Stories from Thursday, April 24, 2014

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Fire Chief Ralph Stucker discussed bids for two used fire trucks during the Poplar Bluff City Council meeting Monday night.. Stucker recommended the purchase of 2007 and 2008 models of Pierce Saber custom rescue pumpers from Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus in Union Grove, Ala., for $329,000...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor By a 5-2 vote, Angela Pearson was elected the new mayor of Poplar Bluff Monday night. "This is an exciting time for Poplar Bluff. I am humbled to take this position," Pearson said after the council meeting. "It's an honor. I will do my best to do a wonderful job for the city. I am committed to progress and prosperity for all."...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The O'Neal Elementary campus Teacher of the Year has inspired a new generation of educators, working with a dedication and love for children parents and co-workers say shines through in everything she does. Second grade teacher Jeannie Isom has been with the Poplar Bluff School District since earning her own teaching degree in 1999. She also was named the district's elementary grade level Teacher of the Year...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A $2,424,198 contract for the Oak Grove Road Phase III widening project was awarded to KAJACS Contractors by the Poplar Bluff City Council Monday night. "Construction will begin in the next couple of weeks and should be done by the end of the year," said Bob Summers of the Horner and Shifrin engineering firm of Poplar Bluff, who did the design work for the project...

By ERIK SCHELZIG Associated Press Residents in western Ripley County have been warned to keep their homes and vehicles locked as law enforcement continue to search for an Army veteran who may have stopped taking medication for a bipolar disorder. A warrant has been issued for Jeffrey Wegener, 26, of Nebraska, who is accused of stealing an Oregon County deputy's vehicle Sunday night and fleeing from authorities...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Brian Becker's appeal of a $206,787 judgment the city of Poplar Bluff obtained against Poplar Bluff Internet, Inc. (PBI), has failed. "The city's position has been upheld," City Manager Doug Bagby said. In a 26-page decision Monday, the Southern District Missouri Court of Appeals upheld the rulings made by Carter County Judge Michael Ligons...

By ALEX WEST Staff Writer Kent Nichols made a big impact on the Poplar Bluff, Mo., community through his involvement with the Kiwanis Club and his career at US Bank. As a result, members of both organizations decided to recognize him by dedicating the newly constructed pavilion at the Kiwanis Bacon Memorial Park in his honor...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Counselor Connie Alsup approaches her work with the Butler and Ripley county drug and alcohol treatment programs as a mother. Everything she would want for her child, she wants for the men and women whose worlds have been broken by substance abuse -- a healthy life, a family and a good job...

Reader's, city's equations differ After reading the article in April 2 DAR "City Growth Spills over to P. B. Schools," it would seem if we have all this wonderful growth, the surplus of property tax should compensate the growth of our schools. More businesses = more taxes...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- The debate over campaign contributions is never-ending for a simple reason: Both sides of the argument have merit. On the one hand, of course money is speech. For most citizens, contributing to politicians or causes is the most effective way to augment and amplify speech with which they agree. ...

By REG HENRY Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Every father should tell his children the hard-won lessons he has learned about life. For example, never get into an argument with a clown. He will just get out of his tiny car, slap his outsized shoes on the sidewalk and honk his silly red nose. It is hard for a normal person to remain dignified in such a confrontation...

Edwin Alderman DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Edwin Anderson Alderman, 96, of Doniphan died Monday, April 21, 2014, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Brother Mark Horn officiating. Burial will be in the Doniphan City Cemetery...

Ronnie Marlin-Russom Ronnie Everet Marlin-Russom, 65, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Thursday, April 17, 2014, at his home. Ronnie was born Jan. 5, 1949, in Poplar Bluff. He was of the Baptist faith and worked as a diesel mechanic. He enjoyed visiting with friends, watching westerns and eating out...

Donnie Diamond FISK, Mo. -- Donnie Dean Diamond, 75, of Silva, Mo., died Saturday, April 19, 2014, at his residence. Mr. Diamond is survived by his wife, Jane Diamond; a son, Michael Paul Diamond of Clubb, Mo.; a sister: Shirley Holloway of Greenville, Mo.; a brother, Calvin Diamond of Fisk; a granddaughter, Amanda Rhoden; and several special nieces and nephews...

Cotrell Funeral Service is celebrating a landmark year as a member of the International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR), a professional association of independently owned and operated funeral homes. Cotrell Funeral Service was accepted into the prestigious funeral home organization on Dec. 10, 1959. As independently owned firms, Golden Rule funeral homes must meet and maintain a strict code of conduct and high ethical standards...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A Poplar Bluff REALTOR who "opted in" as the bottom fell out of the real estate industry is being recognized by a national organization as one of the Top 30 Under 30. Lucas Edington was 19 when he got licensed for what seemed at the time like little more than a backup plan. Now 28, he owns his own branch of Mossy Oak Properties, located at 947 N. Westwood, and is consistently a top producer, both among area companies and the corporation...

