Stories from Thursday, September 6, 2018

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS South Africa has been thrown into the news because of President Donald Trump's recent tweet that he instructed his secretary of state to "closely study" alleged land seizures from white farmers in South Africa. Earlier this year, a land confiscation motion was brought by radical Marxist opposition leader Julius Malema, and it passed South Africa's Parliament by a 241-83 vote. ...

The Mules may have been swept, but coach Michael Sowatzke still thinks it will serve as a morale boost going forward. After losing its first meet of the season Tuesday to Kennett, Dexter bounced back and swept Poplar Bluff 9-0 at the Senior High tennis courts...

By MARC A. THIESSEN WASHINGTON -- Since the founding of our republic, there have been precisely 1,974 members of the United States Senate. John McCain is only the eighth senator who was not also president or vice president to lie in state in the rotunda of the Capitol -- and only the 31st individual overall to be so honored in American history. ...

Question: What is more cringe-inducing than a celebrity funeral? Answer: Two back-to-back celebrity funerals. The ghoulish twin spectacles last week memorializing Aretha Franklin and John McCain brought out the worst in family, friends and frenemies. No matter your partisan affiliation, these vulgar exercises in self-indulgence should serve as object lessons on how not to depart with dignity...

PILOT KNOB, Mo. -- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff will lead two guided hikes to the top of Pilot Knob National Wildlife Refuge on Oct. 6, and Oct. 10. Hike participants will meet at 9:30 a.m. each day at Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site. ...

NEELYVILLE, Mo.-- Keith Andrew "Andy" Gambling, 53, of Doniphan, Mo., passed away Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was born Oct. 23, 1964, at Kennett,Mo. to the late Wesley Leroy Gambling and Lynda "Tucker" Gambling. He is survived by son, Keith Gambling Jr., of Grandin, Mo.;two grandchildren, Ethan and Hanna Gambling, both of Grandin; grandmother, Christine Gambling of Doniphan; sister, Suzy (Donnie) Fowler of Naylor, Mo., Terry (Leroy) James and Tracy (Jerry) Strostrand, both of Doniphan, and Karen (Bill) Phillips of Lincolnton, N.C.; brothers, Joe (Ladonna) Gambling of Tiptonville, Mo., Mike Gambling and Paul Gambling, both of Doniphan,. ...

KELLY -- Doniphan scored a run in the second inning and two in the fifth. Each time, Kelly had an answer, matching each run. Then the sixth inning arrived Madison Eddington was walked to start the side and stole second shortly after. Kaylee Davis drove in Eddington -- the winning run -- on the next at-bat with a double to left field, putting the Donettes in position to come away with a 4-3 win on the road...

CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Ray Lavell Smith, 74 of Campbell, died Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018 at his residence. Visitation will be from 6 - 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 at the Landess Funeral Home in Campbell. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018 with Rev. William Hill officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery-Landess Addition in Campbell...

Robert Earl Waters, 56, of Parma, Mo., died Monday, Sept. 3, 2018, died at the Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County in Dexter, Mo. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Parma followed with the funeral service beginning at noon at the chapel in Parma with minister Amos Hampton of Sikeston, Mo. ...

For the first time this season, Poplar Bluff coach David Sievers expects the Mules to have to play all four quarters to beat Sikeston. "They are definitely going to be our biggest test of the year, by far," Sievers said. "If we jump up and score the first four times we have the football and it is 28-0 I'm going to be the happiest guy in the stadium, but I don't expect that to happen ... I'm anxious to see how the kids are going to respond to having to play four quarters."...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Dustin Jerad Reeves, 34, lifelong resident of Gatewood, Mo., died Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018 at the Elvis Presley Trauma Center in Memphis, Tenn. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan with Bro. Jared Baker officiating. Visiting will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, 2018 . Burial will be in the Tucker Cemetery...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Janie Marie Gatewood, 56, of Grandin, Mo., died Monday, Sept. 3, 2018, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, at Fowler & Sons Funeral Home in Neelyville. Fowler & Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

While it doesn't garner nearly the popularity of winter waterfowling, Missouri's early teal season gives hunters their first chance to hunt ducks each fall, and this year's season opens Saturday. For a waterfowler, there's certainly nothing like the whistling of wings as a flock of birds buzzes the decoys, and teal make that adrenaline rush even better because they sound like jets passing through...

Betty Carolyn Harris, 92, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Monday, Sept. 3, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born on July 30, 1926 to Robert and Minnie (Rogers) Neely in Jonesboro, Ark. On Feb. 19, 1945, she married John "Gene" Harris in Jonesboro, Ark. After moving to Poplar Bluff she worked for Smiley Container Corporation...

The third annual Run 4 The Arts will lead runners and walkers alike on a four-mile course while benefiting an endowed scholarship fund for arts students at Three Rivers College on Saturday. "Three Rivers currently awards several arts scholarships annually, so the return on investment from this account creates a funding stream to help offset those costs," Director of Development Michelle Reynolds said...

Butler County Republicans will honor Missouri Speaker of the House Todd Richardson during an event Saturday at the Holiday Inn. Doors will open for the annual Reagan Days celebration at 4:30 p.m., with the program starting at 5:30 p.m., said Joe Leahy, chairperson of the Butler County Republican Central Committee...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Cape Girardeau's only remaining, Civil War-era earthworks fort could be added to the National Register of Historic Places if local preservation advocates for the historic site have their way. The city's historic preservation commission has endorsed the effort...