Stories from Thursday, October 27, 2016

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer Choosing an opinion on ballot issues can be a daunting task. Standing in the voting booth, reading and rereading each issue and trying to formulate the correct "yes" or "no" response. Often, the wording is confusing. Sometimes no means yes, yes means no and the only thing making sense is to quickly choose an answer and submit the ballot to get out of a surprisingly stressful situation...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Butler County officials say one question raised in the current presidential election is easily answered -- ballot boxes here can't be hacked because they never go online. Both voting machines and the computer that tabulates votes are never connected to the internet, said county clerk Tonyi Deffendall...

By CODY TUCKER SEMO News Service The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has executed federal search warrants at several locations in Southeast Missouri, including Cape Girardeau County, as part of an investigation into alleged misuse of herbicides containing dicamba, according to a news release...

BROSELEY, Mo.- Financing options themed last night's Twin Rivers R-X Board of Education meeting. St. Louis-based financial management firm, L.J. Hart & Co., presented lease-purchase financing options for completion of the district-wide renovations currently underway...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer More than six weeks after passage of the Sept. 2 construction deadline for Poplar Bluff Middle School, parts of the facility remain incomplete. School leaders plan a closed meeting with Ittner Architects on Thursday to discuss several unfinished projects...

By BRIDGET BROWN SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Southeast Missouri doctor is taking advantage of stem-cell technology to treat his patients' wounds and getting results faster than any treatment he's used in the past. Last year, Dr. Hugh Protzel of Foot and Ankle Centers of Southeast Missouri began offering a product called Grafix to his patients, which is essentially cryopreserved human placental tissue...

Because of what came later -- Donald Trump's refusal to say whether he'd accept the results of the election -- Hillary Clinton's similar, if somewhat less incendiary, remark about our system's legitimacy went nearly unnoticed. Right out of the box, responding to a query from Chris Wallace about the Supreme Court (and let me add my voice to the general hosannas for his mature and professional conduct), Clinton implied that a Supreme Court decision she disliked, Citizens United v. ...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- The case against Hillary Clinton could have been written before the recent WikiLeaks and FBI disclosures. But these documents do provide hard textual backup. The most sensational disclosure was the proposed deal between the State Department and the FBI in which the FBI would declassify a Hillary Clinton email and State would give the FBI more slots in overseas stations. ...

Do you wonder why Sen. Bernie Sanders and his ideas are so popular among American college students? The answer is that they, like so many other young people who think they know it all, are really uninformed and ignorant. You say, "Williams, how dare you say that?! We've mortgaged our home to send our children to college." Let's start with the 2006 geographic literacy survey of youngsters between 18 and 24 years of age by National Geographic and Roper Public Affairs...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Pressed by moderator Chris Wallace as to whether he would accept defeat should Hillary Clinton win the election, Donald Trump replied, "I will tell you at the time. I'll keep you in suspense." "That's horrifying," said Clinton, setting off a chain reaction on the post-debate panels with talking heads falling all over one another in purple-faced anger, outrage and disbelief...

To the Editor: Some might wonder why so much controversy surrounds proposed Constitutional Amendment 3 - it's only after one cuts through the sound bites and ads laden with adorable kids that the true deception of this Trojan horse tax scheme is revealed...

Qulin Middle School Honor and Merit Roll for 1st Quarter Fifth Grade Savanah Herren Hailey Lucas Anne Mittelstadt Brett Robards Simon Siebert Zoe Stratton Sixth Grade Sidney Bates Kaydence Bequette Jasmine Byrd Jagger Crismon Caitlyn Deken Emma Head...

JACKSON, Mo. --Josh Scholl made sure there would be no three-goal comeback this time by the Poplar Bluff Mules. The Jackson senior assisted on a pair of first-half goals and scored early in the second half before Desmond Morris netted his second of the night two minutes later to beat the Mules 5-1 in the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 semifinal...

