Stories from Tuesday, July 24, 2018

The members of the Puxico Volunteer Fire Department will hold their Second Annual Stuff the Fire Truck 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4. They will be collecting school supplies for students for the upcoming school year. The truck will be in the parking lot of First Midwest Bank...

GREENVILLE -- A former Greenville city clerk who once had the mayor legally barred from entering city hall is now scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 9 in a Wayne County courtroom on felony charges related to the alleged misappropriation of $150,000 in city money...

The process of developing a limited hunting season for the management of Missouri's elk herd is moving along, and hunters could get their first opportunity to pursue them in the fall of 2020. At the Conservation Commission meeting recently, MDC cervid biologist Aaron Hildreth laid out for the commission not only the current status of the state's elk herd, but also what work has been done so far to implement a future management plan, which, from the beginning of the restoration program, was to include hunting.. ...

Another black bear has been struck and killed by a motor vehicle in Missouri, making a half dozen roadkills around the state this summer. "We have documented seven bear mortalities so far this year," said Department of Conservation Resource Scientist Laura Conlee, and "six were roadkill bears."...

"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase," says the writer of Proverbs. Proverbs 5:10. A sheep wants only to be led out to green pastures and when filled to lie down contentedly to rest and digest his food. ...

Nearly one out of every three children in rural Missouri suffers from food insecurity. While this rate is shockingly high, food insecurity is not an exclusively urban or rural problem. According to the latest data from Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap, there are an estimated 241,830 food-insecure kids in the state of Missouri, or one in five children overall...

By MIKE JENSEN With an incendiary President capable of mass alienation and mid-term election history on their side, the Democrats should be poised for the upcoming November election showdown. Instead, the Democrats find themselves in search of a message...

Years ago, I got into trouble because I wrote a column criticizing women for breastfeeding in public. It stemmed from an incident in my office where a client opened her shirt and, without asking if I minded, affixed her infant to her breast without missing a beat in our conversation about H-1B visa options...

By LAURA HOLLIS The 2018 midterms are fast approaching, and Democrats are still crowing about the coming "blue wave." If past is precedent, I suspect that this is just media-fueled propaganda. (Remember Hillary Clinton's 98 percent certainty of winning the presidency?) There has been recent news about how Democrats lead Republicans in voter registrations by a significant margin. ...

Race and place matter when it comes to breast cancer survival rates, according to a study published last month, which identified clusters of so-called breast cancer hot spots in the United States. Justin Xavier Moore, lead researcher on the study and cancer epidemiologist at Washington University in St. ...

Following the opening of the Board of Equalization last week, Bill McBrier of Ameren Missouri appeared before Stoddard County Commissioners to appeal their assessment Monday morning. Commissioners unanimously voted to deny his request since the case involving Ameren is in litigation, Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis said...

GREENVILLE, Mo. - Ruby Barnfield, 93, of Greenville, died Monday, July 23, 2018 at the Greenville Healthcare Center. Arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Greenville.

More than 30 union members and supporters rallied Monday at Capaha Park against Proposition A, claiming the right-to-work (RTW) measure on the August ballot in Missouri would lead to lower wages and cost jobs. Proponents argue RTW will boost wages, grow jobs and promote union accountability. The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce has endorsed the measure...

BLOOMFIELD -- The city of Bloomfield will receive nearly $4.8 million in federal money for wastewater treatment improvements expected to start by early spring 2019. A $2.8 million loan and a $1.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will improve the treatment and collection of the city's wastewater...

GREENVILLE, Mo. - Mary Ruth Twidwell-Payton of Lodi was born in Lodi on May 27, 1929 to the late James Raymond and Verna Lucille (Lewis) Roach. She departed this life at Oakdale Care Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on July 16, 2018 at the age of 89 years 1 month and 20 days. A long time resident of Lodi, Mary Ruth took pride in being a wife, mother and homemaker. She was a member of Lodi Community Church since childhood...

DEXTER, Mo. - Junior Ray Parker, 86, of Morehouse, MO, died Monday, July 23, 2018 at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, MO. Visitation will be from 5 - 8 p.m., Tuesday, July 24 at Watkins & Sons Funeral Service in Dexter. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 25 at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter with Pastor Jim Vent of Morehouse officiating...

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Mary Ellen Stevens, 70, of Van Buren, died Friday, July 20, 2018 at Riverways Manor Nursing Home. Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren. The funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 26, 2018 in the McSpadden Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. David Russell officiating. Burial will take place in Eastwood Cemetery in Eastwood, Mo...

Tammy Lucille Wartenbe, 59, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Thursday, July 19, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born Aug. 29, 1958 in Marshall, Mo. to Wayne A. Waddle and Gloria F. Surber Waddle. She was of the Baptist faith. Tammy married Terry L. Wartenbe Feb. 26, 1977 in Poplar Bluff. He survives...

A Stoddard County board voted July 19 to stop funding the majority of programs scheduled to open in nearly $1.3 million worth of new buildings paid for with taxpayer money since 2017. The Senate Bill 40 board could use more than one-fourth of annual revenues, for up to 25 years, to repay a loan on these buildings, which were to hold a new thrift store and sheltered workshop, along with another county program...

