Stories from Saturday, November 10, 2018

A public meeting to discuss the Wappapello Lake water control plan, operations and dam safety is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the Community Civic Center in Wappapello, Missouri. Presentations will be given on the water control plan, 2018 operations and dam safety by members of the St. Louis District, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers' staff. The staff will also host a question and answer session regarding operations...

The Puxico Elementary School and the PTO invite grandparents to visit classes and be special guests for lunch at school on Tuesday, Nov. 20. Grandparents of kindergarten children are invited to visit classes no earlier than 9:45 a.m. Grandparents of students in grades one through five should arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled lunch time and visit classes after lunch. ...

Mingo Youth Hunt At the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge over the weekend of Nov. 3-4, 35 youths tagged 20 deer during the annual managed hunt set aside just for young hunters. "That's almost double what the same number of hunters took last year," said refuge biologist Brad Pendley...

When J.C. Arnold graduated from Dexter High School in 1943, he went to work for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. "I shoveled chat along the track between the ties; then, we picked up the excess and distributed it," Arnold recalls. It wasn't long, though, until Uncle Sam came calling, and in the fall of that same year, Arnold found himself at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, working as an Army vehicle mechanic. ...

Republican Herman Morse will continue to serve as the state representative for Stoddard County's District 151. Morse beat his Democratic challenger J.T. (Jerry) Howard 8,600 to 2,001 Nov. 6. Libertarian Rick Vandeven received 193 votes. "I hope that I can continue to have the confidence and the respect of the voters that I serve," said Morse, 69, on Tuesday night. "I think voters probably can see there is some change we need, but I think they would rather have tweaking than have radical change...

Poplar Bluff is now only the second city in Missouri to earn a veteran-friendly community designation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It is also the first rural area to be recognized, public information officer Angela Smith of John J. Pershing VA Medical Center said Friday morning...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Cape Girardeau is now officially a Purple Heart City thanks to a proclamation delivered during Wednesday's city council meeting. The proclamation marks an agreement between the city and the Missouri Military Order of the Purple Heart, a veterans advocacy organization based in Springfield, Missouri...

When a call comes in for a motor vehicle crash or person in distress, it doesn't matter what the day or time, the Stoddard County Ambulance District will be there to help. "We take care of all emergency and routine ambulance needs for the county," SCAD Manager David Cooper said. "We start about 6:45 a.m. with inspecting trucks, restocking and all maintenance issues required. Then we just wait on the call after that."...

From December through February, Missouri's winter eagle watching is spectacular. Discover nature with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) through Eagle Days events around the state, or enjoy eagle viewing on your own. Because of the state's big rivers, many lakes, and abundant wetlands, Missouri is one of the leading lower 48 states for bald eagle viewing. ...

A former Dexter High School industrial arts teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with one of her students will not be prosecuted at this time after the state agreed to defer pursuing the charge against her. "Pursuant to the wishes of the victim ... we entered a deferred prosecution agreement" with Marti L. Pulliam, "and she has surrendered her teaching license" as part of that agreement, explained Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver...

Lieutenant Colonel Eric T. Olson, acting superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, reminds everyone that being courteous and attentive drivers increases safety on our roadways. Driving with the highest degree of care is everyone's responsibility. Expect an increase in traffic over the Thanksgiving holiday, which makes following all traffic laws even more important...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Transportation primarily handles highway construction, but has other needs as well, and looks for subcontractors to perform those functions. That was the subject of a workshop Thursday afternoon at the Economic and Business Engagement Center at 920 Broadway in Cape Girardeau...

In another step forward with the Stoddard County Jail expansion, the county commission will be accepting bids for the demolition of the property at 201 E. Court Street in Bloomfield. In addition to running a request for bids in the newspaper, the commission will be sending letters directly to businesses that could provide the work needed...

From the time immemorial the voice of God has challenged man to rise up and follow his leading and become all God wants him to be. At times he spoke directly to him, and at other times he spoke through a prophet, preacher or other means. He speaks to us today through the Bible that was written by men under direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit...

Greenville R-II High School in Greenville, Mo., has announced Katherine Marie Bangert and Brandi LaRae Shearrer as students of the month for October. Katherine Marie Bangert is a senior and the daughter of Jim and Mary Bangert of Coldwater, Mo. She is active in basketball, volleyball, track, cross country, softball (two years), FCS, FCCLA, FBLA, NHS, Beta Club and student council. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Saint Francis Medical Center earned an 'A' from the Leapfrog Group's Fall 2018 Hospital Safety Grade. The designation recognizes Saint Francis' efforts in protecting patients from harm and meeting the highest safety standards in the United States. ...

Betty Reynolds Acton, 82, died Nov. 5, 2018 at the Dexter Living Center. Visitation and funeral services were held November 8, 2018 at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Rev. Dwight Hensley officiated. Interment followed in the South Pleasant Valley Cemetery (Triplett)...

DEXTER, Mo. - James W. "Stoney" Stone, 79, of Morehouse, Mo., died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018 at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, Mo. There are no services scheduled at this time with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements...

DEXTER, Mo. - James Everett Long, 82, a resident of Dexter died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018 in Dexter. Visitation will be aat the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018 from 10 a.m. to noon followed at noon with Rev. Ron Beaton officiating. Burial will follow in the Dexter Cemetery...

About 20 officers from Butler and Stoddard counties were among those ensuring the safety of President Donald Trump's motorcade Monday night as it passed through the city of Cape Girardeau en route to his rally at the Show Me Center. But, even before Air Force One landed at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport and the president's motorcade headed toward the event center, his route had been searched for explosives by Poplar Bluff Police Lt. Darron Moore and canine Loco...