Stories from Wednesday, December 11, 2013

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Public meetings concerning the draft general management plan for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways have been rescheduled and the public comment period extended. The meeting to be held tonight in Van Buren has been moved to 6-8 p.m. Jan. 7 at the Van Buren Youth and Community Center, according to a press release. As a result, the public comment period has been extended until Feb. 7...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer Just six weeks after ending a World Series run against the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny will be the featured speaker at the Boys & Girls Club of Poplar Bluff's annual Steak & Burger Dinner Thursday night...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor With warmer temperatures melting the snow and ice faster than initially expected, all modes of transportation are being aided in their attempts to return to normal operations. Most residents heeded warnings and stayed home three or four days depending on street and road conditions. Refreezing at night is keeping pavements icy...

By MONA CHAREN We conservatives are always on about the "unintended consequences" of government programs, but we didn't expect the Obama administration and congressional Democrats to provide such a vivid object lesson. If the tipsy, teetering debut of Obamacare invites a new skepticism about the capacity of government to run things, it will be the most welcome unintended consequence since Alexander Fleming left his staphylococci samples on a workbench over summer vacation...

Harper Allen Harper Blakey Allen, infant daughter of Joshua and Traci Allen of Poplar Bluff, passed away Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. In addition to her parents, Harper is survived by her maternal grandparents, Donald and Carolyn Durham, and maternal great-grandfather, Glendel Jenkins, all of Excelsior Springs, Mo.; paternal grandparents, Thomas and Brenda Allen of Naylor; paternal great-grandmother, Betty Allen and maternal great-grandparents, Harold and Earline Robertson, all of Poplar Bluff.. ...

In recent weeks we have all heard examples on the evening news or from our family and friends about the dysfunctional healthcare.gov website. The website is not user-friendly and in many cases just simply does not work. While the ObamaCare website is a problem, we must remember that the problems with government mandated healthcare go much further than technical glitches. ...

Larry Fuwell Larry Fuwell, 64, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at Mark Twain Caring Center. Arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

Oscar Casinger Oscar E. Casinger, 83, of Fairdealing, Mo., died Monday, Dec. 9, 2013. Arrangements are pending with Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home.

Oleda Cloud MALDEN, Mo. - Oleda Christine (Brandt) Cloud, 88, was received in Heaven on Dec. 5, 2013, while at Oakdale Skilled Nursing Center. She was born March 20, 1925, in Pollard, Ark., to F.W. Brandt and Bertha (Hollifield) Brandt. Mrs. Cloud married the love of her life, Merrel Cloud, in Malden on Aug. 15, 1942. He preceded her in death on Aug. 7, 2013...

Harwell art opening reset The opening reception for the December/January show at Margaret Harwell Art Museum has been rescheduled for 6-8 p.m. Saturday at the museum. The work of photographer Dr. Gary Tuttle of Van Buren, Mo., is featured.

Bobby Brewington PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Bobby Gene Brewington, 81, passed away Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, at his home near Leeper, Mo. Mr. Brewington was born March 2, 1932, in Broseley, Mo., the son of John Brewington and Elsie Arnold. He was a retired truck driver and an Army veteran, serving from 1954 to 1956...

Marvin Smith DEXTER, Mo. -- Marvin Smith, 69, of Dexter, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. A graveside service was to be held at 11 a.m. today at the Dexter Cemetery. Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter was in charge of arrangements...

Elizabeth Wingo ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Nellie Elizabeth Wingo, 87, of St. Louis, Mo., formerly of Ellsinore died Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at Riverview Care Center in St. Louis. Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. today at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. The funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the United Methodist Church in Ellsinore with the Rev. Robbie Calvert officiating. Burial will be in Henson-Hilltop Cemetery...

Joe Johnson DEXTER, Mo. -- Joe Ellis Johnson, 70, of Parma, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, at his residence. Visitation will be held on from 1-1:30 p.m. today at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will follow beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo., with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements...

Larry Fuwell Larry Fuwell, 64, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at Mark Twain Caring Center. Arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

There are not enough lanes in the Black River Aquatic Center this winter for all the swimmers on the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules team. The team doubled in size from last season not counting the program's first divers, who must travel to Cape Girardeau to practice...

Harriet Hoefer DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Harriett Ruth Hoefer, 72, of Doniphan died Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at her residence in Doniphan. Mrs. Hoefer, daughter of the late Elza and Edith (Jackson) McConney, was born Nov. 21, 1941, in Kirkland, Ill., and was a lifelong resident of Ripley County where she retired from Vitronic after 32 years. She enjoyed crocheting, feeding birds and her grandchildren. She was a member of the Fairview General Baptist Church...

Gusta Barks PIEDMONT, Mo -- Gusta Martha Barks, 96, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at The Cedargate Skilled Nursing Facility. Mrs. Barks was born Dec. 25, 1916, in Wayne County, Mo., to the late Alex and Minnie Atnip. She was married for 65 years to Lester Barks, whom preceded her in death in 2003. ...

Elizabeth Matthews SIKESTON, Mo. -- Elizabeth Wing Matthews, age 90, died Dec. 3, 2013 at Sikeston Convalescent Center in Sikeston. Born Jan. 7, 1923, in Elgin, Ill., daughter of the late Claude Pierce and Olive (Bucklin) Wing. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Matthews was preceded in death by one brother and one sister...

Carol Bryan Carol A. Bryan, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013. A complete obituary will be run Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013. Arrangements are under the direction of Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

Carl Personette DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Carl Eugene Personette, 69, of Grandin, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013, at the Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. Burial will follow in the Grandin Cemetery...

ST. LOUIS -- Winter storm Cleon froze most of Southeastern Missouri on Friday, but it couldn't chill out the Raiders' hot streak. Three Rivers won its first overtime game of the season Sunday, beating Southwestern Illinois 72-71, and it did so without making a field goal in the final 7 minutes and 48 seconds...

Gene Clubb WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. -- Gene Dwaine Clubb passed away Dec. 8, 2013, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Gene was born April 3, 1945, in Hendrickson, Mo., to parents Ervin and Flora Clubb. Over the years, he had worked for Rozark Farms charcoal plant near Ellsinore, worked as a logger and lastly, worked for Howards Construction in Salem, Mo. He loved to hunt and fish and spend time with his family in his free time...