Stories from Sunday, December 18, 2011

Area legislators heard about the progress in growth, programs and services at Three Rivers, as well as the college's 2012 legislative agenda, during the third annual Legislative Brunch and Round Table held at the Tinnin Center Friday. The event was also used to honor state Rep. Todd Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff) as the Three Rivers Legislator of the Year. Richardson was selected for his untiring support for Three Rivers and for all Missouri's community colleges and the students they serve...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A Marine with local ties was awarded the Bronze Star at Camp Pendleton, Calif., on Nov. 7. Gunnery Sgt. Quentin K. Black was born in Butler County and attended school in Broseley, Mo., before his family moved to Willard, Mo., where he graduated high school. Black's parents, Jim Black and Gail Black, are from the area but now live near Springfield, Mo...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Since taking over as Carter County's sheriff, Bruce Van Belle has accomplished more in his first six months than he expected. Those accomplishments include more than doubling the department's manpower, with the addition of two full-time deputies and seven commissioned reserves, cutting response times and adding a canine trained in drug detection and tracking...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editors According to a news release from the American Civil Liberties Union, two women have filed a lawsuit against the city of Poplar Bluff and City Clerk Pamela Kearbey concerning the number of signatures on an open access petition...

For two generations, a local mail carrier has used her direct line to make sure letters like these and everything else addressed to St. Nick receives a personal response. In fact, the Poplar Bluff, Mo., Post Office is filled with many of Santa's helpers. From clothes and toys, to making a few phone calls to arrange a visit with mom and delivering a rank of wood, they have often volunteered to assist in making the neediest children's Christmas dreams come true...

A 46-year-old Puxico, Mo., man was killed in a single car accident at 11:15 p.m. Friday on Stoddard County Road 271A, seven miles north of Puxico. Scottie L. Hopper was pronounced dead at 12:29 a.m. Saturday by Stoddard County Coroner Aaron Mathis. Hopper was driving a westbound 1990 Oldsmobile when it ran off the roadway and struck a tree. He was not wearing a safety device...

BROSELEY -- The Clearwater Tigers started connecting from long range at the right time Friday night. The Tigers made four three-pointers in the fourth quarter as the pulled away to beat the Twin Rivers Royals 67-59 in an Ozark Foothills Conference clash...

A perfect storm hit Peters Gym and the Poplar Bluff Mules on Friday night. Jonesboro forced turnovers and couldn't miss on the offensive end as the Hurricanes slammed into Poplar Bluff 65-25. "They've shot the ball well all year, this is not a fluke," Mules coach Lamont Frazier said. "Again, I knew that but because of the matchups we struggled."...

With the exception of the start to the second half, the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules outscored Jonesboro (Ark.) by the same amount as when the two teams met just six days earlier. However, the Hurricanes blew past Poplar Bluff in the third quarter with a 15-3 run then held off the Lady Mules for a 58-50 win at Peters Gym...

VAN BUREN -- Cody Rector had 31 points and 15 rebounds to help Van Buren hold on to beat Ellington on Friday, 69-57. Van Buren (3-4) was ahead 25 at halftime but was outscored in both the third and fourth quarters as it won by 13. "We just have to figure out how to put teams away," Van Buren coach Dusty Weiskopf said. "We have to figure out how to defend late in games."...

BROSELEY -- The Twin Rivers Lady Royals showed what it looks like when they play to their full potential Saturday night. In the first round of the Lady Royals Classic, the No. 10 seed pounded seventh-seeded Charleston 71-36 for the upset. It truly was a fulfilling win for the Lady Royals, who have struggled at times this season, as they beat the team that ended their season in districts...

BROSELEY -- A change of defensive philosophy may have re-energized the Doniphan Donettes in the first round of the Lady Royals Classic. The Donettes switched to man defense and avoided the upset Saturday, beating Greenville 50-47. "At times I thought we played good," Doniphan coach Erika Smith said. "I think when we went man-to-man and pressured them that kind of got us going."...

By SHARON RANDALL Scripps Howard News Service The holidays are sometimes like a patchwork quilt. We stitch them together from scraps -- pieces of time and memory, imagination and hope -- to form something new from the old. That's especially true after the loss of a loved one, when traditions can feel as empty as the missing place at the table...

South Central Missouri Community Action Agency (SCMCAA) in partnership with the IRS and volunteers in the seven-county service area assist low-to-moderate income taxpayers with free tax preparation. During the 2010 tax season, SCMCAA's volunteers and staff prepared more than 600 federal and state returns. The seven-county area includes Butler, Carter, Dent, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon and Wayne...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- In 1927, seven years before the board game was created, Washington state decided to play monopoly. It gave a private interest the exclusive right to operate a ferry on 55-mile long Lake Chelan in the northern Cascade Mountains. ...

Jesus loves everyone Jesus loves you. He loves you so much that he was willing to die for you so you could be saved and them go to Heaven. CIA mistakes Well, here we go again, America. The CIA admits that one of their most technically, stealthy drones went down, and yes, in Iran. ...

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The University of Southern Mississippi held fall commencement exercises during two ceremonies on its Hattiesburg campus Friday. Randall E. Lee of Poplar Bluff, Mo., was among the approximately 1,270 students at the university were candidates for degrees this semester. Lee received a doctor of philosophy degree...

