Stories from Saturday, March 29, 2014

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Republican Brenda Fox is now unopposed for re-election to her fifth four-year term as Butler County collector. Two other Republican women had filed for the position Tuesday, but they withdrew Thursday, according to County Clerk Tonyi Deffendall...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A Three Rivers College student helped a young autistic boy who struggles with everyday interactions find joy in gardening during the recent spring break, as part of the first international trip offered by the school. A child who can't handle noise or chaos, Luke smiled when he admitted to Angela Calloway of Doniphan, Mo., that layering compost was kind of fun. The orderly activity, Luke said, even reminded him of his favorite game, Minecraft...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Another section of new four-lane U.S. 67 southwest of Poplar Bluff, Mo., will be open to traffic at 10 a.m. Monday, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. "We will shut down traffic from both directions for 20 minutes so workers from Robertson Contractors can remove the barriers," said David Wyman, MoDOT's area engineer. "Traffic on U.S. 160 and Highway 158 also will be restricted until the new four-lane is open."...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Authorities in Ripley and Butler counties continue to investigate and prosecute the theft of copper wire, with six area residents among those having been charged with the alleged crime. Copper theft is a "big priority" for the Missouri State Highway Patrol and its Rural Crimes Investigation Unit, according to Sgt. Jeff Johnson. "I want (would-be thieves) to understand this is not a crime that will go uninvestigated...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Nearly all 12 of the candidates seeking election April 8 to city, school and college boards have found common ground in their support of a tax levy increase for Poplar Bluff schools. Many see the measure as a positive sign of growth for the community...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer The challenges of a large, rural district with elementary schools 18 miles apart was one of the top Twin Rivers R-X patron concerns at a school board candidate forum Thursday night. In the district, incumbents Lee Lewis, Roger Baxter, and Jill Worley face challengers Billy Watson, Robert Thurman and Barbara Cunningham are vying for three, three-year terms...

Who's paying? I would like to know who is paying for the huge ads for the increased school tax? I hope it's not the taxpayers. (EDITOR'S NOTE: It's not. The campaign is being financed by a private citizen's group concerned with education in Poplar Bluff.)...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Igor Stravinsky, the Russian composer, said of Poland, perilously positioned between Russia and Germany: "If you pitch your tent in the middle of Fifth Avenue, it is quite likely you will be run over by a bus." Poland has been run over hard and often; indeed, between 1795 and 1918 it disappeared from the map of Europe...

To the Editor: It was our pleasure and privilege to serve as the local team hosts for the Dexter Lady Bearcats Basketball Team during their participation in the 2013-2014 State High School Basketball Championship Tournament in Columbia this past weekend...

Morris Bradley MALDEN, Mo. -- Morris Bradley, 75, of Malden died Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at Malden Nursing and Rehab in Malden. A visitation will be held from 6-9 p.m. today at Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden. A funeral service will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday at the chapel with Dr. Ron Wilcoxson and Rev. Jared Owens officiating. Burial will be in the Bethany Cemetery...

Morris Bradley MALDEN, Mo. -- Morris Bradley, 75, of Malden died Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at Malden Nursing and Rehab in Malden. A visitation will be held from 6-9 p.m. today at Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden. A funeral service will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday at the chapel with Dr. Ron Wilcoxson and Rev. Jared Owens officiating. Burial will be in the Bethany Cemetery...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Sweeping through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania this week, Joe Biden reassured all three that the United States' commitment to Article Five of the NATO treaty remains "solemn" and "iron clad." Article Five commits us to war if the territory of any of these tiny Baltic nations is violated by Russia...

Mary King BERNIE, Mo. -- Mary Alice King, 83, of Bernie died Thursday, March 27, 2014, at SoutheastHEALTH of Stoddard County in Dexter. Visitation will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Bernie. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Bryon Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the Bethany Cemetery...

Tom Mansfield Charles Thomas "Tom" Mansfield, 80, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, March 24, 2014, at his residence. Mr. Mansfield was born May 25, 1933, in East St. Louis, Ill., to the late Charles D. and Stella (Lydy) Mansfield. He retired from the United States Air Force and had worked at Gates Rubber for 10 years. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping...

Anna Clayton MALDEN, Mo. -- Anna Louise Clayton, 75, of Parma, Mo., died Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will begin at noon Saturday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden with the funeral service following at 2 p.m. Burial will be in Parma Cemetery in Parma...

Audrey Blaich Audrey P. Blaich, 89, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at her residence. Mrs. Blaich was born Dec. 1, 1924, in St. Louis, Mo. Graduating as salutatorian for South West High School Class of 1941 in St. Louis, she later attended Washington University. ...

Grace Hellums Grace Aileen Hellums, 93, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at her residence. Mrs. Hellums was born Oct. 24, 1920, in Poplar Bluff to the late John and Rosetta Tibbs Turner. She was of the Baptist faith and was a homemaker. During her earlier years, Mrs. Hellums worked at Woolworth's as a sales clerk. She enjoyed spending time with her family, studying her Bible, reading and baking...

Georgia Hefner CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Georgia LaVerne Hefner, 92, of Union, Mo., passed away at 3:24 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at Mercy Hospital in Washington, Mo., surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was born Jan. 10, 1922, in Campbell. She was married to the late Harry Kenneth Hefner of Qulin. In the 1960s, they made their home in Bridgeton, Mo., where she worked as a beautician...

Alma McClaren DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Alma Louise McClaren, 99, was born at home on her family farm in the Towles community of Ripley County, Mo., on July 13, 1914, to James A. and Dora E. (Stewart) McClaren. She died Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at the Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau, Mo...

Kenny Breitweg BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Kenny Breitweg, 70, of Swinton, Mo., died Thursday, March 27, 2014, at his home. Graveside funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield with Rev. Gary Cooper of Advance, Mo., officiating...

JONESBORO, Ark. -- Poplar Bluff trailed for the first time this season but it didn't last long Thursday. The Mules plated three runs in the bottom of the first and added two runs in each of the next two innings in an 11-3 win over Marion (Ark.). Brandon Stuckenschneider struck out the side twice with the bases loaded, the defense turned a pair of double plays while Alex Lewis and Wesley Pyles hit home runs in the sixth inning...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Poplar Bluff Lady Mules opened up play in the Noon Optimist Tournament Thursday at Notre Dame with a 2-0 loss to the Perryville Lady Pirates. In rainy conditions, senior goalkeeper Courtney Raulston made nine saves in net. The goals allowed came on a breakaway and when a Lady Mule got out of position on a play...

ELLSINORE -- East Carter junior Trever Lewis struck out 13 batters Thursday afternoon in a one-hit, complete-game shutout of the Alton Comets, 9-0. At the plate, Logan Saffle and Hunter Hadley each knocked in two runs. Lewis went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Aaron Boyer had one hit, scored two runs and had one RBI for the Redbirds (2-1)...

ST. LOUIS -- Last year the Lady Raiders hit 22 home runs in 62 games. They've already bested that this season. The Lady Raiders hit five home runs Thursday, including a pair of grand slams, to catapult their way toward 30 runs in the doubleheader. They scored eight runs in the final inning of the opener to win 9-4 and then put down a football score in the nightcap to win 21-0...