Stories from Saturday, January 11, 2014

A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man who prefers to focus more on the success of his community than his own personal achievements found himself the center of attention Thursday at a surprise event to present a national leadership award. Steve Halter, president of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce, has been named the 2013 winner of the Glenn Shepard Excellence in Leadership Award...

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded the town of Grandin a $95,670 loan for improvements to its wastewater treatment plant, according to information released Thursday. This small borrower loan, which will be financed through repayments of loans made from Water Pollution Control bonds, will allow the town to construct an ultraviolet disinfection system to eliminate bacteria from the wastewater treatment plant's discharge, protecting citizens and the environment...

For more than three decades Steve Niederkorn has protected and served the citizens of Southeast Missouri as a member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Niederkorn, who will retire Jan. 31, has worked his entire career with the Highway Patrol in Troop E, including the last nine plus years as one of its lieutenants...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Ice, snow and cold have you feeling blah. Want a change of scenery, but really cannot afford a trip? Begin planning for two days of fun at the 28th Ag Expo, one of the largest farm trade shows in the region. The event will be Jan. 24 - 25 at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Admission is free...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor GRAYRIDGE, Mo. -- Lansing Trade Group of Overland Park, Kan., announced plans Thursday to construct a high speed shuttle train facility on the Union Pacific Railroad near Grayridge, Mo., in eastern Stoddard County...

Michael Payne Jr. DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Michael Barton Payne Jr., 24, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, in Butler County. A funeral service with full military honors will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Fellowship Southern Baptist Church in Harviell, Mo. Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan is in charge of arrangements...

Thank you, honest person I have called in . . . this is the third time . . . for you to print in Speak Out. I want to thank the person who turned my cell phone in at Walmart. I had lost it and I wanted to thank them for turning it in to the service desk and I was able to pick up my phone and I wanted to tell them thank you so much for being so kind enough to turn it in because I would have had to buy me another phone. Thank you...

Marvin Kelley WAPPAPELLO, Mo.--Marvin Paul Kelley, 72, of Wappapello, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at his residence. Mr. Kelley was born Jan. 28, 1941 in Doniphan, Mo. He was a retired self-employed business owner and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Mr. Kelley enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing and hunting...

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By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Smoking Marlboros is now forbidden in Irish bars in New York City. But buying, selling, and smoking marijuana is legal in Colorado. It doesn't take a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing. But where are we going? One certain result of the legalization of marijuana is that there are going to be more potheads, more dropouts, and more deaths on highways from those high or stoned -- and more rehab centers...

The following students are among 2,583 students named to the fall 2013 Dean's List at Southeast Missouri State University. Joshua Abner, Ethan Bryeans, Rachel Hankins, Sarah Patrick, Stephen Powell, Drew Rampley, Candice Stepp, Grace Taylor, Rebecca Taylor, Benita Willard, Elizabeth Willard, Ellen Yates, Andrew Yeakey and Jacob Young, all of Bloomfield, Mo.;...

The University of Missouri fall semester 2013 dean's list is available. Listed below are students from Southeast Missouri cities who made the list. Fisk: Jeremy Wayne Williams, Junior, Natural Resources. Poplar Bluff: Alexa Nicole Atkinson, Sophomore, Nursing; Robyn Breanna Barks-Singer, Junior, Business; Sarah Kaye Crites, Freshman, Arts & Science; Kaleb Stuart Doyle, Sophomore, Business; Colter Wayne Gaebler, Sophomore, Engineering; Grace Erin Griffith, Senior, Nursing; Paramveer Singh Hundal, Freshman, Arts & Science; Marissa Kimberly McLane, Junior, Health Professions; Allison Lee Poteet, Senior, Health Professions; Darby Ruth Provance, Junior, Social Work; Robert Jeffrey Rowland, Freshman, Arts & Science; Paul Anthony Rush, Sophomore, Arts & Science; Sierra Nicole Schrieber, Senior, Journalism; Parker Nathaniel Ramsey Smith, Freshman, Engineering; Shelly Rena White, Sophomore, Business; and Brooke Danielle Wiley, Junior, Journalism.. ...

By ANN McFEATTERS McClatchy-Tribune News Service WASHINGTON -- I am contemplating my house's frozen pipes, marveling that the temperature in the kitchen has inched up to 44 degrees and feeling that I am blessed. I have electricity. I have a working space heater...

Dexter Thompson MALDEN, Mo. -- Dexter Robert Thompson, 77, of Parma, Mo., died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, at Malden Nursing Center. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. today at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home chapel with burial in Rosewood Cemetery in Malden...

There is still time to register for the Ag Expo Beauty Pageant which will be held at the 28th annual Ag Expo 2014 on Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The divisions include: 9:30 a.m., Baby Girl, birth to 12 months; 10 a.m., Toddler Girl, 13 to 23 months; 10:30 a.m., Petite Miss, 2 to 4 years; 11 a.m., Tiny Miss, 5 to 7 years; 11:30 a.m., Little Miss, 8 to 12 years; noon, Junior Miss, 13 to 15 years; and 12:30 p.m., Miss Ag Expo, 16 to 20 years...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Poplar Bluff's 14-point lead was cut down to three with 6 minutes left Thursday night, but the Lady Mules never gave in. Megan Knuckles sparked a game-ending 15-2 run as Poplar Bluff pulled away for a 59-42 win over Cape Central to open SEMO Conference play...

Jessie Anthony Jessie Lavada Anthony, 101, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center. Mrs. Anthony was born June 7, 1912 in Poplar Bluff to Robert M. and Lydia Huskey Sneathern. On Dec. 28, 1929, she married Charles A. Anthony. He died in 1973...

Robert Bailey ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Robert Bailey, 36, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Grandin, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, at his residence. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. The funeral service will follow at 3 p.m. at the funeral home with burial in the McRone Cemetery...

MOBERLY -- Immediately after the Three Rivers Lady Raiders built their biggest lead of the game, they collapsed. In their first Region XVI road game, Three Rivers led by nine with 8 minutes and 45 seconds remaining Thursday. Moberly Area immediately scored 10 straight to take the lead and didn't slow down...

Judge W. Dean Million The following cases were disposed of in Municipal Court in December. Dollar amounts may be fines, court costs, contributions to Crime Reduction Fund or any combination of the same. Bobbie Williams, 29, Poplar Bluff, Mo., speeding, $130...