Stories from Friday, December 6, 2013

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A report on recent events, sponsored by Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc., and an update on new signage were presented during the DPB board meeting Tuesday. "DPB has increased the amount of traffic in the downtown area with an increase in events. In the last two months, there have been approximately 4,600 people in the downtown area due to the increase in family friendly events," DPB Executive Director Penny McGath said...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Photographer Dr. Gary Tuttle has never lost the little boy he once was, fascinated by the shapes he found in the clouds. Almost 70, he has instead found a way to capture that rich imagination in nature with a camera. The Van Buren, Mo., resident is the featured artist for December and January at Margaret Harwell Art Museum, where an opening reception for "Currents From the River" will be held from 6-8 p.m. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer As Southeast Missouri prepares for a blast of winter weather, area Salvation Army volunteers hope the chill won't extend to their fundraising efforts. Red kettles and bell ringers appeared Thanksgiving night outside Wal-Mart as the local chapter began its only fundraising campaign of the year...

With a large chunk of the U.S. having endured one of the coldest Thanksgiving holidays in years and even more brutally cold weather in the forecast over the next few days, 2013 is poised to have daily record lows outnumber daily record highs for the first time in 20 years...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN When Montecore, one of two white tigers in the Las Vegas act of Siegfried and Roy, turned and almost killed Roy on stage, the reaction was that the tame and complacent beast had gone berserk. Comedian Chris Rock was nearer the mark:...

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Democrat Standard The current Congress is rated as one of the least productive in history because of a lack of new legislation. According to the rating service, this session of Congress has approved just 60 new laws and thus, the low rating...

By MONA CHAREN Ninety percent of the American opinion elite will fall for the old "historic breakthrough" conceit every time. The appeal of getting enemies in a room together, where they will shed their animosity and "reason together," is so profound that nothing as tiresome as experience can diminish its allure...

Wake up and do something Speaking out about kids in Poplar Bluff. We need an outreach program. We need churches to get out there go door-to-door inviting people to church. There's just so many kids out on the street and a lot of kids in the Bluff are not cared for. ...

Do you have a friend or loved one on active duty overseas? If you'd like to send them a holiday food package this season, go right ahead! But here are a few rules to keep in mind when shipping edible goodies to troops overseas. Pack foods in clean paper boxes, metal food tins, or plastic boxes or bags. Consider sending dried beef or poultry items like beef jerky, turkey jerky or beef slim. Don't send pork or pork products, since they are forbidden for religious reasons in some countries...

Darrell Monroe finally took home that elusive Carr Trophy as the most outstanding football player in the SEMO Conference. A finalist for a second straight year, the Caruthersville senior picked up the honor Wednesday night at the 68th annual Poplar Bluff Letter Club Gridiron Banquet...

Fred McAllister PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Fred McAllister, 86, of Piedmont, Mo. died Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center, Piedmont. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont.

Bobby Watkins Bobby Jean Watkins, 50, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013, at Poplar Bluff Regional Hospital. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Margorie Reese FISK, Mo. -- Margorie Alene Reese, 90, formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Wednesday Dec. 4, 2013 at St. Anthony's Medical Center in St. Louis, Mo. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. Funeral services will be Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with burial to follow in Rombauer Cemetery...

BERNIE -- Another terrific defensive effort nearly got the seventh-seeded Bloomfield Wildcats to the Bernie Inviational championship game. Against No. 3 Twin Rivers, the Wildcats were set back early but turned up their defensive presence. The Royals went an 11 1/2-minute stretch with just two field goals but held on at the end for a 36-33 win Wednesday night...

Mary Grassham VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Mary Irene Grassham was born on July 27, 1922, in Ellington, Mo., and departed this life on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013, in the Miner Care Center in Sikeston, Mo. She was 94. Mary grew up in the Pine Valley area of Reynolds County and after her father's untimely death, when Mary was only six years old, she and her siblings had to work hard to help their mother keep the family going. ...

James Cashion James Roy Cashion, 75, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. A graveside service with full military honors will be at 2 p.m. today at the Missouri State Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo. with the Rev. Keith Luke officiating...

Vernon Kanell Vernon Loy Kanell, 67, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013, at Poplar Bluff Regional Hospital. Mr. Kanell was born Jan. 31,1946, in Butler County, to John and Iva Gladys Walker Kanell. On Dec. 29, 1972, he married Shirley Marie Chatman in Poplar Bluff. She survives of the home...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Spencer Pedigo II, 32, died Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013 at his residence in Dexter. Visitation will from 5- 8 p.m. Thursday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Bob Holland officiating. Burial will follow in the Walker Cemetery near Bloomfield...

Loren Murray Loren "Leon" Murray, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013, at his residence. Mr. Murray was born Nov. 8, 1930, at Harviell, Mo. He joined the Navy in November 1950, and served as a seaman apprentice on the USS Robert F-Keller DE-419 until September 1954. He worked at Florsheim Shoe Co. for more than 30 years and also worked at Three Rivers College...

Gene Woodrum Alvin Eugene "Gene" Woodrum, 69, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., went to join his Heavenly Father on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013. Mr. Woodrum was born in Louisville, Ky., on Dec. 3, 1944, to Alvin Madison and Martha Washington Lucas Woodrum. Mr. Woodrum was a God-fearing, Jesus-loving man and had worked as a front end mechanic at Alan's Custom Muffler. He enjoyed spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, cooking and reading science fiction...

The first significant winter weather event of the season is bearing down on Missouri, and the state's electric cooperatives are prepared for severe weather. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for portions of the Ozarks and southeast Missouri in effect from 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, through 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6...