Stories from Tuesday, December 11, 2018

The Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield will participate in the Wreaths Across America Program on Saturday, Dec. 15. The program will begin at 11 a.m. in the cemetery at the Committal Shelter Pavilion. Master of Ceremony for the program will be Randy Dunn...

A space that serves as many as 1,500 veterans per month will see a significant upgrade after a groundbreaking Friday, Dec. 7, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. The VA expects to open a new 10,000-square-foot urgent care in early 2020. It replaces the current 1,300-square-foot space, adding more exam rooms, a decontamination area, a procedure room, a women's exam room and other medical areas...

Plans for the Highway Y expansion in Stoddard County near Nestle Purina have been completed and are expected to be advertised for bid Jan. 11. With an award date predicted for March 6, Missouri Department of Transportation Area Engineer Dave Wyman and commissioners discussed when Stoddard County's portion of the cost share project would be paid during Monday morning's meeting...

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation continues to develop a plan to manage the state's reintroduced elk herd, using hunting as the primary means to control the growing population. At a sparsley-attended workshop recentlys at Van Buren High School, department officials explained to visitors the current state of the elk population and the various dynamics they will look at when determining hunting regulations, while at the same time soliciting comments from those interested...

FISK, Mo. - George "G.H." Coffer, 80, of Orland Park, Ill., died Thursday, December 6, 2018 at his daughter's residence, in Orland Park. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. on Tues., Dec. 11 at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. Graveside services will follow at 11 a.m. at the Ash Hill Cemetery East at Fisk with Chuck White officiating. Condolences: www.whitesandersfuneralhome.com...

The University of Missouri Extension and the Ag Club at Three Rivers College would like to thank the vendors who help support the Ag Expo in 2019, said Stephanie Milner of the University of Missouri Extension. While several area business and organizations are registered, Milner explained, the early registration ends Dec. 31."...

CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Campbell narrowly beat Portageville on Monday, in a game highlighting Campbell's athleticism and Portageville's physicality. Campbell guard Claire Parker scored a game-high 28 points with Adrionna Pearson adding 15 points to beat Portageville 56-53 on Monday. Dasmine Johnson led Portageville with 23 points...

CLARKTON -- Nineteen points from Curtis Fowler propelled top-seeded Neelyville to a 73-58 win over eighth-seeded Naylor in the quarterfinal of the Clarkton Christmas Tournament Monday night against Naylor. The Tigers pounced on the Eagles early for a 23-8 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. Curtis Fowler, Jemaane Williams and Marquise West also scored in double figures for the Tigers with 16, 13 and 12, respectively...

DEXTER -- The Poplar Bluff Mules are looking for a second and third scoring option. Kiley Bess scored a team-high 22 points, but none of her teammates reached double figures in the Mules' 57-43 loss to Olive Branch (Miss.) in the third round of the SEMO Border Challenge on Saturday at the Bearcat Event Center...

Dexter will look to win the Lady Royals Classic for a fourth straight year, and the Bearcats will once again enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed. The 5-3 Bearcats earned 14 votes to secure the top spot. Two of Dexter's losses have come by three points (Jackson and Class 5 Kirkwood), and Olive Branch, Mississippi, defeated the Bearcats by 17 in the SEMO Border Challenge. ...

Several years ago, I sat down with former House Speaker Ron Richards to discuss right-to-work legislation for Missouri. Richards knew I had been a longtime supporter of right-to-work having seen surrounding states attract industry away from our region based solely on right to work...

Greenville R-II High School announced Bobbi Ann Teschke and Nicholas James Shaffer as its November students of the month. Bobbi Ann Teschke is a senior at Greenville High School and the daughter of Jamie Golden. She is active in BETA (secretary), student council (secretary), Bear Ambassadors, Educational Talent Search, Art Club, National Honors Society, Photography Club and Fellowship of Christian Students. ...

By MONA CHAREN NBC's Katy Tur, responding to an article in the New Yorker about climate, looked into the camera and asked, "How pointless is my life? And how pointless are the decisions that I make on a day-to-day basis when we are not focused on climate change every day, when it's not leading every one of our newscasts?"...

