Stories from Monday, October 10, 2016

Bradley Dees visited 34 countries during 11 years of service to the United States, first with the Marines and then with the Army. He served two tours in Iraq and another in Afghanistan, following in the footsteps of his father, who was also a veteran...

By JOHN R. STANARD After his mother died before he had turned 4, he was sent alone by train across the country to live for a year with an aunt he didn't know. Beginning at age 10, his new step-mother periodically banished him from the family home. And, when he was 15, his family moved away and left him behind to fend for himself...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer In an effort to educate area students about careers in manufacturing, the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce teamed with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and local manufacturers to present Manufacturing Day on Friday...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Fellowship of Christian Athletes will at 7 p.m. on Wednesday bring together hundreds of area young people of all denominations during its annual Fields of Faith event at Poplar Bluff High School. The event, now in its eighth year, is hosted by the Southeast Missouri Chapter of the FCA and features upbeat Christian Rock, personal stories of how the narrator came to find Christ, readings from the Scriptures, group prayer "huddles" and more...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer WAYNE COUNTY, Mo. -- Officials in Wayne County say they are investigating two suspicious deaths following a fire early Saturday morning on County Road 524 in the Wappapello area. Autopsies will be performed Monday on the bodies of a man and a woman who were found dead inside a camper located in a rural area off Highway D, about 15 miles from Greenville, said Sheriff Dean Finch...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff Public Schools is inviting the community to ribbon cuttings and tours this week at the two new campuses that opened in September. The events will feature dedication ceremonies and tours of the new high school and middle school. Finance superintendent Rod Priest says the district wanted to showcase to all the members of the community the impressive new facilities...

The children of Charles and Ethel Mays of Naylor extended their congratulations on their 50th Golden Wedding Anniversary, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016. The Mays were married in Alton, Mo., Oct. 1, 1966. The couple has three children: Kitty Anglin of Sikeston, Kathy Henson of Arkansas, and Charlie Mays, Jr., of Doniphan; eight grandchildren, one great-grandchild, with another great-grandchild expected in April 2017...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Denouncing Russian air strikes on Aleppo as "barbaric," Mike Pence declared in Tuesday's debate: "The provocations by Russia need to be met with American strength. ... The United States of America should be prepared to use military force, to strike military targets of Bashar Assad regime."...

Alice Landis Alice Landis, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

By JIM DeMINT The Heritage Foundation Back in 2010, Obamacare was like the Titanic heading off on her maiden voyage. Critics warned people not to hop aboard, that disaster was inevitable. But the president, his allies in Congress and lots of big insurance companies assured everyone that, even though they couldn't see the blueprints, they had, in fact, designed an unsinkable ship of government-run health care...

Billy Jean Shacklee WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. -- Billy Jean Shacklee, 82, of Williamsville, Mo., died Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, at his residence. Visitation will be held from 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Williamsville. Services will follow at 4 p.m. at the chapel. Full Military Honors will follow at the funeral home after services. Burial will follow at a later date at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery, Bloomfield, Mo...

Devona Harmon PUXICO, Mo. -- Devona Harmon, 91, of Puxico died Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Duck Creek Cemetery near Puxico. Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Puxico is in charge of arrangements...

Jo Ann Fowler MALDEN, Mo. -- Jo Ann Fowler, 57, of Gideon, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, at her residence. Visitation will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Bradshaw Funeral Home of Malden, followed by funeral services at noon. Burial will be in Rosewood Cemetery in Malden...

Don Depriest WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. -- Don Depriest, 85, of Walnut Ridge, passed away Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born April 17, 1931 to Eli Jackson and Hazel Elizabeth Kell Depriest in Black Rock. ...

Douglas Elliott FISK, Mo. -- Douglas Lee Elliott, 74, of Malden, Mo., died Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Elliott was born June 13, 1942, in Fisk, Mo. He formerly worked at Pepsi Cola Bottling Company in Malden. He later worked at SRG Global in Portageville and retired June 30, 2015. He was formerly married to Elois Peck...

James Green CHESTER, Md. -- Former Air Force First Lieutenant James Louis Green, 75, of Queenstown, Md., died Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home in Chester, with a service immediately following. Burial will be heldat St. Peter's Cemetery in Queenstown immediately following the service...

Tommie Rebstock A Southeast Missouri philosopher once said that the signature of a lady is one that makes all she meets feel comfortable and accepted. That would definitely describe Tommie Lou Rebstock, who passed into the arms of our Lord on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 11:45 p.m. at her home in Poplar Bluff, Mo., at the age of 77 due to complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease...

The Patrons of the Arts Society continues its 2016-2017 season with "Suthyrn Fryd Frynds," a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band out of Branson, at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center in Poplar Bluff. Direct from the Tribute Theater in Branson, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Suthyrn Fryd Frynds is a tribute show highlighting the patriarchs of Southern Rock music. ...

HILLSBORO, Mo. -- Jaishud Moore made a touchdown-saving tackle just before halftime after intercepting a pass in the end zone and forcing a fumble Friday night. Poplar Bluff's defense also made a stop in the red zone to overcome a sloppy start on the road. The Mules, who lost a pair of fumbles in the first six minutes, took care of the ball and state-ranked Hillsboro after that for a 43-28 win...

PUXICO -- Early in the season, Dexter was told a parable about carrying buckets of water to a water tower. Sometimes, you carry your bucket, and sometimes you need to carry more. Boiled down, the message was to help your teammates when they need it...

Greenville's dominance in the Ozark Foothills Conference only hit a minor speed bump. After their streak of 22 straight conference wins was snapped in last week's regular season finale, vindication for the Bears only had to wait seven days. But it didn't come easy in the tournament championship...

ALTON, Mo. -- An East Carter offense that averaged nearly 18 runs a game fell flat in their biggest test of the season. The top-seeded Lady Redbirds managed six hits, including Maddyson Holloway's 2 for 3 day at the plate, but were shut down in a 6-0 loss to No. 2 Willow Springs in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 2 championship Friday...

KENNETT, Mo. -- The Kennett Indians remained within striking distance for 24 minutes, but came up short in their bid to knock off Malden Friday night. Kennett trailed by just one touchdown at halftime before the Green Wave rattled off 16 unanswered points in the third quarter and rolled to a 38-15 win...

After their biggest letdown of the season, the Twin Rivers Royals got a strong performance from Baylen Teague on the mound and at the plate. The senior struck out 10 and drove in five runs as the second-seeded Royals won 11-1 over No. 5 Naylor in the Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament third-place game Friday afternoon at Roger Pattillo Field...

HAYTI, Mo. -- Just two weeks ago, Hayti watched victory slip away as a pass into the end zone sailed just out of reach of their receiver in the final minute against Malden. The roles were reversed Friday night while Hayti watched as a Caruthersville pass went just over a leaping receiver in the end zone with 27 seconds remaining, securing a 40-33 Indians win...

PUXICO -- The Wildcats warmed up and saw on the other side of the net a team that had beaten them twice this season. A rival they wanted to beat, and it didn't matter that it was the third-place game of the Stoddard County Activities Association Tournament...

DEXTER -- Undefeated and state-ranked, Park Hills Central is a team few schools want to encounter this late in the season as the Rebels look to build momentum heading into the postseason. Dexter was the most recent recipient of Park Hills' wrath, losing 45-7 on Friday in the Bearcats final home game of the season...