Stories from Thursday, February 9, 2012

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A Poplar Bluff, Mo., native's latest trade-published book has received glowing pre-publication reviews. Gregg Jones' "Honor in the Dust: Theodore Roosevelt, War in the Philippines and the Rise and Fall of America's Imperial Dream" was officially released by New American Library on Tuesday. NAL is a division of Penguin Books...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Having gained experience at hospitals in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina and Georgia, Charles Stewart feels he is prepared for a new challenge. "I have the opportunity with Health Management Associates to be involved in the development of a new hospital. It is not too often you see a new hospital coming up from the ground," said Charles Stewart, who became HMA's Missouri Market chief executive officer on Feb. 1...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Gov. Jay Nixon recently visited high schools in Doniphan and Dexter, Mo., to celebrate the districts' enrollment in a program that allows students to earn two-year scholarships to any community college or technical school in the state...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Most commercial property owners within the proposed Poplar Bluff Regional Transportation Development District apparently support its formation, but some concerns have been raised about voting and financing. A section of the Missouri TDD Act gives commercial property owners within the proposed district "one vote per acre" on organizing a district and approving a sales tax of up to 1 cent on sales within the district...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A Poplar Bluff, Mo., native's latest trade-published book has received glowing pre-publication reviews. Gregg Jones' "Honor in the Dust: Theodore Roosevelt, War in the Philippines and the Rise and Fall of America's Imperial Dream" was officially released by New American Library on Tuesday. NAL is a division of Penguin Books...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Having gained experience at hospitals in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina and Georgia, Charles Stewart feels he is prepared for a new challenge. "I have the opportunity with Health Management Associates to be involved in the development of a new hospital. It is not too often you see a new hospital coming up from the ground," said Charles Stewart, who became HMA's Missouri Market chief executive officer on Feb. 1...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Gov. Jay Nixon recently visited high schools in Doniphan and Dexter, Mo., to celebrate the districts' enrollment in a program that allows students to earn two-year scholarships to any community college or technical school in the state...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Most commercial property owners within the proposed Poplar Bluff Regional Transportation Development District apparently support its formation, but some concerns have been raised about voting and financing. A section of the Missouri TDD Act gives commercial property owners within the proposed district "one vote per acre" on organizing a district and approving a sales tax of up to 1 cent on sales within the district...

Norma Headley CORNING, Ark. -- Norma Headley, 86, of Corning, Ark., died Friday, Feb. 7, 2012, at Corning Therapy and Living Center in Corning. Born July 10, 1925 in Corning, Mrs. Headley was a sales clerk for Wood's Department Store and Thomas Brothers Hardware. She was a member of House of Prayer in Corning where she served as treasurer for 50 years...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Archers looking for a fun, challenging way to keep their skills sharp are invited to participate in the 3-D archery shoots hosted in Poplar Bluff, Mo., by the Indian Creek Bowhunters. The club recently released its 2012 schedule, which includes seven monthly shoots at the Missouri Department of Conservation's archery range on Butler County Road 546, off Highway NN, northeast of Poplar Bluff...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Waterfowlers dedicated to their sport have the opportunity to give back while supporting wetland habitat conservation during the Ducks Unlimited/Bluff City Mallards' annual banquet Feb. 25 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The event will be held at the Brown-Mabry American Legion Post 153 on Kanell Boulevard...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor State Sen. Bill Stouffer of Saline County, Mo., introduced a bill, SB738, to the Missouri Senate Feb. 2, which would make it legal for any citizen of the state to kill a mountain lion. There's just a little bitty problem with the bill as it's written, and that is it gives no specific justifications for killing the cats - not a single one. ...

"Geese" seems to be the word most used in the outdoor world this week. One of my neighbors, Mrs. Nathan Carter, called the house and said there were waves of geese going over their house this week. The most I heard about geese was, "They were everywhere" in the area in recent days...

Late in the evening on Thursday, Feb. 2, American Red Cross Disaster Action Team Captain for Ripley County James Nonnemaker was dispatched to a single family fire off of Highway M near Doniphan by the American Red Cross regional headquarters in Springfield, Mo. ...

