Stories from Friday, August 22, 2014

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Following a four-hour hand recount Wednesday, Velvet Ricker was declared the winner of the Republican nomination for Carter County treasurer. "I'm happy. Now I can move on and concentrate on my November campaign," said Ricker, who is seeking an elective office for the first time...

City Manager Heath Kaplan has announced new hours for City Hall. "Starting Tuesday, Sept. 2, City Hall will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday," Kaplan said. City Hall currently closes at 4 p.m. "The city wants eight hours of work per day per employee," Kaplan said...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Heath Kaplan, Poplar Bluff's new city manager, likes the area, the climate, good barbecue, the city's growth and its potential for continued success. "Poplar Bluff is in a very beautiful area. It is the Gateway to the Ozarks," Kaplan said. "We were attracted to Poplar Bluff because the nice mature trees and rolling hills remind us of Michigan."...

Thoughts on city manager I read with interest the recent article introducing the new city manager. My thoughts are that the overall compensation package is quite significant, especially for a city with a population of approximately 15,000, albeit growing. ...

It seems that many area gardeners are still harvesting their green bean crop. Green beans are my favorite bean. However, there are over 100 varieties of beans, varying in shape, color, flavor, and nutritive value. People have loved eating beans for thousands of years. Beans were grown over 7,000 years ago in Mexico and Peru...

Fisk Fall Festival Pageant Fisk Fall Festival Pageant will be conducted at Fisk Middle School Gym Friday, Sept. 26. Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. The pageant starts at 6:15 p.m. Attire for ages 0-13 will be fall casual, 14 up pageant wear. Age divisions are Boys 0-4 years, Girls 0-12 months, 13-24 months, 2-3 years, 4-5 years, 6-7 years, 8-10 years, 11-13 years and 14 up...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS According to College Board, average tuition and fees for the 2013-14 school year totaled $30,094 at private colleges, $8,893 for in-state residents at public colleges and $22,203 for out-of-state residents. Many schools, such as Columbia University and George Washington University, charge yearly tuition and fees close to $50,000. Faced with the increasing costs of higher education, parents and taxpayers might like to know what they're getting for their money...

Medical Society met Aug. 14 The Quad County Medical Society of Butler, Carter, Ripley and Wayne Counties met Thursday, Aug. 14, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Those attending were Dr. Charles Lawson, Dr. Kirby Turner, Dr. Ben Till, Dr. Austin Tinsley, Dr. Dorothy Munch, Dr. Matt Riffle, Dr. H. K. Reddy, Dr. Donnie Jones, Dr. Ben Soeter and Dr. Fadi Makari...

Mole Hill supper and auction Mole Hill Cemetery will have its annual supper Saturday, Aug. 30, at the Twin Rivers High School cafeteria in Broseley. Serving will begin at 4:30 p.m. Adults will pay $7 and children 6 and younger will pay $4. Carryouts will be available. The tickets entitle diners to a complete meal including drink and dessert. The menu will include ham and chicken with all the trimming, including garden fresh vegetables. The homemade dessert will be made by the group's members...

There's only one starter back on Poplar Bluff's offensive line that helped Bi Nguyen set a team single-season rushing record last fall and half of the linemen on the depth chart are sophomores. "We've got a lot of questions on the front line," Mules coach Mark Barousse said...

Morrow Stadium will be cooking Friday night -- and not just in the concession stand. The weather forecast calls for an air temperature above 90 degrees when the Poplar Bluff football team kicks off its season against visiting Fox. Games around the state are kicking off later in the evening -- Dexter will start at 8 p.m. at Ste. Genevieve -- but the National Weather Service forecast has temperatures above 80 degree until nearly midnight...

Barbara Weichmann Barbara Louise Weichmann, 55, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 2414 Katy Lane, Poplar Bluff, followed by funeral services at 12:30 p.m...

Eunice Hendrickson DEXTER, Mo.--Eunice Irene (Pullum) Hendrickson, 67, of Dexter, died Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. ...

Martha Minton DEXTER, Mo, -- Martha Minton, 96, of Dexter died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014, at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Facility in Dexter. Visitation will be from 10 - 11 a.m. Monday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter on Monday followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. at the funeral home chapel with Dr. Barry Winders officiating...

Patricia Darling Emberton MALDEN, Mo. -- Patricia Darling Emberton, 51, of Alpena, Ark., died Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014, in Ripley County dues to an auto accident. Visitation will begin at 3 p.m. today at the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden with a graveside service and burial beginning at 4 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden...

Mitchel E. Threlkeld Mitchel "Mitch" Elijah Threlkeld, 91, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014 at the Missouri Veteran's Home in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Threlkeld was born July 29, 1923 in Naylor, Mo. to the late George Carlis and Eula Belle Cope Threlkeld. ...

Mary Kruse Mary Sue Copas Kruse, 69, of Doniphan, Mo., died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, at her residence. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at St. James Catholic Church in Rockford, Ill., with Father Leonard Jacobs officiating...