Stories from Monday, June 8, 2015

VAN BUREN, Mo. - Ozark National Scenic Riverways will host the Ozark Heritage Day event at Big Spring from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The free, annual event offers a chance to step back in time and see how early Ozark families lived and worked. The picking of banjos, the clanking of a hammer striking an anvil, the stomping of feet and the neighing of a horse are just some of the sights and sounds visitors can experience during Ozark Heritage Day, said Dena Matteson, Riverways public information officer.. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Chris Batrano hasn't let the fact that he literally has to fight for every breath stop him from pursuing his dreams. An amazing 18-year survivor of ALS, the Poplar Bluff resident recently completed his debut CD. Almost entirely paralyzed, the tracks were composed chord by chord, beat by beat through the use of eye tracking computer software and the movement that remains in a single finger...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff woman is paralyzed after her car allegedly was struck by a truck leaving Brick's Off Road Park, where fewer than three hours later a woman was killed in an all-terrain vehicle crash. At 5:45 p.m., Lori S. Garner, 50, was operating a 2010 Kia Optima northbound on Highway F, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol's crash report...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A local physician who was instrumental in changing the face of medical care in Poplar Bluff has retired after 50 years of service. Dr. Ben Till began working in the community in 1965 and saw his last patient on Friday at his office in the Kneibert Clinic. In addition to treating thousands of patients over the years, serving on several boards and winning numerous awards, Till was key in establishing an EMS service in Butler County...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A local man was flown to a Cape Girardeau hospital after he either jumped or fell from the Highway 53 overpass Saturday afternoon, landing atop a stationary Union Pacific train car. At about 12:55 p.m., the Poplar Bluff Police Department was contacted by a passing motorist who reported having found the injured man, later identified as Elbert J. Cook, 27, of the 700 block of Dewey...

Bob and Elaine Harrell of Poplar Bluff will observe their 50th wedding anniversary Friday, June 12, 2015 with a small, private family gathering. The couple was married June 12, 1965 at the Maplewood Park Baptist Church in Cahokia, Ill. They have two children: Becky Caldwell (Jeff) of Little Rock, Ark., and Cindy Shafer (Brandon) of Edmond, Okla.; and six grandchildren: Ethan and Avery Caldwell of Little Rock, Ark., and Corban, Eliana, Jude and Gabriella Shafer of Edmond, Okla...

FAYETTE, Mo.- Central Methodist University has announced its graduating Class of 2015 according to President Roger Drake. More than 700 students participated in Commencement exercises in Fayette, Park Hills, Sedalia, and St. Louis. CMU graduates include students from its main campus in Fayette, branch sites across the state, or from its online programs, Drake said. The following Missouri students graduated:...

The Butler County Genealogy society met May 28 a the First United Methodist Church in Poplar Bluff, Mo. with 15 members attending the meeting. Vice President Glenda Rollman called the meeting to order. Secretary and treasurer reports were read and approved...

Poplar Bluff Junior and Senior High students were recently awarded bank cards for leading their respective classes in the Charlie Classic Reading challenge. In addition to earning the Charlie Classics scholarship, Ben Soeter of the PBHS Class of 2015 placed first as a senior, reading 25 books; outgoing junior Christian Cmehil-Warn placed first in his class with 21 books while classmate Nikkia Hickman placed second with 17 books; outgoing sophomore Jordan Cox placed first in his class with 20 books while classmate Shishanna Roberson placed second with 10 books; and outgoing freshman Kenneth Hadley placed first with 12 books.. ...

Students from East Carter R-2 Elementary Fourth Quarter Honor Roll earning recognition on the honor roll are: First Grade: Mrs. Koeger: Lexi Brown, Emma Eudaley, Clayton Forsythe, Sarah Fouts, Alexis Hosentfeld, Jacob Kerns, Kyla Leader, Katelyn Nichols-Brown, Payton Quigley, Gabe Randazzo, Alexander Reasons, Makayla Shonk, Bryce Stahl; Mrs. ...

Forth Quarter Honor Roll And Merit Roll For Twin Rivers Fisk Elementary Honor Roll First Grade- Trinity Abernathy, Dylan Abrams, Mallory Arnold, Jenna Caldwell, Braden Cates, Zaden Clonch, Lindsay Crites, Ceyton Crowley, Azariah Gonzalez, Ella Goodrich, Andrew Hanley, Lane Johnson, Dixie Kelly, Cody Leutert, Logan Martin, Gemini Miller, Charly, Morgan, Isabella Price, Madeleine Rush, Jeulie Wampler, Brookelynn Wilkerson, Zoe Williamson, Kira Winters...

Fred Hildrich assumed responsibility of Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Sigonella, Italy, in a ceremony March 4. Hildrich most recently served as the distribution center's deputy commander, a position he assumed in November 2013. A native of Southeast Missouri, Hildrich is the son of Lois Hildrich of Poplar Bluff and the late Freddie Joe Hildrich. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1986 and served 22 years in the field of supply...

