Stories from Saturday, November 12, 2016

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The voice of the St. Louis Cardinals Mike Shannon made a guest appearance on Thursday evening at Black River Coliseum to support Boys and Girls Clubs of Poplar Bluff. Shannon, a Cardinals Hall of Fame member, two-time World Series Champion, and 45-year announcer for the redbirds and supporter of numerous charities in St. Louis said programs like the club offers are vital to the future of communities like Poplar Bluff...

William "Bill" Jackson -- Malden, Mo. Wanell Eason -- Rector, Ark. Wilbert Clifton Lowry -- Berkeley, Mo. Noah Copeland -- Puxico, Mo.

By BRIAN DUFFY Tribune News Service Imagine sitting around the dinner table on Monday, Sept. 10, 2001, hypothesizing whether America's military could fight a two-front war for 15-plus years with just an all-volunteer force. No one would have said yes, but the fact our military has _ and continues to do so magnificently _ is a testament to the high caliber of young patriots who care about protecting our friends and families and defeating our enemies...

Start your week off by exercising with the P.A.C.E. (People with Arthritis Can Exercise) class at 9 a.m. in the Assembly Room or play Bingo in the Altrusa Room at 9 a.m. Tuesday, 8 a.m., the Senior Tax Board will meet in the Snider Room. Bill Anderson will entertain at 11 a.m. in the dining room. 6 p.m., there will be a church service in the Assembly Room...

Westwood Baptist Academy first quarter honor rolls and principal's list includes: Principal List First Grade: Savannah Cramer, Landon Evans, Shyla Joehrs, Omotekoro Osiohwo Second Grade: Hadley Barker, Ethan Blackwell, Annaliese Carson, Isabelle Davis, Sydney Hawley, Alaina Morris, Chloe Parkin, Wyatt Ray...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer This weekend's concert by "John Deere Green" crooner Joe Diffie will be the most ambitious show undertaken by the Rodgers Theatre, and may very well define the future of the historic downtown structure. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Diffie takes the stage after special guests Matt Stell and Justin Heskett...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer The Neelyville R-IV school district received a slightly lower score than last year on its annual performance report, but still managed to remain accredited with distinction. Annual performance reports (APRs) are composed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) based on five data sets and reviewed yearly for accreditation purposes...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Poplar Bluff Public Schools and Chartwells Dining Services is again inviting the community to join together for a free, early Thanksgiving dinner from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday in the high school cafeteria. The event, now in its seventh year, is open to all members of the public who wish to attend and is, according to organizers, a way for the district to say "thank you" to the community...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor To mark the 85th anniversary of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, active duty and retired Troop E personnel gathered for a luncheon Thursday to celebrate their history and look to the future. After introductions of active and retired patrol personnel, as well recognition of members of the Missouri State Troopers Emergency Relief Society (MASTERS) and Troop E's chaplain programs, Lt. ...

Gabe Grant and Daniel Soetan were sitting in the Three Rivers College lounge between the gym and the bookstore, watching Game 7 of the World Series. The two Raiders from Chicago were the only ones in the room, a pair of Cubby hopefuls alone in Cardinals country, a North-Sider and a South-Sider confident the Cubs would hang onto a 6-1, fifth-inning lead. Then things started to slip away...

Gracie King might have been grounded if she didn't sign with Three Rivers College. Poplar Bluff's senior catcher has committed to play for the Lady Raiders next season, and their new head coach, her step-dad, Jeff Null. "It's going to be great," King said of playing for Null. "He's a really good coach and I'm just excited about what we can bring to the table."...

Scouting for food starts this weekend Thousands of Scouts will be canvassing area neighborhoods this weekend as they deliver more than one million Scouting For Food bags to local residents on Saturday, Nov. 12. Scouts will return one week later on Nov. 19 to collect the bags full of donated canned goods. This year's campaign, sponsored by MERS Missouri Goodwill, marks the Boy Scouts' 32nd annual Scouting For Food drive...

Wanell Eason RECTOR, Ark. -- Wanell Eason, 86, of Rector, surrounded by her family, left this world to be with Jesus, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016. Wanell was born July 18, 1930 to Fred & Gladys Watson. She was married for 55 years to Roy Eason, who preceded her in death in 2002. To this union four children were born. Wanell was lovingly called "Granny" by hundreds of others because of the special love she shared with them...

Bill Jackson MALDEN, Mo. -- William "Bill" Louis Jackson, 89, of Malden, died Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016, at Malden Nursing and Rehab in Malden. He was born Jan. 20, 1927 in Risco, Mo. He married Ruby Louise McCain Jackson, Nov. 15, 1948 in Piggott, Ark. She preceded him in death, Jan. 24, 2009...

Noah Copeland PUXICO, Mo. - Noah Copeland, 79, of Puxico died Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 at Advance Assisted Living. Visitation is at 6 p.m., Friday Nov. 11, 2016 at Morgan-Sifford Chapel in Puxico. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016 at the Morgan-Sifford funeral chapel. Rev. Ray Sifford is officiating. Burial will follow at Puxico City Cemetery...