Stories from Friday, January 1, 2016

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A former Poplar Bluff, Mo., resident wants to raise $1.15 million to get a measure to legalize marijuana before Missouri voters in November. The majority of the money would help fund a signature drive, said John Payne, executive director of Show-Me Cannabis...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor SHANNON COUNTY, Mo. -- A tip by a sportsman checking on the level of the Current River while hiking near the Log Yard area in Shannon County Tuesday led Missouri conservation agents to the carcass of an adult male elk, which apparently had been poached...

From Staff Reports Fourth in a four-part series The year 2015 went out with a big splash. Heavy rains caused rare winter river flooding. A few motorists had to be rescued and Black and Current rivers rose to alarming levels, but overall the damage appeared to be minimal...

Social media and the facts Social Media has become the new "norm" for communicating. It has become the passage where people can voice their opinions and be "heard". During last week's heartbreaking news for the community everyone's true colors shined bright and bold. ...

During hard economic times, American families try to stretch their dollars. Food is a budget expense that can be reduced when money is tight. How can the family stretch their food budget and still feed their family members nutritious meals? Before going grocery shopping, figure out how much money you have for food, what foods you have on hand, and what is on sale. ...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia ran headlong into the leftist meat grinder by questioning whether college admission of blacks with academic achievement levels significantly lower than the rest of the student body is beneficial to blacks. ...

Dena Marie Starling Dena Marie Starling, 40, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Bismarck, Mo., passed away Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015 at her home. Dena was born July 8, 1975 in Poplar Bluff. She worked as a convenience store clerk and enjoyed fishing, football, camping, cats and dogs, but most of all being with her daughter, Amber...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- E.B. White reportedly said "the most beautiful sound in America" is "the tinkle of ice at twilight." In 2015's twilight, fortify yourself with something 90 proof as you remember this year in which: We learned that a dismal threshold has been passed. ...

To the Editor: THE CONFLICT: We are living in stressful times and changes in government policies are a matter of grave concern. When we the people seemly are forgotten. Fortunately we can still vote. A fight to save the country is up to the people. If the word fight alarms you, let's consider the closing days of the Apostle Paul who said, "I have fought a good fight. ...

Amalene Cumins CAMPBELL, Mo. - Mrs. Amalene Cumins, 95, of Van Buren, Mo., formerly of Campbell, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015, at Riverways Manor in Van Buren. Visitation will be at noon, Saturday, Jan. 2 at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m., in the Landess Funeral Chapel with Bro. Johnny Gibson officiating. Burial will in Woodlawn Landess Addition Cemetery in Campbell. Landess Funeral Home of Campbell is in charge of arrangements...

After winning one tournament title with ease and taking third in another to start the season 6-1, the Mules learned something about themselves the hard way in the 29th annual Poplar Bluff Showdown. The host finished without a win for just the sixth time following a 78-67 loss to Cordova (Tenn.) on Wednesday afternoon at Peters Gym...

Kenmore's first appearance in the Poplar Bluff Showdown was a memorable one for the Chicago team. The Broncos survived an overtime, beat the top-ranked team in Missouri and knocked off previously unbeaten Jonesboro (Ark.) 47-33 in the 29th championship game Wednesday night...

BLOOMFIELD -- After consecutive upset wins, Dexter's Cinderella run came to a screeching halt in a span of 3 minutes, 50 seconds. Clinging to a 4-point lead, the eighth-seeded Bearcats allowed No. 2 Kennett to score the first eight points of the fourth quarter as the Indians survived a thrilling 55-50 victory to capture the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament championship Wednesday night...

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- The Raiders' 32-point halftime lead vanished in a New York minute. Three Rivers College gave up their big advantage at the break and then a 16-point lead with 5 minutes left in regulation before losing 116-114 in overtime to Harcum (Pa.) on Wednesday...

BLOOMFIELD -- After suffering a second-round defeat as the tournament's top seed, Bloomfield took down district foe and No. 3 South Pemiscot 47-40 to finish its home tournament with fifth place Wednesday. Noah Vandiver, who was named to the all-tournament team, led the Wildcats with 18 points and helped trim a once 10-point deficit to just four at the half with seven points in the second quarter, despite their early struggles...

Edna Z. Ruble PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Edna Z. Ruble, 94, of Vulcan, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015 at Meadow Brook Residential Care in Pilot Knob, Mo. Visitation will be at 5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 1 at Vulcan Assembly of God Church. The funeral will be at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 2 at the Vulcan Assembly of God Church. Burial will be in the Sutton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Vulcan Assembly of God Church...

Vivian "Jackie" Reed PUXICO, Mo. - Vivian "Jackie" Reed, 89, formerly of Puxico, died Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, at Huntsville Health Care, Huntsville, Ala. Visitation will be at noon, Saturday, Jan. 2 with the funeral service following at 2 p.m. at the Morgan Sifford Funeral Chapel in Puxico. Burial will be in Puxico City Cemetery...

Mattie Jane Henson Mattie Jane Henson, 82, of Annapolis, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015, at her residence. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com

MEMPHIS -- What rust lingered through Christmas should be wiped out heading into the new year. The Lady Raiders, having not played in 27 days, swept their schedule at the Southwest Tennessee Classic with a 79-66 win over Lewis & Clark on Wednesday. Three Rivers also beat Wallace State 78-69 on Tuesday...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Butler County firefighters responded Wednesday to three more requests to rescue occupants of vehicles stranded in flood waters. An older man and a woman from Malden were stranded in deep water on County Road 320 off of Route UU southeast of Poplar Bluff at 11:20 a.m. Wednesday...