By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
'Did you feel the shake, rattle and roll?
The Center for Earthquake Research and Information out of the University of Memphis reports an earthquake Thursday morning in Southeast Missouri.
Seismic monitors report an earthquake occurred Thursday, Dec. 29 at 9:06 a.m. The magnitude 2.8 earthquake was centered 7 miles west-southwest of New Madrid, 10 miles from Portageville and 10 miles from Parma.
Responses of having felt the quake were received the CER from Lilbourn, Marston, New Madrid and Portageville.
It was 200 years ago – on Dec. 16, 1812 – when a series of earthquakes began along what is now known as the New Madrid Fault – the most powerful earthquakes to hit the eastern United States in recorded history.
Did you feel Thursday’s quake? Share your experiences with the ShowMe Times by emailing news@showmetimes.com
Dr. Morehead is originally from Memphis, where his father was a pharmacist. Though his father died when he was a teen, his mother was determined to put her youngest child through college. He first studied engineering at Mississippi State University, but was convinced by his roommate to begin studying medicine. He then attended the University of Tennessee’s medical school in Memphis.
After graduating medical school in 1955, Dr. Morehead completed his internship and residency at John Gaston Hospital in Memphis. And, near the end of his studies, he married his wife, Patricia Riegle, of Memphis. His in-laws would later joke about his knowledge of where babies come from, as during the early years, "Pat" was near-constantly pregnant. They had four children, Patricia (Kilgore) of Knoxville; Will Jr., & Robert, both of Memphis; and Elizabeth (Hilton) of Los Angeles.
Marriage, however, did not prevent Dr. Morehead from his mandatory military service (as he was no longer being exempted due to medical school). He served in various positions at the veteran’s hospital until he was drafted by the army. He was stationed at the Pine Bluff Arsenal in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
When his military service came to a close, he took a job in Kennett at a small hospital, where he worked for a short time. But Dr. Morehead wanted to do general practice, and in 1963 he took a job offered by Dr. Wayne Croom of Malden. Dr. Morehead stayed in Malden for the rest of his career - he has always preferred the small town lifestyle for his practice of medicine and for raising a family. His wife, Pat, worked with him in his office for a number of years.
As the Patriarch of a beautiful family of scholars, musicians and genuinely nice human beings, Dr. Morehead's love of games and music gives life to family gatherings. Son-in-law, Dr. Larry Kilgore is not only an accomplished physician, but also a national "thumb-picking" guitar champion; Granddaughter Lauren Kilgore, a recording vocalist (and an attorney with a top Nashville firm), recently celebrated her marriage with a grand reception at the Country Music Hall of Fame; Grandson Turner Morehead studies theater at High Point University in North Carolina; Granddaughter Eva Hilton is an acclaimed student at the most highly regarded schools in Los Angeles. All together, his talented brood numbers eight grandchildren, ranging in age from 6 - 30. Dr. Morehead loves nothing more than a gathering where family members share their musical talents as well as their diverse points of view.
Patricia Kilgore, Morehead’s oldest child, describes her father as "an understated man who shies away from the limelight"; those who know him would agree. His future plans include more time for golf and family visits. Meanwhile, Dr. Morehead will take center stage at the Malden Community Center on December 30th from 4 - 6pm, where he will be honored at a retirement reception. The public is welcome.
Malden residents will continue to be served locally by Missouri Southern Healthcare at the clinic which has long been home to Dr. Morehead—500 N Douglass Street.
There are times every four years when Missourians often look to neighbor Iowa and wonder why the Hawkeye State gets all the political attention.
And 2012 will be no different, which at leas one major political party all but ignoring the state’s presidential primary.
The Missouri Republican Party says it will be sticking with its decision to ignore the results of the state's still-scheduled Feb. 7 presidential primary.
State GOP executive director Lloyd Smith recalled in a statement why the party's executive panel decided last September to revert back to a caucus system for awarding the state's Republican delegates to the various presidential hopefuls. The process will begin around the ShowMe State in March.
"To ensure that Missouri is in compliance with RNC rules, last fall, the Missouri Republican Party made the decision to move to a caucus system for the purpose of selecting delegates," said Smith. Smith, of Sikeston, served on the staffs of the late Congressman Bill Emerson and Congressman Jo Ann Emerson. "These rules remain in effect, and our priority continues to be maintaining Missouri’s full delegate strength at the national convention."
The state GOP made that decision to comply with the mandate of both major parties that states act by early October to comply with the parties' rules that allow only four states -- Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina -- to hold primaries before March 1. Penalties were to be imposed on violators.
The Missouri General Assembly tried and failed twice to move the state's Feb. 7 primary to March. But in the meantime, several other states have ignored the parties' requirements and also are holding February primaries -- the main reason Iowa and New Hampshire moved up their events to early January.
The national parties appear to backing off from any penalties. But so far, the Missouri GOP is sticking with its plan.
Many are calling the March primary a “beauty contest” since the results officially meaningless as far as selecting state delegates is concerned.
The primary will be held on Feb. 7. Filing for the primary opened Oct. 25 and ended Nov. 22.
Four Democrats will be on the primary ballot – Barack Obama, Randall Terry of Purgeitsville, WV, Darcy G. Richardson of Jacksonville, FL, and John Wolfe of Chattanooga, Tenn.
The field is a little larger for the Republicans. The GOP ticket will include:
- Gary Johnson, El Prado, New Mexico
- Herman Cain, Stockbridge, Georgia
- Mitt Romney, Boston
- Michael J. Meehan, St Louis
- Rick Perry, Austin, Texas
- Keith Drummond, Katy, Texas
- Michele Bachmann, Washington, D.C.
- Rick Santorum, Verona, Penn.
- Ron Paul, Springfield, Virginia
A Libertarian ballot will also be available for the primary, with one candidate, James Orland Ogle III of Sacramento, Calif.
Southeast Missouri has a white Christmas … just a few days late!
Folks woke Tuesday morning to find a layer of wet white stuff blanketed the area overnight. The snow was pretty on the trees and shrubs, but made a wet, soggy mess of roadways.
The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a “hazardous weather outlook” for Southeast Missouri and portions of Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky. The forecast calls for an area of widespread rain and rain/snow mix today for the region
The snow has slowed little down – especially the 55th Annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament. Drivers headed to the tournament – and elsewhere – should use caution, however, as NWS predicts the temperature will hover at or near freezing today.
The forecast for Tuesday night calls for temperatures around 27 degrees. Wednesday should be sunny, with a high near 45 degrees.
Photo Above: A snow-covered statue of Lt. Ken Sisler on the grounds of the Keller Public Library looks out on a winter scene Tuesday morning as an overnight snow blanketed the region. (SMT Photo by Annabeth Miller)
All members of the Montgomery Bank Kid's Club are encouraged to attend and to bring a guest. The party will begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Dexter branch, located at 140 South Walnut Street.
The Kid's Club is a great opportunity for young people to earn 5% on their savings throughout the year. Come and celebrate with other members of the Kid's Club!!!
