Stories from Sunday, June 24, 2012

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A Poplar Bluff, Mo., woman hopes her first published book can help all children better understand guide dogs. Christy Reid, who is mostly blind and deaf, based the title character in "Simon the Guide Dog" on her own former guide dog, Milo. Reid was able to transcribe the story to her husband of 20 years, Bill, and submit it to a publisher. She spent four years perfecting the story and locating an illustrator and publisher...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer At almost 10 months old, Hope Asberry's legs are still wobbly as she pulls herself up to stand at her grandmother's coffee table and follow a trail of sweet potato puffs laid along its edge. Between careful steps, the little girl with wispy blond hair pauses to wave with one hand at mom, Sara, dad, Tim or Ripley County Head Start home visitor Sara Bell. ...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer More than 140 local pets received reduced-price vaccinations courtesy of a Poplar Bluff Animal Shelter clinic earlier this month, an event animal control officer Nalynn Hillis hopes can become an annual one. The event was scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m., but when pet owners began showing up hours earlier, Hillis, who organized the event, knew she was in for a long day...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A Poplar Bluff, Mo., woman hopes her first published book can help all children better understand guide dogs. Christy Reid, who is mostly blind and deaf, based the title character in "Simon the Guide Dog" on her own former guide dog, Milo. Reid was able to transcribe the story to her husband of 20 years, Bill, and submit it to a publisher. She spent four years perfecting the story and locating an illustrator and publisher...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer At almost 10 months old, Hope Asberry's legs are still wobbly as she pulls herself up to stand at her grandmother's coffee table and follow a trail of sweet potato puffs laid along its edge. Between careful steps, the little girl with wispy blond hair pauses to wave with one hand at mom, Sara, dad, Tim or Ripley County Head Start home visitor Sara Bell. ...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer More than 140 local pets received reduced-price vaccinations courtesy of a Poplar Bluff Animal Shelter clinic earlier this month, an event animal control officer Nalynn Hillis hopes can become an annual one. The event was scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m., but when pet owners began showing up hours earlier, Hillis, who organized the event, knew she was in for a long day...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- There they go again. Like those who say climate change is an emergency too obvious and urgent to allow for debate, some proponents of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, aka the Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST), say arguments against it are nonexistent. ...

By ALLEN G. BREED AP National Writer RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- With their elderly parents seated across the octagonal oak table, Donna and Jim Parker were back in the kitchen they knew so well -- the hutch along one wall crammed with plates, bells and salt-and-pepper shakers picked up during family trips; at the table's corner, the spindly wooden high chair where a 7-year-old Jim had tearfully confessed to setting a neighbor's woods ablaze...

By SHARON RANDALL Scripps Howard News Service When the phone rang, I had no way of knowing it was a call I would treasure forever. Life is full of surprises, like a storm in the night that leaves you fumbling in the dark for a flashlight, then dazzles you with blazes of lightning. It makes you want to get up each day just to see what will happen, where the lightning will strike, and who might be calling you next...

By BILL O'REILLY President Obama's press conference at the G-20 summit in Mexico was the most boring political exposition I have ever seen. Not only did the president ramble on about nothing; he did it in a halting manner that was excruciating to witness. How Obama thinks he can convince the world that he is a strong leader with that kind of a presentation is an intense mystery...

PHOTO AVAILABLE Sherman Oscar, Jr., and Vicki Lynn Carnahan announce the engagement of their daughter, Whitney Ann Carnahan, to John Thomas Price, all of Poplar Bluff, Mo. Price is the son of Charles Price of Wappapello, Mo., and Susan Price of Columbia, Mo...

Juan and Debra Are´valo of Campbell, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Brittany Nicole Are´valo to Travis Andrew Wilson, both of Poplar Bluff. Wilson is the son of Adam and Tina Wilson also of Poplar Bluff. The bride-to-be is a 2007 graduate of Campbell High School. She holds an associate degree in nursing from Three Rivers College and is employed by Genesis Phase II...

The Agee Community Club met at noon Thursday, June 21, at Ryan's. Jacque Gallamore was the hostess. President Cathy Womack called the meeting to order with the group repeating the club motto. Nadine Johnson gave the invocation. Jeanie Figgins read the devotional from Psalm 31:8. ...

Tommy and Tammy Leach of Silva, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Melanie Dawn Leach to Craig Allen Shipman, all of Poplar Bluff, Mo. Shipman is the son of Danny and Margie Shipman, also of Poplar Bluff. The bride-to-be is attended the Heart of Georgia Technical College in Dublin, Ga. The bridegroom-to-be graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 2006. He is employed by Starting USA in Poplar Bluff...

