Stories from Friday, April 6, 2012

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Tuesday's election is another example why every vote is important as three ties and 17 narrow margins occurred in six area counties. Greg Tharp was elected to the Naylor School Board with 51 votes, but Wayne Joplin and Mark Woodard tied with 42 votes for the second position on the board...

By JOHN WILLEY Staff Writer With the approach of Easter, comes dreams of a bunny hopping down the bunny trail and bringing all types of goodies for young and old. At 10 a.m. Saturday, the third annual communitywide Easter Egg Hunt will kick off at McLane Park. The guest of honor will be none other than the Easter Bunny, who will not hop into McLane Park, but will be flown in by an Air Evac helicopter...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A trip to Calhoun's Food Rite for fried chicken on March 25 led to a $100,000 lottery windfall for one local woman. Donna Caldwell, 54, of Wappapello, Mo., told the Missouri Lottery the win capped off a lucky lottery day...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Tuesday's election is another example why every vote is important as three ties and 17 narrow margins occurred in six area counties. Greg Tharp was elected to the Naylor School Board with 51 votes, but Wayne Joplin and Mark Woodard tied with 42 votes for the second position on the board...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Evidence seized Wednesday from a rural Dexter, Mo., home landed five convicted felons in jail facing charges of possessing methamphetamine. After an "extended, ongoing investigation into illegal drug activity, a search warrant was applied for and received" on Wednesday, according to a press release from Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor While turkey hunting on private lands generally is preferred to hunting on public lands because there's less pressure, many hunters don't have that option. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. Truthfully, some of the country's best turkey hunters frequently hunt on public land because they know it can be good, if done right...

Eugene Elementary School has named the March Students of the Month. Representing the first grade is Paige Moreley, daughter of Justin and Brandi Moreley. She is a student in Mrs. Spitze's class. "Paige is a pleasure to have in the classroom. She displays a good attitude at school and to other students. She is very cooperative, happy and friendly to everyone. Paige is a very conscientious student who always gives her personal best and fills our buckets daily," Mrs. Spitze said...

S. Heart honors Miller Sydney Miller is the Sacred Heart Student of the Month. Sydney was named Student of the Month because of her kindness to the other students. Students often borrow things from Sydney and she also takes time to help them with their math. She is also noted for being very polite and holding the door for others. Teachers comment on the fact that Sydney always has a smile on her face...

By BILL O'REILLY Filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi's daughter, has unleashed a firestorm of social controversy by interviewing some welfare recipients who told her on camera that they believe they're entitled to "Obama money." That is, welfare checks. ...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS Right now, there isn't enough known about the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, a black, by George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old part-Hispanic, during his neighborhood watch tour in an Orlando, Fla., suburb. ...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer This Good Friday, at least 39 Poplar Bluff, Mo. Christians, stood with 10 foot tall crosses every one-quarter of a mile along Highways 60 and 67 from 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. "Carry the Cross" is a movement which began in Sikeston, Mo., to mobilize thousands of Christians to stand and carry life-size crosses, creating the largest live cross in the world across America's Heartland on Good Friday...

By BARBARA ANN HORTONNews Editor Each Easter season the youngsters at First United Methodist Church in Poplar Bluff, Mo., learn first hand how God's love transforms life as they witness the miracle of a butterfly developing from a larva. For three weeks, the children, who are in the sixth grade and younger, watch as the caterpillars become chrysalis and then transform into butterflies. Easter morning the youngsters release the butterflies on the church's front steps...

Cora Putnam DEXTER, Mo. -- Cora Mae Putnam, 98, of Dexter, Mo., died Wednesday, April 4, 2012, at Central Gardens Residential Care in Dexter. Mrs. Putnam was born on May 26, 1913, in Dexter. She was a homemaker and a member of the Pleasant Grove Community Church in Dexter. She had worked on the Stoddard County Election Board for many years...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor For the majority of anglers, their first experience catching a fish involved a bluegill. Thought by many as pushovers or a children's fish, bluegills sometimes don't get the respect they deserve, even though the bigger specimens can be one of the toughest fish to catch...

