Stories from Monday, July 21, 2014

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Twin Rivers School District will invite community members in the coming months to serve on a steering committee to help develop short and long-term goals, according to Superintendent Jeremy Siebert. The committee was among the topics discussed Thursday during the monthly Board of Education meeting...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Allen Rowland's family has been farming for as long as anyone can remember. He grew up working the land with his father and grandfather. Today, Rowland continues the tradition in Dexter, Mo., with his son and brother. They harvest row crops -- mostly corn, wheat and soybeans -- from 2,500 acres near his hometown and in the Fisk, Mo., area...

By STEVE PATTON Daily Dunklin Democrat A Malden musician has released a new CD of 12 songs that he labels "folk rock." Mike Barnett grew up listening to the Beatles and is influenced by them, the alternative band The Jayhawks, and Tom Petty. There were no musicians as such in his family, but his dad loved to sing...

By ELEANOR HASENBECK Staff Writer Local teacher Rachel Stiber will soon add another title to her name, local author. Stiber's first novel, Elise's Choice, will be published Aug. 25. The story tells the tale of Elise, a girl in the medieval village of Pethralm. When a stranger is found in the enchanted forest surrounding the village, the villagers are wary, and talk of ancient myths seep through the town. Legend has it that the forest will stop anybody unworthy of entering Pethralm.  ...

The following students were among 181 graduate students who received degrees during spring commencement exercises May 17 at Southeast Missouri State University. Poplar Bluff, Mo.- Heather Cantu, Master of Arts with a major in exceptional child; Jessica McPike, Graduate Master's Honors with a Master of Science with a major in criminal justice; Jennifer Pennington graduated with a Master of Arts with a major in higher education administration...

Stephanie Marie Moore and Garrett Lee Hendrix, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo. exchanged vows Saturday, May 17. 2014 at Keener Springs, Williamsville, Mo. Rev. Byron Beck performed the double-ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Kenneth and LaDonna Moore of Poplar Bluff...

Roy and Helen Dugas of Poplar Bluff, Mo. will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary from 1-6 p.m., Saturday, July 26, 2014 at their daughter Patricia's home at 6365 Highway 142, Poplar Bluff, Mo., which is next door to her parents. Roy and Helen were married July 25, 1964 in the home of the bride's parents on Big Island, Route 4, Poplar Bluff...

Area residents wanting to learn first hand about the responsibilities and duties of a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper will have the chance to do so by attending a Community Alliance Program this fall at Troop E in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The mission of the Community Alliance Program is to provide personal interaction between area citizens and the patrol. It is designed to allow the public to learn more about the patrol's purpose and role within the law enforcement community...

To the Editor, Upgrades to educational facilities keep students safer and allow them to focus on learning. It's as simple as that. As a community, we should focus on providing a safe and comfortable learning environment for our students. That's why we're making it a priority to give our students a new and improved elementary school without passing on any additional costs to the residents of Campbell...

By SHARON RANDALL McClatchy-Tribune News Service My grandmother was a master gardener. She grew dahlias and chrysanthemums, sweet peas and hydrangeas, tomatoes and corn, green beans and squash, sustenance for body and soul. She could make anything bloom. Even me...

QULIN, Mo. -- Route HH between Butler County Roads 202 and 334 will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday as Missouri Department of Transportation crews prepare the roadway for pipe replacement. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area...

SEMO News Service A Perryville, Missouri, man is facing a criminal charge after his dog mauled a young neighbor, Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf said Friday. A pit bull owned by Christopher Gaulding, 26, of Perryville attacked a 7-year-old girl who came into Gaulding's yard July 9, Schaaf said...

Alva Deaton Alva (Alvie) Deaton, 76, went to be with the Lord on Friday, July 18, 2014. Born in Fremont, Mo., on April 15, 1938, to Chester and Rosie Deaton, he was a lifelong resident and businessman of Butler County, Mo. Alvie is surved by his wife of 57 years, Helen (Okie) Deaton; his children, Janet Deaton of Poplar Bluff, Bobby and Michelle Deaton of Poplar Bluff, and Alpha and Susan Taylor of Clifty, Ark.; his grandchildren, Miranda Deaton, Austin Deaton, Brandon Taylor, Chace (Ashley) Taylor; one great-grandson, Braxton Taylor; his brother, Melburn (Bernice) Deaton; and two sisters, Lola Dean Hager and Mary Jo (Charlie) Barth.. ...

Burl Starks VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Burl Loren Starks, 78, departed this life Thursday, July 17, 2014, at his residence in Ellsinore, Mo. Mr. Starks was born Nov. 1, 1935, in Van Buren, Mo. He was the son of the late Burl and Anna (Moore) Starks and the stepson of the late Odney Rhea...

Bud Neal CAMPBELL, Mo.--Bud Neal, 75, of Campbell, died Friday, July 18, 2014, at Keeney Country Home in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. Monday at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. Funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. Monday at the Landess Funeral Chapel with Rev. Joe Payne officiating...

Faye Sandlin Faye Sandlin, 72, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, July 14, 2014, at her home. Faye was born July 3, 1942, to the late Harvey and Elizabeth Dickens in Chelyan, W. Va. She was a long time resident of Poplar Bluff. She was a member of the Highland Drive Church of Christ...

Jerildine Hayes FISK, Mo. - Jerildine "Billie" Hayes, 89, of Festus, Mo., died Thursday, July 17, 2014, at Crystal Oaks Nursing Home in Crystal City, Mo. She was born April 3, 1925 at Parma, Mo. She was a member of the Second Baptist Church in Festus and had formerly worked for Emerson Electric...

Editor's Note: Daily American Republic sports writer Scott Borkgren visited friends in Brazil during this summer's World Cup. He shares his thoughts about the games and soccer. By SCOTT BORKGREN Sports Writer It's remarkable how countries play soccer like they build cars...

The quietness is what struck Tito Ovalle first. It was tough to sleep initially. The way some people fall asleep to the TV, Ovalle drifted away to the sounds of the city that never sleeps. About this time last year, he, along with Kelvin Flores and Santos Duran, separately and collectively took on the adventure of moving from New York City to Poplar Bluff to play college baseball for Three Rivers College...