PIEDMONT, Mo. - Rachel C. Abernathy, 80, of Patterson, Mo., died July 21, 2018 from bone cancer. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, July 25 at Meador-Flatwoods Cemetery near Piedmont with Pastor Richard Sanders ministering to the family. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

Phillip Ray Frazier, Sr., 56, of Dexter died Friday, July 13, 2018 at the St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis. Visitation was held July 16, 2018 at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter and the funeral service was held July 17, 2018 at the Watkins & Sons Chapel. Bro. Gary Teel of Dexter officiated. Burial followed in the Dexter Cemetery...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Anna Faye Nelson, 80, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, July 21, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, July 25 at Fowler & Sons Funeral Home in Neelyville with the funeral following at noon at the funeral home. Burial will be in Roberts Cemetery near Neelyville...

Janice Kaye Doyle, 72, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Sunday, July 22, 2018 at Westwood Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center. Mrs. Doyle, daughter of the late Willard Paul and Phoebe (Sisney) Perry was born Aug. 18, 1945 in Eugene, Oregon. She attended Osborn General Baptist Church in Qulin, Mo. ...

A ritual included in my annual sojourn to my favorite blueberry U-pick farm -it's the glorious Rush River Produce, in Maiden Rock, Wis. - is the mental list I formulate as I methodically separate berries from their bushes. Pancakes. Muffins. Coffee cakes. Parfaits. Crisps. Smoothies. Cobblers. Pops...

Jimmy Wallace, 84, of Mill Spring, MO, died Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at his residence. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont, MO.

Staff Reports CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. --The Poplar Bluff Piranhas swim team finished fifth Saturday at the season-ending Southeast Missouri Swim Conference Championships. Paige Bradley had the lone event win for the Piranhas, taking the 50-yard freestyle in the 15-18 age division. It was among 52 top-10 individual finishes for Poplar Bluff, which scored 1,700 points...

Butler County's score on an annual report ranking the well-being of Missouri's children is not the lowest in the state, but it's close, earning No. 112 of a possible 114 counties and the City of St. Louis. Despite the low position, much of the data reflected in the 2018 Missouri Kids Count Data Book shows improvement in multiple areas for Butler County over previous years...

GREENVILLE -- Improvements to more than 100 campsites at the Old Greenville Recreation Area have moved along slowly, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff admit, but they feel the change will be dramatic when the campground reopens. The more than $1 million in repairs and upgrades will see electric, water and sewer installed at all campsites, along with wider campsite pads and wider campground loops. ...

The new anticipated date of completion for the Libla Family Sports Complex is Aug. 17, architect Mike Pollard of Dille and Traxel Architecture said Wednesday. Pollard shared the information with the Three Rivers College Board of Trustees during its regular monthly meeting. The new date came from Huffman Construction's LFSC project manager, he added...

Missouri Department of Conservation agents Sarah Dietzer and Hayley Honeycutt showed snakes Saturday to children attending a program at the Bill Emerson Memorial Visitor Center at Wappapello Lake. Dietzer and Honeycutt discussed snakes common to Missouri, also explaining the benefits and dangers of different snakes. Community members were able to touch the snakes and learn about them, while children were given activities pertaining to snakes and how they look...

FISK, Mo. - Victor (Vic) Gene Adams of Fisk, died July 21, 2018, peacefully in his sleep from a hemorrhagic stroke. He was born March 31, 1929 in Fisk, Missouri to May Elizabeth (Jolly) and Byron Victor Adams. He was a lover of sports including hunting, fishing, golf, baseball, basketball, and billiards. ...

WAPPAPELLO, Mo. -- A man drowned over the weekend at Wappapello Lake. According to the report, Randall L. Scott, 59, of Wappapello was swimming at 5:40 p.m. Saturday, two miles north of the dam, when he became fatigued, went under the water and never resurfaced...

A pair of local residents thanked an area World War II veteran for his service by volunteering to help with the upkeep of his property through the summer and fall. Navy veteran Wilbur Schmit, 93, was recently treated in urgent care after becoming overheated while using a push mower in the yard at his home...

A new public administrator has been appointed for Stoddard County, Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis said Monday, following a meeting of the Stoddard County Commission. Commissioners also discussed replacing a Senate Bill 40 board member who resigned last week and budget concerns for the group that helps the county's developmentally disabled...

A day to celebrate the life of Dayna Zoll-Cookson with joy, cars, trucks, motorcycles and fun is Saturday, Aug. 11, at South Park in Puxico Rev. Dayna Zoll-Cookson of Puxico went home to be with the Lord on July 9, 2018 at her home. All proceeds will benefit Dayna Zoll-Cookson's family...

BLOOMFIELD -- The city of Bloomfield will receive nearly $4.8 million in federal money for wastewater treatment improvements expected to start by early spring 2019. A $2.8 million loan and a $1.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will improve the treatment and collection of the city's wastewater...

FISK, Mo. - Victor (Vic) Gene Adams of Fisk, died July 21, 2018, peacefully in his sleep from a hemorrhagic stroke. Visitation began at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25 at White Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. Funeral services followed at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with Elder Craig Hamilton and Rev. Jim Sanders officiating. Burial will follow in the Shain Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Fisk Presbyterian Church...