Stories from Tuesday, December 23, 2014

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Federal transportation alternative grants for two Poplar Bluff projects and three projects in area communities have been announced by the Missouri Department of Transportation. Poplar Bluff Parks Department received a $400,000 grant to extend the Shelby Road Trail to McLane Park...

By SAVANNA MAUE SEMO News Service Possible steps toward a U.S. agreement with Cuba could mean big things for Southeast Missouri farmers. Missouri was the No. 5 rice producing state in the nation in 2013, according to research by the University of Missouri Extension, and should the embargo with Cuba be lifted and trade begin between the two countries, rice exports could surge...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer When an emergency call has to be transferred between Butler County's two 911 centers, it always means precious seconds are lost. Area emergency responders have long known that, and saw the need for a consolidated 911 center...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A Poplar Bluff High School student will appear as a special corespondent for MTV News in the days to come after attending the Youth Tribal Nations Conference on Dec. 1 at the White House. Darian Sales--a senior at PBHS, who is of Choctaw decent--was one of 36 Native American teen correspondents invited to the event through the Graduate for Mas, an academic and college-readiness program sponsored by Get Schooled in partnership with the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens...

By TOM UHLENBROCK Missouri State Parks SULLIVAN, Mo. - With eight primitive campsites and plenty to explore in between, the aptly named Wilderness Trail in Meramec State Park is one of the best backpacking hikes in the state park system. I headed out on the trail early one weekday in late fall when the last autumn colors were still hanging around. The hike ended six hours later after a long day full of caves, springs, sinkholes, woodlands, glades and river bluffs. Saw nary a soul along the way...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The Battle of Palmito Ranch near Brownsville, Texas, on May 13, 1865, is called the last battle of the Civil War, but the Texas Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) might consider that judgment premature, given its conflict with the state's Department of Transportation and Department of Motor Vehicles. ...

John Brooks John Wesley Brooks, 84, of Malden, died Saturday Dec. 20, 2014, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22. at the Landess Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Mark Thraser officating. Burial will be the Woodlawn Cemetery in Campbell...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS Last week, the Obama administration announced new curbs on racial profiling by federal law enforcement. Before deciding whether this is good or bad policy, we might try to develop a description/definition of racial profiling or any other kind of profiling...

To the Editor, A sincere thank you goes out to the Poplar Bluff community for the continued support and contributions to the Mules Sports Booster Club. It is our purpose to support coaches, teams and student athletes to help fund needs that are not budgeted in the school's athletic fund...

The EMS and Paramedic programs at Three Rivers College have been awarded a renewal of their five-year certificate of accreditation from the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services in Jefferson City after a site visit to the college's facilities. The award completes part of the requirements necessary for the fledgling program to become fully accredited...

Helen Jackson Helen Jackson, 72, of Gideon, died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014, at Gideon Care Center. Visitation will be at 12:30 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Rosewood Cemetery in Malden...

Selina Campbell Selina Fay Campbell, 52, of Malden, died Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, at her residence. Visitation will be Tuesday from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Landess Funeral Home in Malden. The Funeral will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the Rosewood Cemetery, first addition...

James Martin James Samuel Martin, 90, of Doniphan, passed away Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014, at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis. Mr. Martin was born July 30, 1924, in Newark, Md. to the late Miledge Hampton and Edna Mae (West) Martin. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and had retired from the U.S. ...

Edna L. Wyatt Edna L. Wyatt, 79, of Poplar Bluff, died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014, in Poplar Bluff. She was born March 5, 1935, in Dalton, Ark. to the late Benjamin and Ethel Raney DuBois. She was a long time resident of Poplar Bluff. Edna was a bartender. She enjoyed cooking and serving meals to friends...

Carla McIntosh Carla Rae McIntosh, 36, of Fisk, died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Carla was born Sept. 6, 1978, in St. Louis. She is survived by her father and step-mother, Raymond and Elizabeth McIntosh of Fisk; three children, Mark McIntosh and Patience McIntosh both of Fisk and Amanda Young of Poplar Bluff; four step brothers: Dean Sielders of Maine, Kenneth and Richard McRoy both of Dexter and Samuel McRoy of Fisk; and one step sister, Emily Faughn of Poplar Bluff.. ...

Juanita Saalwaechter Anna Juanita Saalwaechter, 94, of New Madrid, formerly of Portageville, died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014, at Golden Living Center in New Madrid. Visitation will be at 5 p.m. today at the First United Methodist Church in Portageville. The Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church...

Benjamin Stanley Benjamin Stanley, 83, of Doniphan, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014. He was born Sept. 7, 1931, in London, England. He served with the British Royal Engineers at the end of World War II and was married to his wife, Norma, for 57 years. She preceded him in death on May 7, 2006...

Dorothy Risby Dorothy Eloise Risby, 89, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.