Stories from Sunday, August 28, 2011

About 130 members of the Missouri Army National Guard's 1137th Military Police Company are completing premobilization training today as they prepare for deployment to Qatar. Based in Kennett, Mo., the 1137th has detachments in Doniphan, Mo., and Jackson, Mo., and its soldiers will be among more than 450 from across the state taking part in the deployment...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer The Mid-America Express Event, celebrating the completion of four lanes of Highway 67 from Fredericktown, Mo., to Poplar Bluff, Mo., made its way down the highway Friday, wrapping up with a celebration at First Community Bank in Poplar Bluff. Local and state officials also gathered earlier in the day in Fredericktown and Greenville, Mo., for celebrations...

Authorities executed a search warrant Friday morning on a storage shed looking for property believed to have been stolen by two Qulin, Mo., residents during an earlier burglary. Scotty Wayne Napier, 26, and Brandy Nicole Rushing, 34, are believed to be responsible for the burglary of a home in the 3700 block of Wilcox Road, which was reported to the Butler County Sheriff's Department at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday...

Three state and federal officials reconfirmed last week that they support Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center's efforts to construct a new 250 bed hospital in Poplar Bluff. A site-specific certificate of need was approved in May by the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee for a new hospital to be constructed on PP Highway. ...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Attendees at the 24th annual Women Aware Conference Sept. 15, at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff will be able to attend four of the 28 breakout sessions on business, health, family and fun, as well as hear keynote speaker Carolyn Kepcher, visit more than 50 booths and network with others from across the region...

As the days get shorter and the crisp mornings signal the approach of autumn, area residents know Williamsville's biggest event of the year will soon take place. The 27th Annual Labor Day Picnic is scheduled for Sept. 2, and 3, and has become one of the region's most beloved family events, with an old-fashioned country fair atmosphere to entertain the young and young-at-heart, according to organizers...

Three state and federal officials reconfirmed last week that they support Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center's efforts to construct a new 250 bed hospital in Poplar Bluff. A site-specific certificate of need was approved in May by the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee for a new hospital to be constructed on PP Highway. ...

Authorities executed a search warrant Friday morning on a storage shed looking for property believed to have been stolen by two Qulin, Mo., residents during an earlier burglary. Scotty Wayne Napier, 26, and Brandy Nicole Rushing, 34, are believed to be responsible for the burglary of a home in the 3700 block of Wilcox Road, which was reported to the Butler County Sheriff's Department at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer The Mid-America Express Event, celebrating the completion of four lanes of Highway 67 from Fredericktown, Mo., to Poplar Bluff, Mo., made its way down the highway Friday, wrapping up with a celebration at First Community Bank in Poplar Bluff. Local and state officials also gathered earlier in the day in Fredericktown and Greenville, Mo., for celebrations...

About 130 members of the Missouri Army National Guard's 1137th Military Police Company are completing premobilization training today as they prepare for deployment to Qatar. Based in Kennett, Mo., the 1137th has detachments in Doniphan, Mo., and Jackson, Mo., and its soldiers will be among more than 450 from across the state taking part in the deployment...

As the days get shorter and the crisp mornings signal the approach of autumn, area residents know Williamsville's biggest event of the year will soon take place. The 27th Annual Labor Day Picnic is scheduled for Sept. 2, and 3, and has become one of the region's most beloved family events, with an old-fashioned country fair atmosphere to entertain the young and young-at-heart, according to organizers...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Attendees at the 24th annual Women Aware Conference Sept. 15, at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff will be able to attend four of the 28 breakout sessions on business, health, family and fun, as well as hear keynote speaker Carolyn Kepcher, visit more than 50 booths and network with others from across the region...

Midway through the third quarter, Dexter senior Josh Overall made sure his team grabbed the momentum from Ste. Genevieve. After the Bearcats recovered a fumble on a completed pass, Overall scored on an 80-yard run less than one minute later to give the Bearcats a two-possession lead before they went on to win, 28-6...

The Lady Mules are establishing a new standard for themselves early this season. After winning three games all of last year, Poplar Bluff beat Delta 10-4 Saturday in its home opener to move to 2-0 this fall. "(It feels) a lot better," senior Courtney Campbell said of this season. "We are becoming better as a team, we are working together more, we are hitting the ball a lot harder than we were last year...

With a chance to tie the game in the final minute Friday night, the Poplar Bluff football team came up ever so short -- or in this case long. After cutting Vashon's 14-point halftime lead to 27-25 on a touchdown with 56 seconds left, the Mules went for the tie on the extra point...

