Stories from Monday, March 12, 2012

By SCOTT MOYERS and ERIN RAGAN SEMO News Service Fresh off his win in Kansas, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum brought his staunch conservative message to Cape Girardeau on Saturday in hopes of parlaying some time spent in Missouri into its 52 delegates that are up for grabs in less than a week...

SEMO NEWS SERVICE A Raymondville, Mo., rancher is throwing his hat into the 8th Congressional District race. Bob Parker, who has raised beef cattle for 35 years, announced Saturday that he will run for the 8th Congressional District. The district is Missouri's largest...

A Sikeston, Mo., man best known for his opera singing has announced for the second time this election cycle that he's seeking a seat in the Missouri House. Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder announced at Saturday night's Cape Girardeau County Lincoln Day event that Neal E. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor NEW MADRID, Mo. -- A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper is expected to make a full recovery after being shot while providing back-up on a traffic stop Saturday night in New Madrid County. Cpl. Shane Stewart underwent surgery at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo., after being shot once in the neck, according to Trooper Clark Parrott, Troop E's public information officer...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer PUXICO, Mo. -- Old clothing, abandoned drink bottles, lost fishing bobbers -- strung across Mingo National Wildlife Refuge these items are an unpleasant sight for visitors and have the potential to harm animals who call the area home...

By SCOTT MOYERS and ERIN RAGAN SEMO News Service Fresh off his win in Kansas, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum brought his staunch conservative message to Cape Girardeau on Saturday in hopes of parlaying some time spent in Missouri into its 52 delegates that are up for grabs in less than a week...

SEMO NEWS SERVICE A Raymondville, Mo., rancher is throwing his hat into the 8th Congressional District race. Bob Parker, who has raised beef cattle for 35 years, announced Saturday that he will run for the 8th Congressional District. The district is Missouri's largest...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Two policies of the Obama administration illustrate an axiom: As government expands, its lawfulness contracts. Consider the administration's desire to continue funding UNESCO and to develop a national curriculum for primary and secondary education...

By OLIVER NORTH WASHINGTON -- One year ago this week, I wrote a column titled "Crude Cruelty," which covered a jump in the cost of motor fuel and a corresponding spike in prices for food and rising unemployment. Government "experts" attributed the bad news to "supply disruptions" and "uncertainty" caused by unrest in Libya. ...

By BETSY HART Scripps Howard News Service If a woman who was both a wife and a mother died, would anyone suggest that she left behind her husband, but not her children? Of course not. And yet, when a spouse chooses to leave a marriage, the conventional wisdom we hear all the time is that he or she "left the marriage but not the kids." For instance, in the best-selling book, "Helping Your Kids Cope with Divorce the Sandcastles Way," author M. ...

Are you listening? Christianity and Judaism already promote peace, harmony and tolerance in America and elsewhere. Why do we need a third social structure that is totally different? A third political structure, another civilizational proponent to make things better. ...

Gabby Wheat, daughter of Chris and Eric Wheat, had been named Poplar Bluff Senior High School Student of the Month. Gabby, who likes to read and spend time with her family and friends, volunteers at the VA Hospital. She was in Beta Club in the ninth and 10th grade, and has been on the high school "A" honor roll every year. Her college plans include at least two years at Three Rivers College before continuing her education at Southeast Missouri State. She hopes to be a kindergarten teacher...

Bill Anderson will entertain from 10:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Friday at Northside Nutrition Center. The menu include catfish, fish sandwich, slaw, corn, French fries, cornbread/bun, green Jell-O.

The 36th Judicial Circuit's Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program will hold a "Pinwheels For Prevention" ceremony at 12:30 p.m. April 11 at the Butler County Courthouse gazebo. Pinwheels will be planted on the courthouse law in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month. With a donation of $5 or more, a pinwheel can be purchased to be planted on the lawn of the courthouse, or another location...

A couponing class will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 29, at His Place Fellowship, Highway 160 near Doniphan. The class is open to beginners and experts and will include free coupons, snacks and door prizes. Admission is $5 per person Email jdswife63935@yahoo.com to RSVP...

Richard Austill Richard Lee Austill, 88, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, March 10, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff.

Harmon Long BERNIE, Mo. -- Ben Harmon Long, 71, of Bernie, Mo., died Saturday, March 10, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Long was born June 8, 1940, in Clarksville, Ark. He had been a farm laborer. On April 25, 1961, he married Freda Darlene Cox in Bloomfield, Mo. She survives...

Velva Smith PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Velva A. Smith, 93, of Piedmont, Mo., died Friday, March 9, 2012, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center in Piedmont. Mrs. Smith was born Feb. 4, 1919, near Patterson, Mo. She was raised in the Big Lake and Little Lake communities and attended Little Lake School. ...

Jon Stokan ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Jon Michael "Mike" Stokan, 65, of Grandin, Mo., died Saturday, March 10, 2012, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the McSpadden Funeral Home Chapel in Ellsinore, Mo. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Pete Joplin officiating. A full obituary will appear in Tuesday's Daily American Republic...

Carroll Chronister FISK, Mo. -- Carroll Chronister, 81, of Poplar Bluff, Mo, died Saturday, March 10, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Chronister was born Nov. 3, 1930, in Butler County, Mo. He graduated from Fisk High School in 1948 and served in the Air Force from 1948 until 1968. ...

The glass slipper fit Three Rivers College just right and now the Cinderella Raiders are looking to dance. Calling it the most surprising region title of his career, coach Gene Bess and his staff turned their attention Sunday to completing an improbable run to Hutch...

