Stories from Thursday, August 10, 2017

CORNING, Ark. -- Two Corning residents remain in jail today after authorities seized suspected methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and stolen property from their home earlier this week. At about 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, officers with the Clay County Sheriff's Department, Corning Police Department and the Green County Sheriff's Department SRT team executed a search warrant at a residence in the 1100 block of Garland Street in Corning, according to a news release from Clay County Sheriff Terry Miller...

Two Ripley County projects that would eliminate one-lane bridges on Highway 142 and add shoulders to portions of Highway 160 top a regional priority list voted on recently by area county commissioners. The proposed projects carry some of highest traffic crash figures among needs compiled by officials in Butler, Carter, Reynolds, Ripley and Wayne counties...

For the fifth year in a row, I am dedicating the month of August to focus on farms in southeast and south central Missouri, stopping in all 30 counties of our district. Meeting the people who run these operations gives me a real understanding of the challenges they are facing and how I can help them...

Immigrants will work cheaper Yes, hello. It's Aug. 2, 2017 this is my take on the president's agenda as far as immigration goes. They are going to let in as many as they want of entrepreneurs, wealthy people, uh, people with degrees, um, any kind of, um, anything that needs a mind to do and, and, they will come over here and I guess they'll take our jobs. ...

By STEPHEN MOORE Well, finally we are getting that "summer of recovery." The July jobs report released Friday was a blockbuster -- solid job gains across the economy, the lowest unemployment rate in more than a decade and a nice bump in wages. This was a report that transcends spin. You just have to tip your hat to American businesses and say, "Well done."...

By RON WOOLMAN West Plains Daily Quill "I heard a Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) agent speak when I was in the sixth grade in Dexter and from that moment on I knew I wanted to be a conservation agent," MDC Protection Regional Supervisor and former Site Administrator Gary Cravens said while talking to the Quill about retiring on Sept. 1 after 41 years with MDC...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN That the Trump presidency is bedeviled is undeniable. As President Donald Trump flew off for August at his Jersey club, there came word that Special Counsel Robert Mueller III had impaneled a grand jury and subpoenas were going out to Trump family and campaign associates...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor "It turned out well," said Kevin Brunke, Missouri Department of Conservation wildlife biologist, when reflecting on Saturday's annual duck banding event at the Otter Slough Conservation Area, which is sponsored by MDC and the Dexter Greenheads chapter of Ducks Unlimited...

PUXICO, Mo. - Charles "Chuck" Siler, 68, died Wednesday, Aug. 9 at his residence. Visitation will be at 5 p.m., Friday, Aug. 11 at Morgan Sifford Chapel in Puxico. The funeral will follow at 6 p.m. at Morgan Sifford Chapel. Burial will be in Duck Creek Cemetery in Puxico...

When freshman quarterback Peyton Driskil showed up to his first high school football practice at the beginning of August, he was a little scared by the sheer size of everyone. He's steadily getting over it with Dexter's jamboree against New Madrid Central and Kennett on Friday, but he's not quite there yet. Fortunately for him, he's so far avoided getting run over by senior defensive end Gabe Jackson...

GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Billy G. Porter, 74, of Greenville, passed away Friday, Aug. 4, 2017, at his residence. He was born July 21, 1943, to the late Owen Eugene Porter and Mildred (Abney) Porter in Dexter. He spent his childhood in Sikeston, and graduated from Sikeston High School...

Four years ago, Malden lineman Jackson Wilson made a huge first impression on football coach Kevin Collier. Wilson was only a freshman, but Collier had big plans for him. "I'll always remember that moment the first time I saw him as a freshman about how smart he was and how big he was for a freshmen," Collier said. ...

The Poplar Bluff football team was able to turn short passes into long gains and a record-breaking season last fall. Now the Mules will be looking to do more of that beginning Friday in the preseason jamboree in Rolla with a new starting quarterback...

DONIPHAN, Mo. - Jerry Penrod, 86, of Fairdealing, Mo., died Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at the Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. Visitation will be from 5 - 8 p.m., Friday, August 11 at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 12. in the Edwards Funeral Home chapel with Brother Kent Wilfong officiating. Burial will be in the Spring Hill Cemetery...

PIEDMONT, Mo. - William "Keith" Asher Jr., 60, of Columbus, Kan., died Saturday, August 5, 2017 at his residence. Visitation will be at 1 p..m., Saturday, August 12 at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. A graveside service will be Saturday, August 12 in Patterson Cemetery. Burial will follow. Online condolences may be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

Members of the Poplar Bluff High School Class of 1972 have reunions every five years. They share an appreciation of their roots and for the community where it all began. The result has been lifelong friendships and memories shared by all, which are things member Thomas Cash said make the Class of '72 stand out from the others...

The Historic Rodgers Theatre will come to life Saturday evening during Zoe's Club Movie Night, sponsored by Ozark Federal Credit Union. The dog-themed event will raise funds to benefit restoration of the theater. The concession stand will be open and face painting, T-shirts for purchase, canine themed treats and balloon animals for kids to adopt after the film will add to the festivities. The movie starts at 6 p.m., said Davine Conover, business development specialist for OFCU...

Clutching his chalkboard sign announcing his first day of kindergarten, Ledger Collins' mother, Tarah, attempted to take his photo in front of the Hillview sign. Ledger insisted on having his photo in front of the "no parking" sign. Once Ledger's request was fulfilled, his mother was able to get his photo in front of the Hillview sign...