Stories from Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Ruby Florence Barks, 81, of Puxico,Mo died April 21, 2018 at her residence. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. at the First General Baptist Church in Puxico and the funeral service will be held 11 a.m. April 25, 2018 at the First General Baptist Church of Puxico. ...

Tammy Sue Jennings, 58, of Advance died Thursday, April 12, 2018 at her residence. Visitation was held April 14, 2018 at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel and the funeral service was held April 15, 2018 at the at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau...

The city of Puxico Board of Aldermen set from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 5, as a time for the Citywide clean-Up. As was done last year, a dumpster will be set up on the west side of the City Hall parking lot on Saturday morning, May 5. The dumpster will be there only the one day from 7 a.m. ...

The City of Puxico Board of Alderman has set aside the first Friday and Saturday, May 4-5, as the time for the Spring Citywide Yard Sale. Time frame for these yard sale will be from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. each day. The Mayor and Board hopes as many residents as possible participate in these events. In order to accommodate those who wish to participate, the Mayor and the Board have set aside Veteran's Park and Memorial (South) Park for yard sale use on these days...

Jesus, our Lord, the greatest teacher the world has ever known, had much to say about life and death, and about God, life's source, and about our eternal destiny. He assured us the grave is not our final destiny. He knew and understood all about the needs and desires of the human mind and heart. ...

Staff Reports Cancer survivors and their guest or caregivers are invited to a special dinner honoring all cancer survivors in Stoddard County. A free dinner will be provided by Bloomfield Assembly of God Church on Monday, April 30. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Fun, entertainment, and door prizes will be provided...

The city of Puxico Board of Aldermen set from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 5, as a time for the Citywide clean-Up. As was done last year, a dumpster will be set up on the west side of the City Hall parking lot on Saturday morning, May 5. The dumpster will be there only the one day from 7 a.m. ...

From Staff Reports A community's memories of Chris Sifford are helping Puxico residents continue their education after they graduate high school. Chris Sifford Memorial Fishing Tournament organizers gave away four $500 scholarships Saturday. According to his cousin, Anthony Sifford, this is part of the roughly $36,000 raised since Chris Sifford died 18 years ago in a plane crash which also killed Gov. Mel Carnahan and Carnahan's son, Roger "Randy," in October, 2000...

Wonder why public land managers use prescribed fire? Considering prescribed burning on your own land? Landowners and members of the public are invited to a free fire ecology workshop May 12 in Winona that will cover these questions and a wealth of fire science information. Registration deadline is May 4...

Stoddard County Commissioners decided to reject the one bid received from R.L. Persons Construction of Poplar Bluff for Phase II of the courthouse cupola repair project, which was substantially over the grant amount awarded to the county. "I can't recommend you accept the cost on the bid," Dale Rogers, Robert Stearns and Associates, Inc. president, told commissioners...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS Earlier this month, the 2017 National Assessment of Educational Progress, aka The Nation's Report Card, was released. It's not a pretty story. Only 37 percent of 12th-graders tested proficient or better in reading, and only 25 percent did so in math. Among black students, only 17 percent tested proficient or better in reading, and just 7 percent reached at least a proficient level in math...

By MARC A. THIESSEN WASHINGTON -- As senators consider the nomination of the next secretary of veterans affairs, they should first reflect on the story of an Army veteran named Jason White. White served our country in Afghanistan, where he was severely injured by an IED explosion. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Before President Trump trashes the Iran nuclear deal, he might consider: If he could negotiate an identical deal with Kim Jong Un, it would astonish the world and win him the Nobel Peace Prize. For Iran has no nuclear bomb or ICBM and has never tested either. It has never enriched uranium to bomb grade. It has shipped 98 percent of its uranium out of the country. It has cameras inside and inspectors crawling all over its nuclear facilities...