By ERIN RAGAN and SCOTT MOYERS SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- With the suspect still in an intensive care unit, two women have come forward with claims that he may be the same man who tried to sexually force himself on them in the days -- and in one case minutes -- before he allegedly attacked a woman at gunpoint last Sunday near a Cape Girardeau trail...

George Eugene Worley NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- George Eugene Worley, 87, of Centralia, Mo., died Friday, March 9, 2012, at Fulton Nursing and Rehab Center in Fulton, Mo. Mr. Worley was born Aug. 15, 1924, at Lone Hill, Mo. He was a member of the United Pentecostal Church in Columbia, Mo. He was a union carpenter and worked in both home and commercial construction. He had to retire from carpentry due to health reasons...

PARK HILLS -- The Three Rivers Lady Raiders are starting to build momentum. Five days after sweeping Southwest Tennessee at Rains Field, the Lady Raiders got a two-game sweep of Mineral Area College on the road Saturday afternoon. Three Rivers piled on the runs early to win the first game 7-3 before Cendyl Carter pitched a two-hit shutout to win the second game 5-0...

A benefit pageant will be held at the Puxico VFW Hall, Saturday, April 14, to help Joe and Debbie Anderson with costs related to the breast cancer diagnosis. All proceeds will go to the Andersons. Early registration deadline is Sunday, April 1. An extra $10 fee will be added to the registration at the door. Phone registration will be accepted. Call Lori Stieferman, 573-625-9312 or Jeannie Gray, 573-222-3549. Beauty, $25. Photogenic, $5...

By OLIVER NORTH WASHINGTON -- One year ago this week, I wrote a column titled "Crude Cruelty," which covered a jump in the cost of motor fuel and a corresponding spike in prices for food and rising unemployment. Government "experts" attributed the bad news to "supply disruptions" and "uncertainty" caused by unrest in Libya. ...

By BETSY HART Scripps Howard News Service If a woman who was both a wife and a mother died, would anyone suggest that she left behind her husband, but not her children? Of course not. And yet, when a spouse chooses to leave a marriage, the conventional wisdom we hear all the time is that he or she "left the marriage but not the kids." For instance, in the best-selling book, "Helping Your Kids Cope with Divorce the Sandcastles Way," author M. ...

Gabby Wheat, daughter of Chris and Eric Wheat, had been named Poplar Bluff Senior High School Student of the Month. Gabby, who likes to read and spend time with her family and friends, volunteers at the VA Hospital. She was in Beta Club in the ninth and 10th grade, and has been on the high school "A" honor roll every year. Her college plans include at least two years at Three Rivers College before continuing her education at Southeast Missouri State. She hopes to be a kindergarten teacher...

Bill Anderson will entertain from 10:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Friday at Northside Nutrition Center. The menu include catfish, fish sandwich, slaw, corn, French fries, cornbread/bun, green Jell-O.

The 36th Judicial Circuit's Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program will hold a "Pinwheels For Prevention" ceremony at 12:30 p.m. April 11 at the Butler County Courthouse gazebo. Pinwheels will be planted on the courthouse law in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month. With a donation of $5 or more, a pinwheel can be purchased to be planted on the lawn of the courthouse, or another location...

Richard Austill Richard Lee Austill, 88, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, March 10, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff.

Harmon Long BERNIE, Mo. -- Ben Harmon Long, 71, of Bernie, Mo., died Saturday, March 10, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Long was born June 8, 1940, in Clarksville, Ark. He had been a farm laborer. On April 25, 1961, he married Freda Darlene Cox in Bloomfield, Mo. She survives...

Velva Smith PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Velva A. Smith, 93, of Piedmont, Mo., died Friday, March 9, 2012, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center in Piedmont. Mrs. Smith was born Feb. 4, 1919, near Patterson, Mo. She was raised in the Big Lake and Little Lake communities and attended Little Lake School. ...

Carroll Chronister FISK, Mo. -- Carroll Chronister, 81, of Poplar Bluff, Mo, died Saturday, March 10, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Chronister was born Nov. 3, 1930, in Butler County, Mo. He graduated from Fisk High School in 1948 and served in the Air Force from 1948 until 1968. ...

Jon Stokan ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Jon Michael "Mike" Stokan, 65, of Grandin, Mo., died Saturday, March 10, 2012, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the McSpadden Funeral Home Chapel in Ellsinore, Mo. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Pete Joplin officiating. A full obituary will appear in Tuesday's Daily American Republic...

By ERIN RAGAN and SCOTT MOYERS SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- With the suspect still in an intensive care unit, two women have come forward with claims that he may be the same man who tried to sexually force himself on them in the days -- and in one case minutes -- before he allegedly attacked a woman at gunpoint last Sunday near a Cape Girardeau trail...

George Eugene Worley NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- George Eugene Worley, 87, of Centralia, Mo., died Friday, March 9, 2012, at Fulton Nursing and Rehab Center in Fulton, Mo. Mr. Worley was born Aug. 15, 1924, at Lone Hill, Mo. He was a member of the United Pentecostal Church in Columbia, Mo. He was a union carpenter and worked in both home and commercial construction. He had to retire from carpentry due to health reasons...

The glass slipper fit Three Rivers College just right and now the Cinderella Raiders are looking to dance. Calling it the most surprising region title of his career, coach Gene Bess and his staff turned their attention Sunday to completing an improbable run to Hutch...

A benefit pageant will be held at the Puxico VFW Hall, Saturday, April 14, to help Joe and Debbie Anderson with costs related to the breast cancer diagnosis. All proceeds will go to the Andersons. Early registration deadline is Sunday, April 1. An extra $10 fee will be added to the registration at the door. Phone registration will be accepted. Call Lori Stieferman, 573-625-9312 or Jeannie Gray, 573-222-3549. Beauty, $25. Photogenic, $5...