Stories from Friday, December 11, 2015

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer The Palace of Praise will present its annual Christmas program, "Sounds of Christmas," beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday. Doors open at 6 p.m. The play will run through Wednesday. Beginning Monday and continuing through Wednesday, a dinner will be served prior to the 7 p.m. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The procedures used to track and document operations by Butler County officials are well managed, according to a state audit released this week. Butler County received a rating of "good" on the audit, perhaps for the first time, according to county clerk Tonyi Deffendall. Previous audits of this type had rated the county as "fair," indicating improvement was needed in several areas...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A new rank and promotion plan for Three Rivers College instructors was proposed by President Dr. Wesley Payne during the regular Board of Trustee meeting Wednesday. The TRC Board approved the plan and a $1,000 one-time payment to faculty members for achievement of rank after the initial setting of rank. The vote was 5-0. Darren Garrison was absent...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The late Wilbur Thornton, who was the "Voice of the Raiders" for 24 years and a trustee for six years, was remembered during the Three Rivers College Board meeting Wednesday. "You would be hard pressed to find a more dedicated board member," chairman Ben Ressel said. "He loved this college and did more free labor for the college than anyone."...

By MONA CHAREN In the aftermath of Paris and before San Bernardino, Hillary Clinton articulated the forced catechism of the left: "Let's be clear: Islam is not our adversary. Muslims are peaceful and tolerant people and have nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism."...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS Most college students do not belong in college. I am not by myself in this assessment. Washington Post columnist Robert Samuelson said, "It's time to drop the college-for-all crusade," adding that "the college-for-all crusade has outlived its usefulness." Richard Vedder, professor emeritus of economics at Ohio University, reports that "the U.S. ...

To the Editor, As the holiday season fast approaches it brings back memories of times past as most of you too have many memories of maybe your childhood, growing up spending time with your loved ones on a day where all Christians celebrate as the day our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ was born because...I can...

Do you remember any holiday disasters in years past? I certainly can. Once I started a fire in the oven when the browning bag on the turkey touched the heating element! Fires, late guests, dropped foods, and cancelled guests are just part of life. When guests have emergencies and the meal must be delayed or cancelled, food must be handled "just right" to remain safe...

Wilma VanDover NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Wilma Pauline Lampp VanDover, 97. of Harviell, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, at Westwood Hills Healthcare in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mrs. VanDover was born May 21, 1918 at Fairdealing, Mo., to the late Omar and Lilly Lampp...

Virgie Harper MALDEN, Mo. -- Virgie Earlene Harper, 82 of Arnold, Mo. died Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, at Mercy Jefferson of Crystal City, Mo. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Friday at Bradshaw Funeral Home Chapel in Malden. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Mt. Gilead Cemetery in Clarkton...

Boxing Days recycling effort returns The Ozark Foothills Recycling Center & Walmart are partnering to bring Boxing Days back to Poplar Bluff. A cardboard collection trailer will be parked at Walmart between Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015 through Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, for the Christmas carboard collections, which include cardboard, gift boxes, etc...

Peggy Jean Denny PUXICO, Mo.--Peggy Jean Denny of Puxico, 87, of Puxico, passed away Monday, Dec. 7, 2015 at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was the daughter of the late Gene and Ina Loyd DeShaw, and was born in Cape Girardeau, Nov. 7, 1928. On April 26, 1946, she was married to David Oliver April 26, 1946. He preceded her in death June 21, 1953...

Herbert "Bud" Hash Herbert "Bud" Hash, 78, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center from complications due to heart surgery. He was born on June 9, 1937 to Herbert and Emma (Martin) Hash at Piney River, Va. ...

The Neelyville Lady Tigers' roster makeup hasn't changed much since they won every regular-season tournament they played a season ago. Fresh off their sixth consecutive Lady Dawg Classic championship, the Lady Tigers are already getting the respect they deserve this year...

Jerry Wayne Henderson Jerry Wayne Henderson, 72, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Jerry, the son of the late Roy and Verna C, (Hill) Henderson, was born Nov. 7, 1943 in Bakersfield, Calif., and was raised on Current River in Doniphan, Mo. ...

Those who believe you can't go back in time have never met Franklin "Brownie" Smith. A short conversation with the legendary Van Buren coach and some of the best Bulldogs to ever grace the court brings out a lifetime of stories and opens a portal to the past...

Helen Diane Dunbar Helen Diane Dunbar, 68, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015 at her residence. She was born Sept. 12, 1947 to Basil and Mary (Marshall) Hill in Blytheville, Ark. Helen worked at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center South and North Campus for 15 years. She enjoyed TV shows, cooking, gardening, flowers, and taking pictures. Most of all she loved spending time with family, especially her grandchildren...

Nancy Goans DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Nancy Jane Goans, 72, of Doniphan departed this life Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, at Regional One Health in Memphis, Tenn. Mrs. Goans, daughter of the late Esco and Vera (Carr) Loyd, was born Nov. 18, 1943, in Pocatella, Idaho. She was a homemaker and enjoyed gardening (especially flower beds), quilting, painting and being with her family. Mrs. Goans was active at the Doniphan Nutrition Center and attended Pocahontas First Freewill Baptist Church in Pocahontas, Ark...

Betty Inman Betty Jean Inman of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015 at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Betty was born on June 5, 1933, in Butler County, to Clyde Andrew and Eunice Myra (Rowland) Inman, who both preceded her in death...

Carol Jean Newsom MALDEN, Mo. -- Carol Jean Newsom, 69, of Gideon, Mo. died Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, at the Gideon Care Center. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Friday at Bradshaw Funeral Home Chapel in Malden. The funeral will be at 3 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton...

Caden Jamal "Bug" McComb NEELYVILLE, Mo.--Caden Jamal "Bug" McComb, 21, of Paragould, Ark., departed this life Monday, Dec. 7, 2015 in Paragould. Mr. McComb was born Sept. 26, 1994, to Percy Law, Sr. and Brenda McComb. Both survive. Also surviving are a son: Jayden McComb, two sisters: Holly Johnson, and husband James, of Marked Tree, Ark. ...

Martha M. Reaves MALDEN, Mo. -- Martha M. Reaves, 98, of Lebanon, Tenn. died Friday, Dec. 4, 2015, at Skyline Madison Alive Hospice in Nashville, Tenn. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bradshaw Funeral Home Chapel in Malden. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Memorial Park in Malden...

Wilma Van Dover --Harviell, Mo. Peggy Denny -- Puxico, Mo. Caden Jamal McComb -- Paragould, Ark. Herbert "Bud" Hash -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Helen Diane Dunbar -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Jerry Wayne Henderson -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Virgie Earlene Harper -- Arnold, Mo...