Stories from Thursday, February 19, 2015

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Two people are in custody following a suspected armed robbery at 2:40 p.m. Saturday in the 500 block of Highway 53. Poplar Bluff Police arrested Terrance L. Fields, 20, of Poplar Bluff, on suspicion of first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon...

Bobby Lloyd Bobby L. Lloyd, 79, of Poplar Bluff, died Feb. 9, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Services were held Feb. 14, 2015 at the White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. Burial will follow at Black Creek Cemetery. Online condolences: whitesandersfuneralhome.com...

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake has announced the calendar of special events for 2015. April 18-19 -- 2015 Old Greenville Black Powder Rendezvous May 16 -- Kids to Parks Day June 20 -- Annual Kids Fun Day (Fishing Derby) July 4 -- Ranger Willie's Wet and Wild Waterfest...

By PAT PRATT SEMO News Service National Salute to Veteran Patients Week wrapped up on Friday, Feb. 6, with a capacity crowd at the Valentines for Veterans Concert featuring the Kentucky Headhunters at Black River Coliseum. The week-long event honors the more than 98,000 veterans of the US Armed Forces cared for every day in VA medical centers and other facilities. ...

Brock and Monique Crowley of Grandin, Mo. announce their 7-pound 8-ounce daughter Ada Grace Crowley born at 4:43 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was 20 1/2 inches log. Her grandparents are Rawland and Denise Thompson of Ellsinore, Linda and Randy King of Puxico and John Crowley of Ellsinore. Great-grandmother is Juanita King of Poplar Bluff...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL Eagle Days is always a huge hit at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, and this year was no exception. Approximately 600 students were able to see Phoenix, a 25-year-old female Bald Eagle, and Aquila, a male Golden Ealge, during Schools Days Feb. 6. Five live eagle sessions, which were all packed, were held for the public Feb. 7...

Friends of Girl Scout Camp Latonka and two other camp committees in the Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland Council were given approval by the Board of Directors to continue their efforts towards keeping the camps open and available for usage by Girl Scouts as well as the public. ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, has appointed Steve Halter, IOM, president of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce, to the Winter Board of Regents. As a member of this board, Halter will implement the policies created by Institute's National Board of Trustees...

The 2015 Missouri Rice Conference will be from 8:10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. at the Eagles Club at Dexter, which is one half mile south of the Highway 25 and Highway 60 Intersection The program follows:...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Six Missouri cotton industry members have been elected to leadership positions in the National Cotton Council (NCC) for 2015, including David Blakemore, a Campbell, Mo., ginner, who was elected as a NCC director. Former NCC chairman Charles H. Parker, a Senath, Mo., producer, was re-elected as an advisor to the NCC Board...

Veterans & Dogs is starting a new class on March 7. This free program, hosted by Cape Arrowhead, Inc. and SEMO Dog Trainers, LLC, is designed to bring veterans together with dogs in a friendly, relaxed environment. The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center website states, "Approximately 50,000 veterans live in our service area." While Veterans & Dogs is a pilot program the organizers hope to reach even a tiny fraction of these veterans...

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) presents an Effective Wingshooting workshop from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 14 at Duck Creek Conservation Area. This course is designed for upland bird, waterfowl and turkey hunters and is an advanced shotgunning education program designed to evaluate wingshooters and identify problem areas...

The story of the failure of God's people at Ai teaches us an object lesson today. Sin brings trouble and failure. One man's sin effected the whole. Achan, after he was caught in his sin, relates the three steps that brought his downfall. "I saw, I coveted, I took." Joshua 7:21. ...

More than $9.1 million in prizes of $1,000 or more were awarded to Missouri Lottery players during January. Area winners of $1,000 or more include: Mega Millions winners: David Brawley, Ellington, $5,002 Judith Crain, Fairdealing, $5,000 Lotto winners:...

Hunter Davis of Fisk, has received the Show Me Gold Scholarship to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 2015-2016 academic year. Davis is the son of Kevin and Gena Davis and is a 2011 graduate of Twin Rivers High School.

By PAT PRATT SEMO News Service Poplar Bluff can get a taste of Branson without the drive in February when country music comedians The Baldknobbers take the stage at the Rodgers Theater. Doors open at 6 p.m. and tickets are still available for the 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20 show. Proceeds from the performance will benefit Springhill's School of Hope, a Christian based K-12 school in Fairdealing...

LEOPOLD, Mo. - The Puxico Indians varsity boys basketball team moved back above the .500 mark with a 65-42 road win at Leopold Tuesday night, Feb. 10. Chris Siler paced Puxico with 19 points. Zach McCoy and Zack Tucker tallied 14 and 12 points respectively for the Indians...

By DONNA FARLEY SEMO News Service The hardest part of combat is not the bullets, or the bombs. The hardest part of combat, according to the former Navy SEAL who has claimed responsibility for shooting Osama bin Laden, is kissing your child good-bye and knowing it could be the very last time...

Linsey Walk and Ruby Hefner have been named Greenville High School's Students of Month for December. Walk, daughter of Michael and Sheila Walk, is involved in the Beta Club, National Honors Society, Art Club, Bear Ambassadors, FCCLA, and volleyball. She enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her friends. After high school she plans to attend Southeast Missouri State University. She is undecided on a major...

