Stories from Monday, February 24, 2014

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Authorities say the Reynolds County couple missing for nearly three weeks and found dead last week in the woods near their Bluff View area home died of hypothermia. Autopsies on the bodies of 54-year-old William Talley and 47-year-old Jordy Wagner were performed Friday at Mineral Area Regional Medical Center in Farmington, Mo., by Dr. Russell Deidiker...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Area gravel roads are so muddy in many places in Butler and adjoining counties that driving through them is very difficult or impossible at times. Some area residents have not received mail or a newspaper for several days because of the road conditions...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor With copper thieves continuing to strike electrical substations and farmers' irrigation wells, the Butler County Sheriff's Department is hosting an informational meeting Wednesday to highlight the new technology available to combat the thefts...

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is looking for organizations throughout the state to help feed thousands of children who would otherwise go without meals during the summer months when school is not in session. The Summer Food Service Program reimburses organizations for meals they serve to children who are at risk of not having enough to eat. The program is one way Missouri is working to fight childhood hunger...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer For seven years, "Friends Who Lunch," have gathered at the Mules Cafe once a month to enjoy what they describe as "the best catfish in town," and to reminisce. Originally the group consisted of retirees from the U. S. Forest Service who wanted to keep in touch. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Richard Engel of NBC, reporting from Maidan Square in Kiev, described what he witnessed as the Feb. 19 truce collapsed. Police began to back away from their positions in the square, said Engel. And the protesters attacked. Gunfire was exchanged and the death toll, believed to be in the dozens, is not known...

Lillie Lemons DEXTER, Mo. -- Lillie Mae Lemons, 98, of Dexter died Friday, Feb. 21, 2014, at Golden Living Center in Bloomfield, Mo. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Steve Tippen officiating. Burial will be in the Dexter Cemetery...

Twin Towers activities begin each week with the P.A.C.E. (People with Arthritis Can Exercise) Class which meets at 9 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday in the Assembly Room. "Inner Peace," a mother and daughter who sing gospel songs, will entertain beginning at 11:30 a.m. for those enjoying lunch in the dining room...

Jordy Wagner PIEDMONT, Mo.-- Jordy Wagner, 47, of Piedmont Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Reynolds County, Mo. Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. Monday at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont, followed by the funeral at 5 p.m. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

By SHARON RANDALL McClatchy-Tribune News Service On this fine winter day, when much of the country is an icebox, I know I shouldn't complain. I can sit outside, feel the sun on my face and not get one bit of frostbite. But I'm just going to say it: I am weary of winter. Depending on where you live, you might be even wearier of it than I am...

By MICHELLE MALKIN This week's award for Biggest Common Core Jerk goes to Missouri GOP state legislator Mike Lair. Parents, teachers and administrators who object to the government education "standards" racket -- which usurps local control, impedes academic achievement and undermines family privacy -- have politicians on the defensive. The only thing these Fed Ed flacks and hacks can respond with is cowardly condescension...

Rick Stone DEXTER, Mo. -- Ricky "Rick" Lynn Stone, 50, of Aid, Mo., died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, at his residence. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will follow beginning at 2 p.m. at the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Roger Wooten officiating. Burial will then be in Hagy Cemetery...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Friday, Feb. 14, Valentine's Day, Popeyes Restaurant rose to the occasion when they replaced their outdoor "Daily Special" message with a proposal of marriage. For those who drove by and had their curiosity piqued by a Popeyes "Daily Special" promoting love instead of food here is "rest of the story."...

Eula Dunehoo Eula E. Dunehoo, 92, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014. Eula was born to the late Bert Richmann and Bertha E. Fawbush Richmann on Jan. 11, 1922, at Wappapello, Mo. She was a longtime resident of Poplar Bluff. She was a member of the Westwood Baptist Church. She retired as supervisor in food service from the VA Hospital. Eula enjoyed quilting, sewing and gardening. She was a member of the Oak Grove Lady's Club...

