Stories from Tuesday, April 10, 2012

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Thirteen persons were presented plaques during the 26th annual Poplar Bluff Elks Lodge Law Enforcement Recognition Banquet Saturday night. "We love doing this banquet. We love giving back to you for all you do for the community," Elks Exalted Ruler Brenda Norman told the city, county and state law enforcement officers, along with probation and court personnel...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Cooler than Sponge Bob … A rare adult whose jokes are considered hilarious by junior high students … A teacher who helped a struggling child find success and passion for school … This is the kind of praise students, colleagues and parents have for the 10 educators chosen as Poplar Bluff R-I School District's 2012-2013 Teachers of the Year for their campus or grade level...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Miranda Fickert of USBank and Matt Funke of Southern Bank are new members of the Poplar Bluff Tax Increment Financing Commission The Poplar Bluff City Council appointed Fickert during a special meeting at noon Monday to replace Jim Tatum, who had resigned...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Tracking the small steps of success is a daily reward for kindergarten speech pathologist Judith Seawel, as she works with children who may struggle to verbalize their thoughts and feelings. Seawel was named the 2012-13 Teacher of the Year last week for Poplar Bluff School District. The award was presented by Principal Tammy Crouse at a luncheon at the Central Office for district and building Teachers of the Year...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A former Carter County deputy pleaded guilty Monday afternoon in federal court to illegally possessing and selling firearms, some of which were taken from the department's evidence locker...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Miranda Fickert of USBank and Matt Funke of Southern Bank are new members of the Poplar Bluff Tax Increment Financing Commission The Poplar Bluff City Council appointed Fickert during a special meeting at noon Monday to replace Jim Tatum, who had resigned...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Thirteen persons were presented plaques during the 26th annual Poplar Bluff Elks Lodge Law Enforcement Recognition Banquet Saturday night. "We love doing this banquet. We love giving back to you for all you do for the community," Elks Exalted Ruler Brenda Norman told the city, county and state law enforcement officers, along with probation and court personnel...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Tracking the small steps of success is a daily reward for kindergarten speech pathologist Judith Seawel, as she works with children who may struggle to verbalize their thoughts and feelings. Seawel was named the 2012-13 Teacher of the Year last week for Poplar Bluff School District. The award was presented by Principal Tammy Crouse at a luncheon at the Central Office for district and building Teachers of the Year...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A former Carter County deputy pleaded guilty Monday afternoon in federal court to illegally possessing and selling firearms, some of which were taken from the department's evidence locker...

By BETSY HART Scripps Howard News Service You've probably seen the Citi credit-card commercial that has generated a lot of buzz. It opens with a woman's saying, "My boyfriend and I were going on vacation." She appears to be in a clothing store and needs to get a few accessories. ...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama's intellectual sociopathy -- his often breezy and sometimes loutish indifference to truth -- should no longer startle. It should, however, influence Mitt Romney's choice of a running mate. In his 2010 State of the Union address, Obama flagrantly misrepresented the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, which did not "open the floodgates" for foreign corporations "to spend without limit in our elections" (the law prohibiting foreign money was untouched by Citizens United) and did not reverse "a century of law." Although Obama is not nearly as well educated as many thought, and he thinks, he surely knows he was absurd when he said last Monday, regarding Obamacare, that it would be "unprecedented" for the Supreme Court to overturn a "passed law.". ...

To the Editor: The Ozarks Club announces group will protect the rights to access and to use the Ozark National Scenic Riverways The Ozarks Club is a newly formed club created by myself, John Mark Brewer, and others in order to combat environmentalists in the battle to keep access and usage open on the Jacks Fork and Current Rivers. ...

James Huggins CORNING, Ark. -- James Huggins, 83, of Corning, Ark., died Saturday, April 7, 2012, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould, Ark. Mr. Huggins was born May 28, 1928, in Hillstring Community in Datto, Ark. He was retired from Clay County Electric in Corning where he was general manager. Mr. Huggins volunteered at the Agape Mission Outreach in his spare time and enjoyed fishing. He was a member of New Hope Baptist Church in Pollard, Ark...

PIEDMONT -- Clearwater's Darrian Gayle got her first career home run at just the right time. Gayle hit a home run in the bottom of the fifth which started a 5-run rally as Clearwater held off East Carter 6-4 Monday in an Ozark Foothills Conference game...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Notre Dame baseball team has used strong pitching, solid defense and opportunistic offense to carve out a perfect record. That formula did the trick again Monday as the Bulldogs eased past visiting Poplar Bluff 6-1. "Our defense is working and our pitching has been good," Notre Dame junior catcher Chase Simmons said. "We haven't hit the ball as well as we can, but we work every day in the cages on our hitting."...

