Stories from Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Power outages are rare and usually corrected by the Poplar Bluff, Mo., utility in less than an hour, on average, according to an award recently presented to city officials. Municipal Utilities has once again received the Charlie Burgett Electric Reliability Award from a trade association that represents cities in Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas...

Having arrested two people Monday afternoon in connection with a weekend home invasion that sent a Poplar Bluff, Mo., man to the hospital with a gunshot wound, local authorities continue their search for the third suspect. Keith Michael Taylor, 27, of Broseley, Mo., and Mercedes Delisa Patterson, 24, of the 700 block of Ethel Street were arrested at about 2:30 p.m. at a home on County Road 602, said Poplar Bluff police Capt. J.R. Keirsey, who indicated an anonymous tip led officers to the home...

Appearing at Carnegie Hall is a prestigious honor for anyone, but for a 20-year-old Grandin, Mo., man and 57 of his fellow students at the College of the Ozarks the performance, as well as the trip, was a dream come true. Dylan Coleman and his friends raised their voices Memorial Day to honor those who have given their lives for others' freedom. ...

Linda Long, 60, of Idalia, Mo., died Sat., June 10, 2017 at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Private memorial services will be held at a later date with Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home of Bloomfield in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home, P.O. Box 22, Bloomfield, Mo. 63825...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Kevin Manley Edmonds, Sr., 51, of Malden, died Friday, June 9, 2017 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from noon until service time, Tuesday, at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m., Tuesday, at Bradshaw Chapel with Rev. Derrick Gouldman officiating. Burial in Bernie Cemetery in Bernie...

Linda Long, 60, of Idalia, Mo., died Sat., June 10, 2017 at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Private memorial services will be held at a later date with Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home of Bloomfield in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home, P.O. Box 22, Bloomfield, Mo. 63825...

Dale Irvin Stokes, 76, of Malden, Mo., died Sat., June 10, 2017 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. A private memorial service is planned for a later date with Bradshaw Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. www.bradshawfh.com

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- As changing technologies and preferences make government-funded broadcasting increasingly preposterous, such broadcasting actually becomes useful by illustrating two dismal facts. One is the immortality of entitlements that especially benefit those among society's articulate upper reaches who feel entitled. The other fact is how impervious government programs are to evidence incompatible with their premises...

By MIKE JENSEN Publisher Sikeston Standard Democrat Much of today's political chaos is little more than groundwork for the 2018 midterm and the 2020 presidential elections. Democrats are pushing their well-worn obstructionist model to favorably position themselves for higher office. They believe that chaos today will translate into votes tomorrow...

June 14-20 Wednesday: Baked rigatoni with beef, mixed greens, corn, whole grain garlic bread, mixed fruit. Thursday: Ham slice, au gratin potatoes, green beans, whole grain roll, spiced apples. Friday: Chicken salad, whole grain bread, pea salad, carrots, pineapples with coconut...

Ruby Blankenship, 90, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, June 11, 2017 at The Cedar Gate in Poplar Bluff. She was born May 30, 1927 in Rombauer. She married A. C. Blankenship, Jan. 13, 1959. He died June 15, 1979. She was a homemaker. Survivors are her children: Gary Wayne Merriman, and friend, Meldrid Richardson, Ilene Ward, and Freida McKlintic; sisters: Pearl Gulledge, Darlene Paul, Linda Clark, and Arlene Turner; a brother, Orville Badgett; four grandchildren: Steve Frey, Nick McKlintic, Kathy Frey, and Gary Merriman, Jr.; five great-grandchildren: Tyler McKlintic, Gavin McKlintic, Addison Lightner, Brianna Merriman, and Tyson Frey.. ...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS Ask any black person which political party has been black people's political ally. With near unanimity, blacks would answer the Democratic Party. Asked which political party has been hostile to blacks, they'd say the Republican Party with similar unanimity. For better answers, check out Prager University's five-minute clip "The Inconvenient Truth About the Democratic Party," by Carol Swain, professor of political science at Vanderbilt University...

I have some very fond and precious memories of my father. He was about two inches taller than I and weighed about 165 pounds. One of my first memories of him is of him crossing one leg over his knee and riding me on his foot, and singing a little ditty to me, one of them having a scary ending. ...

Mr. Albert (Buck) Andrews was born July 4, 1940, and passed away Sunday, June 11, 2017 at the age of 76 years old peacefully in his home. He was a resident of Poplar Bluff for most of his life. He married Reva C. Sprague in the late Winter of 1958, she survives along with their three children: Albert (Marla) Andrews, Deborah (Gary) Williams and James (Sue) Andrews. ...

