Stories from Thursday, November 13, 2014

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The hiring of First Southwest Company of Dallas, Texas, to provide financial advisory services to the city was unanimously approved by the Poplar Bluff City Council during a special meeting Monday night. First Southwest was employed to only handle the TIF (tax increment financing) reimbursement as outlined in the redevelopment agreement between the city and the Eight Points Commercial Development...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Cambridge Adult Care Center of Poplar Bluff has applied for a conditional use permit to operate an adult daycare facility in the former Army Reserve building within the Poplar Bluff Square Shopping Center at 2162 N. Westwood Blvd...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The first draft of the proposed 2015 city budget was presented by City Manager Heath Kaplan to the Poplar Bluff City Council during a special meeting Monday night. "I want you to become familiar with this document. This is the first time you have seen it," Kaplan said. "This document encompasses a lot of content."...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer While a chilly north wind served a solemn reminder of the bitter sacrifices made by members of the U.S. Armed Forces, it did not deter the community from gathering at the Veterans' Wall on Tuesday to remember their service and take a moment to say "thank you."...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Throw out any preconceived notions of a "soup kitchen bread line" when the United Gospel Rescue Mission fires up the ovens on Thanksgiving. They don't skimp on the cranberries here, despite "stuffing" more than 1,600 people with slow-smoked birds free of charge...

Stoddard County Historical Society members learned about Missouri education in the early 20th century during their fall meeting. Bell City resident Helen Calhoun talked about her parents, Albert and Edna Parker, both of whom were school teachers. Her father, Albert Parker, started to school when his younger brother was also old enough so the two of them could walk the three miles to school together. ...

By MONA CHAREN Mary McCarthy once famously skewered fellow writer Lillian Hellman as "tremendously overrated, a bad writer, a dishonest writer... Every word she writes is a lie, including 'and' and 'the.'" It created quite a stir at the time (1980) and led, as nearly every breeze ruffling so much as a feather in America often does, to a lawsuit...

By MICHELLE MALKIN Enough is enough. An important bloc of voters made their voices heard on Tuesday. Their message: Quit rewarding people who violate our immigration laws. They chose a sovereign nation over an illegal alien sanctuary nation, and they told politicians in both parties loud and clear: Put Americans first...

O'Neal Elementary Students of the Month for September are Leah Johnson, Trey Nevel, Sophie Starnes and Scotty Sanders. Leah Johnson was nominated as the first grade student of the month for September. She was nominated by her teacher, Amy Courtney. Johnson is the daughter of Donald and Teresa Johnson. She enjoys biking, riding her scooter, reading and practicing gymnastics. Her favorite subject in school is math. When she grows up she wants to be a teacher...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the tornado safe room on the campus of Puxico R-8 Schools in August 2013. While the facility has been utilized since it was finished, there is still some confusion in the community as to exactly when the tornado safe room will be open to the public...

Poplar Bluff Municipal Library joins forces this year with the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce, Wal-Mart, and the Daily American Republic to assist the Designing Women Foundation (DWF) in gathering donations of children's books to be given away as holiday gifts at the 12th Annual Santa Land...

Theral Vanover PUXICO, Mo.-- Theral "Tubie" Vanover, 60, of Puxico, passed away Monday, Nov. 3, 2014 in Memphis, Tenn. He was the son of the late R.V. and Trecie Latham Vanover, and was born in Sikeston, Mo. on Aug. 24, 1954. He had lived in the Puxico area most of his life and was a 1973 graduate of Puxico High School. He was an over the road truck driver and was a member of the Puxico Masonic Lodge #596...

Family Caregivers Conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., Friday at the Family Counseling Center, 3001 Warrior Lane. The conference is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided and door prizes will be awarded. The program will include: "Caring for the Caregiver," Kimberly Hayman; a panel discussion with Home Care Services, Veterans Services and Hcnage in Services and Med D programs represented; "Legal Matters for Caregivers," William Gresham, attorney; and "Relaxation Techniques," Dr. ...

