Stories from Wednesday, October 22, 2014

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The fifth year of Pink Out, Poplar Bluff has raised $20,000 for local cancer assistance charity UCAN. More than 2,200 T-shirts were sold by high school and junior high student council members, UCAN workers and volunteers to raise the funds...

SEMO News Service NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Further investigation is needed before law enforcement determines whose car recently was found in the murky waters of the Mississippi River near Portageville, Missouri. New Madrid chief of police Joey Higgerson said divers attempted Thursday to look at a submerged car, which was discovered two weeks ago during a national fishing tournament at New Madrid. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor City Manager Heath Kaplan has announced the leaf pick-up schedule in each of the five city wards. Leaves in Ward 1 will be picked up first between Nov. 3 and 14. Other wards and dates are: Ward 3, Nov. 17-28; Ward 5, Dec. 1-12; Ward 4, Dec. 15 to Jan. 2; and Ward 2, Jan. 5-16...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Nearly four years ago, the city of Poplar Bluff entered into a five-year agreement with ZCorum, an Internet technical support provider to the City Cable Department. At that time, the city did not have any plans to sell City Cable...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor An estimated $4.7 million information technology improvement project was unanimously approved by the Poplar Bluff City Council Monday night. In recommending this major capital improvements project, City Manager Heath Kaplan said his goal is "to create uniformity of information technology infrastructure and services throughout the city, so the same equipment and technology will be available to all city staff."...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Poplar Bluff City Council accepted an $8,000 bid Monday night from Maximus Consulting Services of Springfield, Ill., for a cost allocation study. City Manager Heath Kaplan noted one of the new responsibilities of the city is to maintain, calculate and distribute a citywide cost allocation plan...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor The Poplar Bluff Police Department will receive nearly $262,000 in wireless computers for patrol units, body cameras and new handguns as part of the new city capital improvements project. Police Chief Danny Whiteley, Deputy Chief Jeff Rolland and Capt. Mike McClain explained the benefits for the police officers during the Poplar Bluff City Council meeting Monday night...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Neelyville R-IV Board of Education awarded contracts for re-roofing projects at both campuses, discussed an April Bond issue and took no action on a request to delay demolition of the old Washington School during a Monday meeting...

Manipulation of baseball Was the St. Louis Cardinal's lose today against their adversary disheartening? Well, yes it was. Was it foreseen? Well, at least by me, yes! After having watched several and I mean several seasons of St. Louis working their way up to the finals and then throwing their chances of going into the big game. ...

The Thursday, Oct. 9, meeting of the Missouri Star Quilters' Guild was called to order by President Dori Caldwell with 20 members present. The minutes from the September meeting were approved. Cheryl Maples presented the treasurer's report. Committee reports for August:...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN In 1492, "Columbus sailed the ocean blue" and discovered the New World. And Oct. 12 was once a celebrated holiday in America. School children in the earliest grades knew the date and the names of the ships on which Columbus and his crew had sailed: the Nina, the Pinta, the Santa Maria. They knew his voyage had been financed by Queen Isabella of Spain, after the Genoese Admiral of the Ocean Sea had been turned down by other monarchs of Europe...

By MICHELLE MALKIN So now the federal health bureaucrats in charge of controlling diseases and pandemics want more money to do their jobs. Hmph. Maybe if they hadn't been so busy squandering their massive government subsidies on everything but their core mission, we taxpayers might actually feel a twinge of sympathy...

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? This is part of the plot from the new movie by filmmaker Rich Christiano in A Matter of Faith, opening Friday at AMC Showplace 8 The story is about a Christian teenager attending college for her freshman year. ...

Elizabeth Willis PIEDMONT, Mo.-- Elizabeth Willis, 69, of Patterson, Mo., died Monday, Oct. 20, 2014, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Arrangements will be announced by Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont.

Luther C. Guthrie FISK, Mo. -- Luther C. Guthrie, 83, of Campbell, Mo., formerly of Rombauer, Mo. died Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014, at John J. Pershing Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was born Jan. 24, 1931, in Rombauer. He served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War and was a self-employed carpenter and cattle farmer. He loved attending auctions, coon hunting and spending time with his family. He attended Lone Oak General Baptist Church...

Charles McKnight WAPPAPELLO, Mo.--Charles Ray McKnight, 77, of Wappapello, passed away Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014, at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. McKnight was born Dec. 11, 1936, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. to the late Carlin E. and Edith Vaughn Brewer McKnight. On July 24, 1956, he and Barbara Jean Wood were married in Poplar Bluff. She preceded him in death Feb. 17, 2000. Mr. McKnight and Bonnie Smith later married in Farmington, Mo. She survives of the home...

A question for police I have a question regarding the arrest of a gentleman in Van Buren from a Ripley County warrant for assaulting a police officer. Why is it he could be arrested but a man who absconded with money from several different people and he could not be arrested. I would like an answer to that question. Thank you...

