Stories from Monday, November 21, 2016

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer PATTERSON, Mo. -- Higher than the Eiffel Tower, Trump Tower or a 100-story building. That's what the combined elevation of Mudlick Mountain and the fire tower perched atop equal. An open metal frame that sways with the wind at its peak and narrow wooden staircase lead to the tallest point in Sam A. Baker State Park...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor For five area pastors their ministries expand beyond the thresholds of their churches and borders of their communities to the men and women patrolling the highways of southeast Missouri. The pastors -- Brad Moore of Advance, Mo., Father John Harth of Jackson, Mo., Marty Reed and Ron Webb, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Floyd Wade of Charleston, Mo. ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff Public School Foundation has awarded several "mini" grants to teachers for innovative projects in the classroom. The foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the educational opportunities of students and promoting innovation in the classroom, according to the school. It funds scholarships and 'one-time events' if the proposal is unique and offers students an educational opportunity beyond the district's budget...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer Volunteers at the United Gospel Rescue Mission are gearing up for this year's Thanksgiving feast, which will feed more than 1,000 area residents Thursday. Rev. Greg Kirk is the mission's director and says each year the number of people in need of a hot meal increases...

Eugene Field School has selected the September and October 2016 Students of the Month. First Grader Christopher Timothy, son of Selena and Chris Timothy, was nominated for October by his teacher, Angela Bowman, because he is a very polite young man who loves and appreciates others. ...

Poplar Bluff Schools -- in partnership with Lindenwood University -- is encouraging more local educators to earn the highest graduate degree attainable by bringing the first doctoral program to the community. In addition to Poplar Bluff R-I educators, the initial cohort of students admitted includes teachers and administrators from Three Rivers College, Leopold and Cooter. ...

The new Barn off Oak Grove Road will host its first basketball games Tuesday night when the Poplar Bluff Mules open the season. "The kids really enjoy the new school this year," Mules coach William Durden said. "They're excited about starting the year, starting a home game here."...

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- The Raiders felt slighted after not earning votes in the NJCAA preseason poll. Moberly Area was 11th, Mineral Area was 20th, and regular opponent John A. Logan was eighth. Nearly two months after that first poll came out, the Raiders are undefeated heading into the annual Peoples Community Bank Thanksgiving Tournament at the Bess Activity Center...

SEDALIA, Mo. -- The Lady Raiders cruised in a pair of weekend blowouts at the Stone Laser Imaging Classic at State Fair. On Friday, they dominated Malcolm X College (Ill.) 113-47, then turned around and beat Central Nebraska 96-60. The Lady Raiders (5-2) have now won each of their five games by double figures and both of its losses were by three points to Wabash Valley (Ill.)...

Lila Grace Lynxwiler is the name chosen by Steve and Jill Lynxwiler of Poplar Bluff for their 7-pound, 9-ounce daughter born at 4:19 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Lila was 20 inches long. Grandparent are Rick and Susan Spargo of Poplar Bluff and Floyd and Sue Lynxwiler of Doniphan. Great-grandparents are Imogene Sullivan of Neelyville and Herschal and Helen Hobbs of Naylor...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer In early October 2016, Betty Barcome of Poplar Bluff received a phone call which changed her life. "There's a detective looking for you," her cousin, Sue Richmond told Betty. "A detective? Why on earth? ..." She interrupted, "You have a sister who is trying to find you."...

Carolyn Marie West MALDEN, Mo. -- Carolyn Marie West , 66, of Malden, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Monday, at the Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m., Monday, at the Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden with Rev. James Hamlett officiating...

Marjorie Wright PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Marjorie Wright, 93, of Piedmont, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church in Piedmont, followed by the funeral at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Dogwood Cemetery in Blytheville, Ark...

Lily EllenJane Marlow is the name chosen by Jessica Renee and David Ted Marlow of Clubb, Mo., for their 7- pound daughter born at 11:43 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016 at the Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Lily was 19 1/4" long...

Dear Editor, Wonder if the readers of this paper feel like I do, I think it is just wonderful we only elect a president every four years. I don't think we could stand all that has one on this year, more often. Hard to believe all of the roiting [sic] that is going on now. ...

Glenn Dabbs LAKE OZARK, Mo. -- Glenn Dabbs, 82, of Lake Ozark, formerly of Fisk, Mo., passed away Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, at Lake Regional Medical Center in Osage Beach, Mo., surrounded by family. Glenn was born May 18, 1934, to Lawrence and Christeen Dabbs, who preceded him in death...

Ella Marie (Johnson) Thompson Ella Marie (Johnson) Thompson, 81, passed away peacefully following a long battle with Alzheimer's at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. She was treated with respect and dignity by her many nurses and aides past and present, which was much appreciated by the family...

Randall Crocker Randall Crocker, 64, of Memphis, Tenn., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Nov. 18, 2016, at his residence. The arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Linda Winingnear NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Linda Kathleen Winingnear, 58, of Neelyville died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, at her residence. Mrs. Winingnear was born May 16, 1958, at St. Louis, Mo. A restaurant cook, she enjoyed watching sci-fi and soaps on TV, as well as spending time with her grandchildren and on the river. She was of the Baptist faith...

Lotus L. Wilkison PUXICO, Mo.-- Lotus L. Wilkison, daughter of the late Bryan O. and Dorothy Shoemate McClure, was born in Puxico on Nov. 29, 1926, and passed away at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter on Nov. 14, 2016, at the age of 89 years, 11 months and 16 days...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Speaking in Greece on his valedictory trip to Europe as president, Barack Obama struck a familiar theme: "(W)e are going to have to guard against a rise in a crude form of nationalism, or ethnic identity, or tribalism that is built around an 'us' and a 'them' .....

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Seventeen days before President Donald Trump, his spoken oath of office still lingering in the wintry air, lifts his left hand from Scripture (a leather-bound edition of "The Art of the Deal"), the Republican-controlled Congress will begin working. Fittingly, on Jan. 3 the First Branch of government will go first, flexing its somewhat atrophied Article I muscles...