In March, the Cane Creek Community Club met for its monthly meeting at Twin Towers with Nancy Wujcik as hostess. The meeting was opened with members reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was to tell something about a favorite bird and several members used the blue bird, Missouri's state bird...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN When Ronald Reagan called the Soviet Empire an "evil empire," the phrase reflected his conviction that while the East-West struggle was indeed a global geostrategic conflict, it had a deep moral dimension. If Americans did not see the Cold War as he did, a battle between good and evil, Reagan knew that they would indefinitely sacrifice neither the wealth of the nation nor the blood of its sons to sustain it...

To the Editor: This past Easter weekend Poplar Bluff hosted a unique event - the Wolf Creek Trail Run. The 80-plus participants, great weather and beautiful recreational trail made for a special inaugural event. On behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Poplar Bluff, I would like to thank all who helped make this happen:...

East Carter R-II Elementary School released its third quarter honor roll list for the 2013-2014 school year. Students named to that list follow. First Grade Mrs. Stahl: Benjamin C. Abrams, Elijah Bales, Rance Bourbon, David Callahan, Adelaide Carter, Nadia Chambliss, Anna Crowley, Ethan Gambling, Mykencie Hutchison, Gavin Lofts, Joshua Pflum, Mallory Stucker, Allyssa Williams...

Refugees in our country Since about the early 1980s we have under the United Nations Refugee Act having been bringing in 100,000 a year from around the world. There are now 700 refugee camps holding 42.5 million people who migrated from around the globe. ...

The Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center's students recently competed at the State SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference. These students from their respective areas demonstrated mastery career and technology skills. Each student worked hard to demonstrate professionalism as they showcased their profession while competing with other technical schools and colleges from across Missouri...

Betty Allen Betty Allen, 85 of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, April 22, 2014, at her residence. Arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service.

NEELYVILLE -- After a district setback where they didn't play well and an 8 a.m. practice on a vacation day, the Neelyville Tigers looked like themselves Tuesday. The first four hitters in the order had multiple hits as Neelyville took down Clearwater 8-3...

The Poplar Bluff tennis team was swept Tuesday by Notre Dame 9-0 but the Mules lost four matches by three games or less. "Most of the matches were fairly close," Mules coach Charlie Harper said. "Humza Siddiqui and Chris Stocks fought especially hard before narrowly losing."...

Ellan Mitchell DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Ellan Mitchell of Doniphan died Tuesday, April 22, 2014, in St. Louis, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan and will be announced upon completion.

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Despite a little rain, conditions for Monday's turkey season opener were pretty good, especially since there wasn't a gale force wind. Locally, quite a few hunters had success. In Butler county, hunters took 25 birds on opening day. Dunklin countians killed five birds...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- In a 2006 interview, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer said the Constitution is "basically about" one word -- "democracy" -- that appears in neither that document nor the Declaration of Independence. Democracy is America's way of allocating political power. The Constitution, however, was adopted to confine that power in order to "secure the blessings of" that which simultaneously justifies and limits democratic government -- natural liberty...

Thomas and Victoria Barnett of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Thomas Wayne Barnett for their 6-pound, 14-ounce son born at 5:40 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Thomas was 21 inches long. Grandparents are Terry and Alice Cheshire of Poplar Bluff, Warren and Barbara Reed of Nashville, Tenn., and Tom and Angie Barnett of Naylor, Mo. Great-grandparents are Joyce Fiske and Mary Hert, both of Poplar Bluff, and Chuck and Wanda Reed of Nashville...

Mary Chaligoj DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Mary Alice Chaligoj, 87, passed from this life to her eternal home on April 18, 2014. Mary was the youngest of eight children born to Hattie (Baucom) and Dennis Brooks on March 24, 1927. Mary was united in marriage to Mike Chaligoj on Oct. 12, 1948, and he preceded her in death on June 3, 2009. They enjoyed 61 years together raising their children, farming, and helping their church and community...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Poplar Bluff native Randy Birdsong and his "Headhunters TV" co-host, Nate Hosie, along with cameraman Jon Skidmore, left La Cygne, Kan., heavier in the wallet last week after taking second place in the World Turkey Hunting Championship while representing Flextone Game Calls...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The three-team showdown for the SEMO Conference golf title ended up being a blowout. Notre Dame defended its team title Tuesday by 18 strokes over Jackson while the Poplar Bluff Mules finished third for a third straight year. Ryan McVey earned all-conference honors with a 9-over-par 81 at Dalhousie Golf Club to lead the Mules to a 336, 25 shots behind the Bulldogs...

BLOOMFIELD -- Kaleb Thomley hit a 2-out walk-off single up the middle Tuesday evening as the Bloomfield Wildcats advanced to the Stoddard County Activities Association Tournament championship with a 5-4 victory over Puxico. Tim Fox reached on a double with two outs and scored the winning run on Thomley's hit for the Wildcats (11-6)...

JONESBORO -- It seems Division I club teams can't even beat the Lady Raiders right now. The Three Rivers Lady Raiders didn't give up a run against Arkansas State on Tuesday, winning 3-0 and 5-0 to extend their winning streak to eight games. "It was two quality wins," Three Rivers coach Jack Childress said...

Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR) is seeking a summer intern from within the local communities for a 12-week internship working in the park's museum collection. The intern must be a high school graduate, at least 18 years of age, with an interest in gaining experience in the preservation of a unique blend of cultural and natural objects...