The Greenville Bears got behind Cooter in the game played at Clearwater on Saturday in the first inning but a 2-run homer by Scott Foster in the bottom of the first helped get the bats going and on to a an 8-2 win. "We hit the ball pretty well," Greenville coach Jason Hill said...

NEW MADRID -- The Cape Central Tigers scored early and often in a win over New Madrid County Central on Friday night. Mikey Jones was the leading rusher for the Tigers as he had 10 carries for 64 yards in a 41-6 win. Senior quarterback Christian Cavaness had two rushing scores and 47 yards on the ground in the win...

MALDEN -- One thing that is for certain: The Malden Green Wave know how to light up the scoreboard to start the season. For the third straight year, Malden scored at least 47 points against Scott City, this time beating them 47-21, in front of a packed house at home Friday night...

The First Church of God recently decided to "Do Something" for the community. Last Sunday, the pastors and congregation designated the day as "Do Something Sunday." Senior Pastor Richard Triplett ended a six-week sermon series entitled "Do Something, Make Your Life Count" by having about 60 volunteers go out into the community and do service projects...

Marsha Woolard of Poplar Bluff, Mo., will represent the area as Mrs. Southeast Missouri in the Mrs. Missouri America Pageant to be held Friday and Saturday, Sept. 2-3 in Branson, Mo. This competition is the state preliminary to Mrs. America and Mrs. World. Delegates compete in three categories: interview, swimsuit and evening gown competitions. The interview counts for 50 percent of the score while the swimsuit and evening gown competition are each worth 25 percent...

The Oak Grove Homemakers Club met for a noon luncheon Wednesday, Aug. 17, at the home of Helen Birdsong. Dorothy Robbins offered the invocation and Vice President Reba Marion presided at the meeting. For the devotional, Birdson read, "Prayer of the Woods," which portrayed how wood provides heat for the cold, shade for the summer, the beams that hold your house, the boards of your table, the door of your homestead and the wood of your cradle...

Thank you, Sheriff's Dept. Speakout: I would like to thank the Butler County Sheriff's Department for their efforts after the break-ins, as well as the alert citizens. I especially appreciated the respectful attention of Dep. Larkin and Investigator Thompson...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- It is one of the enduring mysteries of American history -- so near-providential as to give the most hardened atheist pause -- that it should have produced, at every hinge point, great men who matched the moment. A roiling, revolutionary 18th-century British colony gives birth to the greatest cohort of political thinkers ever: Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Hamilton, Washington, Franklin, Jay. The crisis of the 19th century brings forth Lincoln; the 20th, FDR...

To the Editor: Fighter Pilot, Walter Thies My office was just around the corner from Walter's State Farm office. This was on South Broadway. We had coffee at times at the Town & Country Restaurant next door to his office. Walter related to me some of his navy pilot experiences...

All aboard! Thursday night the Poplar Bluff R-1 School Board announced its support for Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center to build a new hospital in the Eight Points development off Oak Grove Road. The board issued a statement on its position following a public hearing in the Kay Porter Theatre attended by 121 people...

Cane Creek Community Club met Wednesday, Aug. 10 in the Craft Room at Twin Towers. Eight members were present when Glenda Phillips, president, called the meeting to order with the thought for the day -- "God never takes a vacation." Marie Boxx was hostess. Marie's devotion was taken from James 1:5-8. Club members sang the song, "Count Your Blessings."...

Linda Morgan, leader, of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) MO 734, called the meeting to order at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 24. In attendance were 24 TOPS and six KOPS members. Margaret Vaughn, TOPS, and Millie Clannahan, KOPS, were this week's best losers...

Hazel Staley BERNIE, Mo. -- Hazel Geneva Martin Staley, 85, of Bernie, Mo., died Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. Staley was born in Stidham, Okla., on July 14, 1926, and was a homemaker. On Nov. 24, 1987, she was married to John Staley in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He preceded her in death on July 10, 2001...

Charles E. Driskill DEXTER, Mo. -- Charles Driskill, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Driskill was born on Jan. 14, 1935, in Bragg City, Mo. He was a farmer for many years and a lived in Poplar Bluff, formally of Dexter, Mo...

Jerry Hamilton Jerry D. Hamilton, 52, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Hamilton was retired and a member of First Church of God. He enjoyed sports, the Cardinals, church, and spending time with family and friends...

David D. Gardner NEELYVILLE, Mo. - David D. Gardner, 50, of Neelyville died Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will begin at noon Tuesday with the funeral following at 2 p.m. at Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville. A complete obituary will appear in Monday's edition of the newspaper...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Mitchell Anton Hribovsek, 64, of Naylor, Mo., died Friday Aug. 26, 2010, at his home. Mr. Hribovsek was born Oct. 4, 1946, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He lived in the Naylor-Neelyville, Mo., area all of his life. He was a retired farmer who enjoyed spending time with family and friends and going to the river. Mr. Hribovsek served in the U.S. Army from 1968-1972 and was stationed in Germany...

