Stories from Thursday, January 19, 2012

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A public hearing on the proposed 2012 county budget will be conducted by the Butler County Commission at 9 a.m. Friday in the courthouse. County Clerk Tonya Deffendall has budgeted nearly $24.4 million in 2012 expenditures while revenues are estimated at $20.5 million (see graphic). The balances in all the county funds would drop to $2 million, but this is not likely to happen...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Spring credit hours for students attending programs within the Cape Girardeau Partnership for Higher Learning has grown only 6 percent from the previous year, calling into question if Three Rivers College's partnership with Mineral Area College and Southeast Missouri State University is the best way to serve students in the Cape Girardeau, Mo., area...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Three Rivers College lost one of its top officials last week and will decide in the coming months if it will continue to have a vice president of student success. The college will honor the final six months of Vice President Jason Hoseney's two-year contract, President Dr. Devin Stephenson said Wednesday...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Dexter, Mo., man faces possible life sentences after pleading guilty Wednesday to sodomizing three young girls in 2010. Nathan Purdom, 66, pleaded guilty as charged to three unclassified felonies of first-degree statutory sodomy, according to a press release from Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Officials at Three Rivers College expect to begin a $1.5 million renovation by summer of the Academic Resource Commons, which houses Rutland Library. When work is completed in the fall, the 24,000 square foot facility will also contain the testing center, student support services and tutoring services, as well as a coffee shop, collaboration rooms, new restrooms and an educational resource library...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Three Rivers College lost one of its top officials last week and will decide in the coming months if it will continue to have a vice president of student success. The college will honor the final six months of Vice President Jason Hoseney's two-year contract, President Dr. Devin Stephenson said Wednesday...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Officials at Three Rivers College expect to begin a $1.5 million renovation by summer of the Academic Resource Commons, which houses Rutland Library. When work is completed in the fall, the 24,000 square foot facility will also contain the testing center, student support services and tutoring services, as well as a coffee shop, collaboration rooms, new restrooms and an educational resource library...

William Moore CAMPBELL, Mo. -- William 'Bud' Arley Moore, 84, of Campbell, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, at Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott, Ark Mr. Moore was born on Dec. 11, 1927, in Manila, Ark. He was a retired construction worker and was of the Pentecostal faith. He was a veteran of the United States Army/Air Force and served during World War II...

By FRANK CAMPA Mo. Dept. of Conservation Despite what looked to be a tough firearms deer season, with extremely poor weather conditions during our regular 11-day portion, total harvest numbers for the state and locally look pretty good. Total harvest numbers for 2011/2012 are 238,921, compared to 231,513 last year. Missouri was up over 7,000 deer from last year...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Missouri bowhunters wrapped up the second best season in the state's history Sunday, killing 49,417 deer over the 112-day season, which began in mid-September. The archery harvest record was set in 2009, when 51,972 deer were tagged by bowhunters. Ten years ago, the harvest was just 26,273 deer...

By MIC PLUNKETT Mo. Dept. of Conservation Just when you least expect it, your children will say or do something that proves they actually pay attention to you ... well, at least part of the time. The following is an outdoor experience I recently had with my youngest son, Lucas...

Memory plays certain kinds of tricks on us old folks. I was wondering what I would lead off with this week, and I thought it was about time for some of the wild game dinners or awards banquet for the Over the Hill Bass Club. When I arrived to do the column, the report with picture from the Over the Hill Bass Club was stuffed under the computer monitor...

Women's hunt scheduled The Missouri Department of Conservation is presenting a "Discover Nature-Women Rabbit Hunting with Beagles Clinic" at Duck Creek Conservation Area on Feb. 11. "Discover Nature-Women" is a series of outdoor skills trainings designed for women. The clinic will consist of a one day training session and guided hunt...

GODFREY,Ill. -- After nearly giving the game away at the free-throw line, the Three Rivers Raiders returned there to seal the win Wednesday. The Raiders made their last six free throws after missing four straight to hold on for a 71-63 win over Lewis & Clark...

By OLIVER NORTH WASHINGTON -- Our so-called mainstream media have launched a new anti-military feeding frenzy. The furor is over a crude 39-second video showing four Marines apparently urinating on the bodies of three dead Taliban combatants. In hysteric rhetoric akin to "news reports" on the 2004 Abu Ghraib photos, hordes of print and broadcast "correspondents" rushed to describe the viral video, which surfaced Jan. ...

By MONA CHAREN Most people have heard that Obamacare is being challenged as unconstitutional because it contains an individual mandate forcing people to purchase health insurance. That challenge is due to be heard by the Supreme Court this year. But while the mandate is certainly problematic in a system that, at least notionally, is one of limited and enumerated powers, the mandate is not the worst part of this bill -- not by a long shot...

