Stories from Tuesday, November 15, 2011

By MELISSA MILLER SEMO News Service This year's fall harvest is winding down behind schedule, due to late planting and fall rains. During the past month, Southeast Missouri counties have had more than two inches of rain -- some, including New Madrid and Pemiscot counties, nearly three and a half inches -- keeping farmers out of the fields...

By DAVID ESPO Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sidestepping controversy, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., declined to take sides Monday on a proposal for higher tax revenues backed by fellow Republicans on Congress' supercommittee, yet expressed confidence the panel would agree on a deficit-reduction plan of at least $1.2 trillion by a Nov. 23 deadline...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer More than 90 people across the United States will take their own life today, according to the most recent information from the Centers from Disease Control. Within Missouri, one person dies nearly every 11 hours from suicide...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Real estate and personal property taxes for 2011 to be distributed to all the taxing entities in Butler County are expected to total $20.5 million. Butler County Collector Brenda Fox and her staff mailed out more than 28,000 tax bills on Nov. 7...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer More than 90 people across the United States will take their own life today, according to the most recent information from the Centers from Disease Control. Within Missouri, one person dies nearly every 11 hours from suicide...

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals are replacing a manager who's third on the career victory list with a man who'll be writing his first lineup card on opening day. Mike Matheny, a former catcher with the Cardinals who had been a minor league instructor, was introduced as Tony La Russa's successor at a news conference Monday...

Carr Vernon waited for the exact minute to sign his name on the letter of intent to play golf at the University of Akron. It was 11:11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month in 2011 when the Poplar Bluff senior made it official. "It's a really nice school and I'm happy with my decision," Vernon said...

By SHARON RANDALL Scripps Howard News Service They say a picture is worth a thousand words -- especially if it is seen through the eyes of love. Recently, after Clemson lost its first football game of the year, ending any hopes for an undefeated season, I called my brother in South Carolina to offer my condolences...

On Veterans Day, America thanks its veterans. Every day, many veterans search for meaning and some good that made their service and their sacrifice worthwhile. For those of us who fought in Korea and Vietnam, it is a frustrating search. An article in the current issue of "VFW" magazine; "Soviet Communism's Downfall, 20 Years Ago," begins; "Startling finding; according to a citizenship test administered by Newsweek and reported in the March 28 & April 4, 2011, edition, a whopping 73% of Americans could not identify communism as the ideology America opposed during the Cold War.". ...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The Stolen Valor Act of 2005, a compound of political pandering and moral exhibitionism, was whooped through the Senate, aka the "world's greatest deliberative body," by unanimous consent; the House, joining the stampede, passed it by a voice vote. So Xavier Alvarez now hopes the Supreme Court will save him from punishment for lying. And his is not the only case arising from government supervising speech that is demonstrably, or arguably, inaccurate...

By BILL O'REILLY The cult of celebrity has reached a new low. No, I'm not talking about Kim Kardashian making millions from her wedding and then dumping the groom less than three months later. We could have predicted that. What is even worse is that one of the late John Lennon's body parts has sold for more than $31,000 at an auction...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- The 2011 off-year elections are a warning to Republicans. The 2010 party is over. 2012 will be a struggle. To be sure, Tuesday was not exactly the Democrats' night. They did enjoy one big victory, repeal of government-worker reform in Ohio. But elsewhere, they barely held their own. The bigger news was the absence of any major Republican trend. The great Republican resurgence of 2009-10 has slowed to a crawl...

By ANN McFEATTERS Scripps Howard News Service When CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo asked Herman Cain at the GOP debate in Michigan about the importance of character and responsibility for a CEO, the audience booed the question. That response was as cringe-making as poor Rick Perry's mind going blank as he tried to explain the core of his candidacy -- that as president he'd get rid of the departments of Energy, Education and Commerce. He couldn't remember Energy until 20 minutes later...

Randall Benson Randall Perry "Randy" Benson, 57, of Poplar Bluff , Mo., died Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Benson was born Sept. 22, 1954, in Iola, Kan. He was a member of Fellowship General Baptist Church and had retired from Santa Fe Railroad and later from Sonic Drive-In in Poplar Bluff as a manager. Mr. Benson enjoyed spending time with his family, art, photography, guitar music and working with others...

Ed Gayle DEXTER, Mo. -- Ed Gayle, 86, of Dexter, Mo., died Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Larry Eaton Larry Leroy Eaton, 72, of Florissant, Mo., died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at his residence in Florissant. Mr. Eaton was born Jan. 23, 1939, in Piedmont, Mo. He had retired as an engineer for McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Eaton enjoyed helping others, and always sponsored a needy child during the holidays...

Rudy Crites ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Nancy Rudell "Rudy" Crites, 88, of Piedmont, Mo., died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, in Piedmont. Mrs. Crites was born Aug. 12, 1923, in Butler County, Mo. She had lived in Piedmont for the past four years and was formerly of Ellsinore, Mo., where she lived all her adult life. She was a member of the United Methodist Church...

Pearl Lee FISK, Mo. -- Pearl Lee, 88, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, at Oakdale Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Funeral arrangements are pending with White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk.

Steve Knapp Sr. Steve Knapp, Sr., 93, of Grandin, Mo., died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Knapp was born May 4, 1918, in Pesno Brand, Yugoslavia. He had been a pipefitter with Monsanto in St. Louis, Mo. He enjoyed gardening, fishing and making wine. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the American Legion Post No. 300 in Afton, Mo...

