Stories from Wednesday, March 12, 2014

By AMITY SHEDD SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Nicholas Sparks brought laughter and tears to a crowd of Southeast Missouri State University students and fans Monday evening at the Show Me Center as he spoke of how he came to be a novelist with 17 New York Times No. 1 best-selling novels and eight film adaptations under his belt...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Carolyn Marshall has decided to withdraw as a candidate for the Ward 5 council position, but her name will still be on the April 8 city election ballot. The Ward 5 ballots have already been certified and printed, making it too late to remove her name...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Former Kinyon School students may have the opportunity to rent an apartment in a classroom if a proposed renovation project becomes a reality. Plans to create apartments on the second and third floors and commercial office/retail space on the ground floor were presented to the Poplar Bluff Planning and Zoning Commission Monday night...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor One of the coldest and snowiest winters in the history of Poplar Bluff is hopefully over. Residents are anxious to start working in their yards, seeing the spring flowers and planting gardens. Farmers are hoping for a dry stretch so they can start working in their fields...

Edward Kron DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Edward Algot Kron, 90, of Doniphan died Monday, Nov. 25, 2013, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. A private burial was held. Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences: www.edwardsfuneralhome.org...

Missing stickers There are several parents in the morning at O'Neal School who drive very expensive vehicles and their children run to get inside the building so I don't think any of them are handicapped. They have no handicapped stickers or handicapped license plates and yet they park in the handicapped spots so that they don't have to go around and get in line like every other parent. ...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS People in the media and academia are mostly leftists hellbent on growing government and controlling our lives. Black people, their politicians and civil rights organizations have become unwitting accomplices. The leftist pretense of concern for the well-being of black people confers upon them an aura of moral superiority and, as such, gives more credibility to their calls for increasing government control over our lives...

By SHARON RANDALLMcClatchy-Tribune News Service There was a time when I loved to talk on the phone. That time is long past, but I remember it. The summer I was 7, my sister left home to do whatever big sisters do and I was forced to spend my days chasing cows or teasing my brothers. Brothers and cows have limits. Push them too hard and they get surly...

Patricia Head Patricia Dawn Head, 64, of Williamsville, Mo., died Friday, March 7, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Head was born Sept. 30, 1949, in Bloomfield, Mo. She was of the Pentecostal faith and had worked at Briggs and Stratton. She enjoyed reading, gardening and being with her family, especially her granddaughter, Kaitlyn...

James Hinton Jr. VAN BUREN, Mo. -- James Cromer Hinton Jr., 84, of Grandin, Mo., formerly of Doniphan and St. Louis, Mo., died Friday, March 7, 2014, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. A graveside funeral will begin at 2 p.m. Monday in the Grandin Cemetery with Bro. Edwards officiating...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN With Vladimir Putin's dispatch of Russian troops into Crimea, our war hawks are breathing fire. Russophobia is rampant and the op-ed pages are ablaze here. Barack Obama should tune them out, and reflect on how Cold War presidents dealt with far graver clashes with Moscow...

Michael Arnold PUXICO, Mo. -- Michael Todd Arnold, 47, of Puxico died Monday, March 3, 2014, at his home in Dexter, Mo. Todd was born Nov. 24, 1967, in Hayti, Mo., to John and Joan Arnold. His father preceded him in death. Todd was united in Holy Matrimony to Dawn Wallace. She survives...

Stella Callahan PUXICO, Mo. -- Stella Marie Callahan, 61 of Puxico died Thursday, March 6, 2014, in her home. Mrs. Callahan was born Jan. 13, 1953, in San Diego, Calif. She is survived by two brothers, George Cobaugh of San Antonio, Texas, and Mike Cobaugh of Gillette, Wyo.; two sisters, Sandra Pollick of Louisiana and Alice James of Gosnell, Ark.; one son, William Baker of Sturdivant, Mo.; and two daughters, Teresa Baker of Puxico and Terina Hoggard of Cape Girardeau, Mo...

Vallie Johnson Vallie J. Johnson, 96, formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, March 7, 2014, in Festus, Mo. Vallie was born Sept. 11, 1917, in Tupelo, Miss., to the late Burley Smith and Martha Lou Clark Smith. She was a longtime resident of Poplar Bluff. She was of the Baptist faith and had worked on the assembly line for Bussman Fuse Co. before retiring. She enjoyed buying and selling antiques...

Cody and Brittany Slayton of Poplar Bluff, Mo. have chosen the name Landri Addison Slayton for their 6-pound, 3-ounce daughter born at 5:11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Landri was 19 inches long...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Before Neelyville High School students left Branson's Moon River Theater Saturday night, Senior Beta co-sponsor Pat Truelove wanted the youth to know how much their effort in the final competition of the weekend meant to her...

By BEN CARSON As a child, I was attracted to anything that dealt with medicine. Many stories featured Johns Hopkins Hospital, and eventually I was privileged to spend 36 years at Johns Hopkins working with brilliant and caring colleagues who dedicated their lives to the art and science of healing...