The Butler County Retired Teachers and School Personnel Association will meet at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 15 in the Altrusa Room at Twin Towers. Officers for 2012 will be inducted. The group will discuss the current Missouri legislature house bills concerning education such as the bill that eliminates the current tenure laws for newly-hired teachers and the bill seeking to expand charter schools...

ELLSINORE -- East Carter senior Lindsay Crowley is taking her slap-hitting and speed to the next level. Crowley recently signed her letter of intent to play softball at Mineral Area College next fall. Crowley was one of three senior leaders on a team that finished fourth in Class 2...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS Let's think about the kind of mess that we're in. Federal 2010 Medicare and Medicaid expenditures totaled $800 billion. The projected annual growth of both programs is about 7 percent. Social Security expenditures are more than $700 billion a year. According to the 2009 Social Security and Medicare trustees reports, by 2030, 49 percent of federal revenues will go for Social Security and Medicare payments. The unfunded liability of both programs is already $106 trillion...

To the Editor, We all know the Presidential primary in Missouri was not binding and we know the reasons why. We regret that it did not get moved to a date which would make it matter; however, bemoaning that fact and not moving forward is non-productive. What we have left is the Caucus System. It is what it is and it is what is left...

To the Editor, I am so pleased that there is going to be another "Butler County History Book" put out. To me that is such a good way to keep track of the people who have done so much to make Butler County a good place. So easy to look up families. Many of the old pictures, with the clothing that was worn then are just priceless...

The annual Eagle Scout Court of Honor will recognize 82 scouts from Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois who earned their Eagle Scout rank in 2011 at Southeast Missouri State University, Saturday, Feb. 11. Of the 82 scouts to be honored, four are from Poplar Bluff, Mo., and one is from Dexter, Mo. ...

Clifford Griffin JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Clifford Clay Griffin, 74, of Jefferson City, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012 at his residence. He was born Oct. 6, 1937 in Doniphan, Mo., the son of Sam and Verneal Holland Griffin. Mr. Griffin was a graduate of Doniphan High School. ...

Bertha Garner PHOTO AVAILABLE NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Bertha Ann Garner, 71, died Monday, Jan. 30, 2012. She was born Oct. 23, 1940, in Chicago, Ill., and moved to Neelyville at an early age. Her parents, Gilbert and Corine Fields, a brother, Robert L. Fields, and a sister, Sharon K. Fields, all preceded her in death...

Crawford Cox DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Grando Crawford Cox, 79, of Fairdealing, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Cox was born March 25, 1932, in Mountain Home, Ark. He was a farmer and attended the Church of Christ...

Rose Bartlett GIDEON, Mo. -- Rose Belle Bartlett, 93, of Gideon, Mo., died Wednesday, Feb. 8, at Gideon Care Center in Gideon. She was born Jan. 30, 1919, Garland Springs, Ark., and was a member of First Baptist Church in Gideon. On Sept. 26, 1942, she was married to Alvin Lee Bartlett at Malden, Mo. He preceded her in death on Oct. 20, 1992...

Shirley Williams DEXTER, Mo. -- Shirley Williams of Jonesboro, Ark., died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, at her residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Not only is February the month of sweethearts and valentines, but it's also the month to remember to take better care of your heart. This past week my sweetie had some serious heart problems and we spent some time in the hospital. According to the American Heart Association, February is heart month. So take time to think about your diet. Do you have a heart healthy diet?...

By CHARLES BABINGTON Associated Press DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- Political turmoil over abortion and birth control spread suddenly on Tuesday. A high-ranking official resigned from the Komen breast-cancer charity after its backtracking treaty with Planned Parenthood, and Republican presidential candidates blistered the Obama administration for a recent ruling on Catholic hospitals and contraception...

Bertha Garner PHOTO AVAILABLE NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Bertha Ann Garner, 71, died Monday, Jan. 30, 2012. She was born Oct. 23, 1940, in Chicago, Ill., and moved to Neelyville at an early age. Her parents, Gilbert and Corine Fields, a brother, Robert L. Fields, and a sister, Sharon K. Fields, all preceded her in death...