Lorraine Kay "Katy" Keele, 71, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, April 21, 2018 at Westwood Hills Healthcare Center in Poplar Bluff. A gathering of family and friends will begin at noon Saturday, April 28 at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. A memorial service will follow at 1 p.m. with Rev. Jim Schremp officiating...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Clyde "Beegie" Lacewell, 79, died Monday, April 23, 2018, at his residence in Malden. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 26, 2018, at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. A funeral service will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 27, 2018 in the chapel with Rev. James Hamlett and Rev. Martin Goode officiating. Burial will be in Rosewood Cemetery in Malden...

As a fire captain, paramedic and reserve police officer, Blaine Murrell never knows what he will encounter on his shift each day. To expand his emergency response skills, Murrell recently received specialized training on how to control massive bleeding and the use of tourniquets...

QULIN, Mo. -- Darlene Osborn Duncan, 85, of Dexter, Mo., died Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at Crowley Ridge Health Center in Dexter. Mrs. Duncan was born Aug. 24, 1932 in Qulin, Mo., daughter of the late Bennie and Marie (Lancaster) Osborn. She was a retired food inspector for the USDA...

TRENTON, Mo. -- After losing Tuesday's opener at North Central Missouri 5-1, the Lady Raiders needed to win the final game of the regular season to have a chance at the top seed in the Region XVI tournament. Backs against the wall, do or die, and all the other cliches staring them in the face, the Lady Raiders scored 11 runs in the first inning and thumped North Central 14-2 in five...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Katherine "Kathy" Ann Hime, 55, formerly of Piedmont, died at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, Poplar Bluff, Mo. Friday. April 13, 2018. Memorial graveside will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 28, 2018, at Greenville Cemetery, with full military honors...

DEXTER, MO. -- Robert Dale Matney, 77, died at his home in Dexter Monday, April 23, 2018. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Friday, April 27, 2018, at Watkins and Sons Funeral Service in Dexter until time of services at 1 p.m. at the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Tim Russell of Dexter officiating. Burial will be in the Dexter Cemetery with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service in charge of arrangements...

Lowell W. Wheeler, 77, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at Poplar Bluff. He was born Dec. 19, 1940 to the late Elmer and Frances (Kidd) Wheeler at Doniphan, Mo. He had worked as a machinist and owned his own auto dealership for many years. He enjoyed gardening and taking care of animals...

Delores Sparks has seen many families struggle with decisions about guardianship, and how much help a loved one will need in making the routine decisions about finance and life others take for granted. Information and education are the only way to help, Sparks believes, which is why she will speak at a free conference May 4 in Poplar Bluff...

First Midwest Bank of the Ozarks will begin construction this year in Van Buren on a new building to replace a location damaged by historic flooding in 2017. The bank recently announced the purchase of property on Main Street, the site of the former Coleman building...

Standard-Democrat SIKESTON, Mo. -- Many Sikeston residents remember seeing ABC News' Diane Sawyer and her film crew in town in January. On Friday, Sawyer's visit to the area was featured in a "special report" that aired at 9 p.m. on ABC's "20/20." In a promotion of the episode posted on ABC News' website, Sawyer said in the episode, "My Reality: A Hidden America," she asked women to share their experiences with sexual harassment or abuse while on the job. ...

Leaders in the Missouri Senate withdrew Gov. Eric Greiten's nomination of Eddy Justice for the State Board of Education on Tuesday. After a number of Senators vowed to filibuster discussion in order to block his confirmation, Justice said, Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard, R-Joplin, withdrew Justice's nomination from consideration...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Union soldier statue tops the fountain in Cape Girardeau's Ivers Square. A monument to Confederate solders stands nearby. But there is no statue or monument commemorating the sacrifices of former slaves who enlisted in the Union Army colored regiments during the Civil War...

Dexter High School student Savannah Gourley was encouraged to try her hand at art by her mother, Wendy, at a young age. "I did it and I liked it," Gourley said after taking the advice of her mother, who is also an artist. Gourley's talent really began to shine during sixth grade and was recognized for her artistic abilities...

A reception for 20 retiring professionals who have shown long-term dedication to students was held Tuesday at the Poplar Bluff R-1 Central Office. Retirees gathered to chat with friends, current and former colleagues, and to discuss their upcoming plans for the next chapter of their lives...