Stories from Tuesday, September 12, 2017

All veterans are invited to have their picture taken Saturday by a professional photographer through a new program by John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. The free event, "Patriot Pictures," will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the ground floor of the medical center, one floor below the lobby, in room GD-045A...

"I wish we had more to give," Poplar Bluff Middle School student Paris Rogers said. "I hope everyone gets something." After coming home from school upset, Rogers' mother, DaRhonda Thompson, said her daughter wanted to help the citizens of Texas after Hurricane Harvey...

Lillie Montgomery raised eight children in Poplar Bluff, Mo., while her husband worked construction and helped build the community their family chose in 1950. For the past 15 months, Montgomery has been a resident of Westwood Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center. A broken collarbone made her 24-hour care more than son, Doug, could handle at home...

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- A Pemiscot County judge granted part of a defense motion Monday morning by acquitting a former Poplar Bluff, Mo., businessman of a leaving the scene charge in connection with a hit-and-run accident that left a local teenager dead...

The largest threat to our prosperity is government spending that far exceeds the authority enumerated in Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. Federal spending in 2017 will top $4 trillion. Social Security, at $1 trillion, will take up most of it. ...

To the Editor, As I was scrolling through the all truths machine (Facebook) this morning, I came across a very interesting letter written to Roger Goodell, the National Football League Commissioner, from a retired Col. Jeffery Powers referencing how displeased he was Commissioner Goodell would allow such a disrespectful act by not stepping up and informing that all NFL players will stand during the National Anthem. ...

Joyce W. Schoonover, 81, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. There are no services planned. Online condolences: www.fowlersullivanhome.com

"Congress has been dropping in relative power along a descending curve of 60 years' duration, with the rate of fall markedly increased since 1933. ... The fall of the American Congress seems to be correlated with a more general historical transformation toward political and...

ST CLAIR, Mo. - Mabel Louise Goforth, known to all as Louise, of St. Clair, MO, departed this life in St. Clair on September 8, 2017, having reached the age of eighty-one years, four months and eighteen days. Louise was born in Gideon, MO, on April 20, 1936, daughter of Oliver Ben Spence and Marjorie Fern Spence nee Spickelmier. On June 18, 1955, she was united in marriage to Billie Carl Goforth, known to all as Bill, and four children came to bless this union...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Evelyn "Evey" Scott of Williamsville, Mo., was still born Friday, Sept. 7, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, Poplar Bluff. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, at Holliday Cemetery. Bro. John England will minister to the family...

BERNIE, Mo. - Juanita Thurston, daughter of the late Enid Wright Burton was born on September 6, 1925 in Michigan and departed this life on September 8, 2017 at the Gideon Care Center in Gideon, Missouri at the age of 92. Mrs. Thurston, was a former teacher at Bernie Public Schools, member of the Bernie United Methodist Church, Order of Eastern Star, and Missouri State Teachers Association...

Alisha (Petty) Hagy, 33, of Wappapello died in Memphis Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. Services were held Sept. 8, 2017 at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Rev. Richard Blagg officiated. Burial followed in the Dexter Cemetery.

Robert E. Martin, 91, of Wappapello died at his home Aug. 30, 2017. No services are scheduled at this time. Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter is in charge of arrangements.

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Nina "June" Keeney, 77, of Fremont, Mo., died Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017 in Fremont. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Online condolences: www.mcspaddenfh.com

By ZACH SMITH There's no hospital at Peck Ranch Conservation Area, but every summer since 2012 the area has transformed into a four-legged nursery for Missouri's restoration elk herd. Since the original elk were transplanted to Missouri from Kentucky six years ago, their number has grown from around 90 animals to 140. ...

God's love is infinite--beyond measure; who can comprehend it? A look at a few scriptures will confirm it. "For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. ...

Following a tight opening game Monday night, the Poplar Bluff Mules volleyball team served up an easy win against Bernie. Hannah Vaughn served up four of her six aces in the match early in the second game as the host Mules scored six straight to beat Bernie 25-22, 25-14 at the Senior High Gym...

The congregation of the Puxico First General Baptist Church will be hosting Revival Services 7 p.m. nightly Sept. 25-30. Evangelist Kenny Burchard will be the speaker for the week. Pastor Kenneth Lambert and the congregation invite everyone to attend and be uplifted...

NEW YORK (AP) -- It's a paradox of hurricane coverage: people on television spend days warning the public to get out of harm's way, then station their correspondents squarely in the middle of howling wind and rain and hope they don't get hurt. That was the case throughout Sunday's gripping coverage of Hurricane Irma's assault on Florida. ...

Registrations are still available for the Women Aware 30th anniversary conference Thursday, Sept. 21, at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The $50 fee will include Emmy award winning star Vicki Lawrence as the keynote speaker. Lawrence played Carol Burnett's sister as well as starring in her own TV series "Mama's Family,"...