By MIKE MCCOY SEMO News Service BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission decided to meet with the circuit judges, prosecutor and sheriff to discuss ways to reduce the number of inmates in the Stoddard County Jail before passing any restrictions on housing prisoners out of the county. The commission discussed the strain on the budget and possible solutions at its regular meeting Oct. 17...

The Fourth Annual Black River Heritage Artisans Fall Fest will be held 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Poplar Bluff Historic Train Depot at 400 S. Main St. in Poplar Bluff. Free admission. There will be a 50/50 raffle, Door Prizes, Games, Bounce House, Cake Walk, Silent Auction, Art Show , Craft Corner and Pie Eating Contest at 10 a.m., Pumpkin Decorating Contest, Third Annual Grilled Cheese Cook-Off at 10:30 a.m., T-Shirt Decorating Contest and Children's Costume Contest at 3 p.m. ...

By TIARA McCLURE Boy Scout Pack 4370 traveled to Camp Lewallen for the Boy and Cub Scout annual camporee, which took place on Friday, Oct. 14, and Saturday, Oct. 15. Den leader Brad Watkins reports there were an estimated 300 Cub Scouts, 150 Boy Scouts, and their parents and sponsors at the camp, which is located about 15 minutes north of Greenville. The theme of this years camp was "Fear is No Factor", and the boys and sponsors participated in many themed games and events...

Elsa Lee Boeving Elsa Lee Boeving, cherished daughter of the late William F. and Cecile Priest, adored wife of Leo Boeving and loving mother to Hugh, Debra and Robert, rose from the menacing grip of Alzheimer's on Oct. 15, 2016. She would have celebrated her 95th birthday next month...

Steven Whitaker Steven Whitaker of Wappapello, Mo., died Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 at his residence. Arrangements are currently pending with Ruegg Funeral Homes, Inc. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhome.com

Steven Dale Whitaker PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Steven Dale Whitaker, 45, of Wappapello, Mo., passed away Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 at his residence. He was born April 20, 1971, to Jackie D. Whitaker and Deanna J. (Palmer) Whitaker, in St. Louis County. He is preceded in death by his father, and three brothers, Michael Palmer, Johnny Whitaker and Ronnie Palmer...

Jack D. Lack Jack D. Lack, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday Oct. 25, 2016 at his residence. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

By MIKE MCCOY SEMO News Service BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Work got underway recently to install security features in the Stoddard County Justice Center. Improvements include a security desk at the entrance with a walk-though detector for members of the public entering the building, new transaction windows and the addition of video cameras. Architect Dale Rogers updated the Stoddard County Commission on the security project at their meeting last week...

Paisley Rose Wyatt BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Paisley Rose Wyatt, 2-day-old daughter of Martin and Rashena Parker Wyatt, died at the Children's Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield. ...

Marilyn Miller MALDEN, Mo. -- Marilyn Miller, 82, of Malden, Mo., died Monday at her residence. Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Landess Funeral Home in Malden followed by the funeral at 1 p.m. in Landess Funeral Chapel. Burial will be at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloodfield...

Afghanistan government military and police forces trained and equipped by the United States are finding themselves increasingly challenged by the Taliban outside the capital, Kabul. The Obama administration's theory in Afghanistan and Iraq is that their militaries' forces can be strengthened to the point that U.S. forces can be withdrawn without their governments being overrun by their enemies. In the case of Afghanistan, it's the Taliban; in Iraq, the Islamic State...

That is one of the most foolish questions that anyone could ask. Ask the great Apostle Paul, who wrote 13 or 14 books of the New Testament, and he will tell you that "In Him we live and move and have our being." Acts 17:28. He said that to some intellectual Greeks in Athens. ...

Wilmer "Bub" Stroup NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Wilmer "Bub" Stroup, 62, of Puxico, passed away, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2016 at his residence. He was born Oct. 18, 1954 in Poplar Bluff, to the late William Stroup and Freda Lois Wiseman Stroup. He was married to Juanita Hart, March 30 1973, at Kinder. She survives...