Gerald Waller Sr. Gerald Brice Waller Sr., 73, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, April 1, 2012, at his home. Mr. Waller was born Jan. 17, 1939, in Piedmont, Mo. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, and had worked as a barge worker. He enjoyed spending time with his family and being outdoors...

Rallie Sharp PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Rallie Sharp, 83, of Piedmont, Mo., died Thursday, April 5, 2012, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center , Piedmont. Visitation will be held from 5-9 p.m. Sunday at Ruegg Funeral Home Chapel in Piedmont. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Masonic Cemetery...

Albert Henson DEXTER, Mo. -- Albert Donald Henson, 83, of Dexter, Mo., died Wednesday, April 4, 2012, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Henson was born on Dec. 11, 1928, in Gideon, Mo. He was of the Freewill Baptist Faith. On Sept. 2, 1964, he was married to Sarah Walker. She preceded him in death on Jan. 4, 2005...

ELLSINORE -- After dropping the spring season opener against district opponent Bloomfield at home, the Greenville Bears have pretty much been unstoppable. Thursday against East Carter, another team they could potentially see in the district playoffs, it was more of the same...

The Three Rivers Lady Raiders were looking at their first April loss in the face when they mounted a furious rally Thursday. After winning the first game 10-2 over Mineral Area, the Lady Raiders overcame a five-run deficit in the final two frames to win 8-7 at Rains Field, extending their winning streak to 14...

ELLSINORE -- Chris Newman has come full circle since last fall. The East Carter junior left a baseball game against Greenville last September with pain in his left leg. It was shortly thereafter doctors found a tumor and Newman was diagnosed with a form of cancer called Ewing's Sarcoma...

Law enforcement agencies across the state, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Poplar Bluff Police Department, will be observing National Public Safety Telecommunications Week from Sunday through April 14. This event honors the thousands of men and women who answer emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and provide information and reassurance to citizens in times of need...

Heading to the second half of a scoreless game, the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules faced an uphill climb Thursday. With a stiff wind in their face, the Lady Mules managed a pair of goals from senior Marissa Burroughs and turned aside Fox 2-0 at Whiteley Park...

Trinity United Methodist in Piedmont, Mo. will host "The Legend Singers Choral Ensemble" at 6 p.m., Saturday, April 14. This is the fourth year, "The Legend Singer Choral Ensemble" has performed at Trinity, which is located on Highway 34 between Piedmont and Patterson, Mo...

The Agee Community Club met on April 5 at the home of this month's hostess, Nadine Johnson. The table was decorated with a green lace tablecloth, yellow napkins, plates and flatware, green glasses. The centerpiece had Easter eggs and fluted glasses that had more yellow flatware. ...

Logan Faith and the Poplar Bluff baseball team delivered in the clutch Thursday afternoon. Tied in the bottom of the sixth with two outs and bases loaded, the junior provided a 3-run double to give the Mules a 9-6 comeback win over North County at Strenfeld Memorial Field...

Cora Putnam -- Dexter, Mo. Gerald Waller -- Poplar Bluff. Norman Smith -- Doniphan, Mo. Rallie Sharp -- Piedmont, Mo. Albert Henson -- Dexter, Mo.

BROSELEY -- The Neelyville Tigers hammered out 13 hits Thursday as they took an Ozark Foothills Conference road game from Twin Rivers, 16-2. The Tigers scored four in the first inning and two in the second. Twin Rivers cut the deficit to four runs in the bottom of the second before Neelyville scored eight runs in the fourth...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Occasionally, turkey hunters experience the proverbial textbook hunt: a big gobbler flies down from his roost at dawn and waltzes straight into the waiting hunter's lap, making for a quick hunt. More often than not, though, hunters must work hard and engage in a battle of wits with a gobbler to be successful...

