Stories from Sunday, January 22, 2012

Tickets for the annual Larry Hillis Dodge Touring Pro PBR event are now on sale. The event will be 7:30 p.m. March 9 - 10 at the Black River Coliseum. Bull riders on the tour compete for points to qualify for the PBR Finals in Las Vegas, Nev. The event will also feature "top name" bulls, according to box office manager Subrina Berger...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - Three people are behind bars following an investigation into children living in an unsafe home. Patricia Coffee of Bloomfield and Michael Coffee, with a Clarkton, Mo., address listed on the warrant, were arrested and charged with three counts of the Class C felony of endangering the welfare of a child-first degree. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Following a brief public hearing Friday, the Butler County Commission unanimously approved the 2012 county budget totaling $24,389,000 in expenditures. Elaine Libla asked the only question, she wanted to know about the amounts budgeted for completion of the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park Bypass...

A 41-year-old Doniphan, Mo. woman and a 44-year-old Patton, Mo., woman were each killed early Saturday morning in separate single-vehicle accidents. Pronounced dead at the scene by Ripley County Coroner Mike Jackson, was Erickia L. Reagan, who was driving an eastbound 2004 Chevrolet. Reagan reportedly failed to negotiate a curve on Highway 142, two miles east of Doniphan, about 12:55 a.m. The vehicle ran off the roadway and overturned. She was ejected from the vehicle...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor first time attendee to the 26th annual Ag Expo Fridayand Saturday at the Black River Coliseum quickly turned into a crowd favorite as children and adults alikegathered to watch as Wilma was milked. Every two hours, Angela Moore of Southwest Dairy Farmers, housed the 6-year-old cow in a "classroom trailer" and demonstrated the modern-day milking process. Within minutes, Wilma had produced 18 pounds, or about 2 gallons, of milk...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - Three people are behind bars following an investigation into children living in an unsafe home. Patricia Coffee of Bloomfield and Michael Coffee, with a Clarkton, Mo., address listed on the warrant, were arrested and charged with three counts of the Class C felony of endangering the welfare of a child-first degree. ...

By PATRICK T. SULIVAN SEMO News Service Clay Waller has been moved to a low-security federal penitentiary in Louisiana, according to the Bureau of Prisons. Waller is starting a five-year prison sentence after being convicted of threatening his sister-in-law and guardian of his three children, Cheryl Brenneke, on the Internet message board Topix...

WEST PLAINS -- After a late comeback gave the Three Rivers Raiders momentum, they couldn't finish the job Saturday night. Three Rivers was down 10 with less than six minutes remaining and tied the game before faltering down the stretch to lose at MSU-West Plains, 67-63...

South Iron's offense showed up late Saturday just when Poplar Bluff's went missing. The Mules didn't allow a point through the first eight minutes but South Iron scored 12 straight points early in the fourth quarter as the Panthers beat Poplar Bluff 50-38 at Peters Gym...

Poplar Bluff coach Kirk Chronister knew something was up Saturday when his junior varsity players still had on their uniforms nearly an hour after their game had ended. Chronister was presented with the game ball from his 700th win prior to the varsity tipoff at Peters Gym...

MOUNTAIN VIEW -- It took an extra frame Saturday night but the Doniphan Dons got the job done in the championship of the Mountain View-Liberty Tournament. The top-seeded Dons outscored the Eminence Redwings by eight in overtime for the 76-68 win. "That's a good win for Doniphan," Dons coach Ray Stewart said...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Poplar Bluff Lady Mules swimmers set nine personal records Saturday afternoon at the City of Roses Swim Meet but the team finished in 11th place with 55 points. "This meet was a good reality check for the girls to see exactly where other non-SEMO schools swim at," Poplar Bluff coach Beth Lewis-Muse said. "Some were discouraged by their placements but their times would never be that fast without that level of competition."...

There isn't any scientific reasoning behind it, but the Three Rivers Lady Raiders simply played better with a smaller lead Saturday afternoon. The Lady Raiders took the lead with 7:44 left in the first half and Iowa Western tied the game several times, including at the half, but it could never get an edge as Three Rivers won its first Region XVI game of the season 85-77 at Bess Activity Center...