Free coats at Coliseum on Thursday Grace Christian Fellowship invites the public to "Share the Warmth" beginning at 5 p.m., Thursday as they hand out free coats and other winter items on the Black River Coliseum Parking Lot. Distribution of coats will begin at 5 p.m. with handout of coat vouchers beginning at 4:45 p.m...

Jake Hemby Jake Hemby, 35, of Puxico, Mo., died Oct. 31, 2014. Services were held Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014 at Morgan Sifford Funeral Chapel in Puxico. Burial followed in the Rock Hill Cemetery near Puxico.

Avery Scott Tompkins is the name chosen by Carisa Dale and Scott Darnell Tompkins, of Puxico, Mo., for their 9-pound, 12-ounce son born at 7:57 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Avery was 20 1/4 inches long...

The congregation of Providence Missionary Baptist Church (Rock Hill) will be holding revival services beginning 7 nightly Nov. 20-22. Bro. Webb Manley will be the evangelist. The church is located at 19185 County Road 438. For more information or questions, call Pastor Larry Tucker at 573-380-4304...

"It is an inside job," says the detective, after examining carefully the clues left at the site of the crime. More things than crimes are inside jobs. Becoming a Christian is an inside job. The inside...the inner life must undergo a complete transformation to make one a Christian. ...

To the Editor: Recently, on a cool, crisp fall morning a group of seniors from Sacred Heart Catholic Church took a trip through the Arkansas Ozarks. The group visited the town of Mountain View and the Ozark Folk Center. The small Ozark town is claimed to be "The Folk Music Capital of the World."...

Carol Ann Miller Carol Ann Miller was born and raised in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 1957. She worked at the Poplar Bluff Public Library from 1953 until 1960. Married Jerry Lee Miller in 1960. Son Jay was born 1963. ...

The Thread Thursday Bazaar and Bake Sale is set for 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Thursday at Agee Fellowship Church's annex building on Highway W. Among the items to be featured at the bazaar are hand-quilted and machine-quilted quilts, crocheted baby afghans, holiday decorations, wall hangings, embroidered work, aprons, cloth purses and totes, jewelry, fashion scarves, unique tablecloths, and small potted plants. Members of Agee's congregation have donated all kinds of handmade items...

From Staff Reports While frosty conditions were nearly ideal for hunting for the first segment of the youth deer season, the harvest was down from a year ago except for counties like Stoddard, Wayne and Butler. Youngsters between the ages of 6 and 15 killed 18,091 deer statewide, a 3 percent drop from last year's 18,676. Even with the drop, the harvest was the third-largest since the season was split into two segments in 2008...

Helen Haywood Helen M. Haywood, 91, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 at St. Francis Medical Center, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Ms. Haywood was born Jan. 21, 1923, in Piggott, Ark. to the late Jake and Elizabeth Latta Haywood. She was a member of Highland Church of Christ and enjoyed spending time with her family, gardening, reading, antiques and being involved in her church...

Merl Jean Black Merl Jean Black, 89, of Perryville, Mo., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Nov. 10, 2014 at the Independence Care Center in Perryville. The arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

Virgil Clubb GREENVILLE, Mo., --Virgil M. Clubb, 94, of Greenville, died Monday, Nov. 10, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home, Greenville.

Bill Hueckel DEXTER, Mo.--Bill Gene Hueckel, 85, died Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation was held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter . Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Kenneth Biggs officiating...

Bobby Jones DEXTER, Mo.--Bobby Jones, 81, of Essex, Mo., died Saturday, Nov. 8., at his home. Visitation will be after 11 a.m., Wednesday at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday in the Watkins & Sons Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Bill Fox of Garden Ridge, Mo., officiating...

David Cunningham MALDEN, Mo.-- David Lynn Cunningham, 49, of Tallapoosa, Mo., died Friday, Nov. 7, 2014 at his residence. Visitation was held at 9 a.m. Tuesday at Bradshaw Funeral Home. A graveside service followed at 10 a.m. at Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton, Mo. with the Reverend Charlie Thacker officiating. Burial followed immediately...

