Stories from Thursday, March 2, 2017

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A line of severe storms with winds up to at least 60 mph damaged businesses and took down trees and power lines across Ripley, Butler, Dunklin and Stoddard counties as it blew through southern Missouri early this morning...

By TYLER GRAEF and EMILY PRIDDY SEMO News Service A tornado ripped through Perry County, Missouri, on Tuesday evening, forcing the closure of a six-mile stretch of Interstate 55 and bringing with it reports of significant damage and at least one fatality...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer A message of oneness, unity and love came together Sunday evening in a special church service geared toward "Bridging the Gap." Dr. Ron Webb and his congregation at Mt. Calvary Powerhouse Church hosted the 2nd Annual Bridging the Gap unity service in a heartfelt effort to remove the barriers between law enforcement and the community...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer Kurt Knodell knows a thing or two about selling real estate. Since signing on with Poplar Bluff Realty in 2006, he has consistently received recognition as the company's Top Producer and is an overall industry leader in Southeast Missouri...

President Donald Trump was more right than wrong about Sweden. Fox News was slightly misleading. As you've heard, Trump referred to "(what happened) last night in Sweden." On Twitter, smug critics circulated lists of anodyne events like concerts and road accidents and accused the president of inventing a terror attack. ...

In 2012, then President Obama signed into law the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act. While this legislation prevented a scheduled tax increase on millions of middle class families, it also rightfully authorized states across the country to begin drug testing applicants for Unemployment Insurance benefits. ...

It was Nobel laureate economist Milton Friedman who made famous the adage, "There's no such thing as a free lunch." Professor Friedman could have added that there is a difference between something's being free and something's having a zero price. For example, people say that there's free public education and there are free libraries, but public education and libraries cost money. ...

James E. Scott Sr. James E. Scott Sr., 76, passed away in Ferris, Texas on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017. James was born in Poplar Bluff, Mo. on March 9, 1940 to Thomas E. and Lorene (Tibbs) Scott. He grew up in Poplar Bluff and graduated high school from there in 1958. He went on to trade school to become a journeyman electrician...

For the first time since the season-opening win in November everybody was in uniform and available to play for the Poplar Bluff Mules. It couldn't have come at a better time Tuesday night in the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 semifinal. The Mules advanced to the championship game with a 77-56 tune-up win over fifth-seeded Seckman at the Senior High Gym...

To say that Joe Darlin has the plate covered isn't the half of it. Darlin thought he was destined to be a catcher from the time he could walk, to his travel ball days around age 7 and right up to high school. Now that he's fully explored a different angle of the 60-feet, 6-inches from the mound to home plate, Darlin is finding success...

Don Edward Moore FISK, Mo. -- Don Edward Moore, 55, of Fairdealing sdied Monday, Feb. 27, 2017 at his residence in Fairdealing. Mr. Moore was born May 09, 1961 in Poplar Bluff. He is survived by his wife: Carolyn of Fairdealing; one son: Andy Moore of Fairdealing; one daughter: Chelsea (Randi) Abazaris of Log Lane Village, Colo.; his father: Bill Moore of Saint Louis, Mo.; two brothers: Dan Moore of St. Louis and Doug Moore of Iowa...

Helen D. Dicken Helen D. Dicken, 90, of Harviell, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017 at her residence. She was born Oct. 1, 1926 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. to the late John Smith and Anna Abrams Smith. She was a life time resident of Butler County. Helen married Roy Dicken Sept. 19, 1946 in Poplar Bluff. He preceded her in death Feb. 8, 1988...

Ralph Edward Warmack WILLIAMSVILLE, Mo. -- Ralph Edward Warmack, 88, of Williamsville, died Monday, Feb. 27, 2017 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Graveside services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Holliday Cemetery in Williamsville under the direction of Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel...

Ivan McGhee PIEDMONT, Mo. - Ivan McGhee of Greenville died Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, at his residence. Visitation will be held at 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 3, 2017 at White Hollow General Baptist Church in Silva, Mo. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 4, also at the church. Ruegg Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

Kody Steven Livingston PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Kody Steven Livingston, 19, of Arnold died Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, at St. Louis. Visitation will be held at 11 a.m., Friday at the Morrison-Worley Chapel in Piedmont. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home chapel with Jeffrey Crandell officiating...

Lyle E. Larrew Lyle E. "Mike" Larrew, 91, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, March 01, 2017 at Westwood Hills Healthcare. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

Linda 'Gaye' Cooper DEXTER, Mo.- Linda "Gaye" Bell Cooper, 63, of Dexter departed this life on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017 at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The daughter of the late Steve Vernon Bell Sr. and Jewell Stephens Bell, she was born on May 26, 1953 at Sikeston, Mo. ...

Steven Hafford, Sr. Steven Hafford, Sr., 52, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Monday, Feb. 27, 2017 at his residence. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.