Stories from Monday, October 13, 2014

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor WINONA, Mo. -- Just a few years ago, the only natural sounds coming from the rugged hills of Carter, Shannon and southwest Reynolds counties in late September and October were from the roaring shoals of the Jacks Fork and Current rivers, the hollow knocking of pileated woodpeckers and the occasional high-pitched whistles of young wild turkeys...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Butler County absentee ballots for the Nov. 4 general election are now available in the county clerk's office on the second floor of the Courthouse. County Clerk Tonyi Deffendall will have her office open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for Oct. 13 which is Columbus Day. It also will be open from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 1, and until 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 3, for absentee voting...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Hopes for replacing the grand staircase at the Poplar Bluff Historic Train Depot were dashed again Friday. "We are very disappointed," said Jim Chrisman, chairman of the Poplar Bluff Historic Depot Restoration Corporation Board, after two bids were opened at the Butler County Commission meeting...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer How schools are graded Missouri schools are graded on the academic performance of the district as a whole. This score is derived from the performance levels of individual students in various areas, said Poplar Bluff Associate Superintendent of Curriculum Patty Robertson...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff R-I Board of Education held a workshop meeting Thursday to review the performance of the district and individual campuses on 2014 state testing. This article highlights a few of the actions elementary campuses are taking to improve, as well prepare for state changes to MAP testing...

Ronnie and Dorothy Snider of Broseley, Mo., celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014 at Osborn General Baptist Church in Qulin with several friends and relatives. The couple was married Sept. 5, 1964 at Broseley Church of Nazarene by the Rev. Ronald Roth...

Registration is open for schools wanting to participate in the Sixth Annual Southeast Missouri Regional Spelling Bee Feb. 28, 2015, at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff. Participating schools must complete their registration by Oct. 15, and complete a school-wide spelling bee before Feb. ...

By RAY BURSON The no-man's land of Southeast Missouri during the Civil War, especially Ripley County, has been a fertile ground for several recent books. The latest, "What Price Retribution: the Wilson - Reves Story" by Phillip Nichols, follows the lives of Union Major James Wilson and Confederate Colonel Timothy Reves (locally known as Reeves) who personify the struggle between the Blue and the Gray...

United States Circuit Judge Duane Benton, chair of the American Legion State Oratorical Commission, has invited all high-school and home-school students (grades 9 through 12) in Missouri to compete for scholarships in the annual Oratorical contest sponsored by The American Legion, Department of Missouri, Inc...

Melody Gail Dolle and Dale Michael Kayser, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo., were married Aug. 3, 2014 in a ceremony at Kayser Farms. Rev. John Goodwin of Hunter Memorial Presbyterian Church in Sikeston, Mo., conducted the double-ceremony. Parents of the bride are the late John and Ruth Dolle of Poplar Bluff. The bridegroom is the son of Robert Kayser of Qulin, Mo. and the late Mary Jo Kayser of Poplar Bluff...

The Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission has awarded the 11th annual Melvin Brinkley Public Service Award to Virgie Alcorn Evans of Ellsinore, Mo. The award was established in honor of the late Melvin Brinkley, chairman of the Village of Mill Spring in Wayne County. Chairman Brinkley served as Village Chairman for nearly 16 years, and was known to many as a dedicated public servant...

Eugene Field Elementary School names their September Students of the Month. Maricus Williams, son of Darnesha Washington, was nominated by his first grade teacher, Cortney Barnett because he is an amazing young gentleman. He is a natural born leader through his actions and how he speaks. Maricus is always willing to help and he strives to do his best in everything he attempts. He's an amazing student to have in class...

Sharon Null PUXICO, Mo. -- Sharon Null, 69, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 10, 2014 in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are currently pending through Morgan Sifford Funeral Home.

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Do the states have the right to outlaw same-sex marriage? Not long ago the question would have been seen as absurd. For every state regarded homosexual acts as crimes. Moreover, the laws prohibiting same-sex marriage had all been enacted democratically, by statewide referenda, like Proposition 8 in California, or by Congress or elected state legislatures...

Carroll Denny PUXICO, Mo., -- Carroll Denny, 87, of Granite City, Ill. died Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014 in Edwardsville, Ill. Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14. Morgan-Sifford Funeral Home is handling arrangements...

Faye Leadley DEXTER, Mo.--Faye Leadley, 79, was born July 9, 1935 in Bennington, Okla., the daughter of the late Tom C. Brawley and Irene Seals Brawley, and passed away on Oct. 9, 2014 at the Golden Living Center in Dexter. Mrs. Leadley was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Dexter, a homemaker and a resident of Dexter...

Jesse D. Williams DEXTER, Mo.--Jesse D. Williams, 81, of Jackson, Mo., died Wednesday Oct. 8, 2014, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 1-2:45 p.m. Tuesday at Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Mo. Graveside funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield with burial in the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery...

