Stories from Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Poplar Bluff schools earned an all-time high graduation rate of 91.8 percent on its 2017 state performance report. According to Superintendent Scott Dill, this was great news for the district because high school diplomas mean opportunity. But, he added, lack of a high school diploma can be a predictor of future hardship...

A grateful heart offers a way to fight back against a world that can seem steeped in negativity, according to messages from local church leaders that can be felt across denominations. "With social media, things are just more intense and more divisive than they've probably been in the past, because people have access in a way that they didn't," said Pastor David Stewart, now in his 38th year with First United Methodist Church of Poplar Bluff. ...

Diapers and Disney toys for a toddler, trucks for a 4-year-old boy and shoes for a teenage girl top the Christmas wish list for a few of the children awaiting adoption for the annual Project Christmas Promise. More than 800 children in need already have been referred to the Butler County charity, which works each year to ensure no child goes without during the holiday season...

FISK, Mo. - John Wayne Stratton, 61, of Bernie, Mo., died Saturday, November 18, 2017 at his residence. Visitation was Tuesday at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Gerald Berger officiating. Burial will be in Brown Chapel Cemetery at Broseley, Mo. Condolences: www.whitesandersfuneralhome.com...

Richard Gilbert Cockrell, 69, of Bell City died Monday, Nov. 6, 2017 at his home. Visitation was held Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017 and the funeral service was held Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017 at the Morgan Funeral Chapel in Advance. Rev. Mike Lee officiated. Burial followed in the New Morley Cemetery...

Andrea Mae Griffin, 24, of Poplar Bluff died Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Services were held Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017 at the Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico. Rev. Wayne Burchett officiated. Burial followed in the Puxico City Cemetery...

Rada Hale, 102, of Wappapello, Mo. died Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017 at the Puxico Nursing & Rehab Center. Services were held Friday, Nov. 17, 2017 at the Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico. Rev. Ray Placher officiated. Burial followed in the Womack Cemetery at Wappapello...

QULIN, Mo. -- Carol Sue Hendrix, 76, of Qulin, Mo., died Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 at General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell, Mo. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, 2017 at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Qulin. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Jim Cornman officiating. Burial will be in Qulin Cemetery...

It is Thanksgiving time and I am glad-I have so much for which to be thankful. I am thankful that we as a nation, despite all the crime, corruption, indifference toward God, and distorted sense of values among many of our people, designate one day each year as a day for public expression of our gratitude unto God for His many mercies and blessings, His bountiful material resources and a rich Christian heritage...

South Central Missouri Community Action Agency (SCMCAA) is providing a free open enrollment event in Poplar Bluff. The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, at SCMCAA's new location, 1800 South Broadway, Poplar Bluff. According to SCMCAA Program Director Cindy Bridges, "If you do not have health insurance through your employer, spouse, Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, Tricare, COBRA or another qualifying plan, the Marketplace is where you can shop for health coverage. ...

Republican Herman Morse of Dexter carried every precinct in Stoddard County with the exception of Puxico City in the recent Special Election to fill the vacant District 151 State Representative seat in the Missouri House. Morse won the election with 1,557 votes. Democrat Curtis Clark had 602 votes, and Libertarian Rick Vandeven had 51 votes. Dexter Rural had the most voters (345) of any precinct to turn out for the election with Morse drawing 275 of those votes...

PUXICO, Mo. -- Annual Lighted Christmas Parade will begin at 6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 1 beginning at the Old John Deere Lot. Organizers said, any lighted object you can push, pull, ride or drag is welcome. All church groups, organizations (Boy Scouts, Tractor Club, Car Club) etc., business and individuals are invited to place lighted floats in parade. Present and former queens are encouraged to participate...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Major John Myers, U.S. Air Force, called veterans brave, courageous, selfless, dedicated, committed and loyal during his address at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield on Veterans Day. A crowd gathered at the cemetery to pay their respects to all veterans who have served to protect and defend the U.S at a ceremony held Nov. 11...

By JOHN R. STANARD Poplar Bluff's Municipal Library once more is planning a communitywide reading event to encourage people to read and discuss the same book in 2018. After the smashing success of "The Book in The Bluff" project during the library's centennial celebration last year, Sterling Bank again has agreed to sponsor the event...

Council misusing taxpayer dollars I, uh, agree with Mr. Schrieber in everything he stated concerning Mr. Kearbey in yesterday's paper. He stated he didn't understand the wisdom of the City Council and their handling of this matter. I'm beginning to think there is no wisdom for this group of elected officials and the way they waste our tax dollars. ...

By CALEB H. SWALLOWS Staff Writer & Photographer World War II veterans were among the more than 30 veterans honored at the Puxico School's 15th annual Veterans' Day Assembly. The Puxico Schools observed the event Nov. 10, in the gymnasium. All of the students and many members of the community gathered to support those who are in the military and those who have served. The assembly was constructed by the Puxico High School Student Council...

Giving thanks, saying grace, blessing the food. Whatever your household calls it, praying before a meal is something I grew up doing with my family and still do today. In my family, we call it "saying the blessing." This is a time of fellowship that provides me with reflection, restoration, and gives me hope for the future...

In 1983, two congressmen, one a Democrat and the other a Republican, were censured by the House. Both had admitted to having affairs with 17-year-old pages. The Republican, Daniel Crane, represented a conservative Illinois district. His constituents sent him packing the following year, despite his apology and request for forgiveness. ...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Mary Maxine Webb, 92, died Monday, Nov. 20, 2017 at the Breeze Park Senior Living Community in Weldon Springs, Mo. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017 in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Don Kennedy officiating. Burial will follow at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Katherine Marie Kosark, 77, of Malden died Monday, Nov. 20, 2017 at her residence in Malden. Visitation will be held from 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017 at the Landess Funeral Home Chapel in Malden. A visitation will be held from 1-3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 and funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. at the Karnes & Son Funeral Home in Dyer, Tenn. Burial will be in the Mt. Olive Cemetery in Dyer, Tenn...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Nieta Howdeshell, 59, of Naylor, Mo., passed away on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017 at her home. Mrs. Howdeshell was born on Oct. 16, 1958 in Chicago Heights, Ill. She worked as a custodian for Baldwin Automotive and enjoyed painting, gardening and sewing. She was of the Church of Christ faith...

Richard Quay, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Nov. 20, 2017 at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Quay was born, April 07, 1932 in Spring City, Pa., son of the late Ronald and Edna Quay. Richard served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years and retired at the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. After retiring he worked for U.S. Postal Service...

Jo Turner, whose high school choirs were the envy of music teachers across Missouri, died Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at a local nursing home. She was 84 and had been in declining health for several years. Born HuEna Jo James on Jan. 1, 1933, on a farm near Clarkton, Mrs. Turner credited her cotton farmer father with her early interest in music. "Daddy could sing anything he ever heard and we had great fun harmonizing around the farm," she recalled...

After eight days of work, the Three Rivers men's basketball team returns to the Bess Activity Center on Thursday for three straight games. The Raiders open up the Peoples Community Bank Thanksgiving Classic against Hocking (Ohio) at 7 p.m. Thursday. Three Rivers will face Tennessee Prep at 7 p.m. Friday and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M at 7 p.m. Saturday...