Stories from Thursday, September 3, 2015

SEMO News Service BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Dexter, Missouri, man is being held without bond at the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department after being accused of making a terrorist threat at a local church. John Robert Wilkinson Jr., 24, of Dexter, said he intended to blow up First Baptist Church in Dexter on Aug. 26, according to a police report...

BY PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff Municipal Library throughout the month of September will celebrate the fundamental rights of U.S. citizens and the role libraries played in the development of American liberties. "Fundamental rights give everyone the freedom to do what they want without fear there will be recourse for their actions - being able to read, get a library card, read the constitution and enjoy those rights and vote," said Library Director Sue Crites-Szostak...

Lily Robertson and Ryan Tucker of Zalma would like to announce the birth of their daughter, Ava Emma Hope Tucker, born 5:02 a.m. August 12 at St. Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. She weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and 19 inches long...

Irene Hendrix PUXICO, MO - Irene Hendrix, daughter of the late William Barks and Bessie Steward Barks Ragland, was born in McGee, Missouri on Sept. 15, 1922, and passed away at the Puxico Nursing Center in Puxico, Missouri on Aug. 29, 2015, at the age of 92 years, 11 months and 14 days...

Shirley Jean Fortner Shirley Jean Fortner, daughter of the late William Vanscyoc and Emma Brown Vanscyoc was born in Puxico, Missouri on August 6, 1943, and departed this life at her home in Bernie, Missouri on August 24, 2015 at the age of 72. Mrs. Fortner was a homemaker and was of Baptist faith...

Mingo National Wildlife Refuge is now accepting applications for raccoon hunting on the refuge for the 2015 season. The raccoon hunts will take place through a random draw process in which parties will be issued a free Special Use Permit that outlines their hunt area and hunt dates. ...

The following individuals have made donations to the Stoddard County Children's Home, Inc. in Memory of in Honor of a loved one for the month of August: Deane Williams in Memory of Melvin "Churn" Williams Tom, Alice, Kevin & Gina Burris in Memory of Reba Sides...

Man is incurably religious-wherever he is found he has some kind of God (or god) that he worships is some manner. Could it be possible that we worship a lesser god than the eternal one, self-existing God who has revealed himself through his word and in his son?...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON SEMO News Service Miraculously, Puxico retired teachers Ray and Margaret Binford are on the road to recovery after falling nearly 300 feet while hiking Aug. 22 in Washington State and after being in separate hospitals for a week are now together in Richland, Wash...

By BRIAN ROSENER SEMO News Service POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Mike Berry's day started at Poplar Bluff Junior High School teaching his current students and ended at Peters Gym coaching against his former students. In his first year coaching the Puxico volleyball team, Berry's first match ended up being against the Mules...

Deckard reunion Sun. The descendents of Rollie Deckard will meet for their 63rd reunion Sunday at Hillview School. Doors open at 11 a.m. Lunch will be served at 1 p.m. Please bring a covered dish and drink of choice. All family and friends are welcome. For more information, call 785-1848...

By RAY BURSON It has been over a year since the 1890s era rural Plunk School was brought to the Pioneer Heritage Homestead in a joint effort by the Ripley County Historical Society and the Doniphan Neighborhood Assistance Program. The building has now been restored and is in the furnishing stage. This has been a true community project with over 70 donors helping defray more than $30,000 in expenses. It will be open to the public on Labor Day, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday...

The Missouri Depar-tment of Conservation (MDC) announces duck hunters will again have a 60-day season for 2015-2016 hunting. The Missouri Conservation Commission set upcoming Missouri waterfowl hunting seasons at a recent meeting. DUCK SEASONS North Zone: Oct. 31 - Dec. 29...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor United Country Birdsong Auction and Real Estate Group, which specializes in real estate, equipment, estate and personal property auctions throughout the United States, continues to expand. "This is our 25th year in business and we recently opened an office in Chama, N.M., called Northern New Mexico Real Estate that specializes in mountain properties, ranch land, cabins and homes in the West along with our auction division," said Travis Birdsong, broker-owner-auctioneer.. ...

Ellsinore arts & crafts festival Sat. Saturday the Pioneer Museum volunteers will be working at the Ellsinore Arts and Crafts Festival at the ball park in Ellsinore. The festival was first organized in 1976 by the Carter County Boosters Association. Come and enjoy the day...

Lourance reunion is Sept. 12 The Lourance Family Reunion will be held Saturday, Sept. 12, at Ray and Barb Gilton's campsite in Doniphan, Mo. Lunch will begin between noon and 12:30 p.m. Meat will be provided. Please bring a covered dish and your own drinks and ice...

