Stories from Monday, October 28, 2013

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Eager to share the advantages of native planting in the local parks and trails, Angela White, Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Department horticulturist, offered a tour of the city's parks. She arrived early at McLane Park on Highway W for the tour driving her "official" truck equipped with a water tank. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. -- A plea to have U.S. 67 four laned along the existing highway from Walnut Ridge, Ark., to the Missouri state line was signed Friday by city and county officials along the route. The signing took place at a Highway 67 Coalition luncheon at Williams Baptist College at Walnut Ridge...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Registered sex offenders in Butler County answering their doors on Halloween will be met by local officers checking to verify they were being compliant with state and federal laws, including the one restricting their activity on the holiday...

From Staff Reports Thought provoking and award winning writer and director Linda Bloodworth Thomason has challenged audiences for decades. Her latest project a documentary named Bridegroom, captured the Audience Award at the famed Tribeca Film Festival in April, where it was introduced by former President Bill Clinton. It has continued to win the Audience Favorite Award at 10 subsequent film festivals. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor A resolution urging Peter Kinder to continue serving as lieutenant governor instead of running against Congressman Jason Smith was approved by the Butler County Republican Central Committee Thursday night at the Courthouse...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry has seen a 90 percent increase in the number of families it serves in just four years. It's left volunteers anxious to move out of the small basement facility they've operated from on Vine Street for about a decade...

By HEATHER COLLIER SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- For outsiders, it may seem the people responsible for the hair, makeup and wardrobe in a film have the glamorous jobs. In fact, the wardrobe and hair and makeup teams, who work some of the longest hours, play a pivotal role in helping actors connect with their characters...

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer A $400,000, four-year grant will help Big Spring Medical Association fight chronic diseases in Southeast Missouri, according to a Delta Regional Authority press release. The funding is through the Health Resources and Services Administration's Office of Rural Health Policy. The Delta States Rural Development Grant program will provide $5.4 million to 12 projects in eight states...

By LUCAS EDINGTON Special to the DAR Around the middle of October out on a dusty gravel road, there's nary a more popular hangout for waterfowl hunters than a good cane thicket. Folks will scout brush with the same diligence as they will for birds, and you can bet that Uncle so-and-so will be standing nearby telling you which oak trees hold their leaves the best in the blustery winter winds. ...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Some traditions never die. Instead, they get better as they grow older, and that's the way it is for many hunters who prefer to hunt with black powder muzzleloading rifles. Muzzleloading dates back to the earliest days of firearms. They were the primary weapon of Civil War soldiers and remain popular among big game hunters...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor The popularity of outdoor television programming has grown over the years, and along with it, so has the desire for many sportsmen to film their own adventures. Filming hunts can be a tough challenge, but having the right gear and knowing how to use it can make a big difference in the quality of your video footage...

The 2013 Inaugural Father Daughter Ball Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Poplar Bluff Elks Lodge was a fundraising event was hosted by the Poplar Bluff Masonic Youth's Divine Chapter Order of DeMolay (Young men 12 to 21) and Poplar Bluff Rainbow Assembly (young women 12 to 21) and the Poplar Bluff Elks...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer The Singing Seniors formed their own choir when they split from the R.S.V.P. Chorus because the "Seniors" wanted to sing Southern gospel music exclusively. Eight years, 12 members and three marriages later, the Singing Seniors count 31 members in their choir. The oldest member, George Davis, is 92 years old. Donna Butler is the youngest--she is 63 years. Her mother, Clarice Kelly, plays the spoons...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor All too often, hunters take deer, turkeys, ducks or other game with the intention of having a trophy taxidermy mount completed, but fail to properly take care of the animal. Jason Jenkins, who operates Cane Creek Taxidermy outside Poplar Bluff, Mo., is all too familiar with problems arising from hunters who don't take care of their harvested animal...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Though bitter cold winds may sting, an angler's fingers may go numb and ice may freeze in his fishing rod's guides, there's no denying winter can be one of the best times to catch big crappies. "From late fall through early spring, bigger fish are less stressed and more active," said Tim Huffman, a Poplar Bluff, Mo., crappie professional, author of six published fishing books and editor of the "Crappie Masters" and "Crappie Now" online magazines. ...

Amanda Kristene Hoy and Travis Adam Gowen of Poplar Bluff, Mo., were married Saturday, Sept. 15, 2013 by the tree located in a remote, wooded area where the bridegroom had carved his initials eight years ago when the couple became engaged. The property belonged to his grandmother, Virginia Elder. Rev. Byron Beck officiated at the private ceremony...

Frances I. (Blanford) Anderson will celebrate her 100th birthday from 1 -3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 27 at Mark Twain Care Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo., where she currently resides. Mrs. Anderson would love to have all her friends and family stop by, wish her well, and enjoy a piece of cake while celebrating the occasion with her...