The Twin Rivers High School honor roll is as follows: 2nd Quarter Honor Roll Seniors: Jacob Baugus, Austin Brooks, Sarah Cotner, Emiley Douglas, Kaleb Doyle, Daniale Franklin, Sarah Joiner, Alix Jones, David Leonard, JoAnna Linville, B J Lucas, Chelsea Merritt,...

DEXTER, Mo. -- The work of two pioneers of Scouting in the Southeast Missouri area, both Stoddard County natives, was honored recently with the presentation of the prestigious James E. West Award at the Sioux District's Leadership Appreciation Banquet held at the Dexter Elks...

By DAN K. THOMASSON Scripps Howard News Service When I first met the editor of the international German press service DPA, I was startled that this dapper, erudite man spoke perfect English but with an unmistakable Deep South accent. How did this occur?...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court can pack large portents in small details. When in late March it considers the constitutionality of Obamacare, there will be five and a half hours of oral argument -- the most in almost half a century. This is because the individual mandate (Does Congress' power to regulate interstate commerce extend to punishing the inactivity of not buying insurance?) is just one of the law's constitutionally dubious features...

Bob and Marna Davis of Dexter, Mo., celebrated 60 years of marriage on Dec. 25, 2011, surrounded by their family. They couple says they have had a great life together cemented with the ups and downs of everyday life and always having their children close by. The extended family gets together at least once every year and the immediate family once or twice a week...

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Adams of Doniphan, Mo. announce the engagement of their daughter, Ashley Katherine, to Michael Lloyd Mertzlufft, son of Vincent and Bonnie Mertzlufft of Bunker, Mo. Adams is a 2006 graduate of Doniphan High School. She received her AA degree from Three Rivers Community College and completed her Bachelor's degree at Arkansas State in mid-level education. She presently is working at Ste. Genevieve Middle School as a language arts teacher and seventh grade girls basketball coach...

The Rev. Cecil E. and Dr. W. Genevia (Chatman) Hillis will be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary with a reception from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, at the First Baptist Church in Harviell, Mo. The couple was married Sunday, Jan. 13, 1952, at the First Baptist Church in Harviell...

Mandi Lynn Webster and Jarred Scott Webster of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Simon Drew Webster for their 7-pound, 1-ounce son born at 12:12 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was 21 inches long. He has one brother...

Brittany and Jesse Percy of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Kynleigh Marie for their 5-pound, 6.5-ounce daughter born at 10:33 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, 2012 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was 17.5 inches long. She has one sister, Alaina LeighAnn...

Tiffany Lyn Ruble and James Michael Sheffy, both of Poplar Bluff, Mo. were married Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, at Living Word Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff. Parents of the bride are Walter and Kathleen Ruble of Poplar Bluff. The bridegroom is the son of William and Patricia Paukner of Poplar Bluff and Robert Sheffy of Livingston, Texas...

Wayne Dean PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Wayne Winford Dean, 66, of Des Arc, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, at his residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Homes, Inc, Piedmont, MO.

Erickia Reagan DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Erickia Lane Reagan, 41, lifelong resident of Doniphan, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Ripley County. Mrs. Reagan was born Nov. 30, 1970, in Doniphan, Mo. She was a secretary at the Ripley County Ambulance Shed. Mrs. Reagan enjoyed cooking and canning for which she won several ribbons at the county fair. She attended Fairview General Baptist Church and was a member of the Eagles Lodge No. 4443...

Ucal White NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Ucal John White, 77, a lifelong resident of Neelyville, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 20, 2012, at his residence. Mr. White was born June 27, 1934, in Neelyville to Paul and Anna (Todd) White. He was a member of the Naylor Pentecostal Church...

Rebecca Pinkley MALDEN, Mo. -- Rebecca Jane Pinkley was born Oct. 14, 1949 in Malden, Mo., where she lived for 62 years. She died at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was preceded in death by her father, Harold Pinkley...

Jane Rayfield-Reed Jane Rayfield-Reed died Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, in Apache Junction, Ariz. She was born Feb. 23, 1937, in St. Louis, Mo. Surviving are her spouse, Carol Reed; three children; grandchildren and three sisters, Shirley Smith, Kathy Griffin and Ileen Pitts, all of Poplar Bluff, Mo...