QULIN, Mo. -- James "Pepper" Rhodes, 80, of Broseley, died Monday, June 12, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Rhodes was born Feb. 15, 1937 in Corning, Ark., son of the late James Luther and Ruth Rhodes. He owned and operated Rhodes Farm Supply in Qulin for several years. He also was a self-employed truck driver. He enjoyed deer hunting, Cardinals Baseball, Royals Basketball and spending time with his family...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Anna Lorene Miller, 57, of Advance, . passed away Sunday, June 11, 2017 at the Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee, Mo. Mrs. Miller was born Aug. 26, 1959 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She worked as a homemaker and enjoyed singing, baking, sewing and reading. She was a member of the Zalma General Baptist Church...

As brightly-colored balloons floated into the sky above the Danny Bell Cancer Treatment Center Saturday morning, hundreds of area residents began their walk in memory or in honor of someone they knew who had battled cancer. Many wore the event's gray T-shirt, but one group wore their own gray "Team Jason" T-shirts. They were "friends and family, lots of family," of the late Jason Rose, said his wife, Sarah Rose...

CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Aubrey Allen Eagan, 78 of Poplar Bluff, passed away Saturday, June 10, 2017 at his residence in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Eagan, son of Charles Edgar and Thelma Isdore Carpenter Eagan, was born Friday, June 9, 1939 in White Oak, Mo. He had worked in Security for the State; and a lifetime member of the VFW, MOC, DAV and Masonic Lodge in Poplar Bluff. He was a Veteran of the United States Army having served from June 1956 to June 1970...

QULIN, Mo. -- James "Pepper" Rhodes, 80, of Broseley, died Monday, June 12, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at White-Sanders Funeral Home, Qulin. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Jared Hancock officiating. Burial will be in Corning City Cemetery at Corning, Ark...

CAMPBELL, Mo.-- Robert Pleasant, 56, of Campbell, died Friday, June 9, 2017, at his residence. No visitation. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday at Woodlawn Cemetery in Campbell with Rev. Randy Vaughn officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Campbell...

SEMO News Service Paul and Amanda Ham of Cape Girardeau won the $2.9 million Missouri Lotto jackpot May 31 after buying the winning ticket at Bi-State Southern Convenience Store at 920 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau. They can accept 25 payments over 24 years or a lump-sum payment of $1.45 million before taxes...

Anyone who wants to nominate a teacher to the Puxico Alumni Association Teacher Hall of Fame may do so by writing a letter of recommendation why you want to nominate this special teacher. A committee will review the nominations and select who will be honored at the Puxico Alumni meeting on Aug. 11...

The 12th annual Mingo Swamp Friends Flora and Fauna Photo Contest is open for entries until Aug. 1. Mingo Swamp Friends display the winning photos locally and around the state to showcase the unique natural beauty of Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, and to develop an appreciation for southeast Missouri's wonderful wildlife and plants. Youth, adults and professional photographers may enter...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- At a regular meeting of the Stoddard County Commission recently, Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis instructed county Circuit Clerk Paula Yancey to send out a letter to all prospective jurors informing them new security measures have been instituted at the Justice Center. Yancey told Mathis a letter would be included to all individuals who are called for jury duty...

Little Miss & Mr. Firecracker, 4th of July Pageant, will be held Saturday, July 1, at the Holiday Inn in Poplar Bluff. Attire is red, white and club for all boys and girls, 0 - 5 years old. Pageant wear for 6 and up -- any color. Entry fee, $30 (cash only)...

Join Mingo National Wildlife Refuge staff Friday, June 23, for a fun and educational program about the night sky. This free, family-friendly event will start at 8 p.m. in the Visitor Center at 24279 State Highway 51 in Puxico with crafts and family activities, followed by a ranger-led talk on the importance of night skies for wildlife. ...

PUXICO, Mo. -- The constant threat of habitat and wildlife destruction from invasive feral hogs on the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge and neighboring lands makes controlling their numbers a top priority for refuge staff, but it's going to take a lot of people and agencies working together, refuge manager Ben Mense said, to make a difference...

The members of the American Legion Post #114 recently completed their Fifth Annual Poker Run and Cook-Off Competition with the proceeds being donated to the Bloomfield Assistance League of the Missouri Veterans Cemetery Inc. After competition of a full day of events on June 3 the Post raised more than $22,000...

Clyde L. Doublin of Puxico, son of the late Kenneth Neal and Cloa Gray Doublin, was born in Puxico, Mo. on June 20 1940, and passed away at Puxico Nursing & Rehab Center in Puxico on Saturday, June 10, 2017, at the age of 76 years, 11 months and 21 days...