By LUCAS EDINGTON Special to the DAR There is a sign that hangs at one of my favorite Current River destinations that reads: "If you're lucky enough to live on the river, you're lucky enough." While I'm not fortunate enough to wake up to those cool waters every morning, I try to spend any free time I may have in the Ozark outdoors...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Turkey hunters sometimes appear to fall into two categories: There's the minimalist type, who carry their loaded shotgun and one or two calls, and there's the gadget freak, who carries two of everything on the market with him...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer This Good Friday, at least 39 Poplar Bluff, Mo. Christians, stood with 10 foot tall crosses every one-quarter of a mile along Highways 60 and 67 from 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. "Carry the Cross" is a movement which began in Sikeston, Mo., to mobilize thousands of Christians to stand and carry life-size crosses, creating the largest live cross in the world across America's Heartland on Good Friday...

Norman Smith DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Norman Smith, 87, of Doniphan, Mo., died Thursday, April 5, 2012, at Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. Funeral arrangements are pending with Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan.

PARK HILLS -- After a gritty win in the opener, the Three Rivers Raiders had to settle for a split Thursday. The Raiders beat Mineral Area 6-5 before being outslugged in the second game 10-6. "I certainly would have liked to have gotten a sweep," Three Rivers coach Stacey Burkey said. "We had some quality at-bats and competed well in the second game...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor While turkey hunting on private lands generally is preferred to hunting on public lands because there's less pressure, many hunters don't have that option. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. Truthfully, some of the country's best turkey hunters frequently hunt on public land because they know it can be good, if done right...

Eugene Elementary School has named the March Students of the Month. Representing the first grade is Paige Moreley, daughter of Justin and Brandi Moreley. She is a student in Mrs. Spitze's class. "Paige is a pleasure to have in the classroom. She displays a good attitude at school and to other students. She is very cooperative, happy and friendly to everyone. Paige is a very conscientious student who always gives her personal best and fills our buckets daily," Mrs. Spitze said...

Gerald Waller Sr. Gerald Brice Waller Sr., 73, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, April 1, 2012, at his home. Mr. Waller was born Jan. 17, 1939, in Piedmont, Mo. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, and had worked as a barge worker. He enjoyed spending time with his family and being outdoors...

Cora Putnam DEXTER, Mo. -- Cora Mae Putnam, 98, of Dexter, Mo., died Wednesday, April 4, 2012, at Central Gardens Residential Care in Dexter. Mrs. Putnam was born on May 26, 1913, in Dexter. She was a homemaker and a member of the Pleasant Grove Community Church in Dexter. She had worked on the Stoddard County Election Board for many years...

By BILL O'REILLY Filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi's daughter, has unleashed a firestorm of social controversy by interviewing some welfare recipients who told her on camera that they believe they're entitled to "Obama money." That is, welfare checks. ...

S. Heart honors Miller Sydney Miller is the Sacred Heart Student of the Month. Sydney was named Student of the Month because of her kindness to the other students. Students often borrow things from Sydney and she also takes time to help them with their math. She is also noted for being very polite and holding the door for others. Teachers comment on the fact that Sydney always has a smile on her face...

By BARBARA ANN HORTONNews Editor Each Easter season the youngsters at First United Methodist Church in Poplar Bluff, Mo., learn first hand how God's love transforms life as they witness the miracle of a butterfly developing from a larva. For three weeks, the children, who are in the sixth grade and younger, watch as the caterpillars become chrysalis and then transform into butterflies. Easter morning the youngsters release the butterflies on the church's front steps...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor For the majority of anglers, their first experience catching a fish involved a bluegill. Thought by many as pushovers or a children's fish, bluegills sometimes don't get the respect they deserve, even though the bigger specimens can be one of the toughest fish to catch...

