Stories from Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Fall has arrived and so has the time for harvesting crops. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reminds drivers to expect heavier farm machinery traffic--especially on rural highways. Please obey all traffic laws and remain vigilant. Most importantly, everyone is encouraged to share the road. Farmers and motorists alike should be safe, courteous drivers...

BLOOMFIELD -- The Bloomfield Wildcats volleyball team got a boost from their annual Hits for Hope night and the return of an injured player Monday night. The Wildcats used an efficient offense to beat SCAA rival Puxico 25-11, 25-8 at the Bloomfield High School gymnasium...

BLOOMFIELD -- Stoddard County Commissioners appointed a new member to the Senate Bill 40 Board Monday morning, following the resignation of Larry McGonigal during the board's July meeting. Rev. Dale Holman was appointed to the board by a roll call vote of the commissioners. Holman, along with Daniel Robinson and Lacy Bennett were up for consideration...

Staff Reports EMINENCE -- Ozark National Scenic Riverways will hold special programs and school reunion activities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the historic Button Rock School and historic Cortoreva School site. Park rangers will be on hand to share a history of one-room schools in Shannon County. Former students and teachers invite the public to join in these events, which will include potluck lunches at both sites beginning at noon for all that would like to bring a dish to share...

The Cherokee Ridge Girl Scouts camp in Southeast Missouri will close permanently Dec. 16 and the property will be sold. The board of directors of the Missouri Heartland Girl Scouts council made that decision Friday. Cherokee Ridge has been a popular destination for area Girl Scouts since it opened in 1966...

The Three Rivers College Patrons of the Arts presents Ray Charles & Company--A Tribute Starring Willie Nash. This Ray Charles tribute concert will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff. In this show, direct from Branson, Willie Nash perfectly conveys the image, personality, and vivid talent of the rhythm and blues legend Ray Charles."We're thrilled to host this hit Branson show at the Tinnin Center," said Robert Abney, director of the Tinnin Fine Arts Center. ...

"There is so much history in our area of the state," observed Stars and Stripes Museum curator Laura Meyer, "particularly in the fact that the first edition of The Stars and Stripes military newspaper was printed here in Bloomfield in 1861. Liberty Days is our attempt to, not only showcase the museum, but to make history come alive in exciting and different ways."...

Sharon Crisel is the newest inductee into the Puxico Alumni Teacher Hall of Fame. She was honored at the Annual Puxico Alumni meeting Aug. 17 at the Puxico School Cafeteria. Teaching always has been Sharon's passion. She dedicated 25 years to teaching and 22 were at Puxico schools. ...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Greg Dawsey, 66, of Corning, Arkansas, passed away September 22, 2018 in the Saint Bernard's Hospital at Jonesboro, Arkansas. He was born June 1, 1952, at Opelousas, Louisiana to Fred Henry Dawsey and Jewell Harris of Port Barre, Louisiana...

The Mules didn't lose more than two sets in any match as they swept Caruthersville 9-0 on Monday. Annaleese Williams swept Jonesha Foreman at No. 5 singles and was the only Mule to sweep her opponent. Mya White won 8-2 over Rachel Rickman at No. 2 singles, while Sara Holland, Clarissa Varner, Megan Murphy and Simone Anders all won 8-1 at Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 6. All three doubles teams also won 8-1...

BLOOMFIELD -- The Bloomfield Wildcats volleyball team got a boost from their annual Hits for Hope night and the return of an injured player Monday night. The Wildcats used an efficient offense to beat SCAA rival Puxico 25-11, 25-8 at the Bloomfield High School gymnasium...

There's no denying Wappapello Lake is overloaded with small, stunted crappies, and that's what Department of Conservation Fisheries Management Biologist Dave Knuth tried to stress during open houses recently in Poplar Bluff and Greenville. The current 9-inch minimum crappie length limit at Wappapello, in effect since March of 2006, hasn't helped the fishery and in fact has resulted in higher numbers of smaller fish in the system...

