Stories from Thursday, February 20, 2014

"Pitchers and Catchers report!" It's as sure a sign of the coming spring as erupting dandelions and fledgling fruit blooms. And as inhumane as this winter has been -- as brutal as it remains in many locales -- spring could not get here quickly enough, groundhog shadows and eminent March snowstorms be damned...

"Pitchers and Catchers report!" It's as sure a sign of the coming spring as erupting dandelions and fledgling fruit blooms. And as inhumane as this winter has been -- as brutal as it remains in many locales -- spring could not get here quickly enough, groundhog shadows and eminent March snowstorms be damned...

A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, age five and Ryan, three. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson so she said; "Now boys, if Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.'" Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus."...

If you have a child or know a child that will be age 4 or 5 by July 31, 2014, they are eligible for preschool (age 4) or kindergarten (age 5). Screening will be at the elementary school on Friday, March 21, 2014. You MUST have an appointment to be screened. To schedule an appointment, call the elementary office at 573-379-5706. Kids will get a prize for coming!...

Community College Week, the nation's leading periodical for community, technical, and junior colleges, has declared Three Rivers College one of the fastest growing community colleges in America for the second year in a row. The periodical ranked Three Rivers as the number one fastest growing institution among colleges with 2,500-4,999 students during the period from Fall 2011 to Fall 2012. ...

NEW MADRID -- An Indiana man is in custody on drug charges after his arrest Thursday in New Madrid County. According to the probable cause statement from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Robert S. Hormel, 38, of Richmond, Ind., was stopped for speeding on Interstate 55 by the Patrol. While the Patrol officer was talking to Hormel, the officer stated he noticed Hormel was trembling, and several of his travel plans seemed made up...

Don and Gayla Massey of Benton, AR announce the engagement of their daughter, Autumn Paige Massey to Daniel Elliot Pride. Autumn is the granddaughter of Juanita Henderson and the late Bill Henderson of Portageville, and J.W. and Barbara Massey of Jonesboro, AR...

Jesse Odell Ward, 82, of Memphis, TN passed away on February 11, 2014. He was a Marine Corps Veteran and was retired from International Harvester. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Amelia Boon Ward, his sisters, Corine Ward Estes and husband, Braz, and Florine Ward Nolan and husband, Gene, all of Portageville...

Barry and Michelle Aycock have donated $50,000 to the Three Rivers Endowment Trust for Three Rivers College's Eastern Campus, currently under construction in Sikeston. The Aycocks are residents of Parma, where they own and operate AgXplore. "Our families have deep roots here in Southeast Missouri," said Barry Aycock of the donation. "We are happy to be a part of Three Rivers College's expansion here in New Madrid County."...