Stories from Monday, March 27, 2017

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer High schoolers indulge in giving teachers nicknames, but rarely do they contain the title "momma." However, the students of Poplar Bluff District Teacher of the Year Gayla "Momma" Fritts, say she is much more than just an instructor...

Of the many words in support of Fritts, none captured the personality of the life-long educator more than the following poem by PBHS student Katie Huskey. By KATIE HUSKEY When pondering one's future self We often dream of fame and wealth Of houses, cars, and fancy things,...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer PIEDMONT, Mo. - "Leo Giovando is truly deserving of the chamber's Citizen of the Year honor. My only regret is that we were not able to honor him while he was alive." In a Friday evening ceremony, Piedmont Area Chamber of Commerce President Kimberly Combs honored Giovando posthumously for his dedication to the safety and well-being of his community. The Clearwater Fire Protection District chief passed away Feb. 12 after a year-long battle with cancer...

Addiction is selfish. Jimmy Hunt Jr. knows this because for 18 years, the desire for cocaine, marijuana and finally methamphetamine governed his choices. Recovery is not, according to Hunt. For the Poplar Bluff, Mo., native, an important part of the last two years has been putting his skills -- whether with a pair of scissors in hand, or a Bible -- to use for others...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Developers for a controversial low income housing complex have a new proposal to present Monday to the Poplar Bluff Planning and Zoning Commission. The 48-unit complex would be constructed in the same location on Eugene Boulevard, but current plans do not appear to include the walking track and fenced dog park, according to city documents. This part of the previous proposal was closest to residents of Channon Drive, many of which oppose the project...

World War II veteran Cloyd Cook, a recipient of four Bronze Star Medals, spoke to advanced American history students about some of his early involvement in helping to stop Nazi Germany and Japan more than 70 years ago. Among less than a million remaining who served the greatest generation, Cook was featured last month in the Daily American Republic in advance of his 95th birthday celebration. ...

Henry "Hank" William Vasicek Henry "Hank" William Vasicek, 77, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Sunday, March 19, 2017 at Cedargate Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff. A graveside service and inurnment of ashes will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Poplar Bluff with Rev. Jason Jordan officiating...

Judy McConnell MALDEN, Mo. -- Judith Anne McConnell, 70, of Jackson, Mo., formerly of Malden, died Thursday, March, 23, 2017, at her home. Only a visitation will be held, from 1-3 p.m. Sunday at Bradshaw Funeral Home of Malden.

Trash cleanup time I have a comment about all the trash up and down new Bypass 67/60 going toward Dexter. My husband and I went on vacation in October. We came through Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky each and their roadways were so clean. ...

JD Rudisill JD Rudisill, 72, of Oran, Mo., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, March 24, 2017, in Oran. Funeral arrangements are pending with Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home of Poplar Bluff.

Anita Link Anita Virginia Bean Link, age 87, of Jefferson City, Mo., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Wednesday, March 22, 2017, at Capital Regional Medical Center in Jefferson City. Anita was born Dec. 22, 1929, in Richland, Mo., the only daughter of Lyman L. ...

Dr. Gene Leroux DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Dr. Gene H. Leroux, 88, of Doniphan died Saturday, March 25, 2017, at his home. Arrangements are pending with Edwards Funeral Home of Doniphan.s

UNION CITY, Tenn. -- Poplar Bluff didn't score a run for the first time in 60 games Friday afternoon in a 5-0 loss to Lee's Summit West at the L.H. Ladd Memorial Tournament. The Mules managed just three hits while a pair of bunts broke a scoreless tie in a four-run fourth for the state-ranked Titans who finished third in Class 5 last year...

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffry Till of Poplar Bluff announce the engagement of their daughter Rebekah Lynn to Blake Ashley Lewis Buchanan, son of Keenan and Ladonna Buchanan of Gideon, Mo. Rebekah is a 2015 graduate of Poplar Bluff High School, a 2016 graduate of Three Rivers College with associates degrees in general education and teaching in elementary education. She is enrolled in the occupational therapy assistant program through Missouri Health Professions Consortium. She will graduate in December...

Jimmy and Maxine Ice of Poplar Bluff, Mo. were married 65 years, Monday, March 20, 2017. The Ices exchanged wedding vows March 20, 1952, at the First Baptist Church in Kennett. Mrs. Ice grew up in Poplar Bluff and Mr. Ice in Holcomb. The Ices have five children, 17 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren...

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Tolliver of Harviell celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Saturday, March 18, 2017 with a dinner at the home of their son and his wife. The couple was married March 16, 1957 at the First Baptist Church at Harviell. Mr. Tolliver is a retired farmer and Mrs. Tolliver is retired from ADAPT Center...

Mr. and Mrs. Steven Kuper of Malden announce the engagement of their daughter, Julianna Kuper of Cape Girardeau to Ryan Simmons, also of Cape Girardeau. Ryan is the son of Michael and Lisa Simmons of Cape Girardeau. The couple will be married at 1 p.m., Saturday, May 6, 2017, at St. Joseph Parish in Scott City...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- St. Vincent converted a penalty kick in the second half to beat Poplar Bluff 2-1 Friday in the consolation semifinal of the Noon Optimist Club Tournament. The Mules were scheduled to play Cape Central for seventh but the tournament was postponed due to weather...

There aren't many challenges Emily Joiner hasn't blocked or spiked out of her way. The senior set the Twin Rivers volleyball team record for blocks and kills in a season this past fall and helped the Lady Royals win the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 title...

When Poplar Bluff's Josh Lewis went to the stage to sign his Letter of Intent to wrestle for Williams Baptist, he ignored the stairs and box jumped the two feet onto the stage. "Josh has won an awful lot of matches here the last 3-4 years. The seasons never finished up the way he wanted them to, but the fact that he qualified for state three times, that's an awesome accomplishment," Poplar Bluff coach David Sievers said. ...

WASHINGTON -- "Mend it, don't end it" was Bill Clinton's rhetorical straddle regarding affirmative action. Republican efforts to "repeal and replace" the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) look increasingly like "mend it, don't end it." The problem is not that, as is frequently said, no entitlement can be ended. ...

To the Editor, Part of the blessings of living in Carter County is that we know our neighbors and when someone is in need, we step forward without hesitation. We have an opportunity to impact the life of one of our very young citizens - Josiah Townsend, a six-year-old kindergartner at East Carter Elementary School...

Glen Seals PIEDMONT, Mo. - Glen Seals, 79, of Piedmont died Friday, March 24, 2017, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center, Piedmont. Visitation will be held from noon - 4 p.m. Sunday, March 26, 2017, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. Services will follow at the chapel at 4 p.m. Burial will follow with military honors at Duncan Cemetery near Piedmont...

Jimmy Wayne Cross PIEDMONT, Mo.- Jimmy Wayne Cross, 55, of Piedmont died Saturday, March 25, 2017, at Mercy Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont.

Conservatives have rightly taken pride in Neil Gorsuch's calm and cerebral performance at his Senate confirmation hearings. Many commentators, along with Republican senators, have mocked Democrats for presuming to evaluate Gorsuch based on the outcomes of his cases. ...