Stories from Monday, December 26, 2016

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer It was a cold Sunday evening more than 20 years ago at the Ninth and Cedar Church of God, when a little boy fell asleep under a pew at an incredibly poor time. During the service, smoke from an attic fire began filtering into the sanctuary. ...

Distribution of tickets for the annual Valentines for Veterans concert will begin Tuesday. The concert is provided at no cost to veterans, family members, and the community, thanks to the generosity and donations of area sponsors, according to John J. Pershing VA Medical Center...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Crews at Eight Points retail area have broken ground on a 63,000-square-foot building for Academy Sports + Outdoors. Building plans on file at Poplar Bluff City Hall estimate the cost of the structure at $2.5 million. Academy reports that it has more than 225 stores in 16 states, with sales exceeding $4.6 billion...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Fellowship General Baptist Church, 3581 N. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, opens its doors at 5 p.m., every Thursday, welcoming 70-75 people from all walks of life who struggle each day with recovery from an addiction. Volunteers gather earlier in the day to prepare a four-course meal which will be served with dignity and respect -- courtesies those in recovery seldom experience. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN The terrorist who hijacked a truck in Berlin and ran over and killed 12 people, maiming and wounding 48 more, in that massacre in the Christmas market, has done more damage than he could imagine. If the perpetrator is the jihadist from Tunisia who had no right to be in Germany, and had been under surveillance, the bell could begin to toll not only for Angela Merkel but for the European Union...

By MONA CHAREN On Dec. 19, radio host Charlie Sykes completed his last broadcast for WTMJ in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His last hours on the air were adorned with encomia from some of the leading figures his show had helped to incubate: Reince Preibus, Scott Walker, Ron Johnson and Paul Ryan, among many others. ...

It is too bad that holiday revelers have to look over their shoulders instead of focusing on the spirit of the season. However, that is the state of the world today, as was made clear by the truck attack Monday in Berlin that killed 12 people and injured dozens more at a Christmas market...

The University of Missouri Extension and the Ag Club at Three Rivers College thank the vendors who are helping support the Ag Expo Friday, Jan. 20, and Saturday, Jan. 21 and remind others there is still time to reserve a booth for the Heartland Agriculture and Natural Resources Expo 2017, said Sarah Denkler of University of Missouri Extension...

The 30th edition of the Poplar Bluff Showdown will feature something the previous tournaments had very little of --familiarity. Only one team in the three-day tournament that starts Tuesday at the Senior High Gym didn't compete here last year. The host Mules will welcome newcomer Humboldt (Tenn.), which comes in at 13-0 with four starters back from a team that won 22 games last year...

There were four upsets in last year's Bloomfield Christmas Tournament, three the year before that and another three in 2012. There have been no first round upsets the past two years. Expect those numbers to increase for the 60th annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament, which starts Monday...

Jana Jo Culp On a late October day, in the war zone of Korea, Bill Norrid received a telegram from the Red Cross. It informed him that a daughter had been born on Oct. 20, 1953 to he and his wife, Norma June, in Kansas City, Mo. Jana Jo was their pride and joy. The family would soon add two brothers, Tommy and Terry...

Patti McCracken Becker WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. -- Patti McCracken Becker, 88, died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017 in Williamsville. A full obituary will follow. Ruegg Funeral home in Piedmont, Mo. is in charge of arrangements...

Carol Hummel Carol Hummel, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, Dec. 23, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.