Stories from Wednesday, August 27, 2014

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Take the family to the Butler County Fair Wednesday - Friday, Sept. 10-12, in downtown Poplar Bluff at the Black River Coliseum where admission is free and the activities will entertain all age groups. "We are excited about the upcoming Butler County Fair," said Betty Schalk, who has been the superintendent of the home economics, youth, and 4-H categories for 18 years. "We are pleased the fair is being held in September."...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor There will be no increase in the tax rates for Butler County government. A county tax rate of 13.37 cents per $100 of assessed valuation -- unchanged for at least 10 years -- was approved by the Butler County Commission Friday...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Carter County Prosecuting Attorney Rocky Kingree filed a motion to dismiss the petition filed earlier this month challenging his qualifications to become Division II associate circuit judge in Butler County. Kingree filed a motion to dismiss for lack of standing, or in the alternative, a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Improved access to the Rocky Falls area and a modern bathroom are among the projects a newly-formed Friends group would like to tackle in the coming months at Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Announcement of the first friends group in the park's history was made Saturday during the Riverways' 50th anniversary celebration at Big Spring...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer After three rounds of voting Monday, Butler County Republicans selected Emily Parks to run in the Nov. 4 election for county collector. Parks now has less than 70 days to campaign for the office, which has been held by her party for almost three decades...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A Poplar Bluff, Mo., woman who helped build technology that guided Apollo 11 into space for man's first walk on the moon celebrated her 100th birthday last week, looking back on a life of independence and hard work. When Ilaha Bunn gathered with friends and family in July 1969 to watch Neil Armstrong take those momentous steps, few close to her knew she was part of a classified project to build the inertial guidance and navigation systems for the entire Apollo moon program.. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The workforce of Briggs & Stratton, at more than 1,000 employees during peak seasons, is twice that of Mid-Continent Nail. The first builds small engines, while the second makes nails. But both face the same major problems when it comes to manpower -- finding staff who are willing to consistently put in 40 hours a week and can regularly pass a drug test...

Carol Blagg MALDEN, Mo.-- Carol Blagg, 63 of Dexter, Mo., died Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter. Funeral arrangements are pending with Landess Funeral Home of Malden.

Ricky Jarrett DONIPHAN, Mo.--Ricky Jarrett of Doniphan died Saturday, Aug 23, 2014, in rural Ripley County, Mo. Visitation will be held Wednesday at noon with the funeral service following at 2 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan, Mo. Burial will be at Good Hope Cemetery...

The American Red Cross needs all blood types to ensure a reliable supply for patients. Upcoming blood donation opportunities: Butler County Sept. 4 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Three Rivers College, Poplar Bluff, Mo. Sept. 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Three Rivers College, Poplar Bluff, Mo...

By MONA CHAREN Bad actors around the globe keep getting confused about the calendar, and it falls to the Obama administration to set them straight. The Russians, Secretary of State John Kerry protested back in March, have forgotten what century we're living in: "You just don't in the 21st century behave in 19th-century fashion by invading another country on completely trumped up pretext." Kerry was echoing President Obama's observation that by seizing Crimea, Russian president Putin was putting himself "on the wrong side of history.". ...

Ed Mackley FARMINGTON, Mo.-- Edward "Ed" Lee Mackley, 69, formerly of Farmington, passed away at his daughter's home surrounded by loved ones on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014 after a year-long battle with cancer. He was born at Bonne Terre Hospital on Dec. 3, 1944 to the late Melbourne Fleming and Sylvia Mary Catherine (Rickard) Mackley. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, John Rickard Mackley, and a sister, Betty Jean Yeager...

David Highfill VAN BUREN, Mo. -- David O'Dean Highfill, 78, of Cuba, Mo., formerly of St. Louis Mo., and Ellsinore, Mo., died Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, at the Cuba Manor Nursing Home in Cuba, Mo. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren, with the funeral service following at 11 a.m. at the funeral chapel. Burial will be in the Gresham Cemetery in Ellsinore, Mo...

Betty Ryan DONIPHAN Mo.--Betty June Ryan, 82, of Doniphan, died Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, at the Current River Nursing Center. Mrs. Ryan was born Dec. 1, 1931, to the late Winford and Christene Hood McLeod, in Ripley County. She was a member of the West Doniphan Missionary Baptist Church and loved to sing; loved working in her vegetable and flower gardens; enjoyed quilting and fishing; and was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother...

Correction Five people are seeking the Republican nomination for Butler County collector in the Nov. 4 general election. The Butler County Republican Nominating Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. tonight in the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce community room to listen to the candidates and select a nominee...

Mayor doesn't like women I'm at a loss for words, I watch the City Council meetings and can only come to the conclusion that if you want the mayor's approval you must be a man. She has treated Susan McVey and Penny McGath with such disrespect. Women, if you want something from the Council, you better send a male representative. ...

