Stories from Wednesday, August 16, 2017

What do a pixie, a pollywog and a rooster have in common? Nearly nothing, it seems. So how is it possible the mismatched trio, through adventures and perhaps a few misadventures, eventually become lifelong friends? By learning to understand each other's differences, said local artist Ralph Freer who penned "Piper's Posse, A Children's Story of Friendship."...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo, -- The woman whose social-media post about a "Back the Blue" sign displayed at a Jackson business sparked controversy said she was fired for her remarks after her employer learned of the situation. Cape Girardeau resident and Southeast Missouri State University student Brandi Wilson told the Southeast Missourian on Monday in a phone interview she posted on the Ground-A-Bout's Facebook page last Tuesday after taking issue with the "Back the Blue" sign in the coffee shop's window.. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor DONIPHAN, Mo. -- A Monday morning autopsy found that a Doniphan man who had disappeared while swimming with his girlfriend in Current River drowned. The autopsy results were "consistent with drowning" as the cause of death for James D Hough, said Ripley County Coroner Mike Jackson...

A walking tour of downtown Monday evening illustrated one characteristic of the historic area beyond aging buildings. As members of Downtown Poplar Bluff gathered across from a new coffee shop expected to open soon, and paused in front of the 40-unit Vine Street Apartments, they worked to be heard over the constant flow of vehicle traffic...

A Rombauer, Mo., woman was arrested Monday afternoon after being charged with fatally shooting her younger brother in an apparent dispute over finances. Earlier in the day, Judith Kimbrell, 51, was charged with the Class A felony of first-degree murder and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action by Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour...

Emmy award winning star Vicki Lawrence will be the keynote speaker for the Women Aware 30th anniversary conference Thursday, Sept. 21, at the Black River Coliseum. Lawrence, who played Carol Burnett's sister as well as starring in her own TV series "Mama's Family," was the conference committee's pick for the event's keynote speaker. Committee members believe her presentation will go well with this year's theme "Laugh Your Pearls Off."...

Three new businesses are expected to open in Poplar Bluff before the end of September, with construction also set to begin soon on a $4.2 million hotel in the Eight Points retail area. Both Dollar Tree and Five Below completed checks Tuesday for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Oak Grove Road retailers are expected to open in late August and September, respectively...

Daniel De Oliveira, M.D., has joined the medical staff of Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Dr. De Oliveira graduated from Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais Medical School in Minas Gerais, Brazil. He then went on to complete a residency in general surgery at Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow, N.Y. ...

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. ...

The members of the Puxico Indians Basketball Team will be hosting a Fish Plate Dinner from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, in the Puxico School Cafeteria. The cost is $10 a plate. Cash or checks are accepted, make check payable to Puxico Schools. There will be freshly fried fish and plenty of sides to choose from...

Loren and Cody Stilts announce the birth of their son, Myer Thomas Stilts, born 10:17 p.m. July 31 at the St. Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau. Myer Thomas Stilts weighed 7 pounds and 7 ounces and was 19 3/4 inches long. Grandparents are Tommy and Lynn Peek of Rockaway Beach, Mo. and Gary and Becky Stilts of Gipsy, Mo...

Charles "Chuck" Siler, 68, of Puxico died Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017 at his home. Visitation and a memorial service was held Friday, Aug. 11, 2017 at the Morgan-Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico. Burial took place in the Duck Creek Cemetery.

Robert E. Guffey, 66, of Poplar Bluff died Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017 at his residence. Services were held Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017 at Westwood Baptist Church. Dr. Steve Proctor officiated. Memorial may be made to the Guffey Family in c/o Cotrell Funeral Service, 701 Vine St., Poplar Bluff, Mo. 63901...

The Puxico Alumni Association inducted two former teachers Ronald Faries and Martha Norris into the Teacher Hall of Fame and recognized the class of 1967 as the 50th year reunion class, which was made up of 21 former student, Friday, Aug, 11. The late Mr. ...

By AMY WALKER The 2017 Puxico Homecoming marks the 71st year that the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7822 along with the Auxiliary to VFW Post 7822 have hosted this annual event. Men and woman of all ages look forward to the historical event packed with goat burgers, carnival rides, entertainment at the park and lots of square dancing. For many it truly is an official homecoming as they travel back to their hometown to visit with family and friends of the past...

