Stories from Monday, January 9, 2012

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Missouri's Feb. 7 presidential preference primary election is being called "meaningless," "a waste of taxpayers' money" and "a beauty contest." After an attempt to move the presidential primary to March failed, the Missouri Republican Party decided to switch to a caucus system in order to retain 52 delegates to the National Republican Convention...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor An accidental cause is believed to have started an early morning house fire Sunday, which claimed the life to two Poplar Bluff, Mo., boys. Kyle Dicken, 16, and Dylane Campbell, 12, were found dead inside the bedroom of their 115 Relief St. home, according to Butler County Coroner Jim Akers, who was called at 2:55 a.m...

By PATRICK T. SULLIVAN SEMO News Service When Brad Phillips lent his 1864 Springfield rifled musket to the Stars and Stripes Museum in Bloomfield, Mo., in 2003, he said he did so to prevent it from getting stolen from his home. The museum guaranteed it would securely house the gun and that he could retrieve it anytime he desired, he said...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor An accidental cause is believed to have started an early morning house fire Sunday, which claimed the life to two Poplar Bluff, Mo., boys. Kyle Dicken, 16, and Dylane Campbell, 12, were found dead inside the bedroom of their 115 Relief St. home, according to Butler County Coroner Jim Akers, who was called at 2:55 a.m...

SPRINGFIELD -- Poplar Bluff freshman Cassidy Harris lowered her state-qualifying time Saturday at the Ozarks Invitationals. Harris finished third in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 25.86 seconds. She now has the 21st fastest time in the state. Madeline Nelson of Glendale won the race in 25.45 while Rock Bridge's Chelsea Tatlow was second in 25.50...

Corrine Lawler Corrine Lawler, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Janice Lorraine Robbins, 63, of Conway, Ark., died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at her home. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Roma Garrison DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Roma R. Garrison, 88, of Sikeston, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, in Sikeston Convalescent Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan, Mo.

Abigail Robbins Abigail Robbins, 7, of Conway, Ark., died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2011, at her home. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff, Mo.

PIEDMONT, MO. -- Joseph T. Henson, 87, of Piedmont, died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012 at Westwood Hills Health Care Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was born Nov. 29, 1924 in Gideon, Mo. He formerly lived in Flint, Mich., where he worked for General Motors Corp. He was an Army veteran and had lived in the Piedmont area for many years...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Southeast Missouri State University has named 2,592 students to its Dean's List for academic achievement during the 2011 fall semester. Students named to the list earned at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and completed at least 12 degree credit hours during the fall semester...

Bazzell Band at Northside The Teddy Bazzell Band will entertain at Northside Nutrition Center from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday.The menu items include meatloaf, mashed potatoes & gravy, mixed vegetables, whole grain bread and fruit.

It's a much-anticipated time of year - Girl Scout cookie time. Through mid-March, girls will go door-to-door and set up booths at local merchants to sell eight varieties of Girl Scout cookies. All proceeds from Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland's Girl Scout Cookie Program benefit girls in the area; girls earn troop proceeds and Girl Scout Cookie Credit that can be used to pay for Girl Scout camp, leadership programs, uniforms, and more. ...

Hemingway opens new wild game exhibit PIGGOTT, Ark. -- The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center in Piggott will open a new permanent exhibit in the Hemingway Barn Studio entitled Into the Wild with a reception from 1-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11...

Annie Kelley Annie L. Kelley, 90, of Columbia, Mo., died Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at Trenton Place Care and Rehab Center in Trenton, Tenn. Arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Bonnie Lewis PUXICO, Mo. -- Bonnie Jean Lewis, 72, of Puxico, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Lewis was born Oct. 24, 1939, in Kinder, Mo. She had lived in the Puxico and Kinder areas most of life. Mrs. Lewis attended the General Baptist Church in Puxico and enjoyed quilting, doing ceramics and needle work. She and her husband owned Cliff's Market and she also worked at the Puxico Nursing Center...

Donald Mattingly FISK, Mo. -- Donald Jay Mattingly, 53, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Mattingly was born Dec. 12, 1958, in Cahokia, Ill. He lived most of his life around Fisk, Rombauer and Poplar Bluff. Mr. Mattingly was a contractor and owned Mattingly Custom Homes. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and spending time with friends and family...

