Stories from Thursday, July 2, 2015

From staff and wire reports Hazy skies across Missouri and other states in the Midwest are being blamed on smoke moving across the area from forest fires in Canada. Smoke from wildfires burning in Canada's Alberta and Saskatchewan provinces has traveled as far as 1,600 miles south, weather officials have said, pushed by a jet stream dipping into the United States...

By SAMANTHA RINEHART SEMO News Service Attorneys general from more than a dozen states, including Missouri, have come together to challenge a new federal rule regarding clean water regulations. Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced Monday his decision to join in a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over the agencies' rule defining "waters of the United States."...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The National Weather Service at Paducah, Ky., has issued a flash flood watch for Southeast Missouri from 7 tonight until 7 p.m. Thursday. Meteorologists are predicting rains in excess of three inches, but locally higher amounts up to five inches are a possibility...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The 239th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the creation of the United States of America will be celebrated in Poplar Bluff with bull riding, 5K run, parade and fireworks over the Fourth of July weekend...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Former Carter County sheriff Tommy Adams made his first court appearance in nearly two years Tuesday afternoon. Adams, 35, of Ellsinore appeared before Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett in Butler County for arraignment on the Class C felony of second-degree burglary, the Class B felony of first-degree burglary and three Class C felonies of second-degree arson...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff R-I was recently gifted a valuable link to the school's history with the donation of a pristine 1928 yearbook. Joanne Emmons of Tulsa, Okla. donated "The 1928 Bluff" to the district last week along with a letter stating the book belonged to her mother who died in 2012...

Who ranked PB no. 39? I was just reading today's paper "Best Towns to Raise a Family In," Poplar Bluff come in 39th out of 50? I can't believe the people that wrote that were either bought by Mr. Kaplan's people from Texas, you know when he was here because Poplar Bluff used to be a good town and I would say the number one place to live in when I was growing up, but here lately with all the drugs, crime and everything else that's going on and kids getting killed, overdoses and everything else, I don't buy that. ...

Four Southeast Missouri residents were among those who graduated Friday from the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Law Enforcement Academy in Jefferson City. Marcus L. Schlief of Doniphan, David W. Welker and Derek W. Walker, both of Cape Girardeau, and Emily M. Westmoreland of Perryville were among the 32 who graduated as members of the patrol's 100th recruit class. The ceremony was held at Rackers Field House at Helias High School...

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt's staff will host a Mobile Office from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. Mobile Offices are opportunities for Missourians to discuss their questions or concerns with the federal government one-on-one with members of Senator Blunt's staff...

By MONA CHAREN They're coming for our money. OK, that's nothing new, but this time, the Obama administration is coming for our $10 bills -- the notes graced by the image of Alexander Hamilton. True to the identity politics of the Democratic Party, the Obama Treasury Department has announced that some worthy female will replace Hamilton on the currency...

Dr. Eugene T. Hansbrough Dr. Eugene T. Hansbrough, 90, a prominent medical doctor and surgeon of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, June 28, 2015, at his residence. The visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel...

Mike Pender Mike Pender, 60, of Doniphan, died Tuesday, June 30, 2015, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Funeral arrangements are pending with Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan and will be announced upon completion.

Michael Tate Michael Tate, 65, of Poplar Bluff, died on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending with Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

By JOHN PRATT Mo. Dept. of Conservation During the summer, there are a number of things that can cause you to be uncomfortable in the outdoors. Among them are plants that can make us miserable. Today, we are going to examine one type of vegetation that many of us are familiar with...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor At 5 feet, 1 inch tall, soon-to-be Poplar Bluff High School sophomore Hannah Cash doesn't really project an intimidating appearance. Put her on a trap shooting field with her trusty Browning shotgun, though, and the situation suddenly changes...

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- SFC (Ret) Darrell "Deno" Meadows, 65, of Waverly Hall, Ga., formerly of Dexter, died on Monday, June 29, 2015, at St. Francis Hospital. He was born Oct. 10, 1949. The visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Striffler-Hamby Funeral Home in Columbus...

By CANDICE DAVIS Mo. Dept. of Conservation CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Twenty-two girls from across southeast Missouri took part in the Missouri Department of Conservation's (MDC) Discover Nature Girls Camp this week at Camp SEMO at Wappapello Lake. According to the camp organizer, Conservation Agent Christa Cox, the camp was a free, three-day, two-night experience aimed at introducing girls ages 11 to 15 to outdoor skills in a supportive, learning environment...

Lorie Ann Dock (Davis) Lorie Ann Dock (Davis), 53, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, June 30, 2015. Visitation will begin at noon Friday at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral in Poplar Bluff, followed by the funeral service at 1 p.m. Burial will be in the Puxico City Cemetery...

Callie Stanhouse was happy, but not satisfied with her seventh-place finish in goat tying at the College National Finals. The Three Rivers sophomore rodeo team member, who still has one more year of eligibility, put together four runs of 7.1 seconds or better. Her 7.1 time in the Short Go was good for seventh in the nation...

photo of Deana Carter Singer-songwriter Deana Carter will be hitting the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22 in Campbell as part of The Missouri Peach Fair and tickets are on sale now. Carter came to fame through her international debut album, "Did I Shave My Legs For This?" featuring her hit Strawberry Wine. ...

Gladys Alberta Johnson Gladys Alberta Johnson, 88, of Poplar Bluff, died Friday, June 19, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born July 17, 1926 at Broseley. She was one of Jehovah's Witnesses and enjoyed painting and spending time with her family. She was married to James Elbert Johnson. He preceded her in death on July 3, 2003. She was also preceded in death by her parents: Andrew Jackson and Ruby Loretta (Talley) Whittington; and one son: Ronald Lee McDonald...

At her new school, Anna Vogt will once again be allowed to wear her beloved Cardinals cap. The issue at Coastal Carolina, ultimately, was that the mature-beyond-her-years Vogt did not appreciate being treated and coached like a kid. The Chanticleers weren't allowed to wear socks with sandals, weren't allowed to wear baseball caps...