On Friday the Butler County Commission will decide the county's budget for the new year. These budgets, presented by the various elected officials, are supposed to be decided upon in a nonpartisan manner by the three commissioners. Their decisions are based upon the revenue of the county and the various needs of each department...

Dinner theater at TRC Tickets are on sale now for the upcoming production of "Jerry Finnegan's Sister," presented by Center Stage at Three Rivers College. Center Stage is the new college/community theater group at Three Rivers, which produced its first play in September 2011...

Martha Henson Martha Lucille Henson, 87, a native and long-time resident of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, at the home of her son in Defiance, Mo. Mrs. Henson was born Dec. 26, 1924 in Mentone, Ala. She graduated from Qulin High School in Qulin, Mo. ...

Ethel Scroggin GIDEON, Mo. -- Ethel Ruth Scroggin, 83, of Gideon, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, at Gideon Care Center in Gideon. She was born April 17, 1928, in Rich Mountain, Ark. She was of the Assembly of God faith. On Nov. 20, 1945, she was married to Aubrey Asbury Scroggin in Malden. He preceded her in death on April 20, 2009...

Terry Kitrel MALDEN, Mo. -- Terry Kitrel, 70, of Malden, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The son of Buford Owens and Rebecca JoAnn Michael Owens, Mr. Kitrel was born on Nov. 25, 1941, at Malden. He was a member of Sunny Vale General Baptist Church and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He was the owner/operator of an automotive dealership...

Ronnie Henderson MALDEN, Mo. -- Ronnie Dale Henderson, 67, of Bernie, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Henderson was born May 13, 1944, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He attended Sunnyvalle General Baptist Church in Malden. On May 7, 1993, he was married to Norma Jean Hutchison in Campbell, Mo. She survives of Bernie...

Darci Shaffer ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Darci Sue Shaffer, 1 month, died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, at Children's Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. She was born Nov. 26, 2011, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Survivors include her parents, Hannah Million of Ellsinore and Ethan Shaffer of Poplar Bluff; grandparents, George L. ...

Esther Casas NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Esther Casas, 64, of Paragould, Ark., died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, at Hospice House in Jonesboro, Ark. Mrs. Casas was born March 16, 1947, at Delaplaine, Ark. She enjoyed traveling and helping people. She was of the Christian faith...

Juanita Raymer Juanita B. Raymer, 87, of St. Charles, Mo., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, at St. Joseph's Health Center in St. Charles. Mrs. Raymer was born Sept. 2, 1924, in Poplar Bluff. She was of the Pentecostal faith, and was a homemaker. Mrs. Raymer enjoyed spending time with her family, especially with her grandchildren. She also enjoyed nature and animals, especially birds and cats...

Jerry Myers LESTERVILLE, Mo. -- Jerry P. Myers, 79, of Lesterville, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Myers was born June 1, 1932, in Black, Mo. He was a member of Lesterville First Baptist Church and Hopewell Masonic Lodge in Lesterville...

Johnny McCune Johnny L. McCune, 84, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. McCune was born Sept. 3, 1927, in Poplar Bluff. She was of the Baptist faith, and attended Faith Tabernacle in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. McCune previously worked in the housekeeping department at Doctor's Regional Medical Center. She enjoyed going to church, spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and playing bingo...

Susan Watkins DEXTER, Mo. -- Susan I. Watkins, daughter of the late Floyd James and Mattie Irene Grim Hoffman, was born in Poplar Bluff, Mo., on Dec. 14, 1954, and passed away at her home in Dexter, Mo. on Jan. 17, 2012, at the age of 57. Susan was raised in Dexter but lived in Fredericktown after college with her husband where they both taught school. ...

Did Santa leave you a bread machine under the tree this year? What will you do with it? Will it gather dust like a lot of equipment at my house or will you use it weekly? I actually looked at mine last week and thought that fresh bread sure would taste great...

Susan Watkins -- Dexter, Mo. Ethel Scroggin -- Gideon, Mo. Johnny McCune -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Katherine Boone -- Dexter, Mo. Anita Cullum -- Bloomfield, Mo. Ronnie Henderson -- Bernie, Mo. Jerry Myers -- Lesterville, Mo. William Moore -- Campbell, Mo...

Ketting on Dean's List Chelston M. Ketting of Poplar Bluff, Mo., has earned a spot on the University of Central Missouri Dean's List. Ketting attained a grade point average of 3.50 to 3.99.

Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Sollis of Corning, Ark., will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday, Jan. 20. Jerome and the former Patsy Miller were married in Paragould, Ark., Jan. 20, 1962. They are parents of four children: Jerry (Rhonda) Sollis, Teresa Gray, Alan (Leahan) Sollis and Penny Sollis (deceased)...

