Stories from Friday, May 12, 2017

VAN BUREN, Mo. - Pastor Ron Robinson of First Baptist Church said he never would have believed his church would flood. "Someone said they heard how horrible it was, what happened to our church," said Robinson, who has led the congregation for 10 years. "We need to clarify it's horrible what happened to our church building, but the church is still alive and well and we're out here doing good work."...

VAN BUREN, Mo. - Van Buren residents are strong. With the scent of murky water, mold and rotted food still lingering in the air, the community's flood recovery has begun. As most of the town's businesses plan to re-open, for a handful of others, the future is up in the air...

An event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff to raise money and household items for Missouri flood victims in Doniphan, Ellington, Poplar Bluff and Van Buren. Sponsored by First Choice Insurance and The Bank of Missouri, the fundraiser will offer silent and live auctions, live music and children's activities...

One hundred eighty-three families impacted by recent flooding received assistance Thursday at the Multi-Agency Resource Center held at Memorial Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff. The MARC included a variety of trained workers from government and non-profit agencies who helped flood victims find access to housing, public assistance, understand insurance policies and the claim filing process and connect with community partners such as the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities...

Hundreds of people filled the Black River Coliseum Thursday night to sample everything from fried fish and chicken-on-a-stick to sweet treats at the Taste of the Town. For the 11th year, the event has been held to raise funds for the Boys & Girls Club of Poplar Bluff, and this year offered attendees a chance to sample food and drinks from more than 25 vendors...

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Carter County is experiencing a flood of a different kind as volunteers wade into the enormous task of helping nearly 200 homeowners and almost 40 businesses begin cleaning up from record-setting high water. Helping hands are reaching out from across the region and the nation, with between 200 and 300 people expected over the weekend to assist with the effort, according to presiding county commissioner Don Black...

A gallery opening and breast cancer research fundraiser will be held from 6-8 p.m. Saturday at the Margaret Harwell Art Museum. The fundraiser offers aspiring painters the chance to create in the same way as a unique team of artists who are featured in May and June...

The Vin and Mitva Reddy Foundation announce the winner of The Reddy Family Scholarship for 2017 is Jade McCain, who will be attending the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The foundation's press release stated, "We are very proud of Jade and all she has accomplished and we are excited to see what she will achieve in the future."...

Cochran cemetery cleanup set Annual cleanup day for the Cochran Cemetery will be from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at the pavilion on the grounds. The annual board meeting will follow at 1 p.m. All assistance with removal of old flowers and cleanup of grounds is welcomed. Donations for upkeep are also welcome. Mail donations to: Cochran Cemetery, P.O. BOX 171, Harviell, MO 63945 or meet with board members on hand at board meeting or during the three-day Memorial weekend, May 27 - 29...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Gilbert Michael "Mike" Hester, 61, of Dexter, son of the late Gilbert Christman Hester and Mary Elizabeth Gray Hester was born June 3, 1955 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. and departed this life Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at his residence. Mike will be remembered by his family as a "One of a Kind" husband, father and grandfather. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Has President Donald Trump outsourced foreign policy to the generals? So it would seem. Candidate Trump held out his hand to Vladimir Putin. He rejected further U.S. intervention in Syria other than to smash ISIS. He spoke of getting out and staying out of the misbegotten Middle East wars into which Presidents Bush II and Obama had plunged the country...

To the Editor: Our Poplar Bluff Lion's Club "1st Rockin' and Roarin' at the Rodgers" charity concert was a great success! As usual, many hands were offered for the success: excellent music -- thanks to the members of the Millstone's, Brothers Walker and Alex Riffle and the Stiff Riffs...

To the Editor: The day we call Mother's Day will sooe be here. We all have a Mother. And we all should say "Thank you". Makes no difference what kind of mother we had. Babies are not grown in a petri dish yet!! My Mother was a very special lady in many ways. But in other ways Mom was a pain. Could not take a disappointment gracefully. I had an old Mother. I was the eighth child of a family of 10. The Mothers of my age have had so many conveniences that Mothers of my Mother's age did not have...

Scotty "Ducky" Frazier, Jr., 17, of Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday April 26, 2017 at his residence. Visitation will be held from 1-3:00 p.m. Saturday at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. A Memorial Service will follow at 3 p.m. in the chapel. Burial will take place in the Black Creek Cemetery...

Charles B. Wright, 83 of Poplar Bluff, Mo., went to be with the Lord Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at his home. Mr. Wright was born June 13, 1933 in Butler County, Mo., to the late Robert and Mary Jane (Duley) Wright. He was a member of the Eagles Lodge in Poplar Bluff, Mo. and he retired from Lucy Lee Hospital in Poplar Bluff. He previously own multiple businesses throughout the Poplar Bluff area. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping. Charles was a friend to all...

Shirley M. Robertson, 78, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at her residence. She was born on Oct. 25, 1938 to Eugene and Myrtle (McClintock) Fuller in Oakland, Calif. Shirley worked hard all of her life and enjoyed her retirement. She enjoyed gardening and reading, but most of all she loved spending time with her family and friends...

PIGGOTT, ARK. -- George Eli "Skip" Britton, 68, of Pollard, Ark., died Monday, May 8, 2017, at the John J. Pershing VA Hospital in Poplar Bluff, Mo. A graveside service was held the morning of Friday, May 12, at Woodlawn Cemetery in Campbell, Mo., with Mike Akers officiating. Hoggard & Sons Funeral Home of Piggott, Ark., is in charge of the arrangements...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Glen Arthur Gipson, 94, son of the late Bert Truman Gipson and Lucy Ann Hickson Gipson was born on Jan. 17, 1923 in Parma, Mo. and departed this life on May 6, 2017 at the Parkwood Assistant Living Center at Surprise, Ariz. Mr. Gipson was a veteran of the United States Army and served in WWII. He later became a farmer and enjoyed it all the way up to his retirement...

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Nathan Smith and Ben Stewart kept the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 doubles title in Poplar Bluff. The Mules beat Cape Central's Spencer Kidd and Bennett Kidd in the championship match Thursday 6-3, 6-2 while Poplar Bluff's Humza Siddiqui advance to the sectional tournament for a second straight year by placing second in singles...

Barbara Lynn Smithson, 69, of Harviell, died Tuesday, May 2, 2017 in Harviell, Mo. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Moore Funeral Service Chapel. Allen Lutert is officiating. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Eva "Larada" Carmack, 82, of Greenville, Mo., passed away Thursday, May 10, 2017, at her residence. Larada was a longtime resident of Wayne County, Mo. She was born at Burbank, Mo., on Jan. 20, 1935, to parents William Arthur Allen and Evelyn Francis (Eaton) Allen...

GREENVILLE Mo. -- Mack Lawrence, 86, died Thursday, May 11, 2017 at his home in Greenville, Mo. Arrangements are pending with the Morrison Worley Greenville Chapel.

There will be a sense of familiarity in the MSHSAA Class 3 District 2 baseball tournament, which starts Saturday in Malden. Of the seven teams in contention, five -- East Carter, Twin Rivers, Greenville, Clearwater and Doniphan -- play each other at least twice a year for the Ozark Foothills Conference regular-season and tournament championship every spring and fall, making this postseason bracket a highly contested one amongst rivals...