To the editor: Responsibility of EBCSD (East Butler County Sewer District) August 2011 EBCSD began digging in my back yard to bury sewer line for the new system. I informed them there was a shallow buried electric line that serves our garage/workshop and showed them the location. Of course, they cut it. A few days later I discovered there was no electric to the shop when I went to get some meat from a freezer that is house in the shop...

Carr Vernon bounced back from a bad bounce Monday to take medalist honors at the Poplar Bluff Invitational. Vernon's second shot on No. 11 at Westwood Hills Country Club sailed over the green, hit the cart path and landed out of bounds. It didn't slow the Poplar Bluff senior, who shot a 2-under-par 69 to lead the Mules to the team title...

Dean Montgomery DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Dean Montgomery, 76, of Gatewood, Mo., died Friday, April 6, 2012, at St. Louis University Hospital. Mr. Montgomery was born on Jan. 20, 1936. He retired from Caterpillar Tractor Company in Peoria, Ill., and was a union electrician. ...

SEARCY, Ark. -- The Three Rivers Raiders continued their recent success with a sweep over Harding on Monday. Three Rivers won the first game 5-1 before taking the second game 6-0 as it had 21 hits on the afternoon. We got some things going that manufactured some runs," Three Rivers coach Stacey Burkey said. "We had some good at-bats...

At 4:10 p.m. Monday, the Butler County Public Water Supply District 1 issued a boil water order for all of its customers along Highway 67 South from Highway V to Neelyville, Mo., including County Roads 338, 350 and 360. The boil order was issued after a crack in a water line was discovered...

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. -- Three Rivers' 15-game winning streak came to an end Monday afternoon. After the Lady Raiders won the first game 4-2 over Williams Baptist, they lost the second game, 4-3 in eight innings. "It wasn't that we were cocky, we were just expecting to win a bit too easily," Three Rivers coach Jack Childress said of his team in the second game...

Jimmy and Merinda Bradley of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Justice Joan-Marie Bradley for their 8-pound, 2.4-ounce daughter born at 9:28 a.m., Friday, March 9, 2012, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Justice was 20 inches long. Grandparents are Bernice "Cookie" Bradley of Poplar Bluff, David and Rhonda Bradley of Fisk, Mo., James and Mary Bradley of Choctaw, Okla., and the late Shirley Crosby...

Michael Henley FISK, Mo. - Michael D. Henley, 44, of Dexter, Mo., died Sunday, April 8, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Henley was born Aug. 30, 1967, in St. Louis, Mo. He had lived around Dudley, Mo., and Dexter all of his life. Mr. Henley had formerly worked at Florida Marine Tank and Ken Minton Farms...

Leslie Robinson CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Leslie Eudell Robinson, 78, of Campbell, Mo., died Saturday April, 7, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Robinson was born Dec. 2, 1933, in Holcomb, Mo. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and had worked as a farmer. On Sept. 6, 1955, he married Nancy Nelson Robinson in Hernando, Miss. She survives...

Hazel Durrow WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. -- Hazel Edra Durrow, age 89, of Williamsville, Mo., left to be with our Lord on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born to William (Bill) Medres and Emma (Joiner) Medres in Poplar Bluff, Mo., on Jan. ...

Helen Pierce PUXICO, Mo. - Helen Pierce of Puxico, Mo., died Sunday, April 8, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Pierce was born in Bloomfield, Mo. She formerly lived in California before moving to Puxico in 1971. Mrs. Pierce was a homemaker and member of Kinder Chapel General Baptist church...

William Lourance William Earl "Bud' Lourance, 81, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, April 7, 2012, at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Lourance was born July 8, 1930, in Qulin, Mo. He was affiliated with the Jehovah's Witness faith, and had started his career as an ironworker with Stupp Brothers Fabricating Company, later retiring from Alberrecci Construction Company. Mr. Lourance enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, his dogs and fishing...

Almeda Vineyard PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Almeda Vineyard, formerly of Piedmont, Mo., died Sunday, April 8, 2012, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Ruegg Funeral Home Chapel in Piedmont, Mo. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Yount Cemetery in rural Wayne County. A full obituary will follow soon. Online condolences may be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

Hali Rice DEXTER, Mo. -- Hali Mikhel Rice, 2, of Bloomfield, Mo., died Friday, April 6, in the emergency room of Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter, Mo. Hali was born March 3, 2010, in St. Louis, Mo. Survivors include her parents, Kevin Rice and Leslie Pattillo, both of Bloomfield; one sister, Havyn Rice of Bloomfield; paternal grandparents, Carey and Matthew Cossey of Hillsboro, Mo., and Allen and Jean Rice of Bloomfield; maternal grandparents, Richard and Stephanie Pattillo and Lisa and Darrell Tittle, all of Malden; paternal great-grandparents, Norene Harvell of St. ...

