Stories from Friday, April 22, 2016

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor DONIPHAN, Mo. -- A week after a Doniphan, Mo., man was arrested on suspicion of starting the fire that killed his wife and their toddler son, he faces no charges, and the investigation is ongoing. Michael Payne was arrested at about 4 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at the Ripley County Sheriff's Department on suspicion of first-degree arson by an investigator with the State Fire Marshal's Office...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer VAN BUREN, Mo. -- The Ozark National Scenic Riverways will host a community cleanup from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, covering many of the national park's most popular areas along the Current and Jacks Fork rivers...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff Greater Area Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Three Rivers College will host the 37th Annual Merchant Showcase from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Bess Activity Center. The event brings together the public and area merchants in a one-stop setting, giving shoppers access to the best of local business without the drive. In addition there will be a petting zoo for the kids, free giveaways, crafts and more...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Natural resource agencies hosted a special Earth Day celebration for area students on Wednesday at Lake Wappapello, providing demonstrations and workshops on a number of eco-friendly activities and topics. "It is important they can see hands-on what some of our people do in different agencies, like the Department of Conservation, Corps of Engineers and others, so they learn to take care of the environment, and keep us a place where everybody can live," said 4-H youth development specialist Stephanie Milner.. ...

Dustin Forrest and Jacquelyn Diane Hodges of Puxico have chosen the name, Ruby Jean Hodges, for their 7-pound, 12-ounce daughter born at 7:55 a.m., Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Ruby was 20 and 1/2 inches long...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN In the race for the Republican nomination, Donald Trump would seem to be in the catbird seat. He has won the most states, the most delegates and the most votes -- by nearly two million. He has brought out the largest crowds and posted a huge win in New York and appears set to duplicate that feat in Pennsylvania...

To the Editor: Thank you, thank you to the DAR for the coverage on our Neelyville prom. We were so happy with all the pictures. There is a young lady who worked extremely hard to make this a special night for her students. She's a Neelyville native who returned here a few years ago to teach. She wants the best for her hometown and school and works for that constantly...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- When President Obama arrives in Saudi Arabia, an incubator of the 9/11 attacks, he will leave behind a dispute about government secrecy. The suppression of 28 pages, first from a public congressional inquiry and then from the 2004 report by the national 9/11 Commission, has spared the Saudis embarrassment, which would be mild punishment for complicity in 2,977 murders. ...

To the Editor: The week of April 10 -- 16, 2016, had been set by Congress as National Public Safety Telecommunications Week to honor those emergency dispatchers that serve the public needs. I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to the businesses that donated items to be used to recognize those that work as Police and Fire Dispatchers for the City of Poplar Bluff. ...

Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) recently visited students at Van Buren, Mo., high school participating in the SIFMA Foundation's Capitol Hill Challenge program. The program is a national 14-week financial education competition that organizes teams of middle and high school students by congressional and senatorial district and teaches them about saving, investing and government...

Endres gets nursing honor Alexis Endres of Poplar Bluff, Mo., was one of two Arkansas State University students receiving awards from the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences when the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Arkansas State University recognized its most outstanding graduating students during its annual Convocation of Scholars honors program...

By ALEX WEST Puxico Press Mingo National Wildlife Refuge did some spring cleaning Saturday with the help of volunteers from the area. Sprucing up the Refuge and its Visitor's Center included bringing fresh ideas and hopes to draw more visitors to the 21,592 acres of bottomland and upland forests of the Mingo Basin and Mingo Wilderness Area...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor It's almost time for the Three Rivers Buglers chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's big game banquet and auction in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The local chapter's 18th annual event will take place May 7 at the Black River Coliseum...

