Stories from Thursday, September 18, 2014

The Butler County Republican Central Committee will host its annual Reagan Days on Saturday at the Poplar Bluff Aad Grotto with the door opening at 4:30 p.m. and the event starting at 5:30 p.m. "Bringing Back Old Glory" will be the theme of this year...

Judy Baker of Columbia, Mo., a former Democratic state representative, will be the keynote speaker during the 49th annual Truman Day Rally sponsored by the Butler County Democratic Central Committee. Baker also is a former Region VII director of he U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She was a candidate for lieutenant governor in 2012 and operates a consulting firm, Cura Advantage...

SEMO News Service SIKESTON, Mo. -- When a Dexter, Missouri, man finally gets out of the hospital, he is likely to face drug charges. About 8:30 p.m. Monday, the Sikeston Department of Public Safety received a call about a man on fire in front of Wal-Mart. The caller speculated this was a result of a traffic accident...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Linda Rachelle Miller of Puxico, Mo., attended the dedication of a playground in July at an Albino Orphanage in Shinyanga, Tanzania, which was erected in memory of her daughter, Amanda Miller Hodges, of Puxico, who died Aug. 10, 2012...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Since Barry Goldwater, accepting the Republicans' 1964 presidential nomination, said "extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice," Democrats have been decrying Republican "extremism." Actually, although there is abundant foolishness and unseemliness in American politics, real extremism -- measures or movements that menace the Constitution's architecture of ordered liberty -- is rare. This week, however, extremism stained the Senate...

Harold Junior Foster Harold Junior Foster, 84, of Bloomfield, Mo. died Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014 at the John J. Pershing V. A. Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Graveside services were held Wednesday, Sept. 10, at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield with full military honors. Pastor Jimmy Fingers of Dexter officiated...

Kneibert Clinic announces the launch of their new Patient Portal - available to all existing patients beginning in October. The interactive web portal will empower patients to take a more active role in their care and make healthcare management easier...

The Wappapello Civic Center will have country music and dance at 7 p.m. each Saturday unless notified otherwise. This week's entertainment will feature Larry Robards & Country Connection Band. The WCC is a smoke and alcohol free facility inside the building...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL The Puxico High School Lady Indians softball team, coached by Will Davis, were 3-5 on the season after their Sept. 9 game against Winona. This year's 15-member team consists of five seniors, catcher Phoenix Richard; outfielders Kayleigh Burch, Hannah Fisher and Sarah Harp; and third baseman/short stop Morgan Nelson...

Last fall, millions of Americans and families right here in Missouri had their health insurance plans cancelled despite repeated promises from President Obama that if you liked your health plan, you would be able to keep it. Now, millions more with employer-sponsored coverage are also facing plan cancellations because their plans do not meet ObamaCare's requirements...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL Superintendent Dr. Kyle Dare reviewed the district's Annual Performance Report with members of the Puxico R-8 Board of Education at its regular monthly meeting Sept. 11. "We did drop about five total points," said Dare. "We went from 128.5 last year to 123.5. ...

HOUSTON, Texas -- Goody's is launching its fall "30 Days of Giving" campaign. All Goody's customers who visit the Poplar Bluff store through Oct. 12 will be invited to donate to the Haven House, a valued organization in their community. Haven House Executive Director Mary Ann Allen said, "Mason (Goody's store manager) and I have been discussing ways that the local Goody's store could collaborate to assist those who have been victimized by domestic or sexual assault."...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL After reviewing the Puxico 2015 fiscal budget at a Sept. 9 special meeting, the board of aldermen Sept. 9 agreed not to moved money from other departments into the Puxico Police Department budget to provide for additional expenditures in salaries, but approved Michael Delahunt of Broseley as a PPD reserve officer...

The story of the Prodigal Son is known and loved the world over - a classic -a gem in the field of Biblical literature. Of course, it came from Jesus, the master story teller. But most of the world sees only the young prodigal who chose to leave his father's love and restraints of his home to get out on his own and do "his own thing."...

Kim and Shaun Smith of Puxico announce the birth of their daughter, Molly Jean Smith, born 8:14 a.m. Monday, Sept. 8, 2014 at St. Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace. She weighed 8 pounds 14 ounces and 20 1/4 inches long. She is welcomed home by three sisters...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL The Puxico High School Lady Indians volleyball teams faced off against Sikeston (Sept. 9) and Clearwater (Sept. 11) with the varsity and junior varsity each taking a win and suffering a loss. The junior varsity lost to Sikeston on the road in two sets, 4-25, 23-25...