The Oak Grove Elementary A and B Honor Roll is as follows: A Honor Roll 2nd Grade: Malikhi Czerwonka, Isaac Reid, Natalie Murphy, Matti Stacy, Aden Bedell, Emma Sutton, Emilee Masters, Garrett Lazalier, Alexander Wiseman, Nicholaus Brumitt, Davin Ladewig, Caleigh Chilton, Shae Sarabia, Tymber Colvin, Emalee Starling, Alexandra Ferguson, Gavin Vaughn, Shyla Leonard, Garret Cooper, Jacob Baller, Piper Duncan, Taylor Praefke, Kaylen Riley, Brady Robertson, Avery Casey, Kristina Mason, Chandler Beaton, Emma Eubank, Courtney Padgett, Bryce Crites, Vanessa Adams, Dylan Brown, Bailey Anderson, Dylan Simmers, Kason Henderson, Lexis Hesselrode, Chase Brannan, Sarah Thompson, Jaydon Everts, Allison Cochran, Austin Stoner, Jacob Moffitt, Adriana Magee, Jett Robertson, Luke Barousse, and Lauren Bradford. ...

Sacred Heart honor roll Sacred Heart Catholic School first quarter honor roll is as follows: A Honor Roll 1st Grade: Roddy Baz, Kate Byrne, Olivia Carda-Smith, Liam Elliott, Drew Gilmore, Billy Gribbins, Simran Khanuja, Sydney Kramer, Davis McGath, Sha're Phelps, River Rowland, Andrew Rubi, Jonathan Grimaldo, Madison Hockersmith, Ashley Rivera, Cristian Tenorio...

Delbert Roach Delbert Eugene Roach, 87, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Roach was born June 18, 1924, in Poplar Bluff. He was a lifetime resident of Poplar Bluff and member of Highland Drive Church of Christ. Mr. Roach served in the Navy during World War II. He was a retired store manager at Gambles and a salesman at Farmer Cash. Mr. Roach enjoyed church and walking and talking to people in Walmart...

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals are replacing a manager who's third on the career victory list with a man who'll be writing his first lineup card on opening day. Mike Matheny, a former catcher with the Cardinals who had been a minor league instructor, was introduced as Tony La Russa's successor at a news conference Monday...

The Butler County Genealogy Society met Oct. 27 at Twin Towers with 25 members and guests present. President June Allen called the meeting to order. In the business portion, the secretary and treasurer reports were accepted. Linda Surber and Sue Wilson were appointed to audit the financial records...

By ANN McFEATTERS Scripps Howard News Service When CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo asked Herman Cain at the GOP debate in Michigan about the importance of character and responsibility for a CEO, the audience booed the question. That response was as cringe-making as poor Rick Perry's mind going blank as he tried to explain the core of his candidacy -- that as president he'd get rid of the departments of Energy, Education and Commerce. He couldn't remember Energy until 20 minutes later...

Do something about birds Hello. I was calling about the birds that are all over town. I was hoping the city was going to do something about them. They're just swarms of them in our trees. We live out 67 and Town and Country and hordes have invaded. It's horrible. I hope that they do something...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The Stolen Valor Act of 2005, a compound of political pandering and moral exhibitionism, was whooped through the Senate, aka the "world's greatest deliberative body," by unanimous consent; the House, joining the stampede, passed it by a voice vote. So Xavier Alvarez now hopes the Supreme Court will save him from punishment for lying. And his is not the only case arising from government supervising speech that is demonstrably, or arguably, inaccurate...

By SHARON RANDALL Scripps Howard News Service They say a picture is worth a thousand words -- especially if it is seen through the eyes of love. Recently, after Clemson lost its first football game of the year, ending any hopes for an undefeated season, I called my brother in South Carolina to offer my condolences...

Carr Vernon waited for the exact minute to sign his name on the letter of intent to play golf at the University of Akron. It was 11:11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month in 2011 when the Poplar Bluff senior made it official. "It's a really nice school and I'm happy with my decision," Vernon said...

BRANSON, Mo. -- Scott Matthews received the Missouri Community College Association's Award of Distinction at the association's annual convention in Branson. The award was presented in recognition of Matthews' support of Three Rivers College and of the mission of community colleges throughout the state...

Randall Benson Randall Perry "Randy" Benson, 57, of Poplar Bluff , Mo., died Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Benson was born Sept. 22, 1954, in Iola, Kan. He was a member of Fellowship General Baptist Church and had retired from Santa Fe Railroad and later from Sonic Drive-In in Poplar Bluff as a manager. Mr. Benson enjoyed spending time with his family, art, photography, guitar music and working with others...

Steve Knapp Sr. Steve Knapp, Sr., 93, of Grandin, Mo., died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Knapp was born May 4, 1918, in Pesno Brand, Yugoslavia. He had been a pipefitter with Monsanto in St. Louis, Mo. He enjoyed gardening, fishing and making wine. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the American Legion Post No. 300 in Afton, Mo...

Larry Eaton Larry Leroy Eaton, 72, of Florissant, Mo., died Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at his residence in Florissant. Mr. Eaton was born Jan. 23, 1939, in Piedmont, Mo. He had retired as an engineer for McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Eaton enjoyed helping others, and always sponsored a needy child during the holidays...

Ed Gayle DEXTER, Mo. -- Ed Gayle, 86, of Dexter, Mo., died Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Wayne Davis Wayne Anthony Davis, 53, of Festus, Mo., died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Crystal City. Mr. Davis was born Aug. 28, 1958, in St. Louis. He worked in the maintenance department at Walmart in Festus and was a U.S. Army veteran...

Delbert Roach Delbert Eugene Roach, 87, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Roach was born June 18, 1924, in Poplar Bluff. He was a lifetime resident of Poplar Bluff and member of Highland Drive Church of Christ. Mr. Roach served in the Navy during World War II. He was a retired store manager at Gambles and a salesman at Farmer Cash. Mr. Roach enjoyed church and walking and talking to people in Walmart...