Qulin Elementary and Middle School Fourth Quarter Honor and Merit Roll Qulin Elementary Perfect Attendance 2014-2015- Addysen Whitlow, Isaac Siebert, Jillian Wilson Honor Roll First Grade - Megan House, Wyatt Lewis, Bo Lilly, Zane Morgan, Jayden Parks, Alexis Parson, Thomas Patterson, Logan Rainey, Colin Reed, Eli Thurman, Coleton Trainer, Camron Trout, Addysen Whitlow...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- I rarely do follow-up columns. I'm averaging one every 10 years. And while my last such exercise resulted in a written apology from the White House (for accusing me of making up facts over its removal of Churchill's bust), today's is not a complaint. It's merely a recognition that the huge response elicited by last week's column, "Why Doctors Quit," warrants both rebuttal and clarification...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Walking into L & M Barber Shop on Vine street in downtown Poplar Bluff, one is greeted by the sounds of clippers attached to vacuum hoses, bantering between barbers and their clients, as well as the smell of aftershave being spritzed on customers...

Not racially motivated Yes, I would like to speak out about the June 1st article in the DAR about the two officers that were interviewed from Poplar Bluff about the racial problems stemming from the Brown shooting in Ferguson, MO. I agree with them 100 percent that this was not a racial motivated thing that happened up there. It was a bunch of outsiders who came into Ferguson that caused the problem...

Jimmy Carter Arrangements for Jimmy Carter, 75, of Poplar Bluff are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service.

The Twin Rivers R-X Board of Education will hold a special closed session meeting at noon on Monday, June 8, in the Central Office Board Room. The meeting according to the agenda will relate to the hiring and resignation of personnel and will not be open to the public in accordance with Missouri law...

Janice Helm GREENVILLE -- Janice Helm, 70, of Poplar Bluff passed away Thursday, June 4, 2015, at Cherokee Pass. Visitation will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Ruegg Funeral Home, Greenville. Services will follow at 2 p.m. Wednesday also at the chapel. Burial will follow at Crossroads Cemetery near Greenville...

Mellissa Stevens NEELYVILLE -- Mellissa Stevens, 34, of St. Louis, died Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at her home. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. - noon, Monday at Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville. Graveside service will follow at 1 p.m. Monday at the New Home Cemetery in Tucker...

Earlie Robertson FISK, Mo. -- Earlie Otto Robertson, 68, of McGee, Mo., died Wednesday, June 3, 2015, at Northside Forsyth Hospital in Cumming, Ga. He was born Oct. 24, 1946, at Broseley, Mo. Earlie spent his career as a carpenter, truck driver and construction foreman...

Jody Shirley DONIPHAN -- Joseph Louis "Jody" Shirley, 67, of Doniphan died Thursday, June 4, 2015, at Southeast Health Center of Ripley County. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. till 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 9, at Edwards Funeral Home, Graveside services to follow at 11:30 a.m. at Towels Cemetery with Bro. Jason Jordan officiating. Full Military Honors will be performed...

Eddie Halford CORNING, Ark.--Eddie Leon Halford, 71, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Thursday, June 4, 2105 at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis surrounded by his loving family. Mr. Halford was a retired security guard for Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He enjoyed collecting Hot Wheels, model cars, Coca-Cola merchandise and attending car shows...

Doris Aikens MALDEN, Mo.--Doris Aikens, 73, of Malden, died Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at her residence. Visitation will be 11 a.m. until service time Monday at Bradshaw Funeral Home. Funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Bradshaw Chapel in Malden with burial in Macedonia Cemetery...

Poplar Bluff's mile relay had just finished fifth at the MSHSAA Class 4 state track and field championships last weekend thinking they needed to place fourth. Actually, the Mules only needed to place sixth or better to vault into the lead of the team standings. It put Poplar Bluff into the lead, vaulting past Ste. Genevieve by two points with one event still competing...

Kenneth Collins DONIPHAN -- Kenneth Neven Collins, 81, of Doniphan passed away Friday, June 5, 2015 at the Southeast Health Center of Ripley County in Doniphan. Mr. Collins, son of the late Hester and Velva (Ledbetter) Collins, was born July 1, 1933 in West Plains. Mr. Collins was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in the Korean Conflict. He enjoyed working on the farm, his cattle, fishing and traveling. Mr. Collins was a member of the Oak Grove Church of God...

Sarah Denkler, University of Missouri Horticulture Specialist, has been fielding questions from people asking about a common issue concerning pecans spiking in the past week. "Home gardeners and those with commercial orchards are both curious as to what have caused masses of lime green to brown bubbles or warts to grow on their pecan leaves," Denkler said...