The Agee Community Club met on April 5 at the home of this month's hostess, Nadine Johnson. The table was decorated with a green lace tablecloth, yellow napkins, plates and flatware, green glasses. The centerpiece had Easter eggs and fluted glasses that had more yellow flatware. ...

Heading to the second half of a scoreless game, the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules faced an uphill climb Thursday. With a stiff wind in their face, the Lady Mules managed a pair of goals from senior Marissa Burroughs and turned aside Fox 2-0 at Whiteley Park...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer This Good Friday, at least 39 Poplar Bluff, Mo. Christians, stood with 10 foot tall crosses every one-quarter of a mile along Highways 60 and 67 from 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. "Carry the Cross" is a movement which began in Sikeston, Mo., to mobilize thousands of Christians to stand and carry life-size crosses, creating the largest live cross in the world across America's Heartland on Good Friday...

By BILL O'REILLY Filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi's daughter, has unleashed a firestorm of social controversy by interviewing some welfare recipients who told her on camera that they believe they're entitled to "Obama money." That is, welfare checks. ...

Cora Putnam DEXTER, Mo. -- Cora Mae Putnam, 98, of Dexter, Mo., died Wednesday, April 4, 2012, at Central Gardens Residential Care in Dexter. Mrs. Putnam was born on May 26, 1913, in Dexter. She was a homemaker and a member of the Pleasant Grove Community Church in Dexter. She had worked on the Stoddard County Election Board for many years...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer This Good Friday, at least 39 Poplar Bluff, Mo. Christians, stood with 10 foot tall crosses every one-quarter of a mile along Highways 60 and 67 from 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. "Carry the Cross" is a movement which began in Sikeston, Mo., to mobilize thousands of Christians to stand and carry life-size crosses, creating the largest live cross in the world across America's Heartland on Good Friday...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer This Good Friday, at least 39 Poplar Bluff, Mo. Christians, stood with 10 foot tall crosses every one-quarter of a mile along Highways 60 and 67 from 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. "Carry the Cross" is a movement which began in Sikeston, Mo., to mobilize thousands of Christians to stand and carry life-size crosses, creating the largest live cross in the world across America's Heartland on Good Friday...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer This Good Friday, at least 39 Poplar Bluff, Mo. Christians, stood with 10 foot tall crosses every one-quarter of a mile along Highways 60 and 67 from 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. "Carry the Cross" is a movement which began in Sikeston, Mo., to mobilize thousands of Christians to stand and carry life-size crosses, creating the largest live cross in the world across America's Heartland on Good Friday...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer This Good Friday, at least 39 Poplar Bluff, Mo. Christians, stood with 10 foot tall crosses every one-quarter of a mile along Highways 60 and 67 from 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. "Carry the Cross" is a movement which began in Sikeston, Mo., to mobilize thousands of Christians to stand and carry life-size crosses, creating the largest live cross in the world across America's Heartland on Good Friday...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer This Good Friday, at least 39 Poplar Bluff, Mo. Christians, stood with 10 foot tall crosses every one-quarter of a mile along Highways 60 and 67 from 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. "Carry the Cross" is a movement which began in Sikeston, Mo., to mobilize thousands of Christians to stand and carry life-size crosses, creating the largest live cross in the world across America's Heartland on Good Friday...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer This Good Friday, at least 39 Poplar Bluff, Mo. Christians, stood with 10 foot tall crosses every one-quarter of a mile along Highways 60 and 67 from 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. "Carry the Cross" is a movement which began in Sikeston, Mo., to mobilize thousands of Christians to stand and carry life-size crosses, creating the largest live cross in the world across America's Heartland on Good Friday...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer This Good Friday, at least 39 Poplar Bluff, Mo. Christians, stood with 10 foot tall crosses every one-quarter of a mile along Highways 60 and 67 from 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. "Carry the Cross" is a movement which began in Sikeston, Mo., to mobilize thousands of Christians to stand and carry life-size crosses, creating the largest live cross in the world across America's Heartland on Good Friday...