Barbara Crane FISK, Mo. -- Barbara Ann Crane, 72, of Springfield, Mo., died Thursday, June 21, 2012, at The Gardens in Springfield. Mrs. Crane was born July 29, 1939, in Brockton, Mass. She had previously lived in Broseley, Mo. She was a member of Fisk General Baptist Church and was formerly a member of Little Vine General Baptist Church where she taught children's Sunday school classes for many years. ...

Betty Cobb BERNIE, Mo. -- Betty Faye Cobb, 73, of Bernie, Mo., died Saturday June 23, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Cobb was born on Oct. 10, 1938, at Berry, Ala. She was a member of Sugar Tree General Baptist Church and a former cook in area nursing homes...

Micah Cradduck CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Micah Belle Atkinson Cradduck, 9 months, of Campbell, Mo., died at Crittenden Regional Hospital in West Memphis, Ark. The infant was born Aug. 22, 2011, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was a member of the Campbell Assembly of God Church...

Steve and Tammy Sullivan of Poplar Bluff, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Melissa Renee Sullivan, of Jonesboro, Ark., to Joshua R. Garrett Arrington, both of Jonesboro. Arrington is the son of Jim Arrington of Neelyville, Mo., and the late Sandra Arrington...

Eileen Adams NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Eileen L. Adams, 90, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, June 22, 2012, at Westwood Hills Healthcare in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Adams was born Jan. 17, 1922, in Chicago, Ill. She was baptized on April 17, 1938, and was of the protestant faith...

Richard Lane DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Richard L."Bud" Lane, 80, of Doniphan, Mo., died Thursday, June 21, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Lane was born April 21, 1932, in Trumann, Ark. He had served in the U.S. Navy and was a farmer...

LINN, MO. - Linn State Technical College would like to congratulate the 2012 Spring graduates. With more than 35 academic programs, Linn State Technical College is Missouri's only public two-year technical college with a statewide mission to prepare students for profitable employment and a life of learning. For more information about Linn State, visit www.linnstate.edu...

Eileen Adams -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Micah Cradduck -- Campbell, Mo. Richard Lane -- Doniphan, Mo. Barbara Crane -- Springfield, Mo. Betty Cobb -- Bernie, Mo.

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Only one bid was received Friday for the purchase of the former water tower property at the intersection of Business Highways 60 and 67 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Dr. Ken McVey of Poplar Bluff submitted a bid of $110,000, according to City Clerk Pam Kearbey, who opened the bid...

Mark Twain National Forest's Acting Forest Supervisor Teresa Chase reminds visitors and campers that the use of all fireworks is prohibited on all national forests and national grasslands. Fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices are prohibited year-round, regardless of weather conditions or holidays...

BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. -- Drew Dowd knocked in the game-winning RBI in the ninth inning for the Poplar Bluff Thunder on Friday night. The Senior Babe Ruth team then got its offense going in the second game against Blytheville (Ark.) Senior Legion to add two more victories in the win-column, 2-1 and 8-4...

Ben Soeter is somewhat of a lone ranger. Soeter, who will be a sophomore at Poplar Bluff, is the only male swimmer competing for the Poplar Bluff Piranhas. Still, he continues to excel and enjoy the sport. Soeter swam five events Saturday at the AAU Junior Olympic Qualifier at Huntington Pool...

Back in the days when St. Louis had two professional baseball teams, the one that ended up moving to Baltimore had a promotion for fans to manage the team for a game. Fans who filled out ballots for the starting lineup were given tickets to the game behind the Browns' dugout. They had a card with "yes" on one side and "no" on the other and were asked to make key decisions as the game progressed. After the vote was tallied, the decisions were passed on to the players...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Poplar Bluff's Carr Vernon and Trent Hillis were both knocked out of the 105th Missouri Amateur Championship in the second round Friday morning at Dalhousie Golf Club. Vernon lost 1 up to Kris Casburn of Blue Springs while Hillis was beat 3 and 2 by Wilson Sundvold of Columbia...

PHOTO AVAILABLE Sherman Oscar, Jr., and Vicki Lynn Carnahan announce the engagement of their daughter, Whitney Ann Carnahan, to John Thomas Price, all of Poplar Bluff, Mo. Price is the son of Charles Price of Wappapello, Mo., and Susan Price of Columbia, Mo...

