dale, son of the late Herbert and Myrtle (Tharp) Dale, Sr., was born Nov. 2, 1929, in Briar, Mo. ...

Cletis Ellinghouse PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Cletis R. Ellinghouse, age 76, formerly of Puxico, Mo., passed away Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013, at the Clark's Mountain Nursing Center in Piedmont, Mo. He was born Nov. 12, 1936, at Greenville, Mo., son of Charles and Betty (Mabrey) Ellinghouse...

Carl Hukel PATTERSON, Mo. -- Carl Raymond Hukel, 59, formerly of Fredericktown, Mo., died Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Graveside services will be held Monday at 2 p.m. at Patterson Cemetery. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

Norah Elizabeth Heatherly is the name chosen by James and Diane Heatherly of Springfield, Mo. for their 8-pound, 3-ounce daughter born at 12:18 a.m. Monday, Nov. 4, 2013. Grandparents are Nick and Teresa Heatherly of Springfield and Steve and Judy Erdelen of St. Charles, Mo...

Victim 89 Robbery, assault suspect arrested By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man sits in the Butler County jail on suspicion of robbery and assault after an incident Friday night. According to Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley, an 89-year-old Poplar Bluff man was approached at his residence in the 2000 block of Bedoll Avenue around 11 p.m. ...

Turn the facts A guy in the "Letter to the Editor" the other day said, "The deficit had been reduced 50 percent in the last five years." That guy must have had a brain injury or his trailer doesn't have internet. Thank you. Is staff really supportive?...

MALDEN -- A trip to Caruthersville Monday is something the Malden Green Wave accept and are looking forward to. With the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 title on the line when the teams meet at 7 p.m., fourth-year Malden coach Joel Wyatt is looking forward to the atmosphere and challenges that Hopke Field presents...

As if the NFL didn't have enough problems with head injuries and an increasing public awareness about how dangerous its business can be, evidently it now has to deal with incidents of sophomoric behavior from elephantine players with egos to match who never have grown up...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "Maybe the folks in Washington, D.C., should tune in their TVs right now and see how it's done," said the big winner of Tuesday last. "I did not seek a second term to do small things," Chris Christie went on, but "to finish the job -- now watch me do it."...

By ARTHUR I. CYR Scripps Howard News Service Last week's deadly U.S. drone strike on a notorious Taliban leader put Pakistan back in the headlines, reflecting the country's strategic importance. But global media emphasis on violence in Pakistan also overshadows progress in democractic politics...

Three Rivers' balanced offense wasn't enough to overcome Lincoln Trail on Saturday at the Bess Activity Center. Three Rivers trailed 41-31 at halftime and never led in the second half, losing 86-70. John Meyer led the Raiders (2-2) with 18 points and eight rebounds. Uzonna Akazi, who led the team in scoring in each of its first three games, finished with 15 points and eight boards. Eli Sample had 14 points...

After the pregame warmup of Poplar Bluff's homecoming basketball game last year, Tyler Travers ran out to the parking lot. Standing next to his car in the winter cold, he threw on a bathrobe borrowed from a teacher, the beard he'd spent the week building and the rest of his costume...

PARK HILLS --The Three Rivers Lady Raiders went 1-1 at the Mineral Area Classic, beating John A. Logan on Friday and losing to Vincennes on Saturday. Anna Vogt and Marissa Webb were in double figures in the Lady Raiders' 74-54 win over John A. Logan (1-3). Vogt finished with 20 points and Webb got 15. Vogt also had a double-double with 12 rebounds...