Carlene Kearbey Carlene Faye Kearbey, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at Westwood Hills Health Care Center. Mrs. Kearbey was born Feb. 14, 1928, in Fisk, Mo. She formerly lived in Troy, Mo. Mrs. Kearbey attended Lone Hill Baptist Church and had worked as a CNA for the Troy House in Troy. She enjoyed fishing, cooking, going to church and spending time with her family...

Daniel Bailey ADVANCE, Mo. -- Daniel Wayne Bailey, 40, of Dexter, Mo, died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo., after a long battle with cancer. Mr. Bailey was born Sept. 2, 1971, in Dexter, Mo. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends...

Herman Campbell PUXICO, Mo. -- Herman L. Campbell of Puxico, Mo., died Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at Puxico Nursing& Rehab. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Watkins and Sons Chapel in Puxico. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home chapel...

Jimmy Hester DEXTER, Mo. -- Jimmy Hester, 59, of Dexter, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Mr. Hester was born Feb. 28, 1957, in Berry St. Edmunds, England. He was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Dexter and worked at Purolator in Dexter for many years until his retirement. Mr. Hester served in the U.S. Air Force and was a member of the Dexter Eagles Lodge...

Junior Davis Junior Hardy Davis, 84, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Davis was born April 25, 1927, in Success, Ark. He was a former resident of Cahokia, Ill. Mr. Davis helped found the New Testament Church of Jesus Christ in Neelyville, Mo., and the Apostolic Pentecostal Church of Cahokia, Ill. He had worked as a fork lift operator for General Motors and enjoyed gardening, working on cars and going to church...

Vern Shepard CORNING, Ark. -- Vern Shepard, 89, of Corning, Ark., died Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Shepard was born June 5, 1922, in Datto, Ark. He was retired from General Motors and a member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Corning...

Jimmy Hester DEXTER, Mo. -- Jimmy Hester, 59, of Dexter, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Mr. Hester was born Feb. 28, 1957, in Berry St. Edmunds, England. He was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Dexter and worked at Purolator in Dexter for many years until his retirement. Mr. Hester served in the U.S. Air Force and was a member of the Dexter Eagles Lodge...

Daniel Bailey ADVANCE, Mo. -- Daniel Wayne Bailey, 40, of Dexter, Mo, died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo., after a long battle with cancer. Mr. Bailey was born Sept. 2, 1971, in Dexter, Mo. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends...

Bonnie Lewis PUXICO, Mo. -- Bonnie Jean Lewis, 72, of Puxico, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Lewis was born Oct. 24, 1939, in Kinder, Mo. She had lived in the Puxico and Kinder areas most of life. Mrs. Lewis attended the General Baptist Church in Puxico and enjoyed quilting, doing ceramics and needle work. She and her husband owned Cliff's Market and she also worked at the Puxico Nursing Center...

It's a much-anticipated time of year - Girl Scout cookie time. Through mid-March, girls will go door-to-door and set up booths at local merchants to sell eight varieties of Girl Scout cookies. All proceeds from Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland's Girl Scout Cookie Program benefit girls in the area; girls earn troop proceeds and Girl Scout Cookie Credit that can be used to pay for Girl Scout camp, leadership programs, uniforms, and more. ...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Southeast Missouri State University has named 2,592 students to its Dean's List for academic achievement during the 2011 fall semester. Students named to the list earned at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and completed at least 12 degree credit hours during the fall semester...

Janice Lorraine Robbins, 63, of Conway, Ark., died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at her home. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Corrine Lawler Corrine Lawler, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff, Mo.

PIEDMONT, MO. -- Joseph T. Henson, 87, of Piedmont, died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012 at Westwood Hills Health Care Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was born Nov. 29, 1924 in Gideon, Mo. He formerly lived in Flint, Mich., where he worked for General Motors Corp. He was an Army veteran and had lived in the Piedmont area for many years...

Lorene Shepard CORNING, Ark. -- Lorene Shepard, 90, of Corning, Ark., died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at Corning Therapy and Living. Mrs. Shepard was born Sept. 1, 1921, in Reyno, Ark. She was a retired assembly worker and cook and a homemaker. Mrs. Shepard was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Corning...