The Stoddard County Sheriff's Department will soon see a new jailer and deputy after county commission meeting Sept.17. Sheriff Carl Hefner asked commissioners for permission to hire another jailer and road deputy to help alleviate overtime pay being accumulated and add safety to the jail...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - Roy Ray Cochran, 90, of Aquilla, Mo., died Friday, Sept. 21, 2018 at his home. A private family service will be held. Burial will be in the Walker Cemetery near Bloomfield with Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home of Bloomfield in charge of arrangements...

James "Eddie" Ikenberry died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018 at Cedargate Nursing Facility in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 26 at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Jerry Lemons officiating. Burial will be in Pawhuska, Okla...

In their own individual ways, the leaders of the U.S. and China are products of a moment when free-market capitalism imploded and Chinese-style "state capitalism" shored up the global economy. The 2008 financial crisis helped make both Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. What observers don't yet seem to appreciate is how difficult that makes it for them to resolve their spiraling trade war...

PUXICO, Mo. - Scott J. Disbrow, 56, of Puxico, died Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018 at his residence. Arrangements are pending with Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico.

Over the course of four days in mid-September, Hurricane Florence dumped a record-breaking 34 inches of rain on Swansboro, North Carolina -- a city that usually gets 57 inches in an entire year. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused the worst flood in Houston's history. In 2012, flooding from Superstorm Sandy -- considered a once-in-700-year event -- devastated coastal New York and New Jersey...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The current era of scorched-earth politics began five years after there was, according to Christine Blasey Ford, in 1982, an alcohol-soaked party in a suburban Washington home. There her 15-year-old self was, she says, assaulted by 17-year-old Brett Kavanaugh, who categorically denies this accusation...

Missouri Parents Act's second annual Transition Expo will be Oct. 10 in Caruthersville. The expo will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pentecostal Power Church located at 4025 S. Ward Ave. The expo is a one-day learning experience designed for fifth- through 12th-graders who have unique learning needs, special education and transition personnel, agencies who support youth who are in transition, family members and community...

PIEDMONT, Mo. - Holly Christine McCormick, 45, of Piedmont, died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018 at the St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, MO. A memorial service will be at 5 p.m., Sat., Oct. 13 at the Morrison-Worley Chapel in Piedmont.

"It's the most wonderful time of the year!" Celebrating Jesus' birth is something families should be excited about: singing, baking, crafts, decorating and "fun" family traditions. "Christmas Together" is a book which focuses on the real reason for the season with scripture, songs, prayers, favorite family recipes and fun together from Dec. 1 - 25...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - Roy Ray Cochran, 90, of Aquilla, Mo., died Friday, Sept. 21, 2018 at his home. A private family service will be held. Burial will be in the Walker Cemetery near Bloomfield with Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home of Bloomfield in charge of arrangements...

There is a universal hunger and thirst of humanity for something more than the wealth of the world, the satisfying of the appetite and the gratifying of the lust of the flesh or for power can give. It is beyond the grasp of the hand or even the intellect for it is a spiritual urge to reach out and find communion with and acceptance of the divine Spirit-God. ...

Janeane Rene Correll, 58, of Wappapello, Mo., died Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018 at her residence. A memorial service will be held at a later date. White-Sanders Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

James Slocum, 91, of Puxico, Mo., died Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018 at his residence. A graveside service was held Sept. 19- 2018 at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery near Bloomfield, Mo. Morgan-Sifford Funeral Home of Puxico in charge of arrangements.

Ernest Newell, 83, of Wappapello died Monday, Sept. 17, 2018 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Services were held Sept. 20, 2018 at the Morgan Sifford Funeral home in Puxico. Rev. Ray Placher officiated. Burial followed with full military honors in the Wappapello Cemetery...

The American Red Cross urges people of all races and ethnicities to give blood to help ensure a diverse blood supply for patients in need. All blood types are needed to ensure that the right blood product is available at the right time for all patients. Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)...