Stories from Friday, May 30, 2014

JEFFERSON CITY -- Legislation recently passed by the Legislature and on its way to the governor includes an important act sponsored by Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff. House Bill 1410 removes the "claim of right" defense for tenants who willfully cause damage to rental property, a provision found earlier in Sen. Libla's Senate Bill 911...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The Missouri Black Bear Project is in its fourth year as conservation officials continue to trap, collar and track black bears in the southern most portion of the state. According to Resource Scientist, Jeff Beringer, with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), his team estimates Missouri's bear population at 300 animals. ...

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.)--It is official. Missouri retailers can now offer E15 (15 percent ethanol, 85 percent gasoline) at the pump, providing consumers a cleaner-burning, cost-saving option over conventional gasoline. The final rule approving the sale of E15 was published in the May 15 Missouri Register released by Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander. This was the last step needed to complete the thorough regulatory process...

JEFFERSON CITY--Have you ever seen a turtle trying to cross a busy highway and wondered how many die under the wheels of automobiles each year? Jeff Briggler has, and as Missouri's state herpetologist, the answer worries him. Briggler and other workers at the Missouri Department of Conservation have made informal observations over the years, counting the number of dead turtles -- especially box turtles -- on stretches of highway...

I saw a great post on Facebook that read "We get to say 'gone fishing,' because someone else said 'gone to war.'" It's important to remember why we celebrate this holiday, and even more important to talk about it with our kids and grandkids. Today's society is constantly trying to guard our young people from anything that might upset their "fragile emotional state," like the reality of war, the existence of evil outside of intolerance, and the real cost of freedom. ...

Arlen Pixley will be joining his brother at Kennett. The former New Madrid County Central head football and wrestling coach has accepted a position with Kennett as their new defensive coordinator, assistant wrestling and track coach. He will be alongside his brother, Aaron Pixley, who is currently the head football and head wrestling coach...

There are some two million adopted children living in United States' households today. These children arrive in their homes in a myriad of ways. Some are abandoned or surrendered to children's services. Some have biological parents who are children themselves, and are in no condition to parent...

The New Madrid County R-1 School Board met Thursday, May 8, 2014. Items up for consideration in the meeting included: Resignations- The board accepted the following resignations: Janice Craft, High School Spanish; Barbara Spencer, Special Education Secretary; Nicole Owens, High School English; and Pat Kinsey, Special Education Aide...

The Southeast Missouri Food Bank relocated to a 64,000-square-foot distribution center in Sikeston, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported. The distribution center first opened on Keystone Drive in Sikeston, then moved to Nash Road in Cape Girardeau in 2007. ...

POPLAR BLUFF -- A southern Butler County man was killed in an incident with a Butler County sheriff's deputy at 12:50 a.m. Saturday in the 3700 block of Route BB. Sources close to the Daily American Republic identify the deceased as Frank "Sid" Smody...

Area high school graduates may be missing valuable opportunities to receive financial aid for summer college classes by neglecting their A+ eligibility, according to officials at Three Rivers College. "Most eligible students don't realize that A+ works on summer classes, as well as the fall and spring semesters," said Chris Adams, Director of Enrollment Services at Three Rivers College. "A+ allows you to get a head start on your education at an extremely low cost."...

For Jade Ray Samanta, spelling isn't just something you do for a grade. For Jade, a Cape Girardeau resident just finishing up eighth grade at Trinity Lutheran School, it's a gateway to a fierce battle on the national stage as a competitor in the Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 27-29. ...