Stories from Friday, May 30, 2014

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Butler County man pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm. Timothy G. Ossana, 45, pleaded guilty to one felony count of being a previously-convicted felon in possession of a firearm before U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr., according to the U.S. Attorney's Office...

By COREY NOLES SEMO News Service BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A former Stoddard County pastor accused of hiring a couple from his church to burn his home and kill his wife appeared in court again Wednesday. The bond hearing -- the first since Donald Lafferty's arraignment May 19 -- included testimony from his estranged sister, Annette Kay Roberts; his mother, Goldie Lafferty; and his former wife, Mildred Sandage...

Bernie: Raymond Galbraith, 2 on tuba solo Bloomfield: Chance Dollar, Gatan Earnest, Tyler Hood, Dillon Foster, Andrew Northern, Zane Huddleston, Ricky Brotherton and Bailey Vaughn, 2 in miscellaneous vocal ensemble; John Michael, 3 on trumpet solo; Ashley Hamilton, Caroline Robison, Oshen Schaefer, Katie Tippen, Bethany Rice, Gatan Earnest, Bailey Vaughn and Zane Huddleston, 3 on miscellaneous vocal ensemble; Kersten Houchins, Kara Owens, Jennifer Wilcox, Mara Mayo, Mollie Strickland, Sophia Thorn, Andrew Northern, Tyler Hood, 3 on miscellaneous vocal ensemble. ...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer When he first transferred to Malden High School from Portageville last winter, junior Diamontra Finley had never taken choir. Just a few months later, however, he would earn a trip to the 2014 MSHSAA State Music Festival, where he earned the highest rating of 1...

John Straman III DEXTER, Mo. -- John Bernard Straman III, 59, of Bloomfield, Mo., died Friday, May 23, 2014, at his residence. Memorial services are planned for a later date with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter conducting arrangements.

Dorthy McClard DEXTER, Mo. -- Dorthy McClard, 80, of Dexter died Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Bridge Church of Christ in Pyle Town. Burial will follow in the Caroline Dowdy Cemetery in Dexter...

David Patterson FISK, Mo. -- David Wayne Patterson, 53, of Wappapello, Mo., died Monday, May 19, 2014, at his residence. There will be a graveside memorial service at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Brown Chapel Cemetery at Broseley, Mo. White-Sanders Funeral Home at Fisk is in charge of arrangements...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Last summer, in this capital of gridlock, a miracle occurred. The American people rose as one and told the government of the United States not to drag us into another Middle East war in Syria. Barack Obama was ready to launch air and missile strikes when a national uproar forced him to go to Congress for authorization. Congress seemed receptive until some Hill offices were swarmed by phone calls and emails coming in at a rate of 100-1 against war...

By MONA CHAREN It's a cliche to say that Washington, D.C., is "out of touch" with voters, but there's something to it. Arguably, in 2012, the Republican Party seemed focused on a subject -- debt -- that wasn't a high priority for average Americans. ...

By PHYLLIS FLANIGAN University of Missouri Extension The month of May is usually the start of the grilling season. So it's time to clean off the grill and get ready for a great summer of grilling and visiting with friends and relatives. Problems with food safety can occur when cooking outdoors. ...

Will Google give me Ed? I just want to know if I Google " Vince Lampe for presiding commissioner" if I will go straight to Ed Strenfel's web site. City Council vacation plans So I saw today where the Thai military carried out a coup, declared martial law, set a curfew, and banned meetings of five or more people...

Poplar Bluff R-I Board of Education met in closed session May 22, following a public session. The board:...

Haley Doyle of Poplar Bluff, Mo., has received the Regents' Scholarship and Hattie Eicholtz Scholarship to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 2014-2015 academic year. Doyle is the daughter of Ethan and Stacy Doyle of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and will be a 2014 graduate of Twin Rivers High School...

Man still sought in shooting at park in Kennett SEMO NEWS SERVICE KENNETT, Mo. -- A Kennett man still sought by authorities has been charged with four felony counts in connection with a shooting Friday at Jones Park in Kennett. Uzzi Carruthers, 20, is charged with first-degree assault, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon for allegedly shooting at Mark Jones, 30, also of Kennett...

STE. GENEVIEVE -- Similar to its two most recent games, the East Carter Redbirds played the MSHSAA Class 2 quarterfinal against Valle Catholic with a deficit midway through the game but didn't give up without a fight. In the district title game and sectional round, the Redbirds got the big homer. But on Wednesday, they had two last chances with the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh but couldn't get one last big hit...

Wilma Belmar PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Wilma Jean Belmar, 77, of Des Arc, Mo., died Monday, May 26, 2014, at her residence. Visitation will begin for the family at 4 p.m. Thursday and for the public at 5 p.m. at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Beulah Baptist Church in Brunot, Mo., with burial at the Beulah Cemetery...

Tommy L. Carter SIKESTON, Mo. -- Tommy L. Carter, 64, of Austin, Texas, died Sunday, May, 25, 2014 at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. He died suddenly of a massive heart attack while attending a family reunion in Sikeston. Funeral arrangements are incomplete but services will be held in Sikeston, Mo...

Marie Ledbetter ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Marie Ledbetter, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, May 26, 2014, at Oakdale Care Center. Memorial services will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at Route 2 Box 2682 in Ellsinore. Call 573-300-0420 for directions. Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff is in charge of arrangements...

Frank Smody NEELYVILLE, Mo -- Frank Sidney Smody, 59, of Neelyville died Saturday, May 24, 2014, at his home. Mr. Smody, a faithful Christian, was born April 8, 1955, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was a farmer and co-owner of Smody Farms. He enjoyed his family, antique tractors, collecting toy farm equipment and farming. He was a member of the executive board of C.C.S.B.A. Smody also attended First Baptist Church of Harviell, where he was a deacon and Sunday school superintendent...

Kenneth Barker NEELYVILLE, Mo.--Kenneth Lee Barker, 70, of Springfield, Mo., died Sunday, May 25, 2014 at Cox medical Center South in Springfield. He was born Oct. 17, 1943 in Neelyville, Mo. He served in the United States Army. Mr. Barker was a steel fabricator. He was well known for his fabrication work, making ornamental gates and putting things together...

John D. Bishop II CAMPBELL, Mo. -- John Daniel Bishop II, 7, of Campbell, passed away on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 at St. Louis Children Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. John Daniel, son of John Daniel and Deana E. Cecil Bishop, was born on Aug. 17, 2006 in Effingham, Ill...

Chris Berry DEXTER, Mo. -- Christopher "Chris" A. Berry, 36, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., formerly of Dexter, died Monday, May 26, 2014 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 5-9 p.m. Thursday at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo...

Beverly A. Watts Beverly A. Watts, 85, daughter of the late Ray Raymond and Amanda Johnson Richards, was born in Albert Lea, Minn. on Sept. 12, 1928, and passed away in Puxico, Mo. Wednesday, May 28, 2014. She had lived in Bethany, Okla. before moving to Puxico in 1996. She was a member of the Duck Creek Baptist Church near Puxico. She loved taking care of her grandchildren and making poppy seed cakes and sharing them...

Virgie Diamond Virgie A. Diamond (nee Howard), 102, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at Mark Twain Caring Center. Mrs. Diamond was born April 16, 1912, in Wayne County, Mo. She was the beloved wife of the late Orville E. Diamond for 72 years...