Stories from Saturday, August 23, 2014

SEMO News Service PARSONS, Tenn. -- A Benton, Missouri, man died Wednesday in West Tennessee when the crop-dusting plane he was piloting went down. Family confirmed the man piloting the plane was Hollis Malone, 29, of Benton. Decatur County Emergency Management director Kevin Cagle said the plane crashed about 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Bible Hill community in the northern part of the county, about five miles north of Parsons...

By LAURA FORD SEMO News Service MALDEN, Mo. -- In the wake of recent controversy surrounding the Malden city pound and the Kennett Humane Department, a silver lining has emerged area officials say they hope will benefit both facilities. Malden city leaders decided in recent days to end all euthanizing of animals brought to the pound by other towns. City administrator Ted Bellars also said procedures would be reviewed to see whether there are weaknesses in the pound's policies...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor GRANDIN, Mo. -- As the pickup truck he was riding in drove past a yearling white-tailed deer buck feeding in a pasture Thursday morning, 8th District U.S. Rep. Jason Smith listened as property owner Ed Baker detailed the struggles he's faced with state and federal government regulations while trying to establish his business...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A Navy veteran whose life has been forever altered by a disabling medical condition found help Thursday during a community event designed to connect those in need with essential services. About 200 people attended the Project Connect Community Outreach Day at the Black River Coliseum. Groups that could help with employment, housing, clothing and food needs were on site, as well as those offering dental and health screenings...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Poplar Bluff students beat the state average ACT scores in four of five college ready assessments, according to a report presented Thursday to the R-I Board of Education. Board members also learned all campuses showed growth in math and communication arts during summer school programs, while work is ongoing to align district-wide curriculum to changing state measures...

Tinsley needs to be removed Silence! This is in regard to the council meeting on Monday, Aug. 18, regarding Peter Tinsley and his Facebook post. I noticed as Mr. McDonald was passing out copies to the council members everybody was silent. No one spoke. ...

By MONA CHAREN The Ferguson, Missouri, police department released convenience store surveillance tape that showed Michael Brown allegedly stealing some cigars minutes before he was shot by a police officer. Aware that the release of this footage might look like posthumous character assassination of the shooting victim, Captain Ronald Johnson of the Ferguson police explained that the tape was released pursuant to freedom of information requests...

Area pet owners can end the summer with a splash at the Poplar Bluff city pool Sunday, Sept. 7. That's when the Animal Welfare Alliance (AWA) and the Poplar Bluff Parks & Recreation Dept. will co-host "Doggie Swim Day" from 2-4 p.m. Admission will be $1 per dog, according to a press release. Human refreshments and dog treats will be available for purchase...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "America is on trial," said Rev. Al Sharpton from the pulpit of Greater St Mark's Family Church in Ferguson, Missouri. At issue, the shooting death of Michael Brown, Saturday a week ago, on the main street of that city of 22,000, a neighbor community to Jennings, where this writer lived in the mid-1960s...

Billy Hunsaker DEXTER, Mo.--Billy Hunsaker, 79, of Springfield, Mo. died Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014, at his home. Visitation will be after 9 a.m. Monday. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Monday at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter with the Rev. Steve Tippen of Bloomfield, Mo. officiating...

The Agee Community Club met Thursday, Aug. 14. Nadine Johnson was hostess and the meeting was held in her home. Cathy Womack, club president, opened the meeting. The members repeated the club motto: "When the heart is full of love the world is full of beauty."...

The Poplar Bluff Municipal Library District wrapped up a successful 2014 Summer Reading Program on Aug. 1 with 584 children logging 6,192 hours of reading time. "Public library summer reading programs are proven to prevent and reverse summer reading loss. ...

Shrum/Mullins reunion to be held Aug. 31 The Shrum and Mullins annual family reunion will be held on Sunday, Aug. 31, at Old Greenville Recreation Area Site 10. The potluck dinner will begin around 1 p.m. For more information, contact Helen Cable at 573-495-2313 or Chris Shrum at 573-785-0407...

LeGrand reunion will be Sept. 6 The LeGrand family reunion, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Walton Chapel Community Center, CR 417, Butler County. Basket lunch, singing and air conditioning. Contact: Wilma Tongay (LeGrand) @ 618-452-1884 with any questions...

PIEDMONT -- Their new head coach's name is on one of the state title banners that hangs in the gymnasium at Clearwater High School. Sara (McMurry) Hampton was just a freshman on the 1989 team that captured a second consecutive state title back in the glory days of volleyball at Clearwater...

Poplar Bluff lost three of its top four tennis players and has just one senior returning, but second-year coach Nicole Arnett likes the improvement she's seen from the Mules. "I think now all of these girls here are extremely motivated," Arnett said. "They want to do well and they like the sport...

What the Poplar Bluff volleyball team lacks in height, the Mules will try to make up for in speed. "We're hoping to speed everything up, run a quicker offense with some lower passes and hopefully be a little more scrappy on defense," second-year coach Amanda Lance said. "Hopefully, that will win us some games."...

Michael David Allen Michael David Allen, 64, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Allen was born March 1, 1950 in Poplar Bluff, to the late Franklin and Margaret Allen. Michael is survived by his wife: Kay Allen; their children: Michael Allen Jr., Tammy Allen and Tanya Atchinson; one sister Diane Allen and brothers: Timothy Allen, Jack Allen and Franklin John D. ...

Ronald Lee McFarland Ronald McFarland, 71, of Spartanburg, S.C. passed away Saturday, Aug. 16. The son of the late Cathryn and Robert McFarland. He served in the US Army during the Vietnam War. He was awarded many metals one of which was the Bronze Star. He was a lifetime member of the 101st Airborne, DAV, VFW and AMVETS...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer An increase to the Poplar Bluff schools tax rate was approved Thursday, based on a measure passed by voters in April to fund a new high school and other district-wide changes. The projects are designed to help the district meet future growth in enrollment, according to administrators. The district had more than 4,900 student enrolled as of Aug. 14 and for the first time has had to open a sixth section for a grade level at an elementary school...