WINONA, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) employs a variety of methods to help landowners promote wildlife habitat, including workshops where landowners and biologists meet and discuss options like cost-share opportunities and habitat management. ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Eleven Point River may not see the summertime crowds of its nearby neighbors in the Ozark National Scenic River system, but many outdoorsmen consider the stream to be the most pristine and truly wild in the state. Known for its "emerald" colored water - largely the result of limestone and other mineral deposits contained in the Eleven Point's vast aquifer - a 44-mile section of the river was one of the original eight in the National Wild and Scenic River system established in 1968 by President Lyndon B. ...

Three Rivers coach Jack Childress was quick to attribute five tools of a different kind to his latest softball signing. "There's something called effort. There's something called attitude. There's something called a good student and a loyal person, plus she is a great athlete," Childress said...

When Josh Norman moves to West Alabama next fall, he admits he is going to miss home. But it will be worth it. Norman is chasing something he's been yearning for since he could put on his own cowboy boots and hat, and that chase could have led him nowhere else...

Susan M. Arnold Susan M. Arnold, 69, of Poplar Bluff, formerly of Fruitland Park, Fla., passed away Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Mrs. Arnold, the daughter of the late William "Bill" and Mildred Dyer Brown, was born March 8, 1947 in Chicago, Ill. ...

Linda Arlene Steidinger FAIRBURY, Ill. -- Linda Arlene Steidinger, 68, of Fairbury died at 11:45 p.m. Friday at Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am Friday, April 22, 2016 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury with Pastor Corrine Blissard officiating. Inurnment will take place in Brenton Cemetery, Piper City. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 21, 2106 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury...

It could be the individual awards, the team championships or the relationships she's made along the way, but either way basketball just keeps getting better for Shelby Moon. The Neelyville senior got the ultimate joy as she signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her career at Mineral Area College...

There aren't many shots Makenzy Smith couldn't land in her high school career. Now Mineral Area College has landed one of the best players -- and jump shots -- the Ozark Foothills Conference has to offer. Smith verbally committed in late February and followed through when she signed her National Letter of Intent with the Lady Cardinals...

Troy Lee Harrison FISK, Mo. -- Troy Lee Harrison, 61, of Dudley, Mo. died Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at Westwood Hills Health Care. Mr. Harrison was born Nov. 24, 1954 at Blytheville, Ark. He had lived around Fisk most of his life. He attended Palace of Praise and also Thousand Hills Cowboy Church. ...

Dexter senior Melanie McKuin's most memorable moment of her high school basketball career is running offensive sets in clutch situations with teammate Dakota Reynolds. "There are always those big-time games when me and Dakota work best," McKuin said. "I dribble-penetrate and hit her for a 3, and it just goes in. That's one of the best things -- us working together and getting points for the team. That's my favorite thing."...

Wayne Aaron Dabbs FISK, Mo. -- Wayne Dabbs, 78, of Fisk passed away Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at the Westside Retirement Village in Indianapolis, Ind., surrounded by his family. He was born March 15, 1938, in Fisk to Lawrence and Christeen (Stucker) Dabbs. ...

John E. Sisk PUXICO, Mo. - John E. Sisk, 66, of Wappapello, Mo., died Wed., April 20, 2016 at his residence. Arrangements are pending with the Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico.

Lynn B. Carlton DEXTER, Mo. - Lynn B. Carlton, 73, of Dexter, died Tues., April 19, 2016 at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be today from 4 - 7 p.m. at the Lighthouse Christian Center in Dexter. The funeral will be at 10 a.m., Fri., April 22 at the Lighthouse Christian Center with Rev. Tim Russell officiating. Burial will follow in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery...

As if defending his title at his hometown tournament wasn't pressure enough, Carr Vernon heads into the 70th Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational this weekend knowing this will likely be his last. At least as a player. Vernon owes his friend Davis Caldwell seven years worth of carrying his bag...

By Paul Davis Outdoors Editor Looking over the harvest numbers early this morning, the fourth of Missouri's regular spring turkey season, it looks like hunters have managed to kill 11,653 birds to this point. Monday's opener saw pretty much ideal weather conditions, at least early, before the wind picked up in the late morning hours...