To the Editor, Recently at Rombauer GBC we had our annual Fall Harvest Festival and we could not have done it without the partnerships from some very special businesses here in town and we just wanted to say thank you to them! Branding Iron, Ashley Furniture, Hays Music, Office Depot, Artfully Framed, La Boutique, JR's Shoes, Pro Nails, Wal-Mart, Whitworth's Jewelry, Smart Style Hair, Somewhere in Time Antiques and More, Hair FX, Doggie Designs, Big Lots, S-N-T Taxidermy, Tattered Soul Tattoo, Triggers, Bluff City Ice, Royal Oak Charcoal, Ideal Bread, Modern Woodmen, Piedmont Processing, Rednecks Racks and Reels, Colton's, Marble Slab Creamery, Stand Still Apparel, All-Star Music, Crazy T's Western Wear and Pepsi!. ...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Doors will open at 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 on the Annual Julia Kraft Guild Craft Fair and Bazaar at The Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross Fellowship Hall, 420 N. Main St., Poplar Bluff, Mo., providing the community with a great day of shopping and socializing. ...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Perhaps Rick Santorum is demonstrating persistence beyond the call of plausibility, but he says compelling political logic and high duty converge. Although he has not made a decision about 2016, he candidly says he is doing "everything consistent with running" -- traveling to speak to sympathetic groups and donors. His hand is on his sword's hilt...

John Guy Sr. John Carl Guy Sr., 87, of Bunker, Mo., died Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. A graveside service with full military honors will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo., with Chaplain Mickie Kniffen officiating...

Dustin McGhee DEXTER, Mo. --Dustin Lee McGhee 25, of Dexter, died Thursday Oct. 24, 2013 at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. Visitation and the funeral were Saturday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter with the Rev. Lonny Mittag officiating. Burial was in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery...

Kathleen Daugherty PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Kathleen (Price) Daugherty, 93, of Piedmont, Mo;, died Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, at The Villas Nursing Center in De Soto, Mo. Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Monday at the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Monday in the chapel with the Rev. Jeff Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Poplar Bluff City Cemetery...

Joyce Ann Wilson Joyce Ann Wilson, 87, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 at Cedargate Phase II in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Wilson was born Feb. 1, 1926 in Poplar Bluff. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, and was a member of the Phebean Sunday School class. She was also a member of the P.E.O Chapter D. G., the Z.T.A. College Sorority and the Butler County Daughters of the American Revolution. She enjoyed reading and genealogy research...

Richard Smith Richard D. Smith, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013, at his residence. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date in Rockland, Pa. Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff is in charge of arrangements...

Vera Kinder Vera Milla Kinder, 89, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013, at Oakdale Care Center. Mrs. Kinder was born April 25, 1924, in Bourbon, Mo. She was a member of Green Forest Church of Christ, and was a homemaker. In her earlier years, she worked for Rohr Aircraft in Chula Vista, Calif., during World War II, building an early version of the B-24 Bomber...

Virna Brawley NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Virna Lee Brawley, 77, of Doniphan, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, in her home. She was born Aug. 5, 1936, in Shook, Mo., and had also lived at Oxly, Mo. She was a homemaker and a member of the Oxly United Pentecostal Church...

Mr. Belknap was fine gentleman I was a teenager back in the 50s and 60s when Mr. Belknap had Belknap Drugs downtown. I remember him. Well, I'll tell you I had fond memories of that place and him. I drank many a cherry coke and ate many a banana splits there in booth at Belknap's. ...

Bi Nguyen is on the cusp of history and the Poplar Bluff junior probably couldn't care less. That's why it's so easy to root for him as he closes in on the Mules single-season rushing record. Nguyen finished Friday night 80 yards shy of breaking Austin Tinsley's record that has stood since 1991...

FARMINGTON -- Poplar Bluff sophomore Isaiah Williams placed 11th at the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 cross country meet while his teammates missed the cut to advance by just seconds Saturday. Former state qualifiers Bailey Davidson and Allison Huskey came up short in advancing to the sectional meet in their senior years while junior Cassidy Harris was 9 seconds behind the final qualifying spot...

ST. LOUIS -- Chaminade and Poplar Bluff picked up where they left off last year and, in the process, ended up with the same result. The Red Devils, who made a goal-line stand to win last year, stopped the Mules a yard short on fourth down Friday night, 9 yards from the end zone in the closing seconds to beat Poplar Bluff 35-28...

DEXTER -- Malden stayed on the field for halftime Friday night. Staring off to the other side of Charles Bland Stadium, the scoreboard told the Green Wave that they were down 19 points to their biggest rival and were getting thrashed by Dexter quarterback Peyton Pollock...

One school has a strong volleyball tradition while the other has never made it out of districts. This year, both schools that reside in Wayne County have an equal opportunity to throw a banner on the way in their respective classes. The Clearwater Lady Tigers (22-7) have put their name in the record books several times with four state titles and 12 district titles in school history, the last coming 11 years ago in 2002. ...

Cecil Darnell DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Cecil Lee Darnell, 82, of Doniphan, Mo., died Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, in the Current River Nursing Center. Mr. Darnell was born Oct. 8, 1931, in Buckhorn, Mo. He was a self-employed farmer and attended the First Assembly of God Church in Doniphan. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing...