SEMO News Service The Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau could receive upgrades under a proposal by Gov. Jay Nixon expected to go before the state Legislature this spring. The Legislature last year authorized increased bonding capacity for improvements to state buildings, including veterans homes, said Nixon spokesman Scott Holste, and this year the governor is asking for authorization to get the projects underway...

Roger Taylor, junior music education major from Poplar Bluff, Mo., was among eight Culver-Stockton College students who were selected to perform with the 2015 All-Collegiate Choir at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference (MMEA) held in Osage Beach, Mo., Jan. 28-31...

Wise PBHS civics teacher Speakout, you know the articles in the DAR the past few weeks and the news on the television, especially the state of the union address, brings to mind, years ago, a civics teacher at Poplar Bluff High School by the name of Rosco Pridy, and he said you really have to pay attention to politicians because they speak in glittering generalities. ...

Hans Porter Hans Warren Porter, 61, of Puxico, formerly of Dexter, died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be from 12:30 until 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. The funeral services will follow at 2:30 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Danny Collins officiating. Burial will follow in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery near Dexter...

Raegena Nowlin Raegena Nowlin, 63, of Piedmont, died Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center in Piedmont. Visitation will be at noon on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Faith Family Worship Center in Piedmont. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. at the church with Pastor Wayne Street and Bro. Richard Sanders officiating. Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel of Piedmont is in charge of arrangements...

The Woman's Citizenship Club recently met in the dining room at Twin Towers. After lunch, the group moved to The Snider Room for the business meeting. Six members were present. President Gloria Hoover called the meeting to order. Jean Butler led the Club Collect. ...

O'Neal Elementary announces its December Students of Month. They are: Gracie Brown is a first grader. She is the daughter of Donnie and Melissa Brown. She enjoys swimming, playing, and making things. Her favorite school subject is math. In her free time she enjoys doing gymnastics and playing soccer. When she grows up she wants to become a veterinarian...

Louise Tolbert MALDEN, Mo. -- Emma Louise Tolbert, 90, of Malden, died Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, at the Golden Living Center in Malden. Visitation was at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral followed at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Bradshaw Chapel. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "A steady patriot of the world alone, "The friend of every country -- but his own." George Canning's couplet about the Englishmen who professed love for all the world except their own native land comes to mind on reading Obama's remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast...

Greg Rogers GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Greg Rogers, 50, died Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at his home near Lowndes, Mo. Arrangements will be announced by Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel, Greenville.

Mary Epps Mary Ella Epps, 91, of Edwardsville, Ill., formerly of Harviell, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, in Edwardsville. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Thelma McWilliams MALDEN, Mo. -- Thelma Marie McWilliams, 92, of Campbell, Mo., died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden...

Max R. Day NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Max R. Day, 73, of Naylor, died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, at his residence. He was born Jan. 6, 1942, in Ponder, Mo. to the late Raymond Day and the late Dorothy Verneal Robinson Day. Max was a lifelong resident of Ripley County. He graduated from Naylor High School in 1962, and he served as alderman for the City of Naylor. He was a member of Naylor Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon. He retired from the State Highway Department...

Jerry Doss Jerry Vernell Doss, 80, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, at Mark Twain Caring Center. Mr. Doss was born Jan. 25, 1935, in Herbine, Ark., to Lonnie Washington and Clara Bell Herring Doss. He and Gail McNece were married in Poplar Bluff at the First Christian Church on April 4, 1980. She survives of the home...

Freeman Odell Hays Freeman Odell Hays, 74, of Poplar Bluff, formerly of Qulin, died Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. He was born Dec. 10, 1940 in Pollard, Ark. He served in the United States Air Force and was a member of the American Legion Post 494 in Qulin. He was also a commercial truck driver...

Rex Kirkpatrick Rex Kirkpatrick, 89, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Clifford Thorkelson GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Clifford Thorkelson, 89, of Williamsville, Mo., died Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Greenville, Mo. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Mark Hunsberger officiating. Burial will be in Greenville Cemetery...

Christopher Littrell Christopher David Littrell, 48, of Wappapello, Mo., passed away Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at his home. Mr. Littrell was born June 15, 1966, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was a commercial truck driver and enjoyed fishing, hunting, and playing with his grandchildren...

Bill Midgett DONIPHAN, Mo. -- U.S. veteran William Floyd "Bill" Midgett, 82, of Doniphan, Mo., passed away Monday, Feb. 16 2015, at his residence in rural Ripley County. Bill, son of Herman and Bettie (Jorden) Midgett, was born Sept. 10, 1932, in Cash, Ark. ...

It was pretty much smooth sailing for area school athletic directors this winter. Just a few select games had been cancelled or postponed since basketball season started the last week of November, which in comparison to last year's frequent stoppages, has been a nice change...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor With the arrival of winter weather earlier this week, hunting and fishing activities have pretty much been put on the back burner. Unless you can find a boat ramp not covered in ice, and that's unlikely, putting a boat in Wappapello or Clearwater lakes won't be happening for a while...

DEXTER -- Dexter senior Peyton Pollock has dreamed of playing college football since he was 6-years-old. "I started playing organized football at the age of 6," Pollock said. "My grandpa, dad and brother all played college football so it has always been a dream of mine to be a college football player."...

Jose Reyes, John Hardin and Jose Ventura have been playing soccer together since the fifth grade. The Poplar Bluff seniors didn't want to stop, if possible. "Obviously, it's so hard to go to college by yourself, for three people to go to the same school and get a scholarship to play is almost impossible," Mules coach Steven Edward said...