Phillip Jackson Phillip Antonio Jackson, 61, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born July 2, 1950, to Dorothy and Maurice Jackson in San Diego, Calif. He graduated from El Companile High School in 1968...

Jennie Combs Jennie Lee Combs, 87, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Combs was born July 30, 1924, near Doniphan, Mo. and was a member of First Baptist Church. She was retired as a beautician and owner of Valley Plaza Beauty Salon...

David Calvert David Eugene Calvert, 61, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, at his residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

Bailey Lewis Bailey Lewis, 82, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at Claru Deville Nursing Center in Fredericktown, Mo. Mr. Bailey was born May 19, 1929 in Poplar Bluff. He was of the Baptist faith, and had retired as a restaurant chef in Chicago, Ill. Mr. Lewis was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served in Korea where he was awarded a National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, United Nations Service Medal and two Overseas Bars...

Linda Lawrence DEXTER, Mo. -- Linda Faye Lawrence, 76, of Dexter, Mo., died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. Mrs. Lawrence was born on Nov. 14, 1934, in Hornersville, Mo. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Dexter and was an educator for 39 years, with 31 of those years in the Richland School District...

WAPPAPELLO, Mo. -- Dennis Ray Neighbors, 55, of Wappapello, Mo., died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Neighbors was born Jan. 11, 1956, in St. Louis, Mo. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, and was a longtime member of the Eagle's Lodge and V.F.W. Post 3416 at Wappapello. Mr. Neighbors was also a member of the Wappapello Crappie Club. He was self-employed as a long distance truck driver. Mr. Neighbors enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing and deer hunting...

Bailey Lewis Bailey Lewis, 82, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at Claru Deville Nursing Center in Fredericktown, Mo. Mr. Bailey was born May 19, 1929 in Poplar Bluff. He was of the Baptist faith, and had retired as a restaurant chef in Chicago, Ill. Mr. Lewis was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served in Korea where he was awarded a National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, United Nations Service Medal and two Overseas Bars...

Phillip Jackson Phillip Antonio Jackson, 61, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born July 2, 1950, to Dorothy and Maurice Jackson in San Diego, Calif. He graduated from El Companile High School in 1968...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Mitchell Anton Hribovsek, 64, of Naylor, Mo., died Friday Aug. 26, 2010, at his home. Mr. Hribovsek was born Oct. 4, 1946, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He lived in the Naylor-Neelyville, Mo., area all of his life. He was a retired farmer who enjoyed spending time with family and friends and going to the river. Mr. Hribovsek served in the U.S. Army from 1968-1972 and was stationed in Germany...

Hazel Staley BERNIE, Mo. -- Hazel Geneva Martin Staley, 85, of Bernie, Mo., died Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. Staley was born in Stidham, Okla., on July 14, 1926, and was a homemaker. On Nov. 24, 1987, she was married to John Staley in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He preceded her in death on July 10, 2001...

Charles E. Driskill DEXTER, Mo. -- Charles Driskill, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Driskill was born on Jan. 14, 1935, in Bragg City, Mo. He was a farmer for many years and a lived in Poplar Bluff, formally of Dexter, Mo...

All aboard! Thursday night the Poplar Bluff R-1 School Board announced its support for Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center to build a new hospital in the Eight Points development off Oak Grove Road. The board issued a statement on its position following a public hearing in the Kay Porter Theatre attended by 121 people...

The Oak Grove Homemakers Club met for a noon luncheon Wednesday, Aug. 17, at the home of Helen Birdsong. Dorothy Robbins offered the invocation and Vice President Reba Marion presided at the meeting. For the devotional, Birdson read, "Prayer of the Woods," which portrayed how wood provides heat for the cold, shade for the summer, the beams that hold your house, the boards of your table, the door of your homestead and the wood of your cradle...

The Greenville Bears got behind Cooter in the game played at Clearwater on Saturday in the first inning but a 2-run homer by Scott Foster in the bottom of the first helped get the bats going and on to a an 8-2 win. "We hit the ball pretty well," Greenville coach Jason Hill said...

Linda Lawrence DEXTER, Mo. -- Linda Faye Lawrence, 76, of Dexter, Mo., died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. Mrs. Lawrence was born on Nov. 14, 1934, in Hornersville, Mo. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Dexter and was an educator for 39 years, with 31 of those years in the Richland School District...