Gennie Ellen Gieselmann and Dr. James Anthony Long, both of Memphis, Tenn., were married Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Memphis. The Rev. John W. Sewell officiated at the double-ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. James W. Gieselmann of Poplar Bluff, Mo...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Listed here are a few of the needs children's charity Project Christmas Promise would like to help fill this holiday season. The Daily American Republic will continue to publish these lists between now and Dec. 25. Please contact AmeriCorps Project Manager Misty Dunkin at Poplar Bluff's Promise Volunteer Center if you would like more information about a family's needs, to adopt a family for the holiday or to help with some of a family's needs. ...

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Netherland of Doniphan, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Christian Marie to Trey Bowers of Corning, Ark. The bridegroom-to-be is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Doin Ray Bowers II and Mr. and Mrs. Mark Ahrent, also of Corning...

Lane and Ashley Hill of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Shelby Layne Hill for their 6-pound, 12.2 ounce daughter born at 1:52 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Grandparents are Jan and Doug Bennett, Danny and Flo Armes and Bill Hill, all of Poplar Bluff, and Terrel and Willard Wallace of Tennessee. Great-grandparents are Thelma Wilcutt, Dave and Linda Davidson and Sue Hill, all of Poplar Bluff...

John Brown Jr. DEXTER, Mo. -- John Dee Brown Jr., 58, of Dexter, Mo., died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. The son of John Dee Brown Sr. and Ora Dean Hanback Brown, both of Dexter, he was born on March 13, 1953, in Great Falls, Mont. He was a veteran of the United States Navy and served during the Vietnam era...

Fairy Kinsey NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Fairy LaRose Kinsey, 99, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mrs. Kinsey was born Aug. 29, 1912, in Mattoon, Ill. She was a homemaker and enjoyed sewing, quilting, gardening, cooking and enjoyed her grandchildren. She was a member of the Lone Hill Southern Baptist Church...

George Perkins DONIPHAN, Mo. -- George Edward Perkins, 80, of Fairdealing, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Perkins was born Oct. 30, 1931, in Brighton, Tenn. He had been a machinist with Whirlpool. Mr. Perkins enjoyed traveling and was a member of the N.R.A. A veteran of the U. S. Army, he served during the Korean War...

Rodger Smith FISK, Mo. -- Rodger Wayne Smith, 60, of Broseley, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Smith was born Sept. 22, 1951, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and had been a resident of the Broseley and Fisk area most of his life. Mr. Smith was a 1969 graduate of Fisk-Rombauer High School. He was of the Baptist faith and was a truck driver and worked in farming. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, watching drag racing and going on vacations...

Associated Press BOISE, Idaho -- Tyler Tettleton's late heroics helped Ohio erase decades of misery in the postseason. The sophomore calmly led a 61-yard drive in the final 2:02 and scored on a 1-yard keeper with 13 seconds left to give Ohio its first bowl victory, 24-23 over Utah State on Saturday in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl...

Three Rivers College is working with the University of Missouri to implement an occupational therapy assistant training program in Poplar Bluff. Those interested in studying under the program are encouraged to enroll at Three Rivers now to begin earning the general education courses required for entry...

Fairy Kinsey NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Fairy LaRose Kinsey, 99, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mrs. Kinsey was born Aug. 29, 1912, in Mattoon, Ill. She was a homemaker and enjoyed sewing, quilting, gardening, cooking and enjoyed her grandchildren. She was a member of the Lone Hill Southern Baptist Church...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Listed here are a few of the needs children's charity Project Christmas Promise would like to help fill this holiday season. The Daily American Republic will continue to publish these lists between now and Dec. 25. Please contact AmeriCorps Project Manager Misty Dunkin at Poplar Bluff's Promise Volunteer Center if you would like more information about a family's needs, to adopt a family for the holiday or to help with some of a family's needs. ...

Gennie Ellen Gieselmann and Dr. James Anthony Long, both of Memphis, Tenn., were married Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011 at St. John's Episcopal Church in Memphis. The Rev. John W. Sewell officiated at the double-ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. James W. Gieselmann of Poplar Bluff, Mo...

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The University of Southern Mississippi held fall commencement exercises during two ceremonies on its Hattiesburg campus Friday. Randall E. Lee of Poplar Bluff, Mo., was among the approximately 1,270 students at the university were candidates for degrees this semester. Lee received a doctor of philosophy degree...

Jesus loves everyone Jesus loves you. He loves you so much that he was willing to die for you so you could be saved and them go to Heaven. CIA mistakes Well, here we go again, America. The CIA admits that one of their most technically, stealthy drones went down, and yes, in Iran. ...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- In 1927, seven years before the board game was created, Washington state decided to play monopoly. It gave a private interest the exclusive right to operate a ferry on 55-mile long Lake Chelan in the northern Cascade Mountains. ...

By SHARON RANDALL Scripps Howard News Service The holidays are sometimes like a patchwork quilt. We stitch them together from scraps -- pieces of time and memory, imagination and hope -- to form something new from the old. That's especially true after the loss of a loved one, when traditions can feel as empty as the missing place at the table...

South Central Missouri Community Action Agency (SCMCAA) in partnership with the IRS and volunteers in the seven-county service area assist low-to-moderate income taxpayers with free tax preparation. During the 2010 tax season, SCMCAA's volunteers and staff prepared more than 600 federal and state returns. The seven-county area includes Butler, Carter, Dent, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon and Wayne...

Rodger Smith FISK, Mo. -- Rodger Wayne Smith, 60, of Broseley, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at his residence. Mr. Smith was born Sept. 22, 1951, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and had been a resident of the Broseley and Fisk area most of his life. Mr. Smith was a 1969 graduate of Fisk-Rombauer High School. He was of the Baptist faith and was a truck driver and worked in farming. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, watching drag racing and going on vacations...