FISK, Mo. - George 'G.H.' Coffer, age 80, of Orland Park, Ill., died Thursday, December 6, 2018 at his daughter's residence, in Orland Park, Ill. Mr. Coffer was born in 1938 in Danville, Ark. son of the late Johnnie and Lillie Coffer. He was a heavy equipment operator and had lived in Southeast Missouri and Houston, Tx. ...

Tripp Cauthen is Sacred Heart School's December student of the month. Tripp is in the 4th grade and is the son of Kent and Jenny Cauthen. He has a sister Maddy and a brother McLane. Tripp enjoys spending time with his family and talking with his family...

Eugene Field Elementary has announced Natalie Daves, Addyson Henson and Richard Malone as its November students of the month. Natalie Daves is in the third grade and daughter of Krystle and Daniel Daves. Her teacher Mrs. Angela Rush says, "Natalie is a true aspiring leader. ...

GREENVILLE, Mo. - Deloris Ramsey, 82, died Monday, Dec. 10, 2018, at Stonecrest Health Care, Viburnum, Mo. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home, Greenville. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com

NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Jerry Lee Smith, 83, of Neelyville, departed this life on December 8, 2018 at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Smith was born on April 23, 1935 in Bernie Mo., to the late Howard Smith and Mildred Bishop Smith...

McComb NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Betty Jean McFadden-McComb, 83, of Neelyville, was born October 10, 1935 in Portageville, Mo. to the late John McFadden Sr. and Mary Austin. She departed this life on December 7, 2018. A long time resident of Neelyville, Betty devoted her life to her children and her family. She was cherished by her community and anyone blessed to have met her. She was a member of El Bethel Missionary Church, and had accepted Christ at an early age...

Jerry Hester, 83, of Poplar Bluff, died Sat., Dec. 8, 2018 at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Thurs., Dec. 13 at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Memorial Services will be immediately follow 11:30 a.m. in the Moore Funeral Service Chapel with Byron Beck officiating...

Gerald Edward Cook, 82, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. His daughter Lisa Foster, 52, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018 at her residence. Mr. Cook, the son of the late George H. ...

William Delane Conner, 58, of Puxico, Mo. died Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018 at his son's residence in Patterson, Mo. Services were held Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018 at the White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. Pastor Wayne Street and Rev. John Radford officiated. Burial followed in the Little Brushy Cemetery in Wappapello...

Chester L. Stroud, 86, of Poplar Bluff,Mo., died Monday, Dec. 3, 2018 at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Services were held Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at the Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. Rev. Dusty Stroud and Rev. T. J. Woodard officiated. A final farewell drive salute by staff members of John J. Pershing Medical Center followed...

As we approach the time of the year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, it should be with great joy and renewed hope for a better, more peaceful world. Jesus has been called the Prince of Peace, a fitting title for Him, but the problem that arises is that too many want the peace without accepting the Prince...

The American Red Cross urgently needs blood and platelet donors to give now to ensure blood is available for medical treatments and emergencies during the holiday season. Blood and platelet donations often decline during the holidays when regular donors are busy with holiday activities and travel. ...

ST. LOUIS -- At the age of 52, Jose Cervantes-Rocha became a United States citizen. It is something the Wappapello man has worked toward since he was 18. Cervantes took the Oath of Allegiance -- the final step of the naturalization process -- Friday, along with more than 50 other individuals from 24 countries. His wife and young daughter were in attendance at the Thomas F. Eagleton United States Courthouse in St. Louis...

Action Monday by the Poplar Bluff City Council could indicate renewed interest in a downtown city hall, but officials say they cannot confirm that at this time. A special council meeting was held to workshop and vote on the purchase of 115 W. Pine, a property officials have previously said the city would want if a new city complex was constructed on Second Street...

By MARYBETH NIEDERKORN Southeast Missourian More than 250 area middle-school students participate in the Youth Coding League, a weekly after-school program that introduces computer programming to students, and voting is live now to determine whose project stands out above the rest...

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- A federal grant has put the Southeast Missouri Regional Port on track to handle trainload shipments at its Scott City facility within the next several years. It was announced last week the regional port authority would receive a $19.8 million grant to help fund a $33 million project to construct two loop tracks and a terminal at the Mississippi River port...

Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center will be bustling with activity Thursday morning as medical personnel partner with area emergency responders to conduct an active-shooter drill. The exercise reportedly will simulate, as much as possible, an active-shooter response from local law enforcement, fire departments and emergency-medical-services personnel...