Stories from Friday, September 19, 2014

By CAROLYN SMITH and BARBARA ANN HORTON Staff Writers Women Aware has joined the 21st Century this year with the addition of "Socrative Student" -- an app that will provide up-to-the-minute evaluations during the 27th annual Women Aware conference Thursday, Sept. 25, at the Black River Coliseum...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Trustees offered a permanent contract Wednesday to the interim president of Three Rivers College, taking action more than a month earlier than planned. Dr. Wes Payne, former vice president for learning, accepted a three-year contract. He will receive an annual salary of $175,000, the same amount trustees approved in July for his contract as interim president...

By EMILY PRIDDY SEMO News Service CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Two men were in custody Wednesday, accused of stealing a 1969 Dodge Charger from a storage unit off Lexington Avenue, Capt. David James of the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department said...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor GREENVILLE, Mo. -- A New Madrid County judge is expected to rule as early as today whether Rocky Kingree will be disqualified from running for Division II associate circuit judge in Butler County. Presiding Circuit Judge Fred Copeland heard testimony and arguments during a bench trial Wednesday morning in Wayne County on two civil suits filed against Kingree, the Carter County prosecuting attorney, seeking to keep him off the Nov. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A Three Rivers College instructor was airlifted to a Memphis hospital Wednesday morning with serious injuries after being struck by a vehicle while riding a bicycle. Kevin Wheeler, 44, was riding on Route J, three miles west of Malden, Mo., when a westbound 2005 Ford F150 struck the rear of his bicycle shortly after 6 a.m., according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Gov. Jay Nixon today appointed Mark Christopher Michel as the new Butler County Collector to fill the remaining term of Brenda Fox, who died Aug. 3. "I'm thrilled, absolutely honored and excited to get started," Michel said. "It is time to get work done and I'm ready to work."...

Wilma (Collins) Teachenor NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Wilma Lee (Daves-Collins) Teachenor peacefully departed this life to be with her heavenly family on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014. She was born on May 3, 1940 to Jessie Daves and Alpha Berry in Chaonia, Mo. On June 26, 1959, she married her soulmate Robert Lee Collins. ...

Courtland Marlene Brown and Dylan Kyle Stoker of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Kenzlie Marie Paige Brown for their 7-pound, 2-ounce daughter born at 11:32 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014 at Saint Francis Medical Center's Family BirthPlace in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Kenzlie was 19 inches long...

Nola Ryan PUXICO, Mo. -- Nola Ryan, 92, of Greenville, Texas, formerly of Puxico, died Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014. Arrangements are pending with Morgan - Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico.

From one unbeaten state-ranked conference rival to another, the Poplar Bluff football team looks to again play the role of spoiler Friday night. This time there's also district playoff implications when the 2-2 Mules travel to 4-0 Jackson. "It's about the same," Poplar Bluff coach Mark Barousse said when asked to compare the offenses of Jackson and Cape Central, which beat the Mules 26-6 last week...

Mike Harty PUXICO, Mo. -- Mike Harty, 62, of Dexter, Mo., formerly of Puxico, died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, at home. He was born Dec. 3, 1951 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Harty was a highly decorated combat veteran. He worked at Arvin Automotive in Dexter...

Rachel Green and Charles Beard of Poplar Bluff, Mo., have chosen the name Anna Marie Beard for their 5-pound, 15-ounce daughter born at 1:36 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10,, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Anna Marie was 10 inches long...

Helen Henderson PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Helen Henderson, 68, of Greenville, Mo., died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014 at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. The arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

Stella "Rose" Elder Stella "Rose" Elder, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, at Westwood Hills Healthcare. Mrs. Elder was born May 1, 1931, in East Prairie, Mo. She married Wilburn "Clyde" Elder March 13, 1953, at Pocahontas, Ark. He preceded her in death Nov. 14, 2003...

What's your favorite apple - Red Delicious, McIntosh, Gold Delicious, Jonathan, Rome Beauty? Yes, it's just about time for fresh apples to hit local markets. This delicious fruit is fibrous, juicy, and nutritious. That's why it's great for little kids and adults...

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Standard Democrat Nothing to see here folks. Just another week in Washington. Increasingly, the lack of American leadership from the Obama White House is illustrating the fundamental flaw of inexperience in Washington combined with a detached arrogance that has outworn its welcome...

Micah Joesph Beck NEELVYILLE, Mo. -- Micah Joesph Beck died Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Olympia, Wash. He was born May 27, 1981, is Doylestown, Pa. He was an artist, poet, seamstress, tailor, designer, musician and gardener. He was a friend and lover. He was loved as a son, brother, uncle, nephew and cousin...

Myriah Mestas of Poplar Bluff, Mo., has been selected to serve as a student ambassador for the 2014-2015 academic year at Missouri State University-West Plains, Mo. To become an ambassador, students must apply through the Missouri State-West Plains Scholarship Handbook and undergo an interview. Ambassadors are selected based on ACT scores, grade point averages, and community involvement and service...

By MICHELLE MALKIN Here's the first and last rule of Islamic jihad: If at first you don't succeed, plot, plot again. 9/11 wasn't the first. 9/11 won't be the last. It's not "fear-mongering" to face reality. These head-chopping, throat-slitting, bloodthirsty hijackers -- of planes, freedom and civilization -- have conspired for decades to inflict modern mass murder on the West. Their homicidal mission is spectacular destruction in the name of the Koran...

Opal Coffey DEXTER, Mo. -- Opal Irene LaRue Coffey, 96. of Dexter died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014 at Cypress Point Nursing Home. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Friday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter with the funeral beginning at 2 p.m. in the chapel with Rev. Elijah Allen officiating. Burial will follow in the Dexter Cemetery...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN The strategy that President Obama laid out to "degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group known as ISIL," is incoherent, inconsistent and, ultimately, non-credible. A year ago, Obama and John Kerry were straining at the leash to launch air strikes on Syrian President Bashar Assad for his alleged use of chemical weapons in "killing his own people."...

Dunning confusion Recently, the arrest of an Earl Wayne Dunning of Poplar Bluff was reported. He is not to be confused with Earl Wayne Dunning, 89, of 32290 Vandover Lane.

ALTON -- Van Buren's Todd Wilcoxon won the Alton cross country meet in 18 minutes, 8 seconds and the Bulldogs won with 50 points. Wilcoxon finished 45 seconds ahead of Tyler Wiggs of Koshkonong. For Van Buren, Matthew Shronts took eighth in 19:33. Brandon Newman finished 12th in 19:50 and Tristan Hollis was a second behind him in 13th. Zach Griffin also finished under 20 minutes in 19:54 in 16th place...