Stories from Sunday, September 17, 2017

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- James Earnest Oesch, 73, son of the late Eugene Karr and Minnie Captola (Rodebush) Oesch was born Nov. 28, 1943, in Doniphan, and departed this life on Sept. 14, 2017 at the Riverways Nursing Home in Van Buren. Jim had resided in Van Buren for most of his lifetime, but grew up in Wilderness until the age of 18, where he then proudly joined the United States Army and served for four years. ...

Jessica Erin Uhl of Harviell and Joshua Kyle Norden of Fisk exchanged vows Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, at the Elks Lodge in Poplar Bluff. James Huesmann performed the double-ring ceremony. Terry and Kim Uhl of Harviell are parents of the bride. The parents of the bridegroom are David and Poppy Norden of Poplar Bluff...

To the Editor, So, young Miss Heavenly Hafford was no longer a human being after Sparks ran over her! I cannot fathom the mindset of an alleged human who could think up something like that as an excuse to get a *$#@*%$ out of a jail sentence. A mind like that is totally alien to normal humans. The more I think about this monstrosity, this absolute miscarriage of justice, the madder I get...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Hugh Arno Roach, 90, of Columbia, passed away Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. Hugh was born in Muskogee, Okla. to the late Lloyd Laverne Roach and Edyth McKay Milton Nov. 25, 1926. He had an older brother and sister, Laverne Roach and Martha Elizabeth Abraham, both of whom preceded him in death. His beloved wife, Carita Lee Peters Roach, passed away July 29, 2017...

oplar Bluff High School Junior Carson Davis, son of Matthew and Jeannette Davis of Poplar Bluff, attended a summer school program at The Gow School in South Wales, N. Y., a prestigious school which has served dyslexic students since 1926. Davis was awarded the Breck Davis Award for his determination to overcome his challenges, working hard to improve his skills, being a positive role model to the younger students and upholding the four pillars that guide the Gow School -- kindness, respect, honesty, and hard work.. ...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Alva Leon Clayton, 80, of Parma, died Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, at Ridgeview Living Community in Malden. Visitation will be a 9 a.m. until service time, Saturday. The funeral will follow at 11 a.m., Saturday at the Bradshaw Chapel in Malden with Rev. Martin Goode officiating...

MALDEN, Mo. -- David Wayne Rackley, 56, of Clarkton, Mo., died Friday, Sept. 15, 2017 at Twin River Medical Center in Kennett. Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 18, 2017 at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden with Rev. Steve Watkins officiating...

I wanted to put an article in the paper about my friend Dale Gaebler. The D.A.R. had two great articles about his commitment to the PB schools and the community, but I knew another side to the story. Dale and I went to high school together, (one year apart) and became close friends a few years later. ...

Stanley Wayne Gilmore, 69, of Poplar Bluff, died Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born Nov. 1, 1947 in Poplar Bluff to the late Douglas Gilmore and Rosie W. Shelton Gilmore. He was a long time resident of Poplar Bluff. He was of the Baptist faith...

Mel Chailland, 69, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died at his residence on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017. Arrangements are pending with Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

TO THE EDITOR The DAR has been irresponsible in its reporting of the Ben Ressel story. The reporters who covered the story and editorial staff have not taken the time to get the facts straight or attempt to understand the legal concepts that apply to the case. ...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Timothy Lynn Kelly Sr., 40, of Gideon, Mo., died Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, at Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center, Kennett, Mo. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18 at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19 at funeral home with the Rev. Greg Mullins officiating. Burial will be in Stanfield Cemetery in Clarkton, Mo...

Arthur (Art) W. Cole, 76, died Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017 in Poplar Bluff at St. Andrew Lutheran Church. He was born June 7, 1941 in Tallapoosa, Mo., to James and Ermer Cole. They preceded him in death along with his brothers: John Cole, Edgar Cole, Pervus Cole and a sister, Selmer Shaw...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Edward "Ed" Lunyou, 80, of Piedmont, Mo., died Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, at Cedargate Healthcare at Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, at Duncan Cemetery near Piedmont...

PUXICO, Mo. - Vadola Martin, daughter of the late Richard Overton and Lula Jackson Overton Hodge, was born in McGee, Mo., on Jan. 30, 1922, and passed away at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo., on Sept. 15, 2017, at the age of 95 years, seven months and 16 days...

PIEDMONT, Mo. - Don Keith, 88, of Piedmont, died Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017 at his residence. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Monday at the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home chapel. Burial with military honors will be in the Masonic Cemetery...

Taylor Rice, daughter of Samantha Porch of Fisk, Mo., was awarded the 2017 Don Hilton Memorial Scholarship. She is a recent graduate of Twin Rivers High School and is attending Southeast Missouri State University at the regional campus in Sikeston, pursuing a degree in elementary education...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. --Tanner Dunivan got a running start just before the snap, slipped untouched between the tackle and guard, then put his left hand on the punt. After trailing by 15 early in the second quarter, the Poplar Bluff senior's punt block set up the go-ahead score late as the Mules rallied to beat Cape Central 29-28 in a SEMO North Conference game Friday night...

Spreading kindness and joy through art is the purpose of Sherri Farmer's painted rock project, a hobby she now shares with nearly 1,000 people in her community. "When I was little, I loved painting rocks," she said. "Back then, all you could get were dime store water colors and it was so fun. I don't know, why but I really liked it."...

After a rain delay suspended its match against Sikeston two days earlier, the Poplar Bluff tennis team resumed play Friday beating the Bulldogs 6-3 for their third win of the season. "All the girls played very well," Mules coach Charles Harper said. "Proud of everyone's work."...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Another streak wasn't going to end on Tray Stevenson's watch. After falling behind early, Stevenson and the potent Malden rushing attack ran all over East Prairie, turning a first-quarter, two-point deficit on its head for a 50-14 blowout win Friday night...

A Williamsville, Mo., man was charged Friday with first-degree murder after allegedly suffocating his 85-year-old bedridden father in September 2016 following a heated disagreement. The motive, said Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs, was to receive a substantial inheritance of property his father allegedly had revoked...

ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- Shelby Sievers hit a home run in both games of a doubleheader Saturday as the Poplar Bluff softball team reached 20 wins on the season. Sievers hit a two-run homer in the first inning of the opener, a 7-3 Mules win, and hit another two-run shot in the first inning of a 10-0 Poplar Bluff win in the six-inning nightcap...

A demolition order was reversed last week for the fourth time as another round of new owners for 808 Benton St. promised city representatives this would be the time the derelict property was repaired. It's a story the Poplar Bluff Building Standards Board has heard repeatedly, and not only for this home...

DEXTER -- Dexter demands your respect. After losing to Sikeston seven times in eight years, including 62-14 two years ago and 43-0 last year, the Bearcats won 12-0 Friday at Charles Bland Stadium. It was the first time Dexter had shutout Sikeston since 2007 and the Bulldogs' first shutout loss since Oct. 2, 2015...

From Staff Reports Registration for the 30th annual Women Aware conference ends Tuesday and this year looks to be a sell out, said Tracy Tarpley, registration chairperson for the event. "What better way to celebrate our 30 year anniversary than by packing the Black River Coliseum with women of all ages coming together for a day of fun, relaxation, shopping, and of course laughter," said Tarpley, who is the officer manager for Productive Staffing...

The Van Buren softball team captured its third straight Norwood Tournament championship with a trio of wins Saturday. The Lady Dawgs outlasted Alton 10-9 to reach the semis, then held on for a 6-5 victory over the hosts before beating Dora 8-5 in the title game...