Come and enjoy a unique worship experience Sept. 21. Camo Sunday is an outdoor church service designed to spread the gospel message. Several area churches come together to enjoy a fun filled day of ministry, picnic, hay rides and outdoor skill stations. Everyone is invited to this event that kicks off at 10:45 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 21 at a farm near Arab, Mo...

The members of Little Brushy Baptist Church in Wappapello, Mo. will be celebrating 69 years of ministering the gospel Sunday, Sept. 21. The morning worship service will songs of praise led by '60 West' at 11 a.m., with dinner to follow. Pastor Tim Schultz and the congregation invite everyone to come expecting a blessing...

Linda Rachelle Miller of Puxico, Mo., attended the dedication of a playground in July at an Albino Orphanage in Shinyanga, Tanzania, which was erected in memory of her daughter, Amanda Miller Hodges, of Puxico, who died Aug. 10, 2012. In the summer of 2012, Amanda, who was born with a genetic deficiency in her liver known as "alpha one antitripson deficiency" contracted a virus which took her life, leaving behind her husband, Joe, and five-year-old daughter, Raegan Claire, a brother and her parents. ...

By JOHN PRATT Mo. Dept. of Conservation The archery deer and turkey season opened on Monday. Most archery deer hunters hunt from elevated tree stands, which place the hunter above ground level. They come in the form of a tree stand placed in or against trees, or as a free-standing structure. Elevated stands are either permanent or temporary...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN No matter how the vote turns out on Thursday in Scotland, either for independence or continued union with Britain, the disintegration of the Old Continent appears almost inevitable. Already the British government has conceded that, even if the Scots vote for union, Edinburgh will receive greater powers to rule itself...

Darlene A. Suter Darlene A. Suter, 77, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014 at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, Colo. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor From the rumblings I've heard so far, deer appear to be moving very well, especially late in the evenings. I've seen it myself, and two co-workers experienced the same thing, with one taking a buck on opening day and the other passing up a shot...

Opal M. Edwards DEXTER, Mo. -- Opal M. Edwards, 89, of Dexter, Mo. died Monday, Sept. 15, 2014 at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be conducted in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel at 10 a.m, Saturday with Rev. ...

Writers retreat at Piggott PIGGOTT, Ark. -The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum & Educational Center (HPMEC) in Piggott has announced dates for its Fall 2014 Writers' Retreat, Nov. 3-7. The retreat will be held in the Educational Center and the Hemingway Barn Studio and offers writers the opportunity to work under the direction of a professional mentor. ...

Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Famer Doug Pennington recently competed in the United States Canoe Association Nationals for the 30th time in his racing career. Pennington, 57, placed in four different races over a span of nearly a week from August 12-17 on the Susquehanna River in Lock Haven, Pa...

There was something missing Tuesday afternoon as the Poplar Bluff tennis team hosted Charleston. "I was wondering why it was so quiet," Poplar Bluff senior Namara Haq said. "I missed the band." The Mules didn't have their usual home-court advantage of having the SHO-ME Marching Band practicing during the match...

Rose Elder Rose Elder, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014 at Westwood Hills Nursing Home. Services are pending at this time. Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff in charge of arrangements.

ELLSINORE -- Doniphan coach Junior Baucom tried switching pitchers. Then he swapped them back before swapping them one more time. Nothing much changed. Doniphan pitchers Madison Pikey and Paige Eddington uncharacteristically had trouble finding the strike zone, finishing with 16 walks, and East Carter easily won 12-3 on Tuesday at home...

NEELYVILLE -- The Neelyville Tigers earned their fourth win in their last six games Tuesday as they handed Bernie just its second loss of the fall in a 4-1 decision. Neelyville (5-4) scored two runs in the fifth. Bernie got one back in the sixth before the Tigers pulled away by scoring twice more in the bottom of the inning...

JACKSON -- Poplar Bluff was shut out for a second straight day by a district opponent as the softball Mules lost 10-0 to Jackson. Coming off an 8-0 loss at Farmington in which the Mules (8-6) managed just one hit, Jackson pitcher Kelsie Meystedt tossed a 3-hit shutout with five strikeouts...

Freddie L. Jackson, Jr. Freddie L. Jackson, Jr., 47 of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Sept. 12, 2014 in Poplar Bluff. Freddie was born March 5, 1967 in St. Louis, Mo. to the late Freddie Leo Jackson, Sr. and Bertha Mae Overton Jackson. He was a long time resident of Poplar Bluff...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Sandi Williams shared her experiences in being involved with preparing meals on the set of 'Gone Girl'. What role did you have in the movie's production? : I was hired by craft services to help provide food for cast, crew, and extras. ...