By BILL O'REILLY On Saturday nights at my house, I often trot out classic movies and force the urchins to watch them. There is much wailing and gnashing of teeth, but I think it's important to teach kids about American culture, and films certainly are a big part of it. Actors like John Wayne, Cary Grant, Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn are worth seeing and remembering...

By GEORGE F. WILL ARLINGTON, Va. -- When William F. Buckley, running as the Conservative Party's candidate for mayor of New York in 1965, was asked what he would do if he won, he replied: "Demand a recount." Robert Sarvis, Libertarian Party candidate for governor of Virginia, will not need to do this...

The Oak Grove Homemakers Club met Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the home of Clara Freeman for their noon luncheon and club meeting. Helen Birdsong offered thanks for the meal. Dorothy Robbins, president, presided over the meeting and gave a devotional reading from the Daily Guidepost publication based on the scripture verse, Proverbs 10:31. ...

Beginning Nov. 19, , the Poplar Bluff Songwriters will meet at 2414 Katy Lane. The building is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church house. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. All genres and songwriters are welcome to attend. If a songwriter wants their song critiqued, they are asked to bring eight copies of the lyric sheet along with them to the meeting. For more information, call Robb at 573-727-0025...

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) 734 was called to order at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, by leader Linda Morgan with 15 TOPS and two KOPS presented. Following roll call, Wrather read the treasurer's report and Pam Kane read the monthly treasurer's report. Both were approved...

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) 734 was called to order at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, by leader Linda Morgan with 15 TOPS and two KOPS presented. Following roll call, Wrather read the treasurer's report and Pam Kane read the monthly treasurer's report. Both were approved...

The Oak Grove Homemakers Club met Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the home of Clara Freeman for their noon luncheon and club meeting. Helen Birdsong offered thanks for the meal. Dorothy Robbins, president, presided over the meeting and gave a devotional reading from the Daily Guidepost publication based on the scripture verse, Proverbs 10:31. ...

Barbara Daggett PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Barbara G. Daggett, 67, of Des Arc, Mo., died Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, at her residence. Arrangements will be announced by Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont.

PB Songwriters meeting Nov. 19 Beginning Nov. 19, , the Poplar Bluff Songwriters will meet at 2414 Katy Lane. The building is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church house. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. All genres and songwriters are welcome to attend. If a songwriter wants their song critiqued, they are asked to bring eight copies of the lyric sheet along with them to the meeting. For more information, call Robb at 573-727-0025...

Sharon Davis Sharon Davis, 66, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, at Oakdale Care Center. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service.

Sunday, Oct. 27 Pick 3 Evening: 8-7-9 Pick 3 Midday: 7-0-0 Pick 4 Evening: 6-4-3-3 Pick 4 Midday: 9-3-5-9 Show Me Cash: 12-23-24-29-30 Next jackpot: $70,000 Saturday, Oct. 26 Lotto: 04-05-08-16-40-43 Next jackpot: $1.4 million Pick 3 Evening: 2-0-6 Pick 3 Midday: 3-0-2...

Carrell Priest Carrell D. Priest, 76, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013. Mr. Priest was a life-long resident of Poplar Bluff and was a site superintendent/manager for Maco Construction. He enjoyed fishing and driving tractors. He is survived by three sons, Rod Priest of Poplar Bluff, David Priest of Doniphan, Mo., and Tim Priest of New Orleans, La.; one brother, Henry Priest of Poplar Bluff; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild...

Randy Monroe FISK, Mo. -- Randy E. Monroe, died Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, at home. He loved riding motorcycles, Nascar and his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Denise; daughter, Melisa; son, Robert (Martha); brother, Dennis Monroe (Kathy); sister, Rayola Monroe Vachulet (Paul); and four grandchildren, Isaiah, Melea, Mason and Blake...

Lorene Martin Lorene Martin, 84, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, at her residence. Mrs. Martin was born Sept. 19, 1929, in Taylor, Ark. She was of the Baptist faith, and during her younger years she was an active PTA officer supporting her children's teachers by helping plan many events for the children and their families at Baskey No. ...

Jon and Amanda Dunlap of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Kynlee Dawn Dunlap for their 7-pound, 13-ounce daughter born at 1:09 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Kynlee was 20 inches long. Grandparents are Donnie and Vicki Dunlap of Poplar Bluff and Ray and Barbara Blurton of Wardell. Great-grandparents are Patsy Dunlap of Poplar Bluff and Don and Donna Andrews of Leesburg, Fla...

David Alexander and Sarah Chrishanna Goins of Poplar Bluff, Mo. have chosen the name Chance Alexander Goins for their 6-pound, 8-ounce son born at 9:45 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013 at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Chance was 19 and one-quarter inches long...

Young gets Doniphan license office DONIPHAN, Mo. -- The Office of Administration, in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Revenue, has awarded the management contract for the Doniphan License Office to John Young of Doniphan. All license office contracts in Missouri are awarded through a competitive bid process...