Stories from Saturday, November 29, 2014

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Four Fisk students -- Abbey Hester, Wysteria Oetjen, Jazzmine Matthews and Dalton Eddy --were commended following a Leader In Me presentation during the Twin Rivers School Board meeting Monday night. "All of you did a great job," said Superintendent Jeremy Siebert, who noted Leader In Me "has reduced discipline referrals."...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A federal jury convicted a Wappapello, Mo., man and his brother of illegally selling firearms earlier this week. After hearing testimony over two days, the jury reportedly deliberated for about two hours before returning with its verdict at about 6 p.m. ...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Put on your bargain boots, brew a strong cup of joe and defrost the car. Black Friday has arrived in Poplar Bluff once again. However, in what seems to be a downward spiral for the nation's biggest shopping holiday of the year, many of the lines seen snaking around store entrances in the past were simply not there Friday morning...

By MICHELLE MALKIN When it rains, it pours. Just before unveiling his colossal administrative amnesty for millions of "undocumented" aliens and foreign tech workers, President Obama separately ordered up to 8,000 more executive pardons and special work passes for Liberians, Sierra Leoneans and Guineans illegally in this country...

By BEN CARSON Jonathan Gruber set off a firestorm of controversy, at least in the conservative media, with the recent revelation of his comments about the "stupidity of the American people," which allowed the Affordable Care Act to be passed. In essence, he admitted that the bill was written in a way that would allow its purveyors to characterize it as the cure-all and salvation for a health care system that was in trouble, with no danger of their deception being discovered by a populace that is trusting and naive. ...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- Historic. Such is the ubiquitous description of the climate agreement recently announced in Beijing between Barack Obama and Xi Jinping in which China promised for the first time to cap carbon emissions. If this were a real breakthrough, I'd be an enthusiastic supporter. ...

Shoe Sensation will help will help The Bread Shed, a local not-for-profit institution that helps deserving children in the community, by accepting donations on their behalf Dec. 2 - Dec. 8. Individuals making a donation of $1 or more during the drive will receive 10 percent off their purchase of a single item...

The Agee Community Club held its luncheon meeting at The Bread Company. The club has never missed a monthly meeting in 82 years. Hostess club president Cathy Womack opened the meeting with the ladies repeating the club motto. Nadine Johnson presented each lady with a corsage in the club colors and a photo was taken. ...

Members of Alpha Beta Chapter in Poplar Bluff recently joined thousands of their sorority sisters in celebration of the founding of Alpha Delta Kappa educational sorority. In recognition of Alpha Delta Kappa Month, the local chapter delivered doughnuts to the teachers and staff at each school to thank them for their commitment to educational excellence and sincere dedication to the students of the Poplar Bluff School District...

Bessie Linville Roper Bessie Linville Roper of Wappapello, Mo., died peacefully in the Oakdale Care Center on Nov. 27, 2014, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. at the age of 92. Bessie is survived by her twin brother, Jess Linville of St. Louis, Mo.; and two sisters, Novella Razor of Bloomfield, Mo., and Mertie Cates of Dexter, Mo...

Scott "Butter" Bowman NEELYVILLE, Mo.--Scott "Butter" Bowman, 44, of Neelyville, died Mon. Nov. 24, 2014, in Supply, Ark. Mr. Bowman was born Sept. 21, 1970, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was a farmer and a lifelong resident of Butler County. He enjoyed hunting arrowheads, swimming, the river, and tractor pulls. He was of the Baptist Faith...

The Raiders gobbled up the scoreboard immediately, then took a nap before going back for seconds. Three Rivers scored the first 16 points against West Kentucky and largely coasted after that, eventually winning 89-61 Thursday at the Bess Activity Center in the Peoples Community Bank Thanksgiving Classic...

Elvin Spencer Elvin Spencer, 70, of Neelyville, Mo. died Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014 at his residence. Mr. Spencer was born Oct. 16, 1944, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He worked as a farmer and worked at a sawmill. He was a lifelong resident of Butler County and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and his grandchildren...

LuAnna Mae Pritchard JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- LuAnna Mae Pritchard, 89, of Jefferson City, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014, at Heisinger Bluffs. She was born March 18, 1925, in Boaz, Mo., daughter of the late Oscar Arron and Nell Mae (Stamper) Short. She graduated high school in Clever, Mo., and went on to attend Southwest State Teachers College. On June 6, 1947, LuAnna was united in marriage in Springfield, Mo., to Dr. Murray T. Pritchard, who preceded her in death on Feb. 12, 2005...

Mary Ellen Hampton PIEDMONT, Mo.-- Mary Ellen Hampton, 94, of Piedmont, died Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Arrangements will be announced by Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel, Piedmont.

Stella Parrish WEST FRANKFORT, Ill. -- Stella Magill Parrish, 74, of Carterville, Ill., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away at 10:01 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014 in West Frankfort with her family by her side. She was born Sept. 18, 1940 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. to Henry and Vada (Hendrix) Magill. She married Tarrell Parrish and he preceded her in death on July 2, 1993...

Bruce Clark Bruce Clark, 66, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014, at his residence. Mr. Clark was born June 4, 1948, in Sikeston, Mo. He had served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He later served in the Army National Guard until being honorably discharged in 1978. ...

Kathryn Smith EMINENCE, Mo. -- Kathryn Fay Smith, 70, of Eminence passed away Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014 at Poplar Bluff, Mo. Kathryn was born Jan. 21, 1944 at Eminence, the daughter of Ivy D. Wood and Ollie Lena (Randolph) Wood. She was united in marriage to Clifton Howard Smith on Oct. 7, 1961 at Eminence...

Evelyn "Bell" Potter, 88, of Fagus, died Wednesday at Oakdale Care Center. Funeral arrangements are pending with White-Sanders Funeral Home at Qulin.