Joshua Phelps Joshua Adam Phelps, 25, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, April 7, 2012, in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Phelps was born March 16, 1987, in Poplar Bluff. He was a graduate of Poplar Bluff High School Class of 2005, and had earned a degree in Computer Science. ...

Donald Cates ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Donald Jay Cates, 56, of Scott Air Force Base, Ill., died unexpectedly Friday, March 30, 2012, in Belmont, Ohio. Mr. Cates was born Feb. 17, 1965, in Mountain View, Mo. He retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. ...

August Wilder ELLSINORE, Mo. -- August Wilder, 66, of Ellsinore, Mo., died Monday, April 9, 2012, at his residence. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. Burial will be in the Harmony Cemetery...

Kay Underwood PUXICO, Mo. -- Kay Underwood, 61, of McGee, Mo., died Saturday, April 7, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Underwood was born Aug. 4, 1950, in Granite City, Ill. She was a homemaker and a member of Corinth General Baptist Church in Lowndes, Mo. She enjoyed reading the Bible and her favorite passages were Psalm 121, Ezekiel 47:1-5 and I Peter 1:7...

Cecil Summerfield Jr. Cecil Claude Summerfield Jr., 57, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, April 9, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Jason Carrington MALDEN, Mo. -- Jason Andrew Carrington, 29, of Malden, Mo., died Saturday, April 7, 2012, in Poplar Bluf, Mo. Mr. Carrington was born Sept. 17, 1982, in Dexter, Mo. He was a carpenter and of the Nazarene faith. Survivors include his parents, Gaylon and Lee Crane of Gibson, Mo.; one brother, Michael Cowart of Malden; two sisters, Tammy Cowart of Malden, Mo., and Karen Wallace of Gibson, Mo.; and one grandmother, Betty Carrington of Malden, Mo...

To the editor: Responsibility of EBCSD (East Butler County Sewer District) August 2011 EBCSD began digging in my back yard to bury sewer line for the new system. I informed them there was a shallow buried electric line that serves our garage/workshop and showed them the location. Of course, they cut it. A few days later I discovered there was no electric to the shop when I went to get some meat from a freezer that is house in the shop...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Notre Dame baseball team has used strong pitching, solid defense and opportunistic offense to carve out a perfect record. That formula did the trick again Monday as the Bulldogs eased past visiting Poplar Bluff 6-1. "Our defense is working and our pitching has been good," Notre Dame junior catcher Chase Simmons said. "We haven't hit the ball as well as we can, but we work every day in the cages on our hitting."...

SEARCY, Ark. -- The Three Rivers Raiders continued their recent success with a sweep over Harding on Monday. Three Rivers won the first game 5-1 before taking the second game 6-0 as it had 21 hits on the afternoon. We got some things going that manufactured some runs," Three Rivers coach Stacey Burkey said. "We had some good at-bats...

PIEDMONT -- A power surge in the third inning helped lift the Clearwater Tigers over East Carter on Monday 4-0 in Ozark Foothills Conference play. Caleb Rowold and Mason Martin hit back-to-back solo homers in the bottom of the third to help the Tigers (8-2) to the early lead...

By BETSY HART Scripps Howard News Service You've probably seen the Citi credit-card commercial that has generated a lot of buzz. It opens with a woman's saying, "My boyfriend and I were going on vacation." She appears to be in a clothing store and needs to get a few accessories. ...

James Huggins CORNING, Ark. -- James Huggins, 83, of Corning, Ark., died Saturday, April 7, 2012, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould, Ark. Mr. Huggins was born May 28, 1928, in Hillstring Community in Datto, Ark. He was retired from Clay County Electric in Corning where he was general manager. Mr. Huggins volunteered at the Agape Mission Outreach in his spare time and enjoyed fishing. He was a member of New Hope Baptist Church in Pollard, Ark...

PIEDMONT -- Clearwater's Darrian Gayle got her first career home run at just the right time. Gayle hit a home run in the bottom of the fifth which started a 5-run rally as Clearwater held off East Carter 6-4 Monday in an Ozark Foothills Conference game...

Dean Montgomery DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Dean Montgomery, 76, of Gatewood, Mo., died Friday, April 6, 2012, at St. Louis University Hospital. Mr. Montgomery was born on Jan. 20, 1936. He retired from Caterpillar Tractor Company in Peoria, Ill., and was a union electrician. ...

Carr Vernon bounced back from a bad bounce Monday to take medalist honors at the Poplar Bluff Invitational. Vernon's second shot on No. 11 at Westwood Hills Country Club sailed over the green, hit the cart path and landed out of bounds. It didn't slow the Poplar Bluff senior, who shot a 2-under-par 69 to lead the Mules to the team title...