Samuel Hammonds Samuel F. Hammonds, 89, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, at Oakdale Care Center. Arrangements are pending with Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home.

Charles Roberts PUXICO, Mo.-- Charles "Chick" Roberts, 85, of Puxico, died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born Jan. 4, 1929, in Puxico, to Lester C. and Lona J. Clark Roberts, both preceded him in death. Mr. Roberts was a retired farmer. On March 21, 1949, he married Dorothy Welsch, she survives of the home...

CMU releases dean's list Central Methodist University has announced its first term Academic Achievement Award recipients. Area students on the list include: Jessica Abner of Bloomfield, Mo., Stephanie Edington of Campbell, Mo., Michelle Tinker of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Hannah Pender of Van Buren, Mo., Laura Nance of Grandin, Mo., Megan Powell of Van Buren, Mo., Casey Vallance of Fairdealing, Mo., Donna Wilson of Grandin, Vivian Whited of Poplar Bluff, Hannah Mathis of Dexter, Mo...

Peggy Hargrove QULIN, Mo.-- Peggy Dell Hargrove, 79, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Hargrove was born June 21, 1935 in Camden, Tenn. and had lived most of her life in Qulin. She retired from Smiley Container and she was a wonderful wife and loving mother...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL The Puxico R-8 School District has been rebuilding its high school music program over the course of the last several years, and, under the watchful eye of band director David Barani, the Puxico High School Marching Band has just wrapped up a stellar, undefeated marching season...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor It's finally here - well almost at least - the opening weekend of the firearms deer season. More Missouri hunters look forward to this season than any other, evident by the nearly 900,000 permits sold last year. It looks like hunters will have to deal with some pretty cold weather for the opening weekend, with lows in the mid-20s, and a slim chance of snow on Sunday. ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The future of Bluff Barber Shop was on the razor's edge of uncertainty its first day of business, after earning only "two bits" by closing time. Thousands of haircuts and customers later, the traditional-style barber shop in Poplar Bluff is celebrating 50 years of business in the same downtown location in the 200 block of South Fifth Street where it opened Nov. 4, 1964...

Marion West donation correction Marion West's obituary held the incorrect address for donations. Donations should go to Kay Porter Edgewood Children's Home, 216 Co. Rd. 4761, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901.

By JOHN PRATT Mo. Dept. of Conservation For the season starting this Saturday, over 400,000 hunters will take to the field pursuing deer throughout the state. With this number of hunters participating in the deer season, I am going to devote this article to hunter safety...

Carpenter cemetery meeting The Carpenter Cemetery Association will conduct the annual member meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Vanduser City Hall. All interested individuals are welcome to attend. For more information call 573-820-7936. Visit them website www.carpentercemetery.org and, "like" them on Facebook...

Bernie student gets scholarship Caleb Ellenburg of Bernie, Mo., received the Governor's Scholarship to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 2015-2016 academic year. Ellenberg is the son of Allan and Tommie Ellenberg of Bernie, and will be a 2015 graduate of Bernie High School...

N'ville R-IV vet program is Thurs. The Neelyville R-IV School District will be holding its annual Veterans' Day Program at 9 a.m. Thursday in the Neelyville High School Gym. All veterans, district patrons and guests are invited to attend. Any veteran who would like to be included in the video slide show should contact Mr. Hurt at 989-3815, Ext. 233. Please call 989-3370 for additional information...

Watermelon growers meeting On Dec. 3, University of Missouri Extension is hosting the annual Watermelon Growers Meeting starting at 8:30 a.m. at the American Legion Building in Kennett, Mo. Donuts and coffee will be available for this event which will provide an opportunity for growers to talk with specialists in the areas of disease management, plastic culture and labor...

