Stories from Tuesday, January 21, 2014

By SARABETH WALLER Staff Writer While many young ones were busy composing their own wish lists before the holiday season, Landon Sanders, 10, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., began turning his attention to helping children in need. "I was watching TV and thinking about what I wanted for Christmas, and instead of getting more presents, I wanted to help St. Jude," he explained. "I just thought I should do something more this year."...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Young people and adults are still motivated by the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights activist who was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn., nearly 46 years ago. He delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech during the 1963 march on Washington, D.C...

Truman State University has released the Fall 2013 President's List. To qualify for this list, an undergraduate student must attain a semester 4.0 grade point average and must complete 12 semester hours of credit. Area students include: Lincoln Thomas Webb of Dexter, Mo., majoring in History and Sierra Marie Dickey of Williamsville, Mo., majoring in Chemistry...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- Viewed from Washington, which often is the last to learn about important developments, opposition to the Common Core State Standards Initiative still seems as small as the biblical cloud that ariseth out of the sea, no larger than a man's hand. Soon, however, this education policy will fill a significant portion of the political sky...

To the Editor: My name is Braden Hampton. My parents have lived in their house for over 30 years and have always gotten their mail delivered. They have always had a dachshund. They have one now and have had him for over two years. The postmaster of Dexter is trying to make my disabled parents get a standing mailbox (at their expense) so his mail carriers can take more mail so he can probably cut the number of his staff. ...

Hillview Elementary School has released its second quarter honor roll for the 2013-2014 school year. Students named are listed by classroom: A Honor Roll First Grade Mrs. Stull: Jade Crosswhite, Hayden Dugas, Shalynn Hanna, Bridget Million, September Preslar, Casen Stephens...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN As we approach the centennial of World War I, we will read much of the blunders that produced that tragedy of Western civilization. Among them will be the "blank check" Kaiser Wilhelm II gave to Vienna after the assassination by a Serb terrorist of the Austrian Archduke Francis Ferdinand...

Aaron Miller GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Aaron L. Miller, 63, of Greenville died Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Arrangements are pending at this time with Ruegg Funeral Home of Greenville in charge of arrangements...

Barbara Belt DEXTER, Mo. -- Barbara Payne Belt, 70, of Dexter died Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014, at her residence. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Lighthouse Christian Center in Dexter. Memorial services will be follow at the center at 6 p.m. with the Rev. Tim Russell of Dexter officiating. Burial will be at a later date in the Hagy Cemetery in Dexter with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements...

By KIMBERLY DOZIER AP Intelligence Writer WASHINGTON (AP) -- Should Edward Snowden ever return to the U.S., he would face criminal charges for leaking information about National Security Agency surveillance programs. But legal experts say a trial could expose more classified information as his lawyers try to build a case in an open court that the operations he exposed were illegal...

Martha Grant CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Martha Grant, 88, of Campbell died Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, at her residence. Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. Funeral services will follow beginning at 1 p.m. at the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Darren Baker officiating. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Campbell...

Fred Richmond FISK, Mo. -- Fred Richmond, 90, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, at his residence. Born July 31, 1923, at Riga, Mo., Mr. Richmond had served in the Army during WWII. He retired from Williamsville Stone Co. in 1985. On Nov. 14, 1943, he married Margaret Gilliland. She survives...

PUXICO -- After ending last week with two tough losses to Bell City and then Neelyville, the Puxico Indians were resurgent Monday night in front of a home crowd at Arnold Ryan Gymnasium. After a back-and-forth first quarter, the Indians built a double-digit lead on Twin Rivers by halftime. The Royals cut the deficit to five points once in the third quarter and six points with 5:02 left in the game before Puxico closed out on a big run for a 80-66 victory...

Irene Dugan MALDEN, Mo -- Muriel Irene Dugan, 92, of Parma, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014, at her residence. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Wednesay at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral service will follow beginning at 1 p.m. at the funeral home chapel with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden...

Dewey Darnell FISK, Mo. -- Dewey Ray Darnell, 76, of Wappapello, MO., died Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. Dewey was born June 15, 1937, at Qulin, Mo., and he was a Korean War veteran who was honored with a Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He married Mary Snider on June 1, 1957, in Broseley, Mo. They moved to Marion, Ind...

Jesse Middleton PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Jesse C. Middleton, 82, of Jackson, Mo., formerly of Piedmont died Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, at his residence. Visitation will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. Funeral services will follow at 7 p.m. ...

Ida Foster Ida M. Foster, 67, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Hospital. Mrs. Foster was born in Thebes, Ill., on July 19, 1946, to the late Homer and Joyce Stevenson White. In 1966, she married James Allen Foster in Poplar Bluff. He preceded her in death in 1987...

Sally Calvert DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Sally Milum Williamson Calvert, 80, of Piedmont, Mo., died Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, at the residence of her sister, Edith Rush, in Doniphan. Mrs. Calvert, daughter of Clifford and Verna (Kennon) Milum, was born Oct. 3, 1933, in Doniphan. She retired from Orscheln Brothers Truck Lines and the Teamsters Union. Mrs. Calvert enjoyed genealogy, traveling and fishing and was a member of the Church of Christ...

After shooting a season-worst 28 percent on Jan. 11, Three Rivers coach Jeff Walk said the Lady Raiders needed to refocus on shooting in practice. Since then they've overcome injury problems and a short bench to rattle off three straight wins in five days...

By RUTH CAMPBELL SEMO News Service Finding that perfect dress for prom, homecoming or a special cocktail party can seem like the most important thing at the time, but when the event over, the dress may just gather dust in a closet. This year, there's a way to repurpose those dresses -- and benefit a couple of local agencies -- through the Fancy That! Dress Collection and Sale...

VAN BUREN -- No upsets were had Monday night as girls opened the Black River League Tournament. No. 4 Van Buren topped No. 5 Lesterville 60-45 to set up a rematch of last year's title game with No. 1 Clearwater in the semifinals. Meanwhile, No. 2 Bunker defeated No. 7 East Carter, 51-15, and No. 3 South Iron got past No. 6 Ellington, 52-33...