Stories from Sunday, November 19, 2017

By JOHN R. STANARD Poplar Bluff's Municipal Library once more is planning a communitywide reading event to encourage people to read and discuss the same book in 2018. After the smashing success of "The Book in The Bluff" project during the library's centennial celebration last year, Sterling Bank again has agreed to sponsor the event...

Many across the area will spend the next couple days preparing food for their Thanksgiving feast Thursday. The United Gospel Rescue Mission will be doing the same and is asking for the help of volunteers in preparation to feed more than 1,200 citizens who would otherwise not have a warm Thanksgiving meal...

A contract that tops 60 pages will be reviewed Monday by the Poplar Bluff City Council for the purchase of a new city hall, police department and city court. The city would pay $3.495 million for the building, located at 2210 Barron Road. No reports regarding the condition of the building are included in information for Monday's meeting. The item will be a workshop only item, and could be on the Dec. 4 voting session agenda...

An opportunity to view the nation's Christmas tree is coming up, and no, driving nearly 900 miles will not be necessary. The 53rd U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is scheduled to make a whistle-stop from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Menards in Poplar Bluff during its journey from the Kootenai National Forest in Montana to Washington D.C...

Editor's Note: For maps of city trails, see 1C in today's edition. By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Clark Allen imagines a linear park that winds its way through the many neighborhoods that make up Poplar Bluff when he maps out routes for joggers, walkers and bicyclists...

Three buildings that represent a tangible link to the social, educational and commercial history of Poplar Bluff's African American community have received national recognition. The Garfield Historic District is now named to the National Register of Historic Places, after more than two years of efforts by residents and city officials...

The Neelyville R-IV School District once again took the top spot with the highest APR score in the county at 93.6 percent and receiving accreditation. Increasing from a 92.5 percent score last year, Neelyville Curriculum Director Heather Wells said the district always is striving to find new ways to reach higher standards...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS When hunting was the major source of food, hunters often used stalking horses as a means of sneaking up on their prey. They would synchronize their steps on the side of the horse away from their prey until they were close enough for a good shot. ...

GREENVILLE, Mo. -- James C. Nepean, 62, died Friday, Nov. 17, 2017 at his home near Wappapello. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at the Shiloh Cemetery near Shook with Pastor Arvin Haynes officiating. Services are under the direction of Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel, Greenville...

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- The Raiders shot a season-high 60 percent from the field Saturday to push their record above .500 for the season. Three Rivers defeated Lang Prep 92-71 Saturday to go 2-0 in the Bob Sechrest Classic at Mineral Area College. The Raiders beat Kennedy-King (Ill.) 76-58 on Friday...

Poplar Bluff's first points of the season came after Kiley Bess picked off a pass and made a layup at the other end Saturday afternoon. It was a preview of things to come as the Mules forced 42 turnovers and breezed to a season-opening 79-60 win over Osceola (Ark.) at the Senior High Gym...

Dominique Hardimon stepped to the free-throw line without his goggles after they were knocked off his face and broke Saturday. "Really can't see nothing," the Poplar Bluff junior said. "It's all blurry." Hardimon knocked down one of two free throws and later returned off the bench with his goggles taped up...

SEDALIA, Mo. -- After shooting a season-low 28.6 percent on Friday, the Three Rivers College women's basketball team bounced back to shoot a season-high 51.8 percent Saturday. A defensive-minded team, it was Three Rivers' first time shooting better than 50 percent from the field this season and it beat Missouri Valley JV 82-47...

ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Lewin Joseph Million, 64, of Ellsinore died Friday, Nov. 17, 2017, at his residence. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. today at McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the Carson Hill Cemetery...

GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Norma Jean Brown, 85, of Greenville died Friday, Nov. 17, 2017, at Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home at Greenville. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com.

Residents may not be familiar with the term Poplar Bluff Greenways, but the trails that make up this citywide network of walkways have become well known since the first park was dedicated 65 years ago. These footpaths offer a way to log serious miles with the McLane Park to Shelby Road trail, a leisurely stroll through Ferguson Grove or child-friendly paths at Hendrickson Park that can be used year-round...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN After the 19th national congress of the Chinese Communist Party in October, one may discern Premier Xi Jinping's vision of the emerging New World Order. By 2049, the centennial of the triumph of Communist Revolution, China shall have become the first power on earth. Her occupation and humiliation by the West and Japan in the 19th and 20th centuries will have become hated but ancient history...

By GEORGE F. WILL BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- But for the bomb, the four would be in their 60s, probably grandmothers. Three were 14 and one was 11 in 1963 when the blast killed them in the 16th Street Baptist Church, which is four blocks from the law office of Doug Jones, who then was 9...

MALDEN, Mo. --James Irvin Thomason, 80, of Malden died Friday, Nov. 17, 2017, at Delta South Skilled Nursing & Rehab in Sikeston, Mo. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Bradshaw Funeral Home at Malden. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Church of Christ in Bernie, Mo., with Stan Dauck officiating. Burial will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery at Malden...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- James (Jim) R. Trentelman, the son of Lorene Lawson and Roland Trentelman of Neelyville was born June 4, 1943. He was married to Patty Trentelman Aug. 4, 1965 in Harviell, and together they had one son, James Patrick Trentelman. Jim was a truck Driver for Rowe Furniture in Poplar Bluff and served our country as veteran of the United States Navy...

Nancy Ann Stewart, 69, of Poplar Bluff, left us to be with her beloved Savior Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017 at her residence. Ms. Stewart, the daughter of the late Ervin and Cathryn (Schlater) Eldridge, was born Aug. 18, 1948 in Leeper, Mo. She was a member of Bluff First Assembly of God and Oak Hill General Baptist Church. ...

Shirley A. Schaffer, 72, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, at her residence. Mrs. Schaffer, the daughter of the late Robert E. and Lorene Selleck Strope, was born Jan. 20, 1945, in Troy, Pa. She was of the Pentecostal faith and had retired as a home health caregiver. Mrs. Schaffer enjoyed spending time with her family...

James "Jim" Crismon, 73, of Mesa, Ariz., and a well-known Poplar Bluff business entrepreneur, passed away Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, in St. Louis County, Mo. Jim, the son of James Bolin and Pansy Imogene (Luttrell) Crismon, was born Dec. 25, 1943, in St. Louis, Mo...