The tune-up games are done. Three Rivers went 5-1-1 combined between its final two jamborees over the weekend. It swept Evangel and split with Freed-Hardeman at the Three Rivers Jamboree Saturday, then beat Lake Land and Olney Central while losing to Shawnee at the Midwest Jamboree on Sunday in Carbondale, Ill...

By TIARA McCLURE Rusty Parker was named the new Puxico Fire Chief at the Puxico Board of Aldermen meeting Thursday, Oct. 20 at the Puxico City Hall A large number of the currently serving fire department members were present at the meeting, and were all spoken to during a private closed session. After this closed session it was announced current Fire Chief Daniel Dew had resigned and Parker had been named as new fire chief, effective immediately...

Norman J. Yates Norman J. Yates, 94, passed away Monday, Oct. 24, 2016 at his home in Piedmont. He was born Oct. 9, 1922 at Mill Spring, Mo., the son of Clarence and Anna (Scheybal) Yates. Norman was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. He farmed near Mill Spring and served as Postmaster at Mill Spring for over 32 years. He was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Piedmont...

Jack Dempsey Lack Jack Dempsey Lack. 76, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016 at his residence. Jack, the son of the late Sam and Mable Austin Lack, was born Nov. 3, 1939 in Savannah, Tenn. He proudly served his country while in the National Guard. Jack was of the Baptist faith and had retired as a mechanical engineer. He enjoyed spending time with his family, bowling, golfing and fishing...

Essie Eileen Middleton PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Essie Eileen Middleton, 85, of Piedmont, died Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016 at Clark's Mountain Nursing Home. Arrangements are currently pending with Ruegg Funeral Homes, Inc. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

Amanda Kenser Amanda Kenser, 28 of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Services will be Friday, Oct. 28, at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

Maria Galdina Montoya Esquivel, 73, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Mexico, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mrs. Esquivel, the daughter of the late Gregorio and Cayetana Avila Montoya, was born Feb. ...

Thaine Joseph Julian ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Thaine "Thainer Dainer" Joseph Julian, 4, of Doniphan, Mo., formerly of Ellsinore, died Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 at his home with his family. Visitation will begin for the public at noon Friday, Oct. 28, at the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore, with the funeral services following at 2 p.m. in the Funeral Home Chapel. Deacon Adam Duckett will officiate and burial will be at the Owls Roost Cemetery in Ellsinore...

Eighth Grade Highest Honors: Blake Aikey, Kendall Armstrong, Morghan Armstrong, Katlyn Brotherton, Jeffrey Clark, Nolan Foster, Stormy Gaines, Taylor Hobbs, Dylan Mondy, Caleb Robison, Carlie Sifford, Jonna Vaughn and Gracey Wilkerson. Eighth Grade Honor Roll: Savannah Allen, Gavin Brawley, Madison Essmeyer, Allison Faries, Anita Green, Matthew Hawthorne, Kaly Haynes, Serena Hill, Tiffany Hillman, Sydney Kilbreth, Elizabeth Lanning, Noah McGowen, Tyler Norris, Eli Peters, Lucas Plunkett, Jacob Pryor, Kaytlynn Schulte and Alivia Taylor.. ...

Mary Louise Sisco Mary Louise Sisco, 89, of Poplar Bluff died Monday, Oct. 17, 2016 at Westwood Healthcare in Poplar Bluff. Visitation service was held Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016 at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff followed by the graveside service at Memorial Gardens in Poplar Bluff...

Lois Johnson Lois M. Johnson, 88, a long time resident of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 at The Manor Nursing Home in Poplar Bluff. Lois was born May 29, 1928 to the late Charles Bilbrey and Elsie Shelton Bilbrey in Shook, Mo. She was a member of the Family Worship Center...