Stories from Thursday, May 29, 2014

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The 5th & 6th Grade Center Teacher of the Year is an example for even veteran instructors at her campus. Fifth grade teacher Joan Lack was honored by the Poplar Bluff School District as both Teacher of the Year for her building and the middle school grade level. The district recognized educators at every campus. These individuals will continue to be featured once a week through the first week of June...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A coroner's inquest will convene next week to look into the circumstances of an officer-involved shooting that left a Harviell, Mo., man dead. "I provided the sheriff (Mark Dobbs) with a warrant (Tuesday) to obtain the six jurors, pursuant to Missouri statute," for a coroner's jury, explained Butler County Coroner Jim Akers...

Voters would like to see clear plan? [website] Angela Pearson and Brian Becker's joint effort to overthrow (Becker's own word on Facebook later removed) Poplar Bluff government bear similarities to McCarthyism. They've replaced the term "communist" with "good ole' boy network" and accuse their opposition of subversion and disingenuity without proper regard for actual evidence. ...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- On Wednesday, it finally happened -- the pivot to Asia. No, not the United States. It was Russia that turned East. In Shanghai, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a spectacular energy deal -- $400 billion of Siberian natural gas to be exported to China over 30 years...

By MICHELLE MALKIN When Obamacare operatives aren't busy trashing the private health insurance market and squandering billions on useless technology, they're busy ... being idle. File the latest example of government health care profligacy under "Caution: Your tax dollars not at work."...

HILLVIEW ELEMENTARY 4th quarter Honor Roll 2013-2014 "A" Honor Roll First Grade Mrs. Stull: Jade Crosswhite, Hayden Dugas, Shalynn Hanna, Bridget Million, Zara Newcomb, Casen Stephens. Mrs. Russom: Makynli Day, Reese Dobbins, Jenna Hunter, Toryn Kendle...

Colin Emmons Colin David "Mick" Emmons, 69, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Saturday, May 24, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Emmons was born July 29, 1944, in Benton, Mo., to the late Eugene and Mildred (Angle) Emmons. He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War...

Gary Wright Gary Howard Wright, 62, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Sunday, May 25, 2014 at his residence. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Beulah Fox PIEDMONT, Mo.--Beulah Jones Fox, 92, of Silva, Mo., passed away Monday, May 26, 2014 where she resided with Gary and Gladys Aubuchon, a step-grandson. She was born Nov. 13, 1921 at Shook, Mo., the daughter of Alex and Ida Jones. Beulah had lived most of her life in Williamsville, Mo. She was a homemaker, gardener and loved taking care of animals. She made a profession of faith in Christ as a young girl...

Austin Elliott DONIPHAN, Mo.-- Austin Allen Ray Elliott, 17, of Doniphan, died Friday, May 23, 2014, in Ripley County, Mo. Austin was born May 9, 1997, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., to Luther Ray Elliott and Nancy Elliott. He was an apprentice plumber. Austin loved music and played many instruments and he also enjoyed playing football...

Kenneth Swain MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Kenneth William "Ken" Swain, 60, of Arlington, Tenn., passed away on Sunday, May 25, 2014. He was a graduate of Poplar Bluff Senior High (1971) and Arkansas State University, retired from FedEx, played USTA Competitive Tennis, enjoyed softball, and was active with his daughter's volleyball team...

Chaonia Cemetery clean-up Sat. The spring cleaning for the Chaonia Cemetery will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday. The cemetery is located off Hwy. 172 in Wayne County. Bring tools and a lunch. For more information contact Margaret Shackleford, 573-785-7509...

Gilmore is outstanding graduate BOLIVAR, Mo. -- Emily Gilmore of Poplar Bluff, Mo., was one of 14 graduates at Southwest Baptist University to be selected by an academic department as its outstanding graduate for the 2013-14 academic year. These students were recognized during a student honors chapel service and at an honors banquet...

A nationally-recognized five-week course, called Operation JumpStart: First Step will be offered in Poplar Bluff, Mo. It is a training model individuals considering starting or expanding a small business. The curriculum teaches participants essential small business planning and preparation skills with practical hands-on training...