To the Editor: "Common Sense" (. . . something that seems to be lacking in Washington.) Congress and the President bicker over illegal immigration and border security. The problem is neither. The problem is National Security! It is the responsibility of congress to establish our laws. ...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- What is called "the" 1964 Civil Rights Act is justly celebrated for outlawing racial and other discrimination in employment, "public accommodations" and elsewhere. But that year's second civil rights act, the Criminal Justice Act, which is 50 years old this month, is, some say, largely a failure because of unanticipated changes in the legal and social context. Is it?...

To the Editor: It was our privilege to participate in the Stuff the Bus Program on Aug. 2. We were astounded at the outpouring of items donated to us during this school supply drive. There is a real need for programs such as this in our area. We are assured a significant population of our students are benefiting from receiving these donated supplies...

Three Springs Cemetery meeting Sat., Aug. 30 The annual meeting of Three Springs Cemetery will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday. A pot luck dinner will follow. Anyone interested in upkeep of the cemetery can contact Betty Harwell at 573-321-0280 or Betty Ketcherside at 573-785-0648...

More than $7.9 million in prizes of $1,000 or more were awarded to Missouri Lottery players during July. Area winners of $1,000 or more in July include: Lotto winners: Edward McKinney, Poplar Bluff, $3,500 Pick 4 winners: Crystal Moss, Piedmont, $3,000...

WASHINGTON -- In physics, a unified field theory is an attempt to explain with a single hypothesis the behavior of several fields. Its political corollary is the Cupcake Postulate, which explains everything, from Missouri to Iraq, concerning Americans' comprehensive withdrawal of confidence from government at all levels and all areas of activity...

By MICHELLE MALKIN The most poisonous "-ism" now infecting Ferguson, Missouri, is not virulent racism. It's viral narcissism. Over the past two weeks, the impoverished St. Louis County suburb has become a magnet for self-absorbed publicity seekers of all colors and agendas...

Deckard reunion Sun. The descendents of Rollie Deckard will have their family reunion Sunday at Hillview School, located on Highway 160, one mile west of Highway 67. Lunch will be served around 1 p.m. Bring a covered dish. All family and friends are invited...

Omission in letter by Zaricor The Letter to the Editor, "Common sense?" published Monday, Aug. 25, and written by Herb Zaricor of Poplar Bluff should have read as follows under examples: 2. d. No medical care, except in a life or death situation, for illegals...

Facebook and city workers I wonder what the city council would do if a city employee was caught with racist material on their Facebook page? I bet they would be fired on the spot. What a double standard for the city council elite. No baggy pants in school...

The outlook for the Poplar Bluff Mules soccer team has many more positives than recent seasons. For the first time since 2011, the Mules welcome back the same head coach from the season before. "It's lot easier because changing coaches really throws you off," Poplar Bluff senior Jose Ventura said...

Having split the first two games in a best-of-5 match, the Poplar Bluff volleyball team wasted little time getting the lead back Monday night. The Mules scored 11 of the first 13 points to run away with Game 3 then closed out the match with a 15-4 run to beat South Iron 25-13, 24-26, 25-6, 25-13 at Peters Gym...

Carol Blagg DEXTER, Mo.--Carol June Blagg, 63, of Dexter, died Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014 at Southeast Health Center of Stoddard in Dexter. She is the mother of Michael Allen Canoy and Angela Dawn Canoy. Landess Funeral Home of Dexter is in charge of arrangements which are incomplete at this time...

Richard Gardner MALDEN, Mo.-- Richard George Gardner, 59, of Malden, Mo., died Tuesday, Aug 12, 2014, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, with funeral services to follow at 11:30 a.m. at the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden...

Peggy Stockton FISK, Mo.--Peggy Ruth Stockton, 76, of Advance, Mo., died Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, at Bloomfield Golden Living Center in Bloomfield, Mo. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with Pastors Larry Davis and Dan Rice officiating. Burial will be at Brown Chapel Cemetery at Broseley, Mo...

PUXICO -- Danielle Roberts pitched a no-hitter for Puxico on Monday and the Lady Indians beat East Prairie 14-0 in five innings. After getting shut out 10-0 by in their season opener against Saxony Lutheran on Friday, the Lady Indians (1-1) bounced back, buoyed by eight runs from a trio of seniors...

LaNelle Sturgeon MALDEN, Mo.--Miriam LaNelle Sturgeon, 91, of Malden, died Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, at Southeast Healthcare Center of Stoddard County in Dexter, Mo. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until service time Wednesday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. at the Bradshaw Chapel...

Reva Burke VAN BUREN, Mo.--Reva Marie Burke, 80, of Van Buren, died Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014 in the Riverways Manor Nursing Home in Van Buren. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. today in the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren with the funeral service beginning at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the Evaline-Green Mountain Cemetery in Fremont, Mo. with Rev. Charles Asherry and Rev. Garry Reagan officiating...

Rickey Jarrett DONIPHAN, Mo.--Rickey Lee Jarrett, 45, of Doniphan, departed this life Saturday evening, Aug. 23, 2014, in rural Ripley County, Mo. Rickey, son of Jerry and Barbara (Coleman) Jarrett, was born Dec. 15, 1968, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was employed in construction and enjoyed barbecuing and being on the river. Rickey could fix anything and was especially good at repairing electronics...