The Woman's Citizenship Club met at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, with eight members present for lunch at Twin Towers with the business meeting following in The Snider Room. Jan Duffy led a prayer, Rita McVey led the pledge, and Donna Pinkerton led the club collect...

So far this season, Three Rivers freshman Justas Furmanavicius has had a knack for stringing together momentum plays at just the right moments. He did exactly that Tuesday and launched the deciding run in the Raiders' 101-97 win over John A. Logan (Ill.) at the Bess Activity Center...

Disgusted by school board This is in reference to the school reversing course on benching players. I am so utterly disgusted with our board of education with the administration and with the coach! That is one of the main reasons I'm so glad that those boys did not win on Saturday. ...

By SAMANTHA RINEHART SEMO News Service While Rush Limbaugh and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee butting heads is nothing new, the most recent clash has generated attention because of its potential of a lawsuit. The conservative talk-radio host and Cape Girardeau native is threatening to sue the DCCC for defamation after he claims they took comments he made on his show regarding sexual consent out of context...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Nov. 4 was a national vote of no confidence in Barack Obama. Had a British prime minister received a vote like this, he would have resigned by now. The one issue on which all Republicans agreed, and all ran, was the rejection of Obama. And by fleeing from him, some even refusing to admit they voted for him, Democrats, too, were conceding that this election was about Obama, and that they were not to blame for his failures...

By MONA CHAREN A prayer has been answered -- not for a massive Republican victory at the polls, though that, too. No, I'm thinking of the perennial prayer of losers: "Oh Lord, let my enemies go too far." The results of the 2014 midterms will be chewed over for weeks and months. ...

Elsie Ruth (Brown) Sparkman Elsie Ruth (Brown) Sparkman passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of Oct. 22, 2014. Mother experienced no pain or fear. She was 89 years old when she died. Born on Dec. 14, 1924 in the rural outskirts of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Mom was the oldest of Ray Revere and Myrtle Bertha (Sample) Brown's three children. ...

Registration has begun for Spring semester classes at Three Rivers College, with openings available for new and returning students at all of the college's locations. Online and on-site registration will continue through Jan. 9 at the Poplar Bluff campus and the centers in Sikeston, Dexter, Kennett, Malden, Willow Springs, Piedmont, and Cape Girardeau. The semester starts on Jan. 12...

Darrell Frederick CAMPBELL, Mo.-- Darrell Frederick, 72, of Campbell, died Sunday Nov. 9, 2014, at Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. The funeral will be at 1 p.m Thursday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Randy Vaughn officiating...

Jerry Brown PIEDMONT, Mo.-- Jerome "Jerry" Brown, 74, of Patterson, Mo., died Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Arrangements will be announced by Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel, Piedmont.

Merl Jean Black Merl Jean Black, 89, formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Monday, Nov. 10, 2014, at Independence Care Center in Perryville, Mo. Mrs. Black was born Dec. 14, 1924, in Poplar Bluff to the late James E. and Malissa C. Heady Markham. She was married to Walter Black, who passed June 5, 1994...

William C. Massey, Jr. BLOOMFIELD, Mo.--William C. Massey, Jr., 86, of Bloomfield, died at his home Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014. Arrangements are pending with the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield.

Mary M. Richardson PUXICO, Mo. -- Mary M. Richardson, 89, of Puxico, died Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Arrangements are pending and will be announced by Morgan-Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico.

Leonard Leon Stephens Fisk, Mo.--Leonard Leon Stephens, 87, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Nov. 10, 2014, at The Manor in Poplar Bluff. He was born Oct. 28, 1927, at Ash Hill, Mo. He was a retired riverboat captain and was a member of Calvary Community Church. He served in the Army during WWII and the Navy during the Korean War...

Lucas Francis Lucas Nathaniel Francis, 24, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Monday, Nov. 10, 2014 in Potosi, Mo., as the result of injuries sustained in an auto accident. Lucas was born July 17, 1990 in Poplar Bluff to Kenneth M. Francis, Jr. and Monique R. ...