As schedules become more and more busy everyday, friends have a hard time coordinating time together. Debbie Rodewald of Qulin and her friends, who are now all over the world, make their get-togethers a priority. "My friends are a hoot," Rodewald said of her group of friends who have kept in touch for more than 50 years...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN When the Dodge Charger of 20-year-old Nazi sympathizer James Alex Fields Jr., plunged into that crowd of protesters Saturday, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer, Fields put Charlottesville on the map of modernity alongside Ferguson...

To the Editor: The Poplar Bluff Mules Booster Club would like to extend their appreciation to those involved in making the 9th annual Mule Skinner Golf Tournament, auction and banquet a great success. Proceeds from this fundraiser make it possible for the Booster Club to fund requests from all the sports teams at Poplar Bluff High School. ...

President Donald Trump's decision to replace ineffectual White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus with Homeland Security chief John Kelly - a former Army general with a history of smart, effective leadership - makes complete sense. What's also worth noting is that Kelly is an honorable man, not a political hack or fixer. ...

Family vacations to southeast Missouri were always the high point of summer for Tia Hodges. Getting away from the hustle and bustle of St. Louis and into the shops and family gatherings that Sikeston provided was like an escape to a simpler, harmonious time...

The Butler County Genealogical Society met Thursday, July 27, at the First United Methodist Church. Following the business meeting a program on genealogy inspired Arts and Crafts was presented by Linda Surber with many interesting projects and displays...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Juanita Beauton Cain, 87, of Malden, Mo., died Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, at her home in Malden, Mo. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at the Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden with the funeral service following at 1 p.m. at the Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden with Rev. Martin Goode officiating. Burial will be in the Rosewood First Addition Cemetery in Malden. Landess Funeral Home of Malden was in charge of the services.sssps...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Michael L. Morris, Sr., 61, died Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, at his home near Piedmont. Visitation was held at 5 p.m., Tuesday at the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. Funerals services followed at 7 p.m., Tuesday at the funeral home chapel with Bro. Pete Ruble officiating...

DivorceCare divorce recovery seminar and support group meets weekly in Poplar Bluff at Fellowship General Baptist Church beginning at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6 - Nov. 29. DivorceCare features nationally recognized experts on divorce and recovery topics such as "Facing My Anger, "Facing My Loneliness", and "New Relationships", just to name a few...

Ila D. Witte, 90, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017 at Oakdale Assisted Living. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

FISK, Mo. -- Rev. Dalles Henry Merriman, 86, of Williamsville, Mo., died Monday, Aug. 14, 2017 at his residence, in Williamsville, Mo. Mr. Merriman was born June 05, 1931 in Wappapello, Mo. He served in the Army during the Korean War. He was a procurement supervisor for Koppers Inc. until retiring...

Wayne County Shiloh Cemeteries Association will hold its annual meeting and memorial service at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 26 at Shiloh Church. Lunch will follow at noon. Donations may be made to Shiloh Cemetery Association and mailed to P.O. Box 136, Wappapello, MO 63966...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Dr. Larry Wayne Jackson, 67, of Oakland, Ark., died Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, at his residence. Dr. Jackson, son of Marvin Woodrow and Virginia Evelyn (Wallace) Jackson, was born June 6, 1950, in Ripley County (Barkadaro), Mo. He had been a dentist in private practice in Ripley County for over a period of 30 years. ...

Asked about the strengths of her team, Poplar Bluff senior softball player Keaira Benton easily rattled off a list. "We have really strong pitching and a good defense behind them, and really good hitters too," said Benton. Does this team have a weakness?...

It's one thing to have to replace your starting pitcher from last season, much less the last three. It's another thing entirely to replace someone like Summer Shockley. The 2017 graduate's Van Buren pitching resume includes a state championship, back-to-back no-hitters in the 2016 postseason and two All-State nods by the Missouri Softball Coaches Association. She was the backbone of the team for many years...

PUXICO, Mo. -- Lonnie Clubb of Puxico, son of the late Odis and Martha VanMatre Clubb, was born in McGee, Mo., on Sept. 14, 1941, and passed away at his residence in Puxico on, Aug. 11, 2017, at the age of 75 years, 10 months and 27 days. Lonnie lived in the Puxico area most all his life. He was a minister of the General Baptist faith and was a member of the Elk General Baptist Church in Broseley, Mo...