Stories from Thursday, August 25, 2016

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Farmers near Black River and its tributaries could see a loss this harvest season following mid-August floods that damaged several fields. Wendell Minson, a consultant with Bootheel Crop Consultation LLC, says a rough estimate is between 10,000 and 15,000 acres of damaged crops reported in Butler County alone...

By MARK BLISS SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Southeast Missouri State University began classes Monday with the highest student-retention rate in recent school history and a 10.6 percent increase in beginning freshman enrollment, school officials said...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer BROSELEY, Mo. - In a 5-2 vote Tuesday night, the Twin Rivers R-X Board of Education agreed to combine Fisk and Qulin middle school boys sports. Discussion came after concern regarding the low number of male athletic participants was reported from Fisk and Qulin coaching staffs...

James Mack Davis James Mack Davis, 73, of Wappapello died Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 at his residence. Visitation services were held Aug. 18, 2016 at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Wappapello.

Alfred "Al" Baker UNION, Mo. -- Alfred "Al" Baker, 84, of Union died Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 in Chesterfield, Mo. Services were held Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016 at Midlawn Funeral Home in Union, Mo. Pastor Tom Ison officiated. Burial followed at the Missouri State Veteran Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo...

Mary L. Tibbs LaFond Mary L. Tibbs LaFond, 85, of Wappapello died Friday, Aug. 19, 2016 at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Services were held Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016 at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. Pastor Arvin Haynes officiated. Burial followed in the Sparkman Cemetery in Butler County...

Morgan McGregor and Bryant Hawkins of Advance would like to announce the birth of their son, Arlo Christopher Hawkins, born 11:49 a.m. Aug. 11, 2016 at St. Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. He weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces and 19 1/2 inches long...

Renee Lynn and Jeremiah Gray of Wappapello, Mo. have chosen the name Kayla Marie Gray for their 8-pound, 9-ounce daughter born at 12:40 p.m., Monday, Aug. 1, 2016 at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Kayla was 20" long. Grandparents are Charles and Sharon Anderson of Neelyville and Chan and Regina Gray of Poplar Bluff...

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds deer and turkey hunters of regulation changes that apply to hunting this fall. Crossbows have been added as a legal method during archery deer and turkey seasons and also during the fall firearms turkey season. ...

If you'd like to brush up on your wingshooting skills ahead of the dove and teal seasons, the Puxico Pintails chapter of Ducks Unlimited will be hosting a skeet shoot on Saturday. Shooters are asked to bring their own shotgun and shells, chairs and beverages, and be on site by 2 p.m...

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is giving youth hunters a chance to learn all of the skills needed to try waterfowl hunting. The free clinic is scheduled for Oct. 1, beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Duck Creek Conservation Area (CA) on Highway 51 north of Puxico...

By STEPHEN MOORE I asked a successful businessman the other day what he thought about Donald Trump. He turned his thumb down. Wow. "Are you going to vote for Hillary?" I asked with trepidation. "Of course not," he replied, almost insulted by the question. "I understand the concept of a binary decision."...

By JONATHAN BERNSTEIN Bloomberg View Via Tribune News Service Will Hillary Clinton be a standard-order mainstream liberal Democrat if she is elected in November? That view received some supporting evidence this week with the announcement of the leadership group for her transition planning team...

A secret mission carried out using an unmarked cargo plane carrying piles of currency acquired from the central banks of the Netherlands and Switzerland. This sounds like a scene from a James Bond movie, but in fact this is an actual scene of a secret mission carried out under the Obama Administration. ...

The Agee Community Club met on Aug. 19 at The Bread Company. Nickey Orton was t hostess. Club president Cathy Womack opened the meeting with the ladies repeating the club motto, "When the heart is full of love the world is full of beauty." Jeanie Figgins offered the invocation. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer An ambulance capable of transporting as many as 10 people at once is part of the Stoddard County arsenal for responding to a major disaster. It was among the resources on display Monday for a mass casualty exercise that brought together local, state and federal officials to simulate the response to a 7.7 earthquake on the New Madrid Fault Line for a National Mass Care Exercise...

Man violates God's commands, blasphemes his holy name, rebels against his authority, dissipates the life of God has given him and spurns his love and grace--yet God continues to love him. That love is manifested in so many ways---in the sunshine and rain, the fertility of the soil, the vast store of natural resources in the bosom of the earth, in his patient forbearance with a sinful, often unloving people, and in the giving of his laws to lend us direction. ...

From Staff Reports Thursday, Sept. 29, a group of women from Stoddard, Wayne, Ripley and Butler counties will converge on the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff for the 29th annual Women Aware conference Committee members started planning after last year's event and are putting the finishing touches on this year's conference. ...

From Staff Reports Mark your calendar and plan to saddle up for the 28th annual Haven House Trail Ride Saturday, Sept. 24, at Ted and Cindy Evans' Farm. Riders may register at 8 a.m. and all rides leave promptly at 10 a.m., rain or shine. Haven House is the safe haven for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Stoddard, Butler, Wayne, Carter and Ripley counties...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer GREENVILLE, Mo. -- City leaders in Greenville have less than five days to decide on a tax measure for the November ballot as they try to raise money to pay more than two years of back taxes. The majority of citizens who attended a town meeting Thursday said they would support an increase to the city sales tax to pay off the debt, which aldermen have said could top $100,000...

