Stories from Sunday, December 9, 2018

East Carter girls athletics is having an incredible run of success. Softball went to state, cross country went to state, and most recently, cheerleading won back-to-back MCCA Class 1 Small Squad State Championships. The only problem is, many of the Lady Redbirds were on two or three fall sports at the same time...

DEXTER -- Poplar Bluff went up against a defensively sound team in Tupelo (Miss.), and it showed on the scoreboard and in the execution of the offense. The Lady Mules were trying to feed sophomores Sierra Sievers and Hannah Corcimiglia in the post throughout the night, but the Golden Wave was cutting off the entry lanes and denying passes consistently for all four quarters...

DEXTER -- The seventh-ranked Dexter Bearcats allowed runs off 11-0 and 14-0 in a 63-46 loss to Olive Branch (Miss.) on Friday night in the SEMO Border Challenge at the Bearcat Event Center. "Olive Branch is definitely a really good team," Dexter coach Chad Allen said. ...

SIKESTON -- Struggling to score has been an early season problem for the Charleston boys basketball so far this season. Those same problems continued on Friday, in the third-place game of the SEMO Conference Tournament, against Poplar Bluff. The Bluejays scored just 11 points in the first quarter -- 27 for the first half - and fell to the Mules 79-58...

By MARC A. THIESSEN "When you strike at a king you must kill him," Ralph Waldo Emerson once said. Well, this year China tried to strike at President Trump for daring to launch a trade war with Beijing -- and missed the mark entirely. After Trump imposed massive tariffs on Chinese goods earlier this year, Beijing responded in June with what appeared to be a clever strategy: targeting retaliatory tariffs against Trump voters in rural farming communities across the United States. ...

EMINENCE, Mo.: Join a National Park Service ranger from 9-11 a.m. Saturday for a discovery hike at Prairie Hollow Gorge Natural Area. Often called the "Jewel of the Riverways", the area boasts some of the best panoramic views, glimpses of the geological past and diversity of flora and fauna in the Riverways. Hikers must pre-register by calling Ranger Josh Chilton at 573-226-3945 or email josh_chilton@nps.gov...

When it opened, the theatre on the corner of Pine and Broadway was billed as he finest between St. Louis and Memphis. It was fully air conditioned and could seat 1,160 customers in red plush seats. The first movie shown on opening night was "Red Canyon" starring Ann Blythe, Howard Duff and George Brent. It also featured Chill Wills and a young Lloyd Bridges...

From staff reports More than 200 veterans in need received grocery staples Friday to help them make their Christmas dinners. The effort was led by John J. Pershing VA Medical Center staff. Veterans William Lay and Sammie Reddick told staff this program means they can devote their money to other needs...

Members of the Wappapello Lake Area Association voted in November to purchase an addition $500 in lights for the Festival of Lights display, which is open now. WLAA met Nov. 13 at Little Brushy M.B. Church at Wappapello Lake. The next meeting will be at 5 p.m. Dec. 11 at the church...

Jerry Duane Hodge, 77, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at his residence. Mr. Hodge was born July 17, 1941 in Poplar Bluff. He was of the Baptist faith. His hobbies were golfing and fishing and he was an avid St. Louis Cardinal fan. He married Ann Flatt Hodge June 30, 1963 in Poplar Bluff, who survives...

A plan pushed by Cape Girardeau city officials to revitalize two run-down buildings and a vacant lot on Good Hope Street collapsed after the properties were sold by the county government for back taxes. City development services director Alex McElroy said the tax sale in August of this year ended the development effort before it could get started...

By MARYBETH NIEDERKORN Southeast Missourian Having health insurance is important, and low- or no-cost plans are available, but the open enrollment period ends Dec. 15, said Nancy Kelley, program director with Cover Missouri, a coalition whose vision is to reduce the number of uninsured in Missouri...

Private memorial service for Gary Lee Burns, 55, of Enid, Okla., will be in the Gum Cemetery, Naylor, Mo,, at a later date. Cremation arrangements are with Anderson-Burris Funeral Home & Crematory. Gary was born April 23, 1963, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. to Louie F. and Gloria J. Kitz Burns, and passed away Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018 in Enid...

FISK, Mo. -- Mary Bob Collins, 81, of Qulin, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at her residence at Qulin, Mo. Mrs. Collins was born Oct. 28, 1937 at Broseley. She was a homemaker and had been a cook in the Poplar Bluff School system and also was a cook at several restaurants in the Qulin area. She was a faithful friend and mother and grandmother of many. In April of 1965, she married James (Jerry) H. Collins. He preceded her in death on Nov. 8, 1998...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- An old adage says "life is a journey," meaning you should live life to the fullest. The path you take is full of ups, downs, various people and experiences along the way. Twists, turns and changes of direction happen every day, but once in a while, an experience comes along to change a life forever...

Randy Holder of Scott City is the winner of the Missouri Lottery Show Me Cash $245,000 jackpot, according to a news release Friday. According to the release, Holder kept the ticket in a bank safe deposit box until he claimed the prize Nov. 30. He plans to keep the prize as a nest egg for his retirement years, the release stated. However, he does have immediate plans for one purchase: a smartphone...

Thurman "Mike" Almond, 76, passed away Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, peacefully in his home in Dexter. Mike was born May 29, 1942, in Aid, Missouri to the late Thurman Autie Almond and Mamie Juldene Long Almond.In 1959, he met the love of his life and wife of 56 years, Becky Hubbard Almond...

FISK, Mo. -- Joshua Raymond Clinton, 41, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018 at his residence, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was born May 7, 1977 in Louisville, Ky. Josh was artistic in all his endeavors whether it was his music, woodworking or art work, he always added his creative touch. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need with a non-judgmental heart and never stopped searching for the truth. He had served in the U.S. Air force...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Eva Sue DeArman, daughter of the late Douglas Gilmore and Rosie Shelton Gilmore was born on Dec. 12, 1946 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri and departed this life on Dec. 6, 2018 at Southeast Health of Stoddard County at the age of 71 years. Mrs. DeArman was a bookkeeper for Fowler Gas Company in Neelyville, Missouri. She was a Sunday school teacher and member of the First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, Missouri...

GIDEON, Mo. -- Wendell Dean Maddox, 57, of Gideon, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018, at his residence in Gideon. Visitation and the service was Saturday at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Gideon with the Rev. Greg Mullins officiating. Burial took place in Dunklin Memorial Gardens in Kennett...

Poplar Bluff Municipal Library continued its tradition this year of holding family crafting sessions. Families came out to make new Christmas memories and took home a variety of holiday decorations, from mason jar snowmen to reindeer puppets. It proved once again how much children love participating in all Christmas celebrations...

When the holidays approach, people seem to become more generous and interested in the welfare of their fellow humans. "Pay it forward" regains popularity as anonymous customers pick up the tab for someone waiting to be served. Shoppers purchase an extra toy or pair of gloves to donate to various holiday goodwill endeavors. The spirit of giving, kindness and concern is everywhere...