Ruth Holtzhouser BERNIE, Mo. -- Ruth Evelyn Holtzhouser, 82, of Bernie, Mo., died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, at her residence. Mrs Holtzhouser was born on Jan. 10, 1930, in Shook, Mo. She was a med tech at Elgin Mental Hospital in Elgin, Ill., until her retirement. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bernie...

Bertha Garner PHOTO AVAILABLE NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Bertha Ann Garner, 71, died Monday, Jan. 30, 2012. She was born Oct. 23, 1940, in Chicago, Ill., and moved to Neelyville at an early age. Her parents, Gilbert and Corine Fields, a brother, Robert L. Fields, and a sister, Sharon K. Fields, all preceded her in death...

Rose Bartlett GIDEON, Mo. -- Rose Belle Bartlett, 93, of Gideon, Mo., died Wednesday, Feb. 8, at Gideon Care Center in Gideon. She was born Jan. 30, 1919, Garland Springs, Ark., and was a member of First Baptist Church in Gideon. On Sept. 26, 1942, she was married to Alvin Lee Bartlett at Malden, Mo. He preceded her in death on Oct. 20, 1992...

Crawford Cox DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Grando Crawford Cox, 79, of Fairdealing, Mo., died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Cox was born March 25, 1932, in Mountain Home, Ark. He was a farmer and attended the Church of Christ...

The annual Eagle Scout Court of Honor will recognize 82 scouts from Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois who earned their Eagle Scout rank in 2011 at Southeast Missouri State University, Saturday, Feb. 11. Of the 82 scouts to be honored, four are from Poplar Bluff, Mo., and one is from Dexter, Mo. ...

To the Editor, I am so pleased that there is going to be another "Butler County History Book" put out. To me that is such a good way to keep track of the people who have done so much to make Butler County a good place. So easy to look up families. Many of the old pictures, with the clothing that was worn then are just priceless...

To the Editor, We all know the Presidential primary in Missouri was not binding and we know the reasons why. We regret that it did not get moved to a date which would make it matter; however, bemoaning that fact and not moving forward is non-productive. What we have left is the Caucus System. It is what it is and it is what is left...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS Let's think about the kind of mess that we're in. Federal 2010 Medicare and Medicaid expenditures totaled $800 billion. The projected annual growth of both programs is about 7 percent. Social Security expenditures are more than $700 billion a year. According to the 2009 Social Security and Medicare trustees reports, by 2030, 49 percent of federal revenues will go for Social Security and Medicare payments. The unfunded liability of both programs is already $106 trillion...

"Geese" seems to be the word most used in the outdoor world this week. One of my neighbors, Mrs. Nathan Carter, called the house and said there were waves of geese going over their house this week. The most I heard about geese was, "They were everywhere" in the area in recent days...

Shirley Williams DEXTER, Mo. -- Shirley Williams of Jonesboro, Ark., died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, at her residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

By CHARLES BABINGTON Associated Press DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- Political turmoil over abortion and birth control spread suddenly on Tuesday. A high-ranking official resigned from the Komen breast-cancer charity after its backtracking treaty with Planned Parenthood, and Republican presidential candidates blistered the Obama administration for a recent ruling on Catholic hospitals and contraception...

Bertha Garner PHOTO AVAILABLE NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Bertha Ann Garner, 71, died Monday, Jan. 30, 2012. She was born Oct. 23, 1940, in Chicago, Ill., and moved to Neelyville at an early age. Her parents, Gilbert and Corine Fields, a brother, Robert L. Fields, and a sister, Sharon K. Fields, all preceded her in death...

Ruth Holtzhouser BERNIE, Mo. -- Ruth Evelyn Holtzhouser, 82, of Bernie, Mo., died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, at her residence. Mrs Holtzhouser was born on Jan. 10, 1930, in Shook, Mo. She was a med tech at Elgin Mental Hospital in Elgin, Ill., until her retirement. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bernie...