By SARAH DENKLER Horticulture Specialist University Extension A vegetable garden can be a great source of fresh food for the family. Sometimes it can be intimidating to try this in the summer when weeds, insects and diseases are in full force. I encourage you to start a fall garden in a size of your choosing that can be an easier way to get acquainted with the fun of growing your own food...

Rickey Lee Hurt MANILA, Ark. -- Rickey Lee Hurt, 59, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. The family has requested a private disposition under the direction of Faith Funeral Service, Manila, Ark...

Daniel M. Jaco Daniel M. Jaco, 61, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, at his residence. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service.

NEELYVILLE -- There were more errors and walks than hits at times in a three-hour marathon a pair of Ozark Foothills Conference teams would like to forget. Doniphan and Neelyville showed their youth combining for 21 walks and seven errors in a messy game that saw the Dons finally capitalize late for a 10-7 season-opening win Tuesday...

Down a man for 35 minutes, the Mules managed to take the lead Tuesday night only to make it harder for themselves. Perryville scored twice with a two-man advantage as Isaac Ellsworth headed in a game-tying goal with 6 minutes, 16 seconds left in regulation and Cole Gerstenberger scored just before the 4-minute mark of overtime to beat Poplar Bluff 2-1 at Mules Stadium...

Robert Thomas Rowland Robert Thomas Rowland, age 17, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, August 23, 2016, at Children's Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Robert, son of David E. Rowland, and the late Diane Lynn Mansfield Rowland, was born December 4, 1998 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. ...

BLOOMFIELD -- Greenville doesn't see a lot of jump serves in practice. The Lady Bears are young this season. Several of the starters are sophomores who are new to the varsity level. In their season opener, the Lady Bears were greeted by Bloomfield. A team that does nothing but jump serve and returns five starters from last year's team that reached the quarterfinals...

Cecil Nelson Bounds ELLINGTON, Mo. - Cecil Nelson Bounds was born in Poplar Bluff, Mo., on July 7, 1961. He departed this life at his residence in Ellington on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016 at the age of 55. Cecil was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. ...

Shirley J. Thomas CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Shirley J. Thomas, 73, passed away Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016 in Carbondale. Born Nov. 23, 1942, in Qulin, to her parents Earl Leonard and Ada Keirsey. Shirley was raised in Qulin and moved to St. Louis, in her early twenties. She retained her Qulin childhood friendships throughout her life. She faithfully served as a member of the Bible Baptist Church in Maplewood. She enjoyed traveling and spending time with friends and family...

BERNIE -- Four Bernie Lady Mules combined for six aces as they improved to 2-0 on the season with a 25-13, 25-19 win over Sikeston on Tuesday night. Kayli Tanner and Taylor Lovelady each had two to lead the team. Mabree Stone led Bernie with seven kills. Tanner added five and Cymber Arnold got four. Tanner also had a trio of solo blocks and two block assists...

Hubert Williams MALDEN, Mo. -- James Hubert Williams, 80, of Malden, died Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, at Crowley Ridge Care Center of Dexter. Visitation will be at 6 p.m., Thursday, at Bradshaw Funeral Homes, Inc. in Malden. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday, at Bradshaw Chapel in Malden with Pastor George Nite...

LaVon M. Griffith WAPPEPELLO, Mo. -- LaVon M. Griffith, 82, of Wappapello, passed away Monday, Aug. 22, 2016 at her residence. Mrs. Griffith, the daughter of the late Alfred and Opal Vokes Busey, was born July 24, 1934 in Waterloo, Iowa. She was a homemaker. Mrs. Griffith enjoyed spending time with her family and crafting, collecting bears and robins, fishing and a love of pets...

Brydon Robert-Lee Wayne FISK, Mo. -- Brydon Robert-Lee Wayne, son of Dylan and Jasa Fiske Wayne, was born Sunday morning, Aug. 21, 2016 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis and died a short time later. He is also survived by one brother: Briar John Wayne of the home; grandparents: Bryan and Amanda Logan of Broseley and Danyeal Wayne of Fisk; great-grandparents: Wayne McNeal of Broseley, Wayne and Sandra Hendley of McDougal, Ark. ...

Faye J. Douglas Faye J. Douglas, a precious, dear, darling child of God, went to her life with her Savior Jesus Christ Monday, Aug. 22, 2016. She was born one of five children May 6, 1927 to Edna Martin and Thomas Richard Wells in Wickliffe, Ky. She is survived by her brother Thomas Richard Wells Jr. ...

Renee Lynn and Jeremiah Gray of Wappapello, Mo. have chosen the name Kayla Marie Gray for their 8-pound, 9-ounce daughter born at 12:40 p.m., Monday, Aug. 1, 2016 at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Kayla was 20" long. Grandparents are Charles and Sharon Anderson of Neelyville and Chan and Regina Gray of Poplar Bluff...