LINN, MO. - Linn State Technical College would like to congratulate the 2012 Spring graduates. With more than 35 academic programs, Linn State Technical College is Missouri's only public two-year technical college with a statewide mission to prepare students for profitable employment and a life of learning. For more information about Linn State, visit www.linnstate.edu...

The Agee Community Club met at noon Thursday, June 21, at Ryan's. Jacque Gallamore was the hostess. President Cathy Womack called the meeting to order with the group repeating the club motto. Nadine Johnson gave the invocation. Jeanie Figgins read the devotional from Psalm 31:8. ...

Eileen Adams NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Eileen L. Adams, 90, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, June 22, 2012, at Westwood Hills Healthcare in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Adams was born Jan. 17, 1922, in Chicago, Ill. She was baptized on April 17, 1938, and was of the protestant faith...

Steve and Tammy Sullivan of Poplar Bluff, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Melissa Renee Sullivan, of Jonesboro, Ark., to Joshua R. Garrett Arrington, both of Jonesboro. Arrington is the son of Jim Arrington of Neelyville, Mo., and the late Sandra Arrington...

Tommy and Tammy Leach of Silva, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Melanie Dawn Leach to Craig Allen Shipman, all of Poplar Bluff, Mo. Shipman is the son of Danny and Margie Shipman, also of Poplar Bluff. The bride-to-be is attended the Heart of Georgia Technical College in Dublin, Ga. The bridegroom-to-be graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 2006. He is employed by Starting USA in Poplar Bluff...

Richard Lane DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Richard L."Bud" Lane, 80, of Doniphan, Mo., died Thursday, June 21, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. Lane was born April 21, 1932, in Trumann, Ark. He had served in the U.S. Navy and was a farmer...

Barbara Crane FISK, Mo. -- Barbara Ann Crane, 72, of Springfield, Mo., died Thursday, June 21, 2012, at The Gardens in Springfield. Mrs. Crane was born July 29, 1939, in Brockton, Mass. She had previously lived in Broseley, Mo. She was a member of Fisk General Baptist Church and was formerly a member of Little Vine General Baptist Church where she taught children's Sunday school classes for many years. ...

Betty Cobb BERNIE, Mo. -- Betty Faye Cobb, 73, of Bernie, Mo., died Saturday June 23, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Cobb was born on Oct. 10, 1938, at Berry, Ala. She was a member of Sugar Tree General Baptist Church and a former cook in area nursing homes...

Micah Cradduck CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Micah Belle Atkinson Cradduck, 9 months, of Campbell, Mo., died at Crittenden Regional Hospital in West Memphis, Ark. The infant was born Aug. 22, 2011, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was a member of the Campbell Assembly of God Church...

Eileen Adams -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Micah Cradduck -- Campbell, Mo. Richard Lane -- Doniphan, Mo. Barbara Crane -- Springfield, Mo. Betty Cobb -- Bernie, Mo.

Mark Twain National Forest's Acting Forest Supervisor Teresa Chase reminds visitors and campers that the use of all fireworks is prohibited on all national forests and national grasslands. Fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices are prohibited year-round, regardless of weather conditions or holidays...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Only one bid was received Friday for the purchase of the former water tower property at the intersection of Business Highways 60 and 67 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Dr. Ken McVey of Poplar Bluff submitted a bid of $110,000, according to City Clerk Pam Kearbey, who opened the bid...

BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. -- Drew Dowd knocked in the game-winning RBI in the ninth inning for the Poplar Bluff Thunder on Friday night. The Senior Babe Ruth team then got its offense going in the second game against Blytheville (Ark.) Senior Legion to add two more victories in the win-column, 2-1 and 8-4...

Ben Soeter is somewhat of a lone ranger. Soeter, who will be a sophomore at Poplar Bluff, is the only male swimmer competing for the Poplar Bluff Piranhas. Still, he continues to excel and enjoy the sport. Soeter swam five events Saturday at the AAU Junior Olympic Qualifier at Huntington Pool...

Back in the days when St. Louis had two professional baseball teams, the one that ended up moving to Baltimore had a promotion for fans to manage the team for a game. Fans who filled out ballots for the starting lineup were given tickets to the game behind the Browns' dugout. They had a card with "yes" on one side and "no" on the other and were asked to make key decisions as the game progressed. After the vote was tallied, the decisions were passed on to the players...

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Poplar Bluff's Carr Vernon and Trent Hillis were both knocked out of the 105th Missouri Amateur Championship in the second round Friday morning at Dalhousie Golf Club. Vernon lost 1 up to Kris Casburn of Blue Springs while Hillis was beat 3 and 2 by Wilson Sundvold of Columbia...