Stories from Friday, March 7, 2014

After much thought and prayerful consideration, Ron Black announced his candidacy for Poplar Bluff City Council. "With my love for Poplar Bluff, a belief that our future is bright and a desire to help chart that course, I am placing my name in the running for the open-at-large position," Black said...

By COREY NOLES SEMO News Service BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- U.S. Navy Seabee veterans are working throughout the nation to recognize fallen comrades. A monument serving that purpose will be unveiled Saturday at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield. A Seabee is a member of the Navy's Construction Battalion; the word Seabee comes from the initials "CB." Seabees often built bases, airstrips and roads for their fellow soldiers...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor PIGGOTT, Ark. -- A contest for sheriff and five other races have developed in Clay County, Ark., following the completion of candidate filings for the May 20 primary election. Gerald R. McClung of Rector, the current sheriff and collector, is being challenged by Terry Miller of Corning for the Democratic nomination...

According to the Vegetable Planting Calendar, it's time to plant your pea crop in the garden. You can successfully plant peas anytime during the month of March. So consider "marching" right out to the garden spot and prepare your patch. English pea varieties you may want to consider planting include: Little Marvel, Green Arrow, Spring, Knight, Bolero, Green Arrow, and Lincoln. It will take about 65 to 75 days before you can have that first dish of fresh cooked peas...

R-1 closed meeting votes reported Additional information was released by Poplar Bluff School District from a closed session meeting held Feb. 20. Board of Education members voted to approve 2014-15 contracts for all district administrators, with three contracts acted on separately. Board member Dr. Rob Rowland was absent...

By MICHELLE MALKIN Bad boy-turned-bellyacher Alec Baldwin threw a 5,000-word, seven-page pity party for himself in the entertainment media he says he abhors. Hey, what better way for a Hollywood narcissist to protest the attention-starved shallowness of celebrity life than to wallow in it to the bitter end?...

By MONA CHAREN Among the academic set from which President Barack Obama springs, everyone agrees that wars are the result of "arrogance" and bullying by the United States. So concerned was then-Sen. Obama about the potential for U.S. aggression that he declined to vote for 2007 legislation that would have designated Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization...

Greenville High School students of the month were released for the February 2013-2014 school year. Thomas Lawson Costephen, son of Chip and Carla Costephens, of Greenville, Mo., was chosen. Costephens is active in Art Club, Beta and FBLA. He enjoys shooting, hunting, four-wheeler riding and reading. He plans on attending Three Rivers College and obtaining a bachelor's degree in education. He would like to become a history teacher...

Avon Haven House fundraiser Sat. at Hucks Avon will be raising money for Haven House with an event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Hucks. Information about domestic violence will be handed out and Avon will donate products to Haven House, such as shampoo, conditioners, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorants, etc...

If you're uninsured, there's still time to sign up for health insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace and avoid the penalty. The Affordable Care Act requires that most Americans obtain health insurance by 2014 or pay a tax penalty. The penalty will be applied to your annual taxable income for each month you don't have health insurance after March 31, 2014, the last day to enroll...

Willard Allison Willard L. Allison, 72, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Sunday, March 2, 2014, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Willard was born in Portageville, Mo., on March 12, 1941. He married Janice Perry on Aug. 12, 1961 in Portage, Ind...

Claudette Durr PIEDMONT, MO. -- Claudette Patricia Durr, 63, of Patterson, Mo., died Monday, March 3, 2014 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 9 for the family and 1 p.m. for the public at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont, Mo. with the services following at 2 p.m. also at the chapel...

DEXTER -- The MSHSAA Class 3 playoff between Clearwater and Charleston was one of those proverbial games where that the final score didn't reflect how well each team played. For the second straight year, the Tigers lost to the Bluejays at the Bearcat Event Center by 20-plus points...