Phyllis Elder MALDEN, Mo. -- Phyllis V. Elder, 88, of Malden died Sunday, March 9, 2014, at Malden Nursing Center in Malden. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. today at Landess Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home chapel with the Rev. James Hamlett officiating. Burial will be in the Elder Cemetery in Campbell, Mo...

Gloria Burton MALDEN, Mo. -- Gloria Kirkwood Burton, 59, of Malden died Thursday, March 6, 2014, at her residence. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home chapel with burial in Macedonia Cemetery in Malden...

Ronald Duncan PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Ronald Dean Duncan, 63, of Piedmont died Sunday, March 9, 2014, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Memorial visitation and services will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion Post # 281 in Piedmont...

In 2008, in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, President Obama warned Americans that under his policies for energy, "electricity rates will necessarily skyrocket." President Obama's proclamation is coming true. Millions of Americans, including families in our Eighth District, are suffering from one of the coldest winters in recent memory - and in some cases, the most expensive. ...

Jerry Pullum Jerry Lee Pullum, 59, of Williamsville, Mo., died Sunday, March 9, 2014, at his residence. No services have been announced at this time. Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff is in charge of arrangements.

Charley Weston GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Charley Earvin Weston, 75, of Greenville died Sunday, March 9, 2014, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Greenville. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the Wesley Chapel Cemetery at Hiram...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The many jaundiced assessments of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on the fifth anniversary of its enactment were understandable, given that the sluggish recovery, now drowsing through the second half of its fifth year, is historically anemic. ...

Kenzlee Cotton CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Kenzlee Adelee Cotton, 1 day old, of Campbell died Sunday, March 9, 2014, at the Dyersburg Regional Medical Center in Dyersburg, Tenn. Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. Thursday at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. The memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home chapel with Brother Dale Holman officiating...

Jean Parsons Jean L. Parsons, 78, a longtime resident of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, March 7, 2014, in Poplar Bluff. Jean was born Feb. 8, 1936, in Hammond, Ind., to the late George and Katherine Stickel. She was a member of the Holy Cross Episcopal Church. Jean was a library clerk at the Poplar Bluff Library. She loved to read, enjoyed arts and crafts and was a civic volunteer. She enjoyed her church and helping where needed. She loved her family and life...

Vesta Redus DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Vesta Redus, 102, of Doniphan, Mo., departed this life on Friday, March 7, 2014, at the Randolph County Home in Pocahontas, Ark. Mrs. Redus, daughter of William Aulton and Flora Ethel (Henderson) Tucker, was born Oct. 14, 1911, in Tucker, Mo. She was a homemaker and enjoyed gardening, quilting and being with her family. Mrs. Redus was a member of the Tucker United Methodist Church...

Jim Mangnall ELLSINORE, Mo. -- James "Jim" Duncan Mangnall, 75, of High Ridge, Mo., died Sunday, March 9, 2014, at his residence. James, son of the late Duncan and Dorothea (Nerenz) Mangnall, was born May 7, 1938, in Ellsinore, Mo. He was a resident of High Ridge since 1965 and was formerly of Ellsinore where he was born, raised and attended Ellsinore schools. After schooling, James served in the US Army. He attended technical school and worked as a television repair technician for Chart TV...

Marie Casey-Clark Marie Casey-Clark, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, March 10, 2014, at Cedargate Care Center in Poplar Bluff. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

The following local Missouri Baptist University students have received semester honors for the fall 2013 semester. James Sanders of Bloomfield, Mo., has been named to the Dean's List. Chelsea Crain of Broseley, Mo., has been named to the Honor Roll.

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake has announced the dates for opening of developed campgrounds for the 2014 season. Redman Creek East Campground sites 41-69 and 86-109 will open for the season on March 21. On March 28, Greenville Campground sites 1-78 and 107-111 will open and the Redman Creek West Campground will open on April 4. The Peoples Creek Lower Campground sites 1-39 will open on April 18...

When he was a freshman, Collin Jones played soccer but missed football. Now, the Poplar Bluff senior will be kicking footballs at Central Methodist University. Jones recently signed his National Letter of Intent to play at the NAIA Division I school in Fayette, Mo...

More than $11.6 million in prizes of $1,000 or more were awarded to Missouri Lottery players during February. Area winners include the following: $100,000 Scratchers winners: Bonnie Stewart, Poplar Bluff $1,000 Scratchers winners: Krista Armbruster, Ber...

NEW PORT RICKEY, Fla. -- The Raiders' bullpen allowed a pair of late runs Monday and the team has now lost three in a row. Three Rivers lost to Pasco Hernando 5-4 in 10 innings during the team's annual trip to Florida. After an exhibition match against the Detroit Tigers' Single-A squad Sunday, the Raiders opened the 9-inning contest with Pasco Hernando with an early 2-0 lead before giving up a walk-off hit in the 10th...