NEELYVILLE -- The runs weren't very easy to come by during Monday's Ozark Foothills Conference game, but with two strikes and two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Matt Dollins delivered exactly what Neelyville needed. The designated hitter sent a 2-2 pitch into right field for a two-run single and Chaney Trout shined yet again on the mound as the Tigers dropped East Carter 4-0...

There were so many new faces at Meet the Raiders this year, that even Rocky Raider had a new face. Three Rivers College held its annual meet-and-greet event Monday where players are announced and introduced to fans. This year, 70 percent of the men's and women's basketball, softball and baseball teams are new to the school...

Adrienne Stucker earned her second complete-game shutout of the season Monday, striking out nine in a five-hitter as Poplar Bluff beat visiting Farmington 6-0. Audrey Lack was 3 for 3 driving in three runs while Emma Johnson scored twice and was 2 for 2. Lauren Alexander drove in two runs while Shelby Sievers had an RBI single in a four-run fifth...

From Staff Reports If your bucket list includes raising chickens, starting a business or learning to make a website work for you, the Women Aware Conference Thursday, Sept. 21, will have answers. These are some of the 20 breakout sessions to be offered at the 30th annual event at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Mo...

DONIPHAN -- A once tight contest was busted wide open after the Doniphan softball team scored seven runs late to come away with a 12-5 win over Twin Rivers on Monday. Tied at 5-5 with no outs in the bottom of the sixth, senior Paige Eddington scorched a two-run home run on a line drive to center field to give Doniphan (8-3, 3-1 OFC) the lead for good. Hannah Ponder, Lexi Day, Madison Eddington and Kaylee Davis each had multiple hits for the Donettes...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- After 20 years of working in the Stoddard County Assessor's office, Dan Creg has a new title - Stoddard County Assessor. Creg was elected by Stoddard County voters in the August 2016 election by a large margin. Because of Missouri Statutes, which call for the change in the assessor's office to take place after the property tax assessments are completed in the following year, Creg did not take office until Sept. 1, 2017...

From Staff Reports The 2017-2018 school year brings many changes in Puxico for the Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation (DAEOC.) DAEOC is a private not-for-profit Community Action Agency serving Stoddard County in Southeast Missouri as well as Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, and Scott Counties. DAEOC administers programs designed to combat poverty and provide economic opportunities in the Bootheel such as the local Head Start...

By CALEB SWALLOWS SEMO News Service Sports Writer Struggling to pull ahead in Aug. 31's match, the Puxico Lady Indians pulled ahead late to beat Richland in a three-set thriller 25-22, 24-26, 25-14. Both teams seemed to be off their game in the early going, giving each other their first two points each until Puxico's Faith Oliver produced a hard spike to give the Indians a 3-2 lead. Richland's Megan Cullum then responded with a kill to tie it...

Bobbie Wood is the new counselor for Puxico R8 Junior and High Schools. She is stepping into the position formerly filled by Lorrie Allen, who retired. Allen had been at Puxico High since 2003 working in the Puxico Elementary School. "I've always known I wanted to help kids," stated Wood. "I know I have big shoes to fill taking the position that belonged to Lorrie Allen. It's actually a little nerve-wracking however I have great things planned for this school."...

On Saturday and Sunday, all roads in Southeast Missouri will lead to the Greenville Recreation Area just two miles south of Greenville on Highway 67. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Wayne County Historical Society announce the following schedule for the 26th Annual Old Greenville Days Event. This event is free to attend. The following is a schedule of events which is subject to change. For more information please contact the Wappapello Lake Management Office at (573) 222-8562...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The ballots have been printed putting a one percent Stoddard County use tax before voters in the Nov. 7, 2017, Special Election. The commission discussed the proposed use tax at a recent meeting. The special election is necessary for voters to elect a state representative in District 151 (all of Stoddard County and a small portion of Scott County). Herman Morse will be the Republican candidate on the ballot, while Curtis Clark will be the Democratic candidate...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - James W. Anderson, Sr., 84, of St. Peters, Mo., died Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 as his residence. Visitation will be at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 12 at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home with Rev. Ken Long of St. Peters and Rev. Dale Presley of Dexter officiating...

Lois Francis Caldwell of Puxico, daughter of the late Lestie and Minnie Mossman O'Neal, was born Dec. 8, 1927, in Puxico, Mo. and passed away at her home near Puxico on Aug. 23, 2017, at the age of 89 years, 8 months and 15 days. She had lived in Puxico all her life. She was a member of the Corinth General Baptist Church near Puxico, the CC Community Club, was treasurer of the Rock Hill Cemetery for several years and enjoyed sewing and quilting...