Stories from Monday, September 15, 2014

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Busy people are achievers and Stephanie Knoppe of Mossy Oak Properties understands the 27th annual Women Aware conference Thursday, Sept. 25 at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. will be packed with movers and shakers...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The summer of 2014 will be remembered for the coolest July ever in Poplar Bluff, Mo. July temperatures averaged 74.3 degrees at the Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport, according to the National Weather Service at Paducah, Ky...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The old aluminum canoe was easy to spot in August amongst the hundreds of competitors lined up in sleek, light weight crafts for the start of the MR340 at Kaw Point, near Kansas City, Mo. It carries dings from decades of family trips spent bumping along Southeast Missouri rivers, scraps of orange paint and a 20-year-old sticker proclaiming Jeff's Canoe Rentals...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Numerous events for children and adults will be available to participant in or watch on Saturday, Oct. 4, during the fifth annual Iron Horse Festival sponsored by Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc. "The Iron Horse Festival is a family friendly event and we encourage everyone to come out and participate," said Penny McGath, executive director of Downtown Poplar Bluff...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer For a lifetime and nearly 50 years of marriage, a Poplar Bluff, Mo., couple shared everything. In 2010, that included the diagnosis of cancer. Linda and Garry Faith grew up together. The high school sweethearts started dating during Linda's freshman year, and Gary's sophomore year, after years attending the same church...

Blair Nicole Jordan and Gergely Harton, both of Enid, Okla, were married Saturday, June 28, 2014, at The Veridian Event Center in Springfield, Mo. The bride is the daughter of Tammy Jordan of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and the late Joe Jordan. The bridegroom is the son of Istvan and Dorothy Harton of Rock Springs, Wyo...

April Dare and Timous Dover of Poplar Bluff, Mo. exchanged vows Saturday, July 12, 2014, at Brown and Burns in Poplar Bluff. Charles Armstrong performed the double-ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Nora and Donnie Loftis of Poplar Bluff. Pam and Robert Husky of Harviell, Mo. are parents of the bridegroom...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer It's lunch time. Do you go to the same restaurant every day? Would you like a change? Do you like home-cooked meals? If so, you should try the Twin Towers Dining Room where they serve lunch Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. ...

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- As part of Ozark National Scenic Riverways 50th Anniversary Celebration, an employee and alumni reunion will be held at 3 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Big Spring pavilion on Sunday. The park's "Haunting in the Hills" event will be conducted all day and evening prior to the reunion on Oct. 11 at Alley Spring...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Robert H. Forister, of Bloomfield, Mo. has released his latest book, "History of Wayne County, Mo.," which is the fourth book in a series of county histories he has self-published. This latest book is a general history of his native county which combines personal memories of his childhood there in the 1930s and 1940s and complements his previous books: "Stoddard County History"; "Bloomfield, Missouri--Highland in the Swamps"; and "Complete History of Butler County," -- all are still in print and available for sale.. ...

Joyce Joyce of Risco, Mo. and Peggy Smiley of Malden, Mo. announce the engagement of their children, Donna Marie Joyce and Michael Don Smiley. The couple plan to be married at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 at Pleasant View General Baptist Church in Risco. Friends and family are welcome to attend...

Amanda Griffin, daughter of Otto and Nancy Griffin, of Qulin, Mo., announces her engagement to Joshua Robinson of Harviell, Mo. The bridegroom-to-be is the son of Jason and Lisa Robinson, also of Harviell. The couple will be married at 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014 at Olgesville General Baptist Church on Highway N south of Qulin...

Frankie and Johnnie Hill celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, at the Broseley Community Center with a reception and dinner given by their children. More than 75 guests helped the couple celebrate the special day. The Hills have three grown children: Mike Hill and wife, Candy, Sam Hill and Candace Tomerlin and husband, Kent. They have two grandsons, Todd Hill and wife, Baley, and Tyler Tomerlin; a granddaughter, Michelle Tomerlin; and a great-grandson, Bentley Hill...

Linda Reuter and Larry Randl, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo. announce they plan to be married Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. at the Eagles Club, 1400 S. Broadway, Poplar Bluff, Mo. Family and friends are invited, but are asked to R.S.V.P. to Randl at 573-714-5497...

Tanya Joy Gillette of St. Louis, Mo., and Charles Eugene Huitt of Poplar Bluff, Mo., announce their engagement. Gillette is the daughter of Kelly Thomas Gillette and Paula Sue Gillette, both of St. Louis. Huitt is the son of Wilma Lee Shomaker of Qulin, Mo., and the late Carl Dan Huitt...

Kurt Luecke Kurt G. Luecke, 59, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Sept. 12, 2014, at his residence. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at Memorial Baptist Church. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will be in City Cemetery...

Berry Ijames PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Berry L. Ijames, 76, of Piedmont, Mo., died Friday, Sept. 12, 2014, at his home. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday at Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. Funeral services will follow at noon at the funeral home. Burial, with military honors, will be in Carson Hill Cemetery...

Gordon Noland BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Gordon Noland, 54, of Bloomfield died Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, at the Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter, Mo. Visitations will from 5-8 p.m. Monday at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield with a funeral service at 7 p.m. Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home of Bloomfield in charge of arrangements...

Ollie Kenney Ollie Virginia Kenney, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014 at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Kenney was born Aug. 29, 1928 in Colt, Ark. She was a member of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church, where she enjoyed singing in the choir and was a homemaker. Mrs. Kenney enjoyed children...

Volunteers are needed to work at Mark Twain National Forest's Pinewoods Recreation area in Ellsinore, Mo. Saturday, Sept. 20. The work is part of the 21st Anniversary of National Public Lands Day Sept. 26-27. National Public Lands Day is a nationwide event that promotes getting people out, and involved, with public lands, such as USDA Forest Service's Mark Twain National Forest...

What a shock Well, the handwriting is on the wall. From our broken border in the south to, now, principals being fired because she simply asked that students speak in English in Texas. What a shock. But, as we said, we know what the politically left want for our nation now. ...

For weeks, District 153 Rep. Steve Cookson heard from his constituents, and their message was very clear - they didn't want anything to harm the wild deer population they held so valuable. That's why they overwhelmingly urged him not to vote for an override of Gov. Jay Nixon's veto of House Bill 1326 and Senate Bill 506 last week...

MALDEN -- Parker McCormick's high school football career has been a lesson on perseverance. McCormick spent most of his first three seasons on the sideline. The Malden senior has been healthy through four games this season and he got the Green Wave going Friday night in a SEMO South game against Scott City...

SIKESTON -- Dexter rubbed a little backyard dirt on the playbook to end a streak dating back to the Reagan administration. Sikeston kicked off a wild final minute of play against Dexter with a most surprising surprise onside kick, immediately after taking a one-point lead with 49 seconds left...

Poplar Bluff kept Cape Central's potent offense off the scoreboard in the first half but still trailed by 13 at halftime Friday night. A punt and interception return for touchdowns gave the Tigers the first-half lead before quarterback Peyton Montgomery evaded the Mules long enough for the Tigers to win 26-6 at Morrow Stadium...

ST. LOUIS -- Isaiah Williams broke the 17-minute barrier for the first time Saturday in his first 5,000-meter race of the season. The Poplar Bluff junior placed third in the White Division of the Forest Park XC Festival, finishing in a time of 16 minutes, 54.2 seconds...

CHAFFEE -- Despite being short on seniors, Neelyville finished second in the Lady Red Devil Invitational. The Lady Tigers defeated Twin Rivers 8-3 and East Prairie 13-0 in four innings before running into dominant pitching in the championship game against Portageville...