Vicki Jenkins FISK, Mo.--Vicki Jenkins, 62, of Fisk, died Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014. She was born Sept. 10, 1952 at Pontiac, Mich. She was a resident of the Fisk area most of her life. She was preceded in death by her husband Don Jenkins. She is survived by two sons: Matt and Kent Jenkins; two brothers: Randy and Jim Payne; one sister: Sue Worley; one granddaughter: Breanna Jenkins; special friends: Barb, Joann and Whitney. Condolences: www.whitesandersfuneralhome.com...

Robert Oscar Woodard NAYLOR, Mo. -- Robert Oscar Woodard, 89, of Naylor, Mo., died Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born Sept. 19, 1925 in Naylor and was a lifelong resident of Ripley County. He was married to Peggy Ward in February 1948 and had one son, Doug Woodard, who preceded him in death Jan. ...

Wesley Coleman PIEDMONT, Mo.-- Wesley D. Coleman, 57, of Piedmont, Mo., died Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center, Piedmont, Mo. Visitation will be held 6 p.m. Monday, at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home chapel with burial in Eaton Cemetery near Piedmont...

David Wheetley PUXICO, Mo.-- David Loyd Wheetley, 58, of Puxico, passed away Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014, at his residence. He born April 9, 1956 in St. Louis, Mo., to Harold and Mildred Elledge Wheetley. Mr. Wheetley owned and operated Wheetley Farms in Puxico...

Marcrease D. Farmer, 29, of Malden was arrested on a warrant for second degree burglary. He was booked at the Stoddard County Jail. Brian J. Grimes, 28, of Dudley, was arrested on a warrant for domestic assault. He was booked a the Butler County Jail...

Joseph J. Ballance, 44, of Harviell was arrested at 2:49 p.m. Friday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident. He was booked a the Butler County jail. _ A 25-year-old Poplar Bluff man was injured in a single-vehicle accident at 3:30 a.m. Thursday on County Road 4362 near County Road 436...

Danny E. Nixon, 30, of Kennett was arrested at 6:32 a.m. Thursday on a Dunklin County warrant for distribution of a controlled substance. _ Levester C. Rhines, 36, of Kennett was arrested at 7:20 a.m. Thursday on a Dunklin County warrant for distribution of a controlled substance...

Joe Nichol of the 1100 block of West 11th reported sometime between Sept. 28-29 someone broke in a toolbox outside his house and stole several tools. _ Christina C. Whitlock, 40, of the 1100 block of Mulberry, was arrested at 10:05 p.m. Friday in the 500 block of Viston on Poplar Bluff warrants for domestic assault and trespassing...

Uninsured motorists Is it me or are there others in Poplar Bluff who attract uninsured motorists? In less than a year I have been hit twice. We have been forced to carry the burden of making repairs to one vehicle. This latest accident killed my great gas mileage car so now I have to drive my pick. ...

Brenda S. Burks, 30, of the 500 block of C was booked at the Butler County Jail Friday on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance. _ Richard C. Cantrell, 33, of the 600 block of Main was booked at the Butler County jail Friday on suspicion of violation of an order of protection...

BLOOMFIELD -- Dexter volleyball coach Carmen Morgan treats every game like a championship game. "I try to subscribe to the fact and get my players to subscribe to the fact that every game is a championship game," Morgan said. "Then when you get in championship games you should be ready."...

From Staff Reports Two burglary suspects are in custody thanks to the quick actions of the Poplar Bluff Police Department, a mother determined to protect her child and technology. Nick Alcala, 39, of the 900 block of Kinzer St. was arrested Saturday by the PBPD. ...

Edith Idabelle Moffitt PIGGOTT, Ark.--Edith Idabelle Moffitt, 92, of Boonville, Mo., formerly of Fagus, Mo., passed away Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014, at Ashley Manor in Boonville. She was born on Dec. 22, 1921, in Wooster, Ark., and was the daughter of the late J.C. and Cora (Sellers) King...

City firefighters were dispatched at 8:37 p.m. Friday to a report of a house fire with a person possibly trapped inside at 313 West B Street. Upon arrival, heavy smoke was coming from the second story of the home and firefighters began a search for the resident. That search was called off a short time later when all the residents were accounted for. Firefighters attacked the blaze using 500 gallons to disperse the flames...

HILLSBORO -- Chris Walsh and the Hillsboro Hawks ran over Poplar Bluff on a wet Friday night, but not before the Mules made a little history in their comeback attempt. Kameron Misner threw a record 48 passes but Walsh matched the Poplar Bluff quarterback's five scores as the Hawks held off the Mules 53-43...

DEXTER -- The Bearcats were straight out of a Looney Tunes episode. They dug a hole, shot themselves in the foot, crawled out of it, fell off a cliff and fought all the way down. After forcing a three-and-out, Park Hills Central scored on what coach Kory Schweiss said was a gimmick pass play that went for 53 yards, though he declined to confess the gimmick. Then the Rebels blocked a Dexter punt, took possession at the 10 and ran it in two plays later...

KENNETT -- The Malden Green Wave have been those nightmare neighbors that you see on television to the Kennett Indians in recent years. They borrow your lawn mower and don't return it. They play loud music during late-night hours. And they average 63.3 points per game against you on the football field over the last four meetings...