DEXTER -- After achieving a second consecutive district title last week, the Twin Rivers Lady Royals saw that they were going to play a rematch with Saxony Lutheran, a team they beat last year in the playoffs. Saxony got its revenge. The Lady Crusaders jumped all over the Lady Royals in the MSHSAA Class 3 playoff as they led by 15 points after the first quarter and were up by 28 by halftime en route to a 65-36 victory Wednesday night...

Lewis Bissette DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Lewis Bissette, 78, of Doniphan departed this life on Monday evening, March 3, 2014, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Bissette, son of Harvey and Nettie (Joyner) Bissette, was born Aug. 26, 1935, in Bailey, N.C. ...

VAN BUREN -- The Clarkton Reindeer saw the speed of Scott County Central's offense on tape, but in person, they still couldn't adapt to it fast enough. "We were a little shocked, maybe," Clarkton coach Dustin Ferguson said. By the time the Reindeer settled down and started to get accustomed to Central's speed, they were behind by 10. ...

James Milton ELLSINORE, Mo. -- James Everett Milton, 75, died Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Friday Vat McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore with Rev. Tom Wilder officiating...

Gary Moss ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Gary Leon Moss, 51, died Monday, March 3, 2014, in his home in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. Funeral will follow at 1 p.m. with Rev. Tom Wilder officiating...

Louise Cox DEXTER, Mo. -- Louise Margaret Cox, 88, died Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at her residence in Glen Allen, Mo. Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home. The funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Greg Stevens officiating. Burial will follow in the Bloomfield Cemetery...

Wappapello Eagles fish fry Fri. cancelled The Wappapello Eagles regular Friday fish fry has been cancelled. An ice-covered parking lot forced the organization to cancel the event for safety reasons.

Eugene Field Elementary School has released its January students of the month for the 2013-2014 school year. Aaron Shaw, first grade student in Teresa Webb's class, was chosen as student of the month. Shaw is the son of Kelly Ethridge. Shaw likes to play ninja games with his sister in his spare time at home. He also enjoys reading nonfiction books. His favorite story is Monkey Tails, a book about many different kinds of monkeys. At school, he likes to do puzzles and sing in music class...

The Agee Community Club met at Ryan's on Wednesday, Feb. 26. Cathy Womack, club president, was hostess this month and called the meeting to order with the group repeating the club motto. Nickey Orton offered the invocation. Nadine Johnson read the devotional from 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, the love chapter. Roll call was answered by the members telling about their memories of Valentine days...

Lake Road Elementary School has released its February students of the month. 1st Grade: Emily Dykes, a student in Ms. Pryor's class, has been chosen as the Lake Road Elementary first grade student of the month. She is the daughter of Arthur and Norma Dykes...

Take Off Pounds Sensibly MO 734's Feb. 12 meeting was called to order by Leader Linda Morgan with 12 TOPS and four KOPS present. Following roll call, Lou Ann Wrather read the secretary's report and Ruth Fisher read the exercise report. Both reports were approved. Pam Kane read the treasurer's report at the Feb. 19, 2014, meeting...

Naylor Senior Center will host a fundraiser Friday. Serving will being a 5 p.m. Menu includes, Hyde's catfish or chicken strips with fries, baked beans, slaw, hushpuppies, dessert and drink. Adults, 11 and up, $8; children,, 5-10, $4, and children four and under, free...

Herman Corzine Herman Cecil Corzine, 86, died Sunday, March 2,2014. He had been ill since Jan 29. Herman was born March 24, 192, in Cypress, Ill. Herman worked at the VA Hospital for 32 years as a carpenter, mason and locksmith, retiring in 1981. After retirement he enjoyed remodeling homes, gardening, yard work and bowling...

Alice Hill Alice Hill, 81, of Wappapello, Mo., passed away Saturday, March 1, 2014, with her family by her side. Alice was born Feb. 1, 1933, in Naylor, Mo., a daughter of William Joseph Littrell and Vida May Nettles Hogan. She worked for several years at the Holiday Inn in Poplar Bluff, Mo. ...