Stories from Sunday, October 22, 2017

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Southeast Missouri State University and Three Rivers College (TRC) officials signed articulation agreements Thursday at Three Rivers College-Sikeston, paving the way for a seamless transition for Three Rivers Associate of Applied Science in Nursing graduates into Southeast's online RN-BSN program and for Three Rivers Associate of Arts in Teaching graduates to transfer into five Southeast Bachelor of Science in Education programs...

Beginning next year, the look of Boy Scout troops across the U.S. could change. Announced Oct. 11, the Boy Scouts of America will allow girls into the Cub Scouts beginning next year. It was also announced a program, projected to be available in 2019, for older girls based on the Boy Scout's curriculum that allows the girls to obtain the Eagle Scout rank...

Veterans organizations have long provided a meeting place for former military personnel to gather, share life experiences and help other veterans as well as various charity groups. There are four such organizations in the Poplar Bluff, AMVETS, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Vietnam Veterans...

Earl Pennington of Poplar Bluff served in two wars before retiring from the Air Force. It was his work with nuclear bombs, however, that put him in the most peril. Pennington joined the military in 1951. He trained as an aircraft mechanic. "If you were in maintenance you could progress up and fly if you chose."...

It was the largest seaborne operation in history and one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. History calls it D-Day and Deloy Lawson was right in the thick of it. Lawson, the brother of former Poplar Bluff City Manager Tom Lawson, was born at his grandmother's house in Neelyville. But home was wherever construction jobs took his stepfather...

When the Poplar Bluff High School Class of 2004 trooped across the stage to receive their diplomas, one graduate wasn't with them. Chuck Ray was in California being yelled at by Marine Corps boot camp instructors. Before finishing high school, Ray decided to join the Marine Corps delayed entry program. So, as soon as he finished high school, he left for boot camp in San Diego. He was 17...

In 1962 Glendol Garrett had a plan. He wanted to make a career out of the military. So, at age 17 he left Poplar Bluff High School as an 11th grader and joined the Marines. A booby trap across a trail in Vietnam put him in various hospitals for 18 months and ended those plans for good...

The opportunity and expansion Butler County experienced in 2017 has been paved by people like longtime rancher Kelly Boyers, small business owner Sondra Foust and Gary Dahl, general manager of a national home improvement store. Officials broke ground in September on a $10.4 million extension of Shelby Road, which cuts through Boyers' family farmland...

You see them at many veterans' funerals. Dressed in military-style uniforms, they fire off their guns in tribute to their deceased comrades in arms. They are the Honor Guard and they have been preforming the solemn ritual in this area for almost 70 years...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Asked to name the defining attributes of the America we wish to become, many liberals would answer that we must realize our manifest destiny since 1776, by becoming more equal, more diverse and more democratic -- and the model for mankind's future...

Last year, while producing a public affairs show for a local television station, I booked a prominent minister, author and academic as a guest. The man proceeded to make inappropriate and unwelcome sexual advances on numerous women involved in this appearance...

The Poplar Bluff Municipal Library will host its big November Used Book Sale from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 3 and Saturday, Nov. 4, in the Library Theater, 318 N. Main St., Poplar Bluff. All proceeds raised by the sale of the books and other items help fund the public programs and events the library offers to children and adults throughout the year. ...

By MONA CHAREN What makes Harvey Weinsteins? The chief of Amazon studios, Roy Price, has now resigned in the wake of allegations that he made lewd comments and propositioned a producer. Lists of accused sexual predators in Hollywood and journalism are circulating on social media. President Donald Trump's long history of pawing and gawking at women has again reached center stage...

A legislative task force charged with making recommendations to improve the level of services offered to students with dyslexia will unveil its report at the end of the month. State Rep. Kathryn Swan, who chairs the Legislative Task Force on Dyslexia, and her fellow task force members will discuss their findings and recommendations during a press conference in the House Lounge of the State Capitol, 1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 31...

Route 51 and Route B between Fisk and Poplar Bluff will have various closures as contractor crews perform bridge repairs. The crew will be working on a total of 10 bridges located between 60 and Business 60. Improvements already underway from Route 60 Outer Road to Route FF in Fisk, Mo. The repairs in this location are expected to be completed Oct. 23, weather permitting...

Shirley Ann Aquino, 71, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 20, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Services are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service.