County fair pageant Sept. 19 The Butler County Fair Pageant will be held Sept. 19 at the Black River Coliseum. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Registration forms are available at Super 8 Motel, Grand March and University of Missouri Extension office in Poplar Bluff, and The Bunny Patch in Dexter, Mo...

By GEORGE F. WILL SAN DIEGO -- Brittany Maynard was soon to die. The question was whether she could do so on her own terms, as a last act of autonomy. Dr. Lynette Cederquist, who regrets that Maynard had to move to Oregon in order to do so, is working with others to change California law to allow physician assistance in dying...

To the Editor: I have heard people say they wish Christmas was every day of the year. Sometimes, Christmas in July is promoted. Others, complain that the commercial aspect of Christmas starts too early. For all the people that like to have Christmas all year long, I know a place where every day is Christmas. ...

Jo King Michel MALDEN, Mo. -- Jo King Michel, 89, of Malden, Mo, died Monday, Aug. 31, 2015 at the Golden Living Center in Malden. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m.- noon Friday at the Landess Funeral Home chapel in Malden. Funeral services will follow at noon at the Landess Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Bill Jackson officiating. Burial will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor One of the most popular hunting seasons of the year opened Tuesday morning, and even though the shooting looks to be somewhat slow, there were decent numbers of people out looking for a chance to bag some doves. A quick trip through Stoddard County Tuesday morning showed several groups of hunters out, but little shooting...

By FRANK CAMPA Mo. Dept. of Conservation Most people are afraid of snakes. Exactly why is that? For the most part, people are generally afraid of anything they do not know much about. To the average person, snakes all look basically the same and they do not know harmless snakes from venomous ones...

Ernest Wayne Vest FISK, Mo. -- Ernest Wayne Vest, 34, of Kerrville, Texas, formerly of Naylor and Grandin, passed away Friday, Aug. 28, 2015 in San Antonio, Texas. He was born April 2, 1981 in McKinney, Texasto George Burton and Eloise (Williams) Vest...

Trailing 7-1 early in the second game, Poplar Bluff coach Amanda Lance didn't want to burn a timeout so early Tuesday night. "Sometimes I call a timeout and they get scared, they think 'oh, she thinks it's out of control,'" Lance said. Having already taken the first game against Jackson, Lance could afford to give her team some leeway...

Eddie Lee Gay DEXTER, Mo. -- Eddie Lee Gay, 85, of Bernie, Mo., died on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015, at the Golden Living Center in Malden, Mo. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday at the New Mt. Zion Missionary Church, 24481 State Highway D, Essex, Mo. with Pastor Leotis Aikens, Jr. officiating...

DONIPHAN -- It was exactly the sort of start the Doniphan volleyball team envisioned before stepping on its home court against a familiar foe Tuesday. Led by new coach Whitney Thompson, Doniphan won its third straight match against Twin Rivers by defeating the Lady Royals 25-13, 25-16 at the William L. Wright Gymnasium...

Rex A. Magee Rex A. Magee, 81, prominent businessman and owner of Magee Farm Equipment of Poplar Bluff passed away Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Rex, son of the late Johnny and Neeney (Rogers) Magee was born July 4, 1934 in Piggott, Ark. He joined the Church of Christ in Piggott at an early age. He attended the First Christian Church in Poplar Bluff and was an active member of the Men's Bible Class...

NEELYVILLE -- The Lady Mules' pitchers paired a dominant outing with a pair of home runs. Led by homers by Adrienne Stucker and Shelby Sievers, Poplar Bluff took advantage of Neelyville's mistakes to build a comfortable, early lead, and eventually won 10-1 Tuesday at Neelyville...

A Campbell man has claimed his half of a recent $1.1 million Missouri Lottery jackpot. There were two winning tickets sold for the Aug. 15 Missouri Lotto drawing. Each winner will get half of the jackpot amount $550,000. The first half already has been claimed by a Bonne Terre man. The second now has been claimed by Bill Depew of Campbell. Depew bought his winning ticket at R&P Service, Highway 84, in Hayti...

BROSELEY -- Ethan Yount had three hits and threw a complete game, and Lucas Moe hit a grand slam to lead Doniphan in a 7-2 win over Twin Rivers on Tuesday. Yount struck out nine and gave up five hits in his first win this season. Doniphan (2-3) and Twin Rivers (1-4) remained tied after three innings before the Dons scored a run in each of the next two innings...

Mole Hill Cemetery supper Sat. Mole Hill Cemetery Association annual supper will start at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the Twin Rivers High School Cafeteria, Broseley. The all-you-can eat complete meal will include drink and dessert and will cost $8 for adults and $4 for children under 6 and younger...