Betty Scism Betty Scism, 87, formerly of Bloomfield, Mo., and Dexter, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 20, 2012, in Tennessee. Funeral arrangements are pending with Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield.

Boyd Vandermark FISK, Mo. -- Boyd " Buzz" Vandermark, 70, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Saturday at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Funeral Arrangements are pending with White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk.

ELLSINORE, MO. -- Ernest Junior Powell, 67, of Grandin, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Doniphan, Mo. He was the son of the late James Junior Powell and Beulah Jordan Powell Driskill. He was born June 12, 1944 in Sikeston, Mo. He had resided in Grandin since moving from Ellsinore in 1978. ...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court can pack large portents in small details. When in late March it considers the constitutionality of Obamacare, there will be five and a half hours of oral argument -- the most in almost half a century. This is because the individual mandate (Does Congress' power to regulate interstate commerce extend to punishing the inactivity of not buying insurance?) is just one of the law's constitutionally dubious features...

By DAN K. THOMASSON Scripps Howard News Service When I first met the editor of the international German press service DPA, I was startled that this dapper, erudite man spoke perfect English but with an unmistakable Deep South accent. How did this occur?...

DEXTER, Mo. -- The work of two pioneers of Scouting in the Southeast Missouri area, both Stoddard County natives, was honored recently with the presentation of the prestigious James E. West Award at the Sioux District's Leadership Appreciation Banquet held at the Dexter Elks...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Poplar Bluff Lady Mules swimmers set nine personal records Saturday afternoon at the City of Roses Swim Meet but the team finished in 11th place with 55 points. "This meet was a good reality check for the girls to see exactly where other non-SEMO schools swim at," Poplar Bluff coach Beth Lewis-Muse said. "Some were discouraged by their placements but their times would never be that fast without that level of competition."...

Poplar Bluff coach Kirk Chronister knew something was up Saturday when his junior varsity players still had on their uniforms nearly an hour after their game had ended. Chronister was presented with the game ball from his 700th win prior to the varsity tipoff at Peters Gym...

WEST PLAINS -- After a late comeback gave the Three Rivers Raiders momentum, they couldn't finish the job Saturday night. Three Rivers was down 10 with less than six minutes remaining and tied the game before faltering down the stretch to lose at MSU-West Plains, 67-63...

On Saturday, May 19, cancer survivors, along with their family and friends will come together to walk through the streets of Poplar Bluff. The inaugural walk will be to show support for The United Cancer Assistance Network, and to honor the forever inspiring Sarah White...

Brittany and Jesse Percy of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Kynleigh Marie for their 5-pound, 6.5-ounce daughter born at 10:33 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, 2012 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was 17.5 inches long. She has one sister, Alaina LeighAnn...

Mandi Lynn Webster and Jarred Scott Webster of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Simon Drew Webster for their 7-pound, 1-ounce son born at 12:12 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012, at St. Francis Medical Center. He was 21 inches long. He has one brother...

The Rev. Cecil E. and Dr. W. Genevia (Chatman) Hillis will be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary with a reception from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, at the First Baptist Church in Harviell, Mo. The couple was married Sunday, Jan. 13, 1952, at the First Baptist Church in Harviell...

Erickia Reagan DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Erickia Lane Reagan, 41, lifelong resident of Doniphan, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Ripley County. Mrs. Reagan was born Nov. 30, 1970, in Doniphan, Mo. She was a secretary at the Ripley County Ambulance Shed. Mrs. Reagan enjoyed cooking and canning for which she won several ribbons at the county fair. She attended Fairview General Baptist Church and was a member of the Eagles Lodge No. 4443...

Rebecca Pinkley MALDEN, Mo. -- Rebecca Jane Pinkley was born Oct. 14, 1949 in Malden, Mo., where she lived for 62 years. She died at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was preceded in death by her father, Harold Pinkley...

ELLSINORE, MO. -- Ernest Junior Powell, 67, of Grandin, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Doniphan, Mo. He was the son of the late James Junior Powell and Beulah Jordan Powell Driskill. He was born June 12, 1944 in Sikeston, Mo. He had resided in Grandin since moving from Ellsinore in 1978. ...