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Alice Marie "Jorn" Gambill, 87, of Naylor, Mo., passed away Friday, Oct. 20, 2017, at her residence. She was born Sept. 7, 1930 at St. Louis, Mo. to the late Charlie Jorn and Emma Anna Koehler Jorn. On Nov. 10, 1951, she was married to Ples Mortin Gambill at Piggott, Ark.. He preceded her in death on June 6, 2010...

ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Jerry Lee Walters, 62, of Ellsinore, son of the late Lester and Peggy (Harris) Walters was born May 9, 1955 in Saint Louis, and departed this life, Friday, Oct. 20, 2017 at his residence. Jerry had resided in Ellsinore for 32 years and was formerly of Fenton, Mo. ...

James Elvis Ward, 64, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017 at St. Clare Hospital in Fenton, Mo. James, the son of the late Leo and Wilma (Raper) Ward, was born July 19, 1953 in Poplar Bluff. He was a member of Living Word Baptist Church and had retired from the Poplar Bluff Park Department as a Maintenance Supervisor. James enjoyed spending time with his family, especially with his grandchildren, and watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball...

MARYVILLE, Tenn. - Larry Gene Smithee, 74, died Monday, Oct. 9, 2017 at Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville, Tenn. He was born in Batesville, Ark. to Juanita Dobbs Smithee and the late B.W. Smithee. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Christine Smithee of Maryville, Tenn.; mother, Juanita Smithee of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; sister, Diane (Michael) Dodd of Poplar Bluff; nephews, Andrew (Marcie) Dodd of Austin, Texas and Steven (Mandy) Dodd of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and great nieces Isabel and Olivia Dodd.. ...

DOHA, Qatar (AP) -- As U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visits the Middle East this weekend, he'll hope to achieve something that has eluded top American diplomats for a generation: sealing a new alliance between Saudi Arabia and Iraq that would shut the doors of the Arab world to neighboring Iran...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump says he doesn't plan to block the scheduled release of thousands of never publicly seen government documents related to President John F. Kennedy's assassination. Trump says in a tweet that "Subject to the receipt of further information, I will be allowing, as President, the long blocked and classified JFK FILES to be opened."...

SALEM, Mo. -- It took 10 games, but injuries eventually caught up to the Dexter Bearcats. With nine preseason starters out, Dexter was exposed on offense and defense as Salem comfortably won 38-0 on Friday in the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 quarterfinals...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Hugh Arno Roach, 90, of Columbia, passed away Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. Hugh was born in Muscogee, Okla., to the late Lloyd Laverne Roach and Edyth McKay Milton, Nov. 25, 1926. He had an older brother and sister, Laverne Roach and Martha Elizabeth Abraham, both of whom preceded him in death. His beloved wife, Carita Lee Peters Roach, passed away on July 29, 2017...

Can the city of Poplar Bluff afford a new building to house city offices? Answers vary among city council members, who are pursuing a contract to purchase Northwest Medical Center for a city hall, police department and city court. They are securing $8 million in financing for a project, which could cost as much as $9 million by some estimates...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Four runners from Poplar Bluff advanced out of the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 cross country meet Saturday as the Mules placed 10th as a team in both races. Katie Sliger placed 11th while Katelyn Moeller took the last individual qualifying spot in 30th while Poplar Bluff freshman Jaden Deaton placed 20th and senior Wesley Moore was 29th, advancing to next week's sectional meet...

MALDEN -- Tray Stevenson broke the Malden record for rushing yards in a season and escorted lineman Jackson Wilson on a long fumble return for a touchdown Friday night. Wilson picked up a fumble and returned it 75 yards in the closing seconds of the first half in a 56-8 Malden win over Kelly in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 quarterfinal at The Swamp...

Tyler Scott Russom, 22, of Poplar Bluff left us too soon in June of 2015. He was born on Oct. 23, 1992, to Devin Russom and Stacy Holden in Poplar Bluff. He attended school in the Neelyville school system. Tyler was skilled at many things, such as auto repair and carpentry. Tyler enjoyed giving tattoos, drawing, bull riding, playing guitar, spending time outdoors hunting and fishing, and most of all, spending time with his children...

Cane Creek Community Club celebrated its 100th anniversary in September. The club originated in 1917 and was known as the Victory Homemakers. They held all-day meetings in members' homes where they learned new skills, made quilts and completed sewing projects. ...