Stories from Wednesday, August 22, 2018

From Staff Reports Plans are underway for the 30th Annual Haven House Trail Ride, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 22. Ted and Cindy Evans will once again host the shelter's biggest fundraiser. This year's major sponsors include Missouri Foundation for Health, Lisa Reynolds Insurance Agency and Dr. Lance Yeoman...

As hard as you may try, it's impossible to escape the political rhetoric that so divides this nation. It's easy and understandable to blame the national media for this obsessive push against the Trump administration. Facts are facts, and the overwhelming majority of the major media are clearly less than objective in their reporting of this administration...

In backing John Brennan's right to keep his top-secret security clearance, despite his having charged the president with treason, the U.S. intel community has chosen to fight on indefensible terrain. Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper seemed to recognize that Sunday when he conceded that ex-CIA Director Brennan had the subtlety of "a freight train" and his rhetoric had become "an issue in and of itself."...

Take a wild guess what country is reducing its greenhouse gas emissions the most? Canada? Britain? France? India? Germany? Japan? No, no, no, no, no and no. The answer to that question is the U.S. of A. Wow! How can that be? This must be a misprint. ...

From Staff Reports A 25-year-old Puxico man was killed in a three-vehicle crash at 8:20 a.m. Sunday on Highway 25, three and one-half miles north of Advance in Cape Girardeau County. According to the report, William L. Coomer, 68, of Delta was operating a 2005 Ford ranger southbound as Brittany B. Coleman, 26, of Bloomfield also was operating a 2016 Hyundai Sonata southbound...

Stoddard County Commissioners addressed requests made last week from a group of concerned taxpayers advocating for the developmentally disabled of the county regarding Stoddard County Sheltered Workshop financial documents over the last decade. "Give me a little more time and I will try to find more answers," Commissioner Carol Jarrell said to citizens in attendance. ...

Earning a 36 on the ACT is a great achievement, but for Cape Girardeau Central senior Michael Hwang, it's just part of the overall picture: a successful YouTube channel, studies at Southeast Missouri State University and a solid foundation in teaching are already in place...

By MARYBETH NIEDERKORN SEMO News Service After 35 years in the banking industry, former Poplar Bluff resident Matt Henson has taken on a new challenge. He is now president of a professional development firm offering consulting services in Southeast Missouri...

Kennett -- Edmund Landry, MD, and family nurse practitioner Taniya Carpenter have joined the Regional Physician Services team, offering Kennett and Poplar Bluff-area patients access to experienced orthopedic care close to home. Patients will also benefit from expanded surgical services and treatment options at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center's Oak Grove Campus in Poplar Bluff...

From Staff Reports Amanda Walker will be in concert at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Dexter High School Auditorium. Special guest will be Lynn Drury, A Dexter native, Walker is a pianist, singer and songwriter, who made a cameo appearance performing her single Haunt Me on NCIS New Orleans. ...

Lucille Katheryn Ice, 89, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018 at her residence. She was born on Dec. 23, 1928 to James and Annie (Mayers) Knobloch in Phelan, Ark. On June 10, 1949 she married Billy Ice in Van Buren, Ark. She was very family oriented and loved watching her grandchildren in their sporting activities. Family was her life and she was a loving mother, wife, and aunt...

PUXICO, Mo. -- Lois Wilfong, 96, McGee, Mo., died Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018 in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Arrangements are pending with Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico.

Ramona Katherine Young, 79, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., was born into eternal life Friday, Aug. 17, 2018 at Cedargate Care Center in Poplar Bluff. Ramona, the daughter of the late Thomas Orville and Lydia Katherine Magrum Smith, was born Dec. 13, 1938 in Qulin, Mo. ...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Mary Jane Bruning, 51, of Fairdealing, Mo., died Friday, Aug. 17, 2018 at Southeast Health Center of Ripley County in Doniphan, Mo. A graveside service was to be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 22 at Cypress Creek Cemetery near Fairdealing with Rev. Charles Whitmer officiating. No visitation is planned...

PUXICO, Mo. -- Joshua Whitehead, 25, of Puxico died in a traffic accident Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018. Visitation will be at noon Friday Aug. 24, 2018, in Morgan Sifford Funeral chapel in Puxico. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Ray Placher officiating. Burial will be private...

SSLqSSLqWhen I was young, I always wanted to be an elementary teacher," says first-year Bloomfield teacher Jansen Williams. "I never considered anything else -- until I reached high school and discovered music therapy. "I am a musician and a lover of music," Williams adds. "In high school, I was active in choir and music became my focus. Music therapy, which uses music intervention to treat a wide variety of mental and physical health issues, seemed a perfect fit."...

Bettye Jo (Fairless) McPheeters, 86, passed away Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018 at her home in Linn Creek, Mo. Bettye, the daughter of Myron G. and Mae Fairless, was born Jan. 21, 1932 in Poplar Bluff. She was a retired floral designer. On Aug. 16, 1952, she married Arthur McPheeters. He preceded her in death...

BROSELEY -- An Early Childhood program is on track to begin at the Fisk and Qulin campuses the first of next year, according to administration at Twin Rivers R-X. "The exciting thing for us now is we know it's coming in January," Qulin Principal Seth McBroom said Tuesday at the monthly school board meeting...

Members of the Butler County Republican Central Committee elected new officers Tuesday, naming Joe Leahy as chairperson and June Rigby as vice chairperson. Former chairperson Eddy Justice stepped down after eight years and will now serve as secretary, according to members. Cindi Bowman will continue as treasurer...

Poplar Bluff's new girls tennis coach Michael Sowatzke has been blessed with great numbers and a large senior class. Twenty-three girls have joined the team this season, one short of the maximum the high school tennis courts can support. Sowatzke, who was an assistant with the team the previous two seasons, said he is used to having 16-18 girls on the team...

DONIPHAN -- The name may sound a bit peculiar but one of the fastest growing sports in America is finding a following in Doniphan. Pickleball is a hybrid game. A cross between badminton, table tennis and lawn tennis. It is played on a hard surface about one-quarter the size of a regulation tennis court with wooden paddles and a plastic whiffle ball...