Stories from Saturday, January 23, 2016

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Area residents are invited to participate in a community anniversary celebration at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center at Three Rivers College. Three Rivers College will kick off its 50th anniversary and information will be available about four other local organizations celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2016...

SEMO News Service A man who fell through a hole in some ice in Scott County earlier this week died of hypothermia, Scott County Coroner Scott Amick said Thursday. The search team found a hole in the ice where Zack Johnston, 23, of Scott County fell, Amick said...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff R-I Board of Education approved a grant application for the technical career center, minor staffing changes for 2016-17 and a new policy on movies in the classroom during Thursday's January meeting. The technical career center grant will fund a number of programs and a new greenhouse at the high school. The district will make an investment of $159,569 and will receive a reimbursement of $117,375 through federal matching programs...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor NEELYVILLE -- Reports on high scores on ACT and government tests were presented during the Neelyville School Board meeting Thursday night. High school principal Justin Dobbins reported Tyler Turner scored 25 on the ACT test and freshman Nathan Akers scored 22 or 23...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Butler County escaped the predicted snowstorm, but freezing rain coated all the roadways with ice resulting in numerous accidents. City, county and state police officers and tow truck drivers were having difficulty keeping up with all the calls Thursday night and this morning...

By JONATHON DAWE SEMO News Service BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - As the state presented its third day of testimony against former Stoddard County minister Don Lafferty, the majority of the day was spent with the examination of Brandy Hicks. Lafferty is accused of having Hicks and her husband set a fire at his house in an attempt to kill his wife...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer QULIN, Mo. -- In a small kitchen at the back of a converted house older than many of its clients, Qulin Nutrition Center produces about 100 meals a day for some of the most fragile and needy residents in eastern Butler County...

Not gettin' a bargain I'm calling about the gas prices still being so high. With a barrel of oil being at $31.12 a gallon why are we still paying $1.72 - $1.79 a gallon for gas? Back years ago when the barrels were selling for what they are now, our gas was down to $.69 - $.89 a gallon and when it got up to $90 and stuff we were paying these prices of $1.79 and above. ...

Drayton Elizabeth Keeney, of Van Buren, has been awarded a $1,000 Marianna Wolpers Memorial Scholarship for the 2015-16 academic year at Three Rivers College. The scholarship is administered by the Three Rivers Community College Foundation. Keeney, 18, is a 2015 graduate of Van Buren High School, where she ranked sixth in her graduating class and took part in a long list of activities, including Student Council, Yearbook, Beta Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Science Club, Pep Club, Art Club, Interscholastic Team, Relay for Life and community blood drives.. ...

An award-winning bluegrass gospel band, The Farm Hands Quartet, will be in concert at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at the First Christian Church, 1601 N. Main St. The Farm Hands is based out of Nashville, Tenn., and consists of industry veterans Tim Graves, Daryl Mosley, Keith Tew and Bennie Boling. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN To awaken Thursday to front-page photos of U.S. sailors kneeling on the deck of their patrol boat, hands on their heads in postures of surrender, on Iran's Farsi Island, brought back old and bad memories. In January 1968, LBJ's last year, 82 sailors of the Pueblo were captured by North Korea and held hostage with Captain Lloyd "Pete" Bucher, and abused and tortured for a year before release...

Subscribers get credit for Monday I understand that the DAR has quit publishing a paper on Monday. I paid for a year in advance which if they quit Monday that will be 52 papers less per year. Are they going to give us two months free on next year. Please answer this in Speak Out...

The members of the Missouri Legislature will honor country music legend and Missouri native Leroy Van Dyke. The Missouri House of Representatives will hold a brief ceremony on the House floor as state Reps. Nathan Beard and Steve Cookson present Van Dyke with an official House Resolution honoring him for his 60 years in the music business. Van Dyke is also scheduled to be honored on the floor of the Missouri Senate that same day...

Bob Lowrey donations The family of Bob Lowrey, 78, of Dexter, Mo. requests that any memorials be made to Stoddard County Children's Home, Memorial Tribute Fund, P.O. Box 164, Dexter, Mo. 63841 or the Christian Academy, 210 S. Kingshighway, Sikeston, Mo. 63801. Mr. Lowrey died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016 at his residence in Dexter...

Margie Smith DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Margie DeLois Smith, 75, of Ripley County, Mo. died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016 at Mountain View Health Care. There will be a period of visitation from 10 a.m. to Noon Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. Brother Randy Whiteside will deliver a eulogy at 11 a.m...

RaeLynn Link Scott Loyd Link, 26, formerly of Wappapello, Mo., Haylee Hovis, 22, and their daughter, RaeLynn Link, 1, of Savanna, Ill., were killed in a car accident Saturday morning, Jan. 16, 2016, a single-vehicle crash in rural Hanover, Ill. A memorial service was held in Savanna and a second service and burial will be held at noon Saturday, Jan. 23, at Richman Chapel Church and Cemetery in Wappapello, Mo. A reception will be held after the local services...

James Woodford Miller CORNING, Ark. -- James Woodford Miller, 74, of Corning, Ark., died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016 at home. Visitation will be held from 6 - 8: p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, at Ermert Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, in the Ermert Funeral Home Chapel with George Michael Rhea officiating. Burial will follow the services in the Corning Cemetery with Military honors...

"Ruthie" Shivers Ruth "Ruthie" Marie Shivers, 59, of Malden, Mo., passed away Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016 at The Golden Living Center in Malden. Ms. Shivers, the daughter of the late Delmar Oral and Irma Christine (Klappstein) Shivers Tompkins, was born June 18, 1956 in St. Louis, Mo. and had been disabled since birth. She was the longest residing resident at the Living Center and was thought of by the entire staff as family...

Ben F. Boyers Ben F. Boyers, 92, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Boyers, the son of the late Byrd F. and Hettie (Sparkman) Boyers, was born Sept. 8, 1923 in Butler County, Mo. He was a member of Lone Star Missionary Baptist Church and had retired as a horse rancher and dog trainer. He was lovingly known by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as "Buddy Ben"...

It's been nearly two months since the Raiders played their first and only home Region XVI game of the season and the Lady Raiders haven't played one at all. Moberly Area will be at the Bess Activity Center on Saturday to change both of those things with the women playing at 5 p.m. and the men follow...

The Agee Community Club met Friday, Jan. 8, at the Bread Company. Nickey Orton was hostess, and also as vice president called the meeting to order. The club president was unable to attend. Jeanie Figgins gave the invocation. Orton gave the devotional by reading, "Seeds From the Sower," by Michael Guido, found in the "Clay County Times Democrat Newspaper." Roll call was answered by stating, "Did you make a New Year's Resolution? Why or why not?" Figgins read the secretary's and treasurers' reports. ...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Sikeston girls basketball team is usually the one doing the pressing. They don't see it from opposing defenses that much. Poplar Bluff bucked that trend to keep it close but couldn't knock off the Bulldogs as Sikeston pulled away for a 62-56 SEMO Conference win Thursday at the Sikeston Field House...

Kimberley Amerian Edwards QULIN, Mo. -- Kimberley Amerian Edwards, 47, of Qulin, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016 at her residence. She was born Feb. 20, 1968 at St. Louis, Mo. She had lived around Qulin most of her life. She was an LPN and enjoyed riding motorcycles and needle work. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Qulin American Legion Post 494...