Stories from Friday, August 1, 2014

By ALEX WEST Staff Writer The 76th Annual Membership Meeting for Ozark Border Electric Cooperative will be held Saturday at Three Rivers College. This year's meeting will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance at 9:20 a.m. in the Bess Activity Center followed by the National Anthem and registration and voting for board directors...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A group of Poplar Bluff, Mo., families passionate about education will open a lending library Friday devoted to helping parents who home-school their children find curriculum and resources. The nearest similar library is located in Springfield, Mo., according to organizer Mary Pietrofere, of the group H.O.U.S.E., Home Oriented Unique School Experience...

By SAVANNA MAUE SEMO News Service The Department of Agriculture at Southeast Missouri State University has a new addition to its farm, and it's not something that can be raised, herded or processed. Students and faculty recently have been trained how to use their newest device -- an unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone, which has been unofficially named Ag Force One...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Republican contests for presiding commissioner and Division III associate circuit judge plus five issues on the ballot are the decisions facing Butler County voters in the Aug. 5 primary election. Residents of the Neelyville School District also will vote on the issuance of $1,550,000 in bonds for renovation of the Hillview and Neelyville schools...

By EMILY PRIDDY SEMO News Service The former CEO of Southeast Missouri Health Network Inc. has been sentenced to 33 months in prison on a conspiracy charge, and three other former employees face criminal charges in connection with the case. In April, Cheryl Ann White, 56, of New Madrid, Missouri, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to submit false documents...

State aid is misguided I want to know why the state of Missouri will not give my Granddaughter (mother of two) 30 yrs. old WITH a pacemaker that is going out in 30 days, help for her hospital and doctor bills but people who do drugs and crimes can get aid from the state in a minute...

Sometimes pickles just don't turn out right even when you do everything the "same way as last year." What's a person to do? Many things can affect the quality of your pickles such as weather and growing conditions. The time between harvest and pickling also affects the quality. ...

Center Stage, Three Rivers College's blended community/student theater company, has released the schedule for its 2014-2015 season. It will feature selections from both classic and modern theater, including works by Neil Simon, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and John Patrick Shanley, according to a press release. As with all Center Stage shows, auditions will be open to both Three Rivers students and community members for all shows...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS While reading the first chapter of Jason Riley's new book, "Please Stop Helping Us," I thought about Will Rogers' Prohibition-era observation that "Oklahomans vote dry as long as they can stagger to the polls." Demonstrative of similar dedication, one member of Congress told Vanderbilt University political scientist Carol Swain that "one of the advantages and disadvantages of representing blacks is their shameless loyalty. ...

By GEORGE F. WILL PORTLAND, Ore. -- "Are you kidding?" This is Monica Wehby's amiable response to people who wonder whether she will be able to bear the pressures of office if she wins her race as a Republican Senate candidate. For 17 of her 52 years she has been a pediatric neurosurgeon, holding in steady hands sharp steel and the fate of children's brains. She probably can cope with the strains of legislative life...

Ark. U Dean's List Several local University of Arkansas students have been named to 2014 spring semester Dean's list. Each college and school at the University of Arkansas has its own requirements for full-time students to be named to the individual Dean's lists...

Glen Simmons PUXICO, Mo.- Glen Simmons, of Bloomfield, Mo., died Wednesday, July 30, 2014, at his home. Arrangements are pending with Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico.

Letters to the Editor: On behalf of the hugely successful "Tribute to Elvis Concert" recently held at the Rodger's Theatre in Poplar Bluff, Mo. We, Dave Bowman, Kelly LeRoux and Drenda Casinger, are honored and pleased to present a cashier's check in the amount of $2,123.50 to the well deserved Shriner's Children's Hospital and for the Wounded Warriors...

Thelma Gordon MALDEN, Mo.- Thelma Jewell Gordon, 83, of Bernie, Mo., died Wednesday, July 30, 2014, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell. Visitation will be at noon Friday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m...

Debra Million Debra (Debbie) Ann Million, 57, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., went to Heaven Tuesday, July 29, 2014, at her home surrounded by her family. Mrs. Million was born April 27, 1957, to J.L. McGarrity and Veda Nagy in Poplar Bluff. They survive. On Feb. 15, 1974, she married Charles Merl Million in Poplar Bluff. He survives...

William L. Lacey PIEDMONT, Mo. -- William L. Lacey, 75, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Piedmont, died Tuesday, July 29, 2014 at the Cedargate in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel, Piedmont, followed by the service at noon in the funeral home chapel. Pastor Kenny King officiating. Burial with Military Honors will be at the Clay Cemetery near Piedmont...

William Waites PIEDMONT, MO. -- William S. "Bill" Waites, 83, of Piedmont, died Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at the Clark's Mountain Nursing Center in Piedmont. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont followed by the funeral at noon in the funeral home chapel with. Bro. Jamie Hovis officiating. Burial with Military Honors will be in the Waites Family Cemetery near Piedmont...

Marie Manning PIEDMONT, Mo.- Marie Jane Manning, 66, of Greenville, Mo., died Tuesday, July 29, 2014, at her residence. Visitation will be at Jonahs Java in Greenville at 10 a.m. Saturday with a memorial service following at 11 a.m. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

R. H. Morgan PARMA, Mo.- R. H. Morgan, 87, of Parma, died Tuesday, July 29, 2014, at the Miner Nursing Center in Sikeston, Mo. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden, Mo. Burial will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden. Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Parma in charge of arrangements...

James "Bill" Robertson ELLSINORE, MO. -- James William "Bill" Robertson, 92, Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, July 29, 2014. Visitation will begin for the public at 6 p.m. on Friday in the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore, with the funeral service beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Mount Carmel Cemetery. The Rev. Tom Wilder will officiate...

Hazel Mann Hazel F. Mann, 79, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, July 31, 2014, at her son's residence. Arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service.

Donnie Williams MALDEN, Mo.- Donnie Elton Williams, 76, of Clarkton, Mo., died Tuesday, July 29, 2014, at his residence. Memorial will be held from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Burial will take place in Mt. Gilead Cemetery in Clarkton at a later date...