Stories from Friday, September 16, 2016

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A local food pantry was able to distribute more than 3 tons of food over the weekend thanks to the donations of federal employees from John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. The same employees were on hand Saturday as the food was handed out by Bread Shed volunteers, which emptied its shelves to serve more than 350 families in less than an hour and a half...

Junior Gribble DONIPHAN, Mo. - Junior Franklin Gribble, 79, of Doniphan, died Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 16, 2016 at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral will follow at 11:30 a.m. in the funeral home chapel...

To the Editor: There has been a lot of discussion concerning the accident which resulted in the death of a young Poplar Bluff lady. After being pushed into doing so, there is now going to be a formal Grand Jury to determine the future of justice, not only for the two drivers who left the scene, but for justice for all throughout our future...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- The president of the United States lands with all the majesty of Air Force One, waiting to exit the front door and stride down the rolling staircase to the red-carpeted tarmac. Except that there is no rolling staircase. He is forced to exit -- as one China expert put it rather undiplomatically -- through "the ass" of the plane...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will hold a public auction of various used Department vehicles and equipment on Saturday, Oct. 15, starting at 10 a.m. at its Salem Maintenance Center located at the junction of Highway 72 and Highway 32. The auction will include boats, outboard motors, tractors, trailers, farm equipment, and vehicles...

Paul A. Aufner PIEDMONT, Mo -- Paul A. Aufner, 91, of Annapolis, Mo., died Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, at Missouri Veterans Home, St. Louis. Visitation will be held from 5 - 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, also at the Piedmont Chapel. Burial will follow at Sutton Cemetery with full Military Honors...

Facing a team they had already beaten by the slimmest of margins, the Poplar Bluff tennis team faced an uphill climb Wednesday after Mariah Carpenter was injured in doubles play. The junior, and partner Sara Holland, were leading their No. 3 doubles match 7-0 when an ankle injury forced the Mules to forfeit the match and Carpenter's No. 6 singles match...

By FRANK CAMPA Mo. Dept. of Conservation If you have someone in your family or close hunting companions that might still need hunter education certification before they can hunt this fall (to purchase any kind of firearms hunting permit), spread the word - there will be fewer and fewer as we approach firearms deer season...

Earline Kay Pitt VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Earline Kay Pitt, 60, daughter of Earl and the late Alline (Mayes) Willcut was born Sept. 25, 1955, in Butler County, Mo., and departed this life on Sept. 13, 2016. Earline had resided in Van Buren for the last 12 years and was formerly of Poplar Bluff. ...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Eighty-five teams fished last weekend's Ben Kruse 18-FORE-Life crappie tournament at Wappapello Lake under gorgeous skies. Damon Thompson and Daniel Porter were the top anglers, bringing 7.6 pounds to the weigh-in. Second place went to James Hill and Josh Hicks with 6.23 pounds, and third was earned by Dan Hudgens and John Mann with 5.96 pounds...

Virginia Lee Farris Virginia Lee Farris, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016 at Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mrs. Farris, the daughter of the late Carly and Flora Whitehead Bradfield, was born March 14, 1933 in Poplar Bluff. She was of the Church of Christ faith and was a homemaker. Mrs. Farris loved to spend time with her family and going to church. She enjoyed quilting and canning...

A series of Xenith helmets that are ranked among the safest on the market are being recalled. The recall involved Xenith Epic Varsity, X2 Varsity, X2E Varsity and Youth football helmets with a gloss or metallic-painted polycarbonate shell sold or factory-reconditioned between May 1, 2015, and March 18, 2016, according to the Federal Trade Commission...

Poplar Bluff heads into homecoming Friday night without half of its starting defensive line. Logan Bell joined Josh Lewis on the sideline after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the third quarter last Friday. Lewis missed the game with a shoulder injury that will also require surgery, Mules coach Mark Barousse said...

Barring any setbacks, Three Rivers forward Gabe Grant will return to practice Monday. The sophomore and returning All-American injured his ankle during the first workout since returning to campus and has been sidelined for the past month. He was recently cleared and this week, he's been spending time with team trainer Costas Papanicolaou rehabbing and treating his ankle...

Corinne Hastings DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Elizabeth Corinne Hastings, 84, of Doniphan, Mo., departed this life Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, at her residence in rural Doniphan. Mrs. Hastings, daughter of Harold and Virgie (Farmer) Nickell, was born June 12, 1932, in Doniphan. ...

Twin Towers activities Sept. 19-23 Will you start your week off by playing Bingo, at 9 a.m., Monday in the Altrusa Room, or opt for a healthier beginning by joining the P.A.C.E. (People With Arthritis Can Exercise) class at 9 a.m. in the Assembly Room. ...