Michael Henley FISK, Mo. - Michael D. Henley, 44, of Dexter, Mo., died Sunday, April 8, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Henley was born Aug. 30, 1967, in St. Louis, Mo. He had lived around Dudley, Mo., and Dexter all of his life. Mr. Henley had formerly worked at Florida Marine Tank and Ken Minton Farms...

William Lourance William Earl "Bud' Lourance, 81, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, April 7, 2012, at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Lourance was born July 8, 1930, in Qulin, Mo. He was affiliated with the Jehovah's Witness faith, and had started his career as an ironworker with Stupp Brothers Fabricating Company, later retiring from Alberrecci Construction Company. Mr. Lourance enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, his dogs and fishing...

Jimmy and Merinda Bradley of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Justice Joan-Marie Bradley for their 8-pound, 2.4-ounce daughter born at 9:28 a.m., Friday, March 9, 2012, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Justice was 20 inches long. Grandparents are Bernice "Cookie" Bradley of Poplar Bluff, David and Rhonda Bradley of Fisk, Mo., James and Mary Bradley of Choctaw, Okla., and the late Shirley Crosby...

Leslie Robinson CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Leslie Eudell Robinson, 78, of Campbell, Mo., died Saturday April, 7, 2012, at his residence. Mr. Robinson was born Dec. 2, 1933, in Holcomb, Mo. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and had worked as a farmer. On Sept. 6, 1955, he married Nancy Nelson Robinson in Hernando, Miss. She survives...

Jason Carrington MALDEN, Mo. -- Jason Andrew Carrington, 29, of Malden, Mo., died Saturday, April 7, 2012, in Poplar Bluf, Mo. Mr. Carrington was born Sept. 17, 1982, in Dexter, Mo. He was a carpenter and of the Nazarene faith. Survivors include his parents, Gaylon and Lee Crane of Gibson, Mo.; one brother, Michael Cowart of Malden; two sisters, Tammy Cowart of Malden, Mo., and Karen Wallace of Gibson, Mo.; and one grandmother, Betty Carrington of Malden, Mo...

Kay Underwood PUXICO, Mo. -- Kay Underwood, 61, of McGee, Mo., died Saturday, April 7, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Underwood was born Aug. 4, 1950, in Granite City, Ill. She was a homemaker and a member of Corinth General Baptist Church in Lowndes, Mo. She enjoyed reading the Bible and her favorite passages were Psalm 121, Ezekiel 47:1-5 and I Peter 1:7...

Helen Pierce PUXICO, Mo. - Helen Pierce of Puxico, Mo., died Sunday, April 8, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Pierce was born in Bloomfield, Mo. She formerly lived in California before moving to Puxico in 1971. Mrs. Pierce was a homemaker and member of Kinder Chapel General Baptist church...

Donald Cates ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Donald Jay Cates, 56, of Scott Air Force Base, Ill., died unexpectedly Friday, March 30, 2012, in Belmont, Ohio. Mr. Cates was born Feb. 17, 1965, in Mountain View, Mo. He retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. ...

Hali Rice DEXTER, Mo. -- Hali Mikhel Rice, 2, of Bloomfield, Mo., died Friday, April 6, in the emergency room of Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter, Mo. Hali was born March 3, 2010, in St. Louis, Mo. Survivors include her parents, Kevin Rice and Leslie Pattillo, both of Bloomfield; one sister, Havyn Rice of Bloomfield; paternal grandparents, Carey and Matthew Cossey of Hillsboro, Mo., and Allen and Jean Rice of Bloomfield; maternal grandparents, Richard and Stephanie Pattillo and Lisa and Darrell Tittle, all of Malden; paternal great-grandparents, Norene Harvell of St. ...

Hazel Durrow WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. -- Hazel Edra Durrow, age 89, of Williamsville, Mo., left to be with our Lord on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born to William (Bill) Medres and Emma (Joiner) Medres in Poplar Bluff, Mo., on Jan. ...

Cecil Summerfield Jr. Cecil Claude Summerfield Jr., 57, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, April 9, 2012, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

August Wilder ELLSINORE, Mo. -- August Wilder, 66, of Ellsinore, Mo., died Monday, April 9, 2012, at his residence. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. Burial will be in the Harmony Cemetery...

James Huggins CORNING, Ark. -- James Huggins, 83, of Corning, Ark., died Saturday, April 7, 2012, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould, Ark. Mr. Huggins was born May 28, 1928, in Hillstring Community in Datto, Ark. He was retired from Clay County Electric in Corning where he was general manager. Mr. Huggins volunteered at the Agape Mission Outreach in his spare time and enjoyed fishing. He was a member of New Hope Baptist Church in Pollard, Ark...

At 4:10 p.m. Monday, the Butler County Public Water Supply District 1 issued a boil water order for all of its customers along Highway 67 South from Highway V to Neelyville, Mo., including County Roads 338, 350 and 360. The boil order was issued after a crack in a water line was discovered...