By BEN CARSON The recent escalating arguments over whether there should be further congressional hearings on Benghazi are troubling. The fact that there are substantial numbers of people who feel that there is nothing more to investigate when four American lives were lost and no one has answered for this crime provides an indication of how far our sense of justice has slipped...

This Memorial Day, when we paid our respects to our nation's fallen heroes, I think it is extremely important that we have a healthy dose of perspective. It is too often easy for us as Americans to take our many freedoms for granted; to not fully appreciate the immense privilege it is to live in the greatest nation on this planet. When we do that, we diminish the importance of the sacrifices that have been made to give us this blessing of liberty, and this honor of being Americans...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN News that Pfizer, the world's largest pharmaceutical company, plans to buy Britain's AstraZeneca for $106 billion, renounce its U.S. citizenship, and declare itself a British company, has jolted Congress. Pfizer is being denounced as disloyal to the land of its birth, and politicians are devising ways to stop Pfizer from departing...

NEELYVILLE ELEMENTARY Fourth Quarter Honor Roll 2014 "A" Honor Roll Third Grade: Colby Beaird, Ryan Brown, James Buffington, Joseph Burton, Joseph Charest, Brock Davis, Keith Donnell, Ella Eaker, Allison George, Brooke Griffin, Jonathon Hall, Hanna Herald, Tanner Kelsey, Leah Million, Camden Owens, Alexis Robinson, Lucas Scott, Austin Sheppard, Lila Tubb...

By FRANK CAMPA Mo. Dept. of Conservation As of May 24, the traditional opening day of squirrel season in Missouri is now officially open! The daily limit for years and years had always been six in the aggregate (combination of both fox and gray squirrels). For the last few years, as it is this year, it is 10 squirrels in the aggregate...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Congratulations go to Corning, Ark.'s junior high (grades 6-8) trap shooting team, which qualified two squads for the upcoming state competition. The Junior Squad 4 took first place in the Arkansas Youth Shooting Sport Program regional competition on May 16, beating out about 80 other teams, while the Junior Squad 2 took third place...

By MIC PLUNKETT Mo. Dept. of Conservation Missouri offers some of the best deer hunting in the country, and deer hunting is an important part of many Missourian's lives and family traditions. Infectious diseases such as Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) hurt hunting and wildlife watching for Missouri's more than 520,000 deer hunters and more than two million wildlife watchers...

Gary Strong IRON RIVER, Mich.--Gary D. Strong, age 82, formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., went to be with the Lord Saturday, May 24, 2014 in Ishpeming, Mich. in the presence of his loving family. He was born Aug. 11, 1931 in Elkhart, Ind., the son of the late Howard and Florence (Hosterman) Strong. He attended the Elkhart Schools, graduating with the Class of 1949...

Harry Foster DEXTER, Mo.--Harry Don Foster, 62, died Monday, May 26, 2014 at his residence. Visitation will be from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. today at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will follow at 2:30 p.m. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Tim Russell officiating. Burial will be in the Dexter Cemetery...

James Boan BLOOMFIELD, Mo.--James Oliver Boan, 92, of Bloomfield, died Friday, May 23, 2014, at Sunrise Senior Living in Chesterfield, Mo. Mr. Boan, a former resident of Bloomfield, was owner and publisher of The Vindicator weekly newspaper. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. Friday at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield with Rev. David Dohogne of Dexter, Mo. officiating...

KIRKWOOD -- The ace pitcher couldn't get out of the second inning, the offense came up empty and Poplar Bluff's wait for a state playoff win continued. Vianney scored seven before the Mules could record six outs Monday as the Golden Griffins handed Poplar Bluff an 8-0 loss in the MSHSAA Class 5 playoffs...

Virgie Diamond Virgie A. Diamond, 102, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at Mark Twain Caring Center. Arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home.

Frank Smody NEELYVILLE, Mo.--Frank Sidney Smody, 59, of Neelyville, died Saturday, May 24, 2014 at Neelyville. Visitation will be after 6 p.m. Friday at Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel...

By MARK BLANTON SEMO News Service Two people were arrested on unrelated warrants when the Cape Girardeau Police Department recovered a pair of young boys May 21 from a U-Haul truck traveling along Interstate 55. Jason R. Braman, 39, of Lafe, Arkansas, was arrested on suspected scrap metal theft and his wife, Michelle B. ...