The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center will host a "Veterans Information Fair" from 11 a.m. to noon Oct. 28 in Room 45 on the ground floor of the main building. Information on enrolling for VA health care, filing claims for service-connected conditions, employment opportunities for veterans, education benefits, training and the appeals process will be available to veterans who attend. ...

By MICHELLE MALKIN Free at last! I'm silent no more. Now, the story can be told. Democrats here in my adopted state of Colorado did not want the new political documentary I hosted to see the light of day. They lost. This week, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an emergency injunction declaring that our movie deserved the same free-speech rights as a "traditional" (translation: old-guard liberal) news organization...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Growing up in Washington in the 1930s and '40s, our home was, several times, put under quarantine. A poster would be tacked on the door indicating the presence within of a contagious disease -- measles, mumps, chicken pox, scarlet fever...

To the Editor: On Saturday, October 4th, the Margaret Harwell Art Museum enjoyed its 21st Annual Art on the Run Festival. Our sincere thanks goes to the many people who sponsored, supported, and/or participated in this year's activities. Runners, artists, volunteers, sponsors, and children (young and old) gave of their time and talents. We at the MHAM appreciate your help in bringing art to our community...

SIKESTON -- Call it fate, kismet, karma or serendipity. When the Poplar Bluff volleyball team had a chance to take the lead Monday night in the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 semifinal who was behind the service line? Destiny Wallace. The junior put the Mules in front with her serves in both games as Poplar Bluff beat second-seeded Jackson 25-19, 25-17...

The Raiders had a few nagging injuries in their jamboree at Evangel on Saturday as Three Rivers won three halves, lost two and tied one. Sophomore transfer Vashawn Ruffin and freshman Trey Moore did not play and Three Rivers coach Gene Bess said sophomore Torry Butler is not at full strength after tearing his ACL in the spring during an open gym...

The Poplar Bluff Mules went home unhappy Monday night. But they still have a ton to play for. On Senior Night and in front of a large crowd at Whiteley Park, Sikeston came from behind to tie the game in the second half. After two scoreless overtime periods, the Bulldogs won on penalty kicks 4-2 to defeat the Mules 2-1...

Donald Henson PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Donald Lee "Duck" Henson, 76, of Piedmont, Mo., died Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014, at Landmark Hospital, Cape Girardeau, Mo. Services are pending with Ruegg Funeral Homes, Piedmont, Mo.

Elizabeth Willis PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Elizabeth L. Willis, 69, of Patterson, Mo. died Monday, Oct. 20,2014 at the Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Visitation will be held after 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Patterson Assembly of God Church in Patterson. Burial will be in the Little Lake Cemetery near Patterson...

Luther C. Guthrie FISK, Mo. -- Luther C. Guthrie, 83, of Campbell, Mo., formerly of Rombauer, Mo. died Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014, at John J. Pershing Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was born Jan. 24, 1931, in Rombauer. He served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War and was a self-employed carpenter and cattle farmer. He loved attending auctions, coon hunting and spending time with his family. He attended Lone Oak General Baptist Church...

Charles McKnight WAPPAPELLO, Mo.--Charles Ray McKnight, 77, of Wappapello, passed away Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014, at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mr. McKnight was born Dec. 11, 1936, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. to the late Carlin E. and Edith Vaughn Brewer McKnight. On July 24, 1956, he and Barbara Jean Wood were married in Poplar Bluff. She preceded him in death Feb. 17, 2000. Mr. McKnight and Bonnie Smith later married in Farmington, Mo. She survives of the home...

Mary Darnell FISK, Mo.-- Mary Helen Darnell, 80, of Wappapello, Mo., died Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014, at St. Francis Regional Health Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born May 15, 1934, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She was a member of the Eastern Star Chapter 422 of Puxico, Mo., and attended Little Brushy Missionary Baptist Church. ...

BLOOMFIED -- For the sixth straight year, Bloomfield has reached the district title game. The top-seeded Lady Wildcats advanced to the MSHSAA Class 2 District 2 championship match after a 25-13, 25-17 win over Stoddard County rival Puxico in the semifinals Monday...

Gary Porterfield BONNE TERRE, Mo.-- Gary Lee Porterfield, 73, of Bonne Terre, passed away Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014, at Mercy Jefferson Hospital in Festus, Mo. He was born Jan. 4, 1941, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. to the late Albert Lee and Laura (Howard) Porterfield...

Dollie Cochran CORNING, Ark.--Mrs. Dollie Veda Cochran, 88, of Doniphan, Mo., departed this life peacefully Sun. Oct. 19, at home surrounded by her family. Mrs. Cochran was born in Corning, AR., on Apr. 17, 1926 the daughter of William O. and Mary Ina (Doughitt) French. ...

Hazel Franks DEXTER, Mo. -- Hazel Marie Franks, 73, of Dexter died Monday, Oct. 20, 2014 at Southeast Healthcare of Stoddard County in Dexter. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Watkins in Dexter, with Rev. Kenneth Biggs of Dexter officiating. Burial will be in the Bernie Cemetery in Bernie, Mo. with Watkins in charge of arrangements...