Stories from Thursday, January 9, 2014

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS There's little debate among academic economists about the effect of minimum wages. University of California, Irvine economist David Neumark has examined more than 100 major academic studies on the minimum wage. He reports that 85 percent of the studies "find a negative employment effect on low-skilled workers." A 1976 American Economic Association survey found that 90 percent of its members agreed that increasing the minimum wage raises unemployment among young and unskilled workers. ...

Syliva Robinson MALDEN, Mo. -- Sylvia McInturff Robinson, 95, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Malden died Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013 at the Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. A graveside service and burial were held today, Jan. 8, at the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery...

By FRANK CAMPA Mo. Dept. of Conservation With these extremely cold temperatures, everyone is going to have to make staying warm and dry a priority. For those who continue to indulge in outdoor activities, you are going to have to make an extra effort to remain safe from hypothermia...

MONROE, Mich. (AP) -- Honking geese soar overhead in a V formation, buffeted by bitter gusts off nearby Lake Erie, while flocks of mallards bob along the shore. Even blanketed in snow, the sprawling wetland in southeastern Michigan is a magnet for water birds -- one reason a public-private project is underway to improve it...

Thelma Moyers MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Thelma Elvira Mae Moyers, 76, of Piedmont, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. today at Hutchings Funeral Chapel in Marble Hill. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home at 2 p.m. Thursday with the Rev. Troy Robinson officiating. Burial will follow in McGee Chapel Cemetery near Grassy...

By MONA CHAREN The wheels began to come off Obamacare in 2011 when the administration announced that the "CLASS Act," a provision to provide long-term disability care, was, in the words of Kathleen Sebelius, "totally unsustainable," and would be discontinued...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Cassidy Harris punched her ticket to a third straight appearance in the MSHSAA state swimming championships Tuesday. The Poplar Bluff junior won the 50-yard freestyle in a state-qualifying time of 25.67 seconds. Harris also won the 100 freestyle while Morgan McAtee lowered her team record to win the 100 breaststroke and Haylee Dragon won the 100 backstroke. The trio and Lexi Vaughn also broke the team record in the 200-medley relay as the Mules lost to Notre Dame 108-62...

With 44 seconds remaining, the Three Rivers crowd rose to its feet. The Raiders, down 20 at halftime, trailed by 3 against top-ranked Indian Hills. The Warriors, though, made it to the foul line on every possession after that and held off Three Rivers' furious comeback for a 109-104 win at the Bess Activity Center on Tuesday...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor The second segment of Missouri's youth deer season has come and gone, and the only way to describe it, or more specifically the weather which affected it, is "dismal." Young hunters killed only 1,183 deer Jan. 4-5, the worst late segment harvest since the youth season was split into two portions in 2008-2009. ...

Gary Garver ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Gary L. Garver, 72, of St. Charles, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 6, 2014. Gary was born Sept. 10, 1942, in St. Louis, to the late Claude and Nova Garver of Qulin, Mo. He went to Qulin High School and joined the Air Force in October 1960. He was stationed at Eglin AFB, Davis Monthan AFB, Bremerhaven Germany and Darmstadt Germany where he met his future bride. Gary was honorably discharged in December of 1967...

Curtis Bridges Edward James Curtis Bridges, 52, of Couch, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, at his residence in rural Oregon County. Mr. Bridges, son of Norman and Ruby (Rutledge) Bridges, was born Nov. 4, 1961, in West Plains, Mo. He had been employed with Missouri Forge in the maintenance department. Mr. Bridges enjoyed hunting, fishing and boating on the Eleven Point River, and he especially loved spending time with his family and friends...

Helen Robinett DEXTER, Mo. -- Helen Robinett, 83, of Dexter died Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Thursday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter with the Rev. Dean Williams officiating. Burial will follow at the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter...

Daphna Leonberger FISK, Mo. -- Daphna Evelyn Leonberger, 78, of Dexter, Mo., died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Born Nov. 24, 1935, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., Mrs. Leonberger graduated from high school in Michigan and later returned to Southern Missouri where she spent the remainder of her life. ...

Inita Phillips Inita Phillips, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Hospital. Mrs. Phillips was born May 10, 1937, to Ben and Rose Mosley Wallace, in Monette, Ark., and had two brothers, Norm Wallace and Don Wallace, and one sister, Lou Ellen Wallace...

Nadine Drew QULIN, Mo. -- Nadine Drew, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, at her residence. She was born July 17, 1928 at Qulin. On Jan. 20, 1943 she married Floyd Drew. He preceded her in death on Jan. 4, 2008. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and was a member of The First Missionary Baptist Church at Qulin...

The local basketball scene was a busy one during Christmas break. The Dexter Lady Bearcats won their third consecutive Twin Rivers Lady Royals Classic. The Kennett Indians took their fourth Bloomfield Christmas Tournament in the last five years. The Poplar Bluff Mules had a strong showing in their own Showdown as they finished third...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Loyd Matthews really enjoyed serving on the Poplar Bluff City Council for nearly 12 years. He always promoted Poplar Bluff, improved its infrastructure, supported economic development efforts and appreciated the work of city employees...