Stories from Friday, October 10, 2014

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Registration is open now for the first community preparedness training class to be held in Butler County in nearly a decade. Training for CERT, the statewide Community Emergency Response Teams program, will be held Oct. 18, 24 and 25 at the Black River Coliseum...

By SAMANTHA RINEHART SEMO News Service Mystery-thriller "Gone Girl" sits at the top of the worldwide box office with a $62.6 million weekend estimate. Nationally, "Gone Girl" brought in slightly more than $37.5 million over its first three days, the 10th biggest October debut in history, according to media tracking firm Rentrak. It also busted director David Fincher's personal best for an opening...

Saturday, Oct. 18, Bob and Wanda Stinson will host a reunion for people interested in seeing Carter School. All "graduates," friends and interested neighbors are welcome. A light lunch will be served between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. This will give folks ample time to see the newly painted and refurbished one-room schoolhouse, which is likely to be the only one-room schoolhouse in Butler County with an original pot-belly stove, outhouse, some of the original desks, photographs of students, attendance logs and lots of books.. ...

The Poplar Bluff Chapter NSDAR announces former Poplar Bluffian Paul Henry Hillis is an October Patriot of the Month being honored by the Missouri State Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Hillis was 20 years old, when six days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he and his older brother Ted joined the Navy. ...

As the Ebola infection rate and death toll continue to rise rapidly on the African continent, many of us have become complacent with the measures we have taken to protect Americans from this deadly disease. Other nations, such as England, have gone so far as to ban flights emanating from the affected regions of Africa. ...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- You can win midterm elections without a positive agenda. You can't win presidential elections that way. It is therefore vitally important for Republicans to win the Senate in 2014. Here's why. In midterms, it's all right to be the party of no. ...

One out of every three children in America enters kindergarten without the necessary skills to learn to read. Kneibert Clinic, with the help of Reach Out and Read, is trying to change that statistic. They've partnered with the Reach Out and Read program to give books to young children in our area to help them succeed in school...

The Importance of Voting In just a few weeks we will again head to the election booth to make our voices heard on the candidates and issues we support or oppose. I know it can sometimes be hard to fully realize the significance of each and every vote that is cast when you consider that 2.5 million or more Missourians will also head to the polling place. ...

Bollinger Mill State Historic Site will hold its annual storytelling event at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, Marilyn Kinsella, a professional storyteller, will perform her stories around a bonfire at this free event sponsored by the Missouri State Parks. Visitors are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating...

I always know it's getting to be fall when I see the patch of turnips growing by the highway near Qulin. If like in years past, that gardener will soon put a sign by his turnip patch that says something like "help yourself." If you weren't lucky enough to have grown your own supply, then check out the local markets to find this fall veggie...

Kenneth Prosise WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. -- Kenneth C. Prosise, 86, of Williamsville, Mo., died Wednesday, Oct.8, 2014 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

Denzel Britton ended a long drought for Poplar Bluff's special teams last week when the junior returned a punt for a touchdown. It was the first by a Mule since 1999 and only the second time in the last 36 seasons. The 38-yard touchdown also doubled Poplar Bluff's punt return yards for the season...

Slabber Dave benefit auction There will be a benefit auction for David Maddux, aka Slabber Dave, starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Wappapello VFW Post 3416. Chicken and dumpling dinner and sides to be served. There will also be a 50/50 raffle drawing; $10 per ticket, 200 tickets with the winner receiving $1,000. Also smoked meats (ribs, pork steaks and butts) are for purchase in advance. For more information, contact James Chism at 573-979-5939...

Marcie Landreth Davis KINGMAN, Kan.--Marcie Landreth Davis, 68, of Kingman, died Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014 in Kingman. Funeral services were held Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the Livington Funeral Home in Kingman with Pastor Charles King officiating.

Cheryl Elledge MARBLE HILL, Mo.--Cheryl Denise Elledge, 63, of Glen Allen, Mo., died Monday, Oct 6, 2014, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until service time Friday at Hutchings Funeral Chapel in Marble Hill. A memorial service will be conducted at 7 p.m. Friday at the chapel by Rev. Anthony Stewart...

PUXICO -- The Puxico softball program took steps forward in its third fall season, but ultimately ran into a much more talented team in the district semifinals. Top-seeded Kelly beat the Lady Indians 12-1 in five innings the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 semifinals Wednesday in Puxico...

Rosalie Loafman Brown MALDEN, Mo. -- Rosalie Loafman Brown, 81, of Campbell, Mo. passed away at her residence in Campbell on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014. Mrs. Brown was born Nov. 20, 1932 in Campbell, Mo. to the late Jerry T. Loafman and Opal Snider Loafman. She was a homemaker and a member of the Bethany General Baptist Church. She was united in marriage to Dawsey Lee Brown on Oct. 13, 1953 in Campbell. He survives of the home in Campbell...

The defending champions weren't about to stop spoiling the Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament party this year. With a 1-4 record in conference play this fall, giving them the No. 6 seed, the Neelyville Tigers have put together two solid games to get themselves in position to defend last year's championship despite losing half their starters from that team...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A Sacrifice fly turned double play cut the legs out of Doniphan's rally. Sikeston watched a 4-2 lead vanish in the sixth inning, but was able to prevent the go-ahead run before getting its own to win 5-4 in the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 quarterfinals Wednesday...

JACKSON -- Poplar Bluff's season ended Wednesday when Hillsboro broke a sixth-inning tie and added four insurance runs. Kaleigh Close tripled to the opposite field to start the bottom of the sixth and scored on Morgan Sherrill's single as Hillsboro beat the Mules 7-2 in the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 quarterfinal...

By NOREEN HYSLOP SEMO News Service On a recent Saturday long before daylight, they began to line up. There were 70 patients registered in all -- each in dire need of dental care. Some had waited years to have the required work done, others months. Eric Hodge of Poplar Bluff was one of the patients who heard about the Smiles of Hope dental clinic held on the last Saturday of every month at the Lighthouse Christian Center in Dexter. Hodge is typical of the clientele at the clinic...

Three Rivers College has earned a spot on the G.I. Jobs Military Friendly® Schools List, putting the college among the top 15 percent of institutions nationwide noted for offering high-value education and a welcoming environment for veterans, according to a press release...

VAN BUREN, Mo. - Developed campgrounds will for the first time be open year round in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. The operating season for the campsite's has been now been extended beyond the normal Oct. 15 closure, Superintendent Bill Black said in a press release...