Stories from Friday, June 20, 2014

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Slightly below normal temperatures were recorded during the 2014 meteorological spring (March, April and May) while precipitation was more than 2 inches above the 30-year average. Figures in the accompanying graphic are based on temperature and precipitation statistics from equipment maintained by the National Weather Service at the Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport since Nov. 20, 1997...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer With careful movements, 14-year-old Daniel Williams lifted the lid off a pair of wooden boxes on a recent rainy afternoon to reveal his first bee hive. Its approximately 15,000 inhabitants are the basis for the teen's new business, started as a long-term project for Future Farmers of America...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor VAN BUREN, Mo. -- A case originally filed by Carter County Prosecuting Attorney Rocky Kingree against an assistant attorney general ended Wednesday when a special prosecutor dismissed the charges. Earlier this month, Associate Circuit Judge Don Henry appointed Howell County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Hutchings and his assistants, including Rizwan Ahad, to prosecute Steven Ray Berry, an assistant attorney general, charged with the Class A misdemeanor of tampering with a public record and the Class B misdemeanor of making a false declaration.. ...

Millions of Americans like me are hitting the road this summer for the annual family vacation. Next week I'll be on the road with my sister, daughter, and grandson. A family vacation is supposed to be fun. However, sometimes it can be stressful. Do these words sound familiar? I remember my kids saying, "How much longer?" "I'm hungry." "She's on my side!" "Can we stop and get something to eat?" "I'm bored!"...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Two hundred and nine years after Marines visited those shores, dispatched by President Jefferson to punish Barbary pirates for attacking U.S. vessels in the Mediterranean, Marines are again in that sea, poised to return. If they are sent ashore, their mission will be to rescue U.S. citizens from the consequences of U.S. policy. Then they might have to do the same thing in Baghdad...

Lora Kenley DONIPHAN, Mo. - Lora Kenley, 84, long-time resident of Doniphan, died Wednesday, June 18, 2014, at her residence. Visitation will begin at noon Friday, at Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan with the funeral service following at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Brother Monty Flanigan officiating. Burial will follow in the Doniphan City Cemetery...

Yalonda Fay Johnson of Sikeston, Mo. has chosen the name Ka'Mari Fay Johnson for her 7-pound, 5-ounce daughter born at 5:07 p.m., Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Ka'Mari was 19 and three-quarter inches long...

Betty Jo Hill MALDEN, Mo.--Betty Jo Hill, 68, of Gideon, Mo. died Wednesday, June 18, 2014, at her residence. Visitation will be at noon Friday at the Bradshaw Funeral Home--Gideon. A graveside funeral will be held 2 p.m. Friday at Stanfield Cemetery with burial to follow...

Kelly Marie Downs and Jason Lee Owens of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Dalton Lee Owens for their 5-pound, 14-ounce son born at 1:55 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, 2014. Dalton was 20 inches long. Dalton has two brothers and one sister.

Benjamin D. Walker of Poplar Bluff, Mo. was one of more than 200 graduates to receive their degrees from the The University of Saint Mary in May. Walker earned a Master's degree in Business Administration The University of Saint Mary is a Catholic co-educational applied liberal arts university founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. The University of Saint Mary main campus is located at 4100 South 4th Street, Leavenworth, Kan...

Grover P. Dycus Grover P. Dycus, 77, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at his home. He was born Dec. 29, 1936 in Gatlin, Tenn. On March 20, 1970 he married Shirley Ham in St. Louis, Mo. She survives. Mr. Dycus worked for over 58 years on a river boat. His hobbies were wood working, camping, cooking and classic cars. He was of the Baptist faith...

Jewell M. Lloyd IRONTON, Mo. - Jewell M. Lloyd, 89, passed away Monday, June 16, 2014 at The Baptist Home in Ironton, Mo. She was born May 4, 1925 in Rives, Mo. to the late Guy Davidson and Dora (Tate) Davidson. On Sept. 22, 1946 she married Lee H. Lloyd who preceded her in death on Oct. 31, 2011. She was also preceded in death by three sisters, Blanche Hefner, Bernice Grandstaff, and Verle Pinkerton; one brother, Kenneth Davidson...

Students earning a spot on the Puxico High School Fourth Quarter Honor Rolls are: Highest Honor Roll: Twelfth Grade: Ethan Adams, Grace Adams, Taylor Baker, Destinee Cookson, Lance Danford, Hannah Foriester, Amy Hayes, Alana Jones, Jayna Little, Alicea Little, Dakotah McMeans, Emily Merick, Ethan Miller, Garrett Payne, Hunter Placher, Jamie Rasberry and Michael Sullivan...

Jonathan Eftink of Bloomfield, Mo., was recently initiated into Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Eftink is pursuing a degree in computer engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology...

Eugene Cox PUXICO, Mo.--Eugene E. Cox, 83, of Wappapello, Mo., died Wednesday, June 18, 2104 at his home. Arrangements are pending with Morgan-Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico.

Cy Worley was standing over a 30-foot putt to win. His nerves were frayed and a chance to compete in Tulsa, Olka., was on the line. He didn't think he was going make it, nobody does at that distance, but the ball drifted toward the hole on a good line and his excitement built before it finally dropped...

The local chapter #1056 of Vietnam Veterans of America met June 12. Renovation continues on the chapter home, located at 502 Vine St., in Poplar Bluff. Plans for the Cape Cod Bus Tour, set for Sept. 20 - 28, are in the final stages. Reservations still need to be confirmed. If this is a trip you would be interested in, contact Bardis Dismuke at (573) 718-4125. You do not have to be a veteran to register. The deadline for registration is July 20...

Students in Puxico Elementary School earning places on the Fourth Quarter Honor Roll are: Fifth Grade: Dalton Andrews, Kendall Armstrong, Gavin Brawley, Katlyn Brotherton, Jeff Clark, Allison Faries, Nolan Foster, Sierra Gaines, Anita Green, Matt Hawthorne, Kaly Haynes, Serena Hill, Taylor Hobbs, Truman Hobbs, Sydney Kilbreth, Hunter Kitchens, Noah McGowen, Lisa McIntyre, Dylan Mondy, Lucas Plunkett, Jacob Pryor, Caleb Robison, Tia Rogers, Carlie Sifford, Kylie West and Gracey Wilkerson...

Kerry Deckard PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Kerry Lee Deckard, 28, of Patterson, Mo. died Monday, June 16, 2014 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Visitation will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home chapel with Rev. Darrel Loughridge officiating. Burial will be in the Rowland-Woods Cemetery near Patterson...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The city of Poplar Bluff and Butler County will receive additional transportation funding if a three-fourths of a cent sales tax is approved by the voters on Aug. 5, according to Missouri Department of Transportation Southeast District Engineer Mark Shelton...

Ronnie Phelps Ronnie Phelps, 69, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Thursday, June 19, 2014 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

Puxico Junior High School students earning a place on the fourth quarter honor roll are: Highest Honors Eighth Grade: Madison Caldwell, Joshua Hamann, Kaytlynn Haynes, Marrissa Parmer, Colton Reinert, Shelby Richmond, Hailey Vernon and Levi Woods. Honor Roll...

PIGGOTT, Ark. -- The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center (HPMEC) staff in Piggott has announced a new event for this summer, a Lost Generation Reading Club and Retreat. Upon registration, participants will receive three novels about the Lost Generation that can be read throughout the summer. On September 5-7, participants will come together at the museum in Piggott for a weekend of meaningful discussion and fun activities...