Stories from Friday, May 13, 2016

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Country music star Bryan White will make a special appearance in Puxico this June to help local students with a good cause. White, who boasts two gold and two platinum records as well as a number of single hits, will make an appearance at 7 p.m. Monday, June 6, at the Puxico School auditorium to help the district's Beta clubs get to the national convention...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff High School has named Jackson Rideout the valedictorian and Christian Cmehil-Warn the salutatorian of the Class of 2016. Both seniors hold a perfect grade-point-average and participate in a number of extracurricular activities...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man was sentenced to prison Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to stealing the truck he used to flee the area when he was wanted for allegedly assaulting another man who now has been missing for nearly a year...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center invites all fathers and grandfathers to celebrate Father's Day with their children at Father's Day Fishing: Pond to Plate. This free and fun event is Saturday, June 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m...

By CALEB PRYOR Mo. Dept. of Conservation Squirrel hunting has always been one of my favorite outdoor pastimes. As a young boy, I spent many a day in the squirrel woods with my old bolt-action .22. It also was a great way for my father and I to get to spend some time together...

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Eleven public meetings will be held throughout the state May 24 and May 26 to discuss chronic wasting disease and the regulations being proposed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in an effort to manage the disease. To date, 82 cases of CWD have been found in Arkansas deer and four more in elk. ...

By MONA CHAREN The greatest failures of the past generation concern men, women and sex -- and there could not be two more awful representatives of what has gone wrong than Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Hillary Clinton delights in presenting herself as a feminist icon -- but she is weighed down by the weaknesses of feminism and can boast few of the strengths. ...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Despite what seemed like a particularly tough season in places, Missouri's hunters managed to kill 44,187 birds during the 21-day spring turkey season, which ended Sunday afternoon. That total represents a tiny increase from last year's 43,911 birds and is the largest harvest since 2007, when 44,945 turkeys were taken. The record harvest came in 2004, when 56,882 birds were killed...

By STEPHEN MOORE On May 1, the government of Puerto Rico defaulted on some $400 million of bond repayments. This default has added urgency to a bill in Congress to rescue the island from its financial crisis, which is getting worse by the day. Puerto Rico faces more than $70 billion of debt, and the government is already in technical default on many of its bonds. Billions more come due in the weeks ahead, and the government is reportedly out of funds to repay...

Rev. J.R. Bruce PRINCETON, Ky. - Rev. J.R. Bruce, 97, long time resident of Princeton, Ky. died Tuesday, May 10, 2016 in Hendersonville, Tenn. where he had been living with his son and daughter-in-law. Visitation will be from noon - 2 p.m. Saturday, May 14 at Morgan's Funeral home in Princeton, Ky. ...

Dear Editor: Please allow me to thank the many people, businesses and organizations who made the exhibition, "Golden Legacy: Original Art from 65 Years of Golden Books," at Poplar Bluff Municipal Library possible. People gave their time, talent, and treasures over many months making this exhibit of original art from the Little Golden Books a success. ...

To the Editor: May 6, 2016, was JoAnne Ward's last day at the Twin Tower's Cafeteria. For 41 years she served some of the best and healthiest food available in Poplar Bluff. The residents will certainly miss her as well as those of us who just like to occasionally drop by for a good meal. She always had a smile and warm welcome for everyone! This wonderful woman will be missed by all who knew her and who had the good fortune of eating at the Towers...

Sarah Iler Sarah Iler, 26, of Poplar Bluff, died on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Services are pending and will be announced by Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor The Three Rivers Buglers chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and the community which supports it, continues to impress. More than 400 people turned out for the organization's 18th annual big game banquet Saturday at the Black River Coliseum, easily making it one of the largest such events annually held in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

Verdella McAllister PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Verdella McAllister, 91, of Piedmont, died Thursday, May 12, at the Hunter Acres Caring Center in Sikeston, Mo. Arrangements will be announced by Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel, Piedmont.

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Mules ended three years of frustration Wednesday. Poplar Bluff advanced to the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 championship tennis match for the first time by beating Oakville 5-0. The Tigers had ended Poplar Bluff's season in each of the last three years in the semifinal...

The future of football classification breaks in Missouri is changing. Among the several proposals passed by the Missouri State High School Activities Association at its annual election last week, members included the decision to allow football classification breaks to be made annually based on yearly enrollment data rather than every other year. A 173-135 vote ratified the by-law change, which will likely shake up the playoff and class scheme on a yearly basis...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Breanna Westrich and Megan Heisserer each had hat tricks for Notre Dame as the Poplar Bluff girls soccer team ended its regular season with a lopsided loss to the Bulldogs. Sophie Rowland scored the lone goal for the Lady Mules (9-12) on an assist from Destiny Wallace. Poplar Bluff goalie Shelby Sievers had 25 saves in the loss...

Ethel Mae Johnson I can hear my three angels singing to me and my prayers are getting answered and I know I'm going home. I have seen my last tomorrow. I have taken my last breath. My Father God in Heaven has sent me my three angels for the third time since 2002. ...

Winfred "Lee" Seals PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Winfred "Lee" Seals, 85, of Festus, Mo., died Monday, May 9, 2016, at Mari de Villa Retirement Center, Town and Country, Mo. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14, 2016, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont, Mo. Services will follow at noon also at the chapel. Burial will be at Duncan Cemetery near Piedmont...

Annual cleanup day will be from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Saturday, May 21, followed by the annual board meeting at 1 p.m. at the pavilion on the grounds. Assistance is welcome in removing old flowers and cleaning up grounds. Donations for upkeep welcome. Mail to Cochran Cemetery, P. ...

Caroline Leslie FISK, Mo. -- Caroline Leslie, 71, of Rombauer, Mo. died Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at her residence. Mrs. Leslie was born Aug. 5, 1944 in Oakland City, Ind., the daughter of the late John Albert and Millie Mae Jaynes. She was a homemaker and had formerly worked in Illinois as a CNA. On Sept. 9, 1965 she married William Edward Leslie. He preceded her in death on April 18, 1983...

James David Barton James David Barton, 66, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on May 10, 2016 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born on Nov. 5, 1949 to James and Minnie (Buchanan) Barton in Poplar Bluff, Mo. James worked as an independent car salesman...

Jimmie J. Lewis NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Jimmie J. Lewis, 82, of Poplar Bluff, died Saturday, May 7, 2016, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, at the Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville.

Donald "Don" Gary Parmer VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Donald "Don" Gary Parmer, 70, of Van Buren, died Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will begin for the public at noon, Friday, at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren, with the funeral services following at 2 p.m. in the Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bruce Tremaine officiating. Burial will be in Eastwood Cemetery...

Sandra L. Hall Sandra L. Hall, 72 of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at The Manor in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Hall was born Jan. 5, 1944 in Robinson, Ill., to the late Doyle and Marjorie Boyd Tracy. She was of the Baptist faith and was a homemaker...

Info meeting May 19 to form Options for Women An information meeting will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, May 19, at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce, 1111 W. Pine Blvd. to determine support for an "Options for Women Center" in Poplar Bluff...