Anita Cullum Anita Cullum, 69, of Bloomfield, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Katherine Boone DEXTER, Mo. -- Katherine Boone, 98, of Dexter, Mo. died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter. Funeral arrangements are pending with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Treescape home help available Persons interested in establishing, maintaining, or improving the treescape around their home and community can contact the Poplar Bluff Tree Advisory Group. They will be provided with a packet of information that may help answer questions about proper tree care, selection, and maintenance. ...

Juanita Raymer Juanita B. Raymer, 87, of St. Charles, Mo., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, at St. Joseph's Health Center in St. Charles. Mrs. Raymer was born Sept. 2, 1924, in Poplar Bluff. She was of the Pentecostal faith, and was a homemaker. Mrs. Raymer enjoyed spending time with her family, especially with her grandchildren. She also enjoyed nature and animals, especially birds and cats...

Jerry Myers LESTERVILLE, Mo. -- Jerry P. Myers, 79, of Lesterville, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Myers was born June 1, 1932, in Black, Mo. He was a member of Lesterville First Baptist Church and Hopewell Masonic Lodge in Lesterville...

Johnny McCune Johnny L. McCune, 84, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. McCune was born Sept. 3, 1927, in Poplar Bluff. She was of the Baptist faith, and attended Faith Tabernacle in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. McCune previously worked in the housekeeping department at Doctor's Regional Medical Center. She enjoyed going to church, spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and playing bingo...

Did Santa leave you a bread machine under the tree this year? What will you do with it? Will it gather dust like a lot of equipment at my house or will you use it weekly? I actually looked at mine last week and thought that fresh bread sure would taste great...

Susan Watkins -- Dexter, Mo. Ethel Scroggin -- Gideon, Mo. Johnny McCune -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Katherine Boone -- Dexter, Mo. Anita Cullum -- Bloomfield, Mo. Ronnie Henderson -- Bernie, Mo. Jerry Myers -- Lesterville, Mo. William Moore -- Campbell, Mo...

Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Sollis of Corning, Ark., will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday, Jan. 20. Jerome and the former Patsy Miller were married in Paragould, Ark., Jan. 20, 1962. They are parents of four children: Jerry (Rhonda) Sollis, Teresa Gray, Alan (Leahan) Sollis and Penny Sollis (deceased)...

Terry Kitrel MALDEN, Mo. -- Terry Kitrel, 70, of Malden, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The son of Buford Owens and Rebecca JoAnn Michael Owens, Mr. Kitrel was born on Nov. 25, 1941, at Malden. He was a member of Sunny Vale General Baptist Church and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He was the owner/operator of an automotive dealership...

Martha Henson Martha Lucille Henson, 87, a native and long-time resident of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, at the home of her son in Defiance, Mo. Mrs. Henson was born Dec. 26, 1924 in Mentone, Ala. She graduated from Qulin High School in Qulin, Mo. ...

On Friday the Butler County Commission will decide the county's budget for the new year. These budgets, presented by the various elected officials, are supposed to be decided upon in a nonpartisan manner by the three commissioners. Their decisions are based upon the revenue of the county and the various needs of each department...

Women's hunt scheduled The Missouri Department of Conservation is presenting a "Discover Nature-Women Rabbit Hunting with Beagles Clinic" at Duck Creek Conservation Area on Feb. 11. "Discover Nature-Women" is a series of outdoor skills trainings designed for women. The clinic will consist of a one day training session and guided hunt...

Memory plays certain kinds of tricks on us old folks. I was wondering what I would lead off with this week, and I thought it was about time for some of the wild game dinners or awards banquet for the Over the Hill Bass Club. When I arrived to do the column, the report with picture from the Over the Hill Bass Club was stuffed under the computer monitor...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Missouri bowhunters wrapped up the second best season in the state's history Sunday, killing 49,417 deer over the 112-day season, which began in mid-September. The archery harvest record was set in 2009, when 51,972 deer were tagged by bowhunters. Ten years ago, the harvest was just 26,273 deer...

By FRANK CAMPA Mo. Dept. of Conservation Despite what looked to be a tough firearms deer season, with extremely poor weather conditions during our regular 11-day portion, total harvest numbers for the state and locally look pretty good. Total harvest numbers for 2011/2012 are 238,921, compared to 231,513 last year. Missouri was up over 7,000 deer from last year...

William Moore CAMPBELL, Mo. -- William 'Bud' Arley Moore, 84, of Campbell, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, at Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott, Ark Mr. Moore was born on Dec. 11, 1927, in Manila, Ark. He was a retired construction worker and was of the Pentecostal faith. He was a veteran of the United States Army/Air Force and served during World War II...

Katherine Boone DEXTER, Mo. -- Katherine Boone, 98, of Dexter, Mo. died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter. Funeral arrangements are pending with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.