Stories from Saturday, March 28, 2015

By KATHERINE WEBSTER SEMO News Service A Cape Girardeau County woman is dead after an apparent homicide Thursday west of Gordonville. The victim is 27-year-old Melissa Luttrell, Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Clifton said. Authorities were investigating the crime scene Thursday evening at a home near the intersection of routes F and Z...

By KATHERINE WEBSTER SEMO News Service Several area churches have received threatening letters after a vote by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to approve same-sex marriage. Westminster and First Presbyterian churches in Cape Girardeau and First Presbyterian in Jackson and Perryville received the letters, which say any church that accepts gay marriage "should be burned to the ground" and tells the churches, "you have been warned."...

Poplar Buff city manager Heath Kaplan: "That's the standard, the golden standard, get your council approval before you buy the item, unless it's an emergency." At the March 18 city council meeting, during a discussion of the city's new purchasing policy Kaplan said unless an emergency occurs, he always tries to get council approval for unbudgeted spending...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN In November 1956, President Eisenhower, enraged he had not been forewarned of their invasion of Egypt, ordered the British, French and Israelis to get out of Suez and Sinai. They did as told. How far we have fallen from the America of Ike and John Foster Dulles has been on painful display this March...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The rate of dog ownership is rising ominously. How can a profusion of puppies be worrisome? A report from the Raymond James financial services firm concerning trends in the housing market explains: Increasing numbers of women "are adopting dogs for security and/or companionship," partly because of "the great education divide."...

Are VAMC TVs missing? I just heard that all the TVs have been removed from every waiting area at our local VA Hospital. If this is true, why did this happen? Is this happening all over the country? They need to be put back! Our veterans do not need to sit there with nothing to watch...

By RON SMITH Prospect-News Staff Writer Gretchen Hampton said she felt a special connection when she was first introduced to a Nashville-based Christian music promoter. Last May, Hampton was needing a guest entertainer for an event at Gatewood R-III School, where she is a fourth-grade teacher and an advisor for the 'Generation Jesus' club. The more she learned about Faith Unity Promotions of Nashville, she said, the stronger her connection grew...

The Poplar Bluff Municipal Library recently was awarded funds through the Racing to Read grant allowing the library to expand its early literacy program with additional Story Times, picture books, crafts, and more. The Racing to Read grant is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Secretary of State's office...

The Poplar Bluff High School Teenage Republicans, a student club that was reinstated this year by senior Ben Soeter, toured the state Capitol on Monday and Tuesday, March 16-17, visiting with an intensive line-up of government officials. Highlights of the Jefferson City trip, according to club president Soeter, included being welcomed during a Congress session by Sen. ...

Would you like to learn more about garden disease issues, soil testing, or drought tolerant plants? These are just a sampling of the information to be presented at the sessions presented by University of Missouri Extension Horticulture Specialist Sarah Denkler. Make a point to attend the Garden Lunch and Learn sessions in April...

Cleta Mae White MALDEN, Mo.--Cleta Mae White, 73, of Bloomfield, died Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at Southeast Hospital at Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Lighthouse Church in Dexter. The funeral will follow at 3 p.m. at the church...

Poplar Bluff's golf team spent spring break chipping and putting but unlike years past, they did it indoors. The Mules were back in the Annex building behind Peters Gym again Thursday, preparing for their first 18-hole tournament. While snow and rain forced them to practice inside much of the month, it may be a blessing in disguise...

Katherine Parker Katherine Louise (Stovall) Parker, 87, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Wednesday, March 25, 2015, at her residence. Mrs. Parker was born March 24, 1928, in Taskee, Mo., to the late William and Tilda McCane Moore. She was a member of Living Word Baptist Church and had retired after 20 years of service in the housekeeping department at Doctor's Hospital. ...

Lillie Bell Jewell FISK, Mo. - Lillie Bell Jewell, 74, of Fisk died Thursday, March 26, 2015 at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was born May 29, 1940 at Broseley, Mo. She was co-owner and operator of Jewell's Station & Café at Broseley for several years and later owned and operated Jewell's Grocery & Station at Fisk. She was a member of Twin Rivers General Baptist Church...

Raymond "Sug" Walker DEXTER, Mo.--Raymond "Sug" Walker, 70, of Dexter, died Wednesday, March 25, 2015, at St. Anthony's Medical Center in St. Louis. The family requests memorials be made to Fisher House, VA Medical Center, 1 Jefferson Barracks Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63125...

William "Bill" Beston William J. "Bill" Beston, 81, of Doniphan, died Wednesday, March 25, 2015, at Southeast Health of Ripley County in Doniphan. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the Poynor Cemetery...

JONESBORO, Ark. -- Kameron Misner didn't get a hit at the plate, but didn't give up very much on the mound Thursday. The Poplar Bluff junior tossed a 3-hit shutout, striking out nine, as the Mules beat Marion, Ark. 1-0 in the Xtra Innings Tournament...

Teddy Kirkley Teddy Kirkley, 68, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away Tuesday, March 24, 2015 in Burns Harbor, Ind., while he was working. He was born Aug. 14, 1946 to the late Howard and Oralee (Hastings) Kirkley, in Poplar Bluff.  He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and truck driver. He worked for Caterpillar for seven years before beginning his career as a independent truck driver in 1972. He drove for 42 years before his untimely death.  Everyone knew him as "Teddy Bear"...

Ronnie Radford PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Herbert Ronnie Radford, 75, of Piedmont died Friday, March 27, 2015, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center, Piedmont. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont.

Nova Arlene Pratt Nova Arlene Pratt, 94, of Poplar Bluff, formerly of Ironton, passed away Thursday, March 26, 2015. Mrs. Pratt was born Feb. 18, 1921 in Hogan, Mo., to Elzie and Clara Odessa Swaringim Sherrill. On Nov. 12, 1941, she was united in marriage to the father of her children, Lewis E. Pratt. He preceded her in death in April, 2008...