Stories from Friday, April 18, 2014

A political analyst from CNN will be the keynote speaker for the Three Rivers College commencement ceremony. Three Rivers announced today in a press release Kevin Madden will speak during the event. Free and open to the public, it will begin at 4 p.m. May 18 at the Black River Coliseum...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Easter is a joyous time and everyone should feel special, said Rita Cooksey, United Gospel Rescue Mission office manager. The mission staff and volunteers are planning to serve a holiday meal from noon to 1 p.m. Friday at the mission, 400 S. Broadway...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Wappapello, Mo., man was sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison earlier this week for illegally possessing firearms after he called authorities to report one of them had been stolen...

I really think it may finally be spring. The daffodils are blooming, the grass is growing, and my sinuses are acting up. So now is a good time to get ready for preserving the garden produce by cleaning out the freezer. If your freezer does not automatically defrost, it is a good idea to defrost it occasionally. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN President Reagan was holding a meeting in the Cabinet Room on March 25, 1985, when Press Secretary Larry Speakes came over to me, as communications director, with a concern. The White House was about to issue a statement on the killing of Major Arthur Nicholson, a U.S. army officer serving in East Germany. Maj. Nicholson had been shot in cold blood by a Russian soldier...

As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, I participated in an oversight hearing for the United States Department of Justice. Attorney General Eric Holder testified before the committee about a variety of issues. When my turn came to question Attorney General Holder, I asked him if states do not have to comply with federal drug laws, why should they have to comply with ObamaCare? Unfortunately the Attorney General deflected my question...

The screeching polarization of American political and cultural life in recent years is exacting a toll. Debate has been debased. Contempt and hatred for those with opposing views is now the norm. While some on the right have criticized their own side -- think of Rick Perry and Jeb Bush challenging immigration opponents, or conservative columnists taking on some talk radio hosts -- liberals have been shamefully silent about the excesses committed by Democrats...

Oak Grove Elementary has resubmitted their 2013-2014 third quarter honor roll. The corrected version follows. A Honor Roll: Fourth Grade: Jacob Baller, Luke Barousse, Aden Bedell, Dylan Brown, Nicholaus Brumitt, Avery Casey, Emilee Cheek, Caleigh Chilton, Allison Cochran, Jacob Crawford, Carson Dille,...

A grocery store employee uncovered a $5,000 prize on a Missouri Lottery "Lucky 7s Playbook" on March 31. Carolyn Pace, 48, said she bought the "playbook" at Simmon's Grocery & Hardware store in Ellsinore, where she works as a clerk. She took it home to scratch off...

Allan Hawley GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Allan John Hawley, 80, of Wappapello, Mo., died Monday, April 14, 2014, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The visitation will be at 12:30 p.m. Friday for the family and 1 p.m. for the public with the service following at 3 p.m. all at the Ruegg Funeral Home in Greenville. Burial will follow at Greenville Cemetery in Greenville...

Robert Sargent PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Robert D. Sargent, 71, of Greenville, Mo., died Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at his residence. Visitation will be at 5 p.m. Thursday for the family and 5:30 p.m. for the public at the Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. The service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday also at the chapel with burial following at Twidwell Cemetery in Clubb, Mo...

FARMINGTON -- The Poplar Bluff Lady Mules dominated the field Wednesday at the Simpson Relays while Sikeston ran away on the track. The Lady Mules ended the night by winning the final race but it wasn't enough to catch Sikeston which won the meet by 7 points...

The Lady Raiders finally get to move into their home away from home. Three Rivers softball coach Jack Childress cut the ceremonial ribbon Tuesday on the new softball clubhouse next to Rains Field, a 4,380-square-foot facility complete with locker rooms, coaches' offices, laundry room, lounge and an indoor batting and practice area...

BERNIE -- Kiareu Grimes probably won't be bunting much the rest of the season. With the score tied in the fifth inning Wednesday, Clearwater coach Shannon England told Grimes, his sophomore No. 8 hitter, to bunt down the third-base line if it was open. Instead, Grimes swung at the first pitch and sent it over the fence in right field to put Clearwater ahead for good in a 3-2 win over Bernie...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- There is one thing that Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach Ty Margenthaler appreciated about both of the players he added to his program on the first day of the spring signing period Wednesday. Both were part of winning programs in high school, and that's what Margenthaler is looking to build at Southeast...

WINONA -- The Van Buren Bulldogs captured the Big Springs Conference Tournament championship Wednesday as they rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to induce the run rule with 10-0 decision over Ellington. Van Buren (10-4) got up early with a 3-0 lead in the first inning followed by 4 1/2 innings of scoreless baseball...

The University of Missouri Extension Center will host the fourth Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference Friday, May 2, at the First United Methodist Church, 500 N. Main St. in Poplar Bluff. This conference is also for others who are raising children who are not their own...

Viola Marley DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Viola Mae Marley, 80, of Doniphan departed this life on Monday, April 14, 2014, at the Walnut Street Assisted Living in Doniphan. Mrs. Marley, daughter of Rector and Emma (Rackley) Dale, was born Feb. 26, 1934, in Bardley, Mo. She had been an in-home caregiver while living in Ripley County, but she worked most of her life in Rockford, Ill. Mrs. Marley loved to play bingo and visit the slots...

Dowdy gets scholarship Seth Dowdy of Bernie, Mo., has received the University Scholarship and Residence Life Leadership Award to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 2014-2015 academic year. Dowdy is the son of Kyle and Maria Dowdy of Bernie, and will be a 2014 graduate of Bernie High School...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Decisions are expected in May from Three Rivers Board of Trustees concerning construction of an event center. There are time requirements attached to the project because it would be funded in part by a federal grant, President Dr. Devin Stephenson explained Wednesday during the monthly meeting...