Lorraine Stidham DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Lorraine E. Stidham, 80, of Doniphan died Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in the Southeast Health Care of Ripley County. Mrs. Stidham was born May 27, 1933, in St. Louis, Mo. She was a housewife and loved her family very much. She was also a member of the Eastern Star...

William Wright Jr. ADVANCE, Mo. -- William Ray Wright Jr., 75, of Zalma, Mo., died Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, at his home. Bill was born Jan. 5, 1939, in Kansas City, Mo., to William Ray and Mary Basile Wright Sr. He was raised in Kansas City and retired from General Motors Inc. in Oregon after 30 years. He had proudly served six years in the U.S. Navy...

Sparkie 'Skip' Lewis PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Sparkie "Skip" Lewis, 65, of Piedmont died Friday, Feb. 21, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. today at the Faith Family Worship Center in Piedmont. A graveside service, with military honors, will be at noon Tuesday at the State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield...

William Talley PIEDMONT, Mo. -- William J. Talley, of Piedmont died Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 in Reynolds County, Mo. Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. Monday at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont, followed by the funeral at 5 p.m. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

Louis Sewell CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Louis Barfield Sewell, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center. He was born April 12, 1925, in Hornersville, Mo., to William R. and Bess Barfield Sewell. In 1943, during his senior year of high school in Doniphan, Mo., Lou joined the Army Air Corps. He served as a navigator on a B17 during World War II...

Anybody surprised at what happened Friday night at Peters Gym didn't see the Poplar Bluff Mules play Charleston the first time around. Danny Farmer did. "I knew this was a very good team," the Charleston coach said following a 70-44 loss to the Mules. "I've been watching them, Bluff is a very good team...

ST. PETERS -- Cassidy Harris moved up in the 50-yard freestyle pecking order at the MSHSAA state championships. A day after breaking her own record in the race and swimming in a second event, the Poplar Bluff junior placed 12th Saturday afternoon with a time of 25.16 seconds to earn the Lady Mules six points...

Crowder might be the tallest team in Region XVI but on Saturday, Three Rivers sophomore Anna Vogt played bigger than everyone. Vogt put together her best stat line of the season with 31 points and 17 rebounds in the Lady Raiders' 80-67 win at the Bess Activity Center...

Poplar Bluff's seniors made their final game at Peters Gym a memorable one Friday night. The Mules held Charleston scoreless for the first three minutes, led by 17 at halftime and cruised to a 70-44 win. The last time Poplar Bluff beat Charleston, the current seniors -- Andy Whitworth, Lucas Tibbs, Brian Goodrich, Ryan Brittingham, Stacy Gipson, Nick McAnulty and Shannon Woods -- were in the sixth grade...

VAN BUREN -- After a promising start to their MSHSAA Class 2 District 2 opener against Couch, the Van Buren Lady Dawgs struggled in the second quarter Saturday evening. A strong 2-2-1 press by the Lady Indians hindered Van Buren's movement up the court as it scored just three points in the frame leading into halftime...

VAN BUREN -- The second half of Saturday's MSHSAA Class 2 District 2 playoff between Puxico and Neelyville was full of long scoring runs on both sides. But with the game tied at 46 with 6 1/2 minutes to play, a Brett Luna 3-pointer triggered the Tigers into a 12-0 run...

Three Rivers freshman Keven Long made it very clear very early why he took the mound as the opening-day starter. Long threw eight scoreless innings against Southeastern Iowa, allowing five hits with six strikeouts, but the Raiders were unable to give him a lead to work with...

COLUMBIA -- Dexter senior Trever Waldner became a state champion in wrestling Saturday as he defeated Olen Brattin of Pleasant Hill in the MSHSAA Class 2 138-pound match at Mizzou Arena. Waldner built a three-point lead over Brattin in the first two periods before earning the 6-4 decision...

MALDEN -- Malden earned the upset and its second win of the week over 4 Twin Rivers 62-55 in the first round of the MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 tournament Saturday night. The Royals (13-11) led by nine after the first quarter and Malden rallied back to lead 31-29 by halftime. The Green Wave (11-13) then outscored the Royals 30-25 in the second half...