Stories from Wednesday, March 14, 2018

BERNIE, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff man lost his life Tuesday morning when he pulled into the path of a southbound Union Pacific train just south of Bernie. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Kenneth L. Simpson, 50, of Poplar Bluff was westbound on Zimmerman Lane just east of Highway 25 shortly before 8 a.m. and failed to yield to the train. Simpson was driving a trash truck for Republic Services out of Dexter. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the wreck...

Two area residents were killed this week in unrelated crashes in Southeast Missouri. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Terry L. Scowden, 58, of Greenville, Mo., was killed in a one-vehicle crash, which occurred at 4:05 p.m. Tuesday on Highway D, seven miles south of Greenville...

Eighty-six-year-old Bob Fox's land line telephone rang Monday morning. When he answered, the voice on the other end was that of a distressed young woman claiming to be his granddaughter, who currently lives in the northern part of the state. After an emotional interaction with the caller and a lofty request for emergency financial assistance, Fox hung up and phoned nearby relatives to verify the young woman's true whereabouts. ...

When Black River overflows its banks, many residents can find themselves trapped by the flood waters and in need of rescue. The Butler County Fire Protection District has added a new tool to its truck fleet to help firefighters navigate those flood waters during high-water rescues...

The city of Poplar Bluff could turn a department that is losing money over to the state, but officials say they have to weigh more than dollars and cents when making that decision. The municipal court is expected to be approximately $60,000 in the red in 2018. The collection of fines, violation fees and court costs has dropped by approximately 50 percent in recent years, following changes in state law...

Tammy L. Glasstetter, Black River Medical Center surgical office clerk, has been selected for inclusion in the forthcoming Trademark Women of Distinction Honors edition for demonstrating dedication, leadership and professional excellence. The press release announcing her award said, "Her compassion and expertise set the standard in the industry. ...

By MARC A. THIESSEN WASHINGTON -- President Trump's announcement that he will impose stiff tariffs on American companies that purchase imported steel and aluminum should have come as no surprise. From moving our embassy to Jerusalem to pulling out of the Paris climate agreement, Trump is a president who does what he promises. Unfortunately, his proposed tariffs undermine his ability to deliver on many other important promises he made in the 2016 campaign...

By GEORGE F. WILL "The war is over." -- Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in Afghanistan (April 2002) "I believe victory is closer than ever before." -- Vice President Mike Pence in Afghanistan (December 2017) WASHINGTON -- With metronomic regularity, every thousand days or so, Americans should give some thought to the longest war in their nation's history. ...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS Before we discuss violence with guns, I'd like to run a couple of questions by you. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every day nearly 30 Americans die in motor vehicle crashes that involve drunk driving. What kind of restrictions should be placed on automobile ownership? Should there be federal background checks in order for people to obtain a driver's license or purchase a car?...

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- The former Noranda aluminum smelter will reopen in May with plans to employ 450 people near term and potentially as many as 900 with future expansions, equaling the number of jobs lost when the plant shut down two years ago. Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens said the smelter will provide jobs with an average annual wage of $64,000...

GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Terry L. Scowden, 58, of Greenville died Tuesday, March 13, 2018, in Wayne County as a result of an automobile accident. Arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel.

Norman Lincoln Richmond, 90, of Grandin, Mo., passed away Sunday, March 11, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born on Jan. 14, 1928 to the late Albert and Fay (Huling) Richmond at Ripley County, Mo. Norman worked as a custodian for John J. ...

PUXICO, Mo. -- Shirley A. Brooks, 75, of Puxico died Monday, March 12, 2018 at her home. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Friday in the funeral home chapel. The Rev. Ray Placher and Rev. Joe Payne will officiated. Burial will be in the Puxico City Cemetery...

PUXICO,Mo. -- W. Reid Brotherton, 50, of Wappapello, Mo., died Monday, March 12, 2018, in an accident on Highway 51 in Perry County, Mo. Visitation will be at 5 p.m. Friday at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Morgan Sifford Chapel. Rev. Roy Micheals will officiate. Burial will be in the PostOak Cemetery, Patton, Mo...

Leonard D. Spradling, 65, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at his residence. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

DEXTER, Mo. -- Robert Therman "Sonny" Arnold, 81, of Chesterfield, Mo., died Monday, March 12, 2018, at the Westchester House in Chesterfield, Mo. Visitation will be after 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 15, 2018 at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Mo. until time of the funeral service at noon in the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Puxico, Mo...

Betty Faye Keel, 83, of Ponder, Mo., died Monday, March 12, 2018, at Southeast Health Center of Ripley County. Mrs. Keel, daughter of Clarence and Nova (Robinson) Fagan, was born Aug. 12, 1934, in Calm, Mo. She had retired from Vitronic Manufacturing in Doniphan and then proceeded to do what she loved best - spending time with her children and grandchildren. Mrs. Keel was a member of the Red Hatters and Eastern Star and enjoyed gardening, tending her flowers and family gatherings...

Roberta Lucille Colclasure, 89, of Lexington, Ky., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, March 12, 2018 at her home. She was born Sept. 29, 1928 in Warren, Ohio to the late Hubbard Earl Brown and Della May Burton Brown. She attended New Covenant Fellowship Church...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - George Marshall Smith, 83, of Louisville died peacefully on Friday, March 2, 2018. He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife Clydia Wilma, his children Terry Weiss (Morris), Michael (Nelda), James (Holly) and Sherry Harned (Tim)...

The Raiders are back to .500 baseball after sweeping Shawnee (Ill.) on Tuesday. Three Rivers won the opener 5-3 and the nightcap 12-4 at Roger Pattillo Field and has now won 6 of 7 after losing six in a row. "A couple big swings in that second game gave us some breathing room," Three Rivers coach Stacey Burkey said. "It was really nice to see that."...

Coming off the program's first appearance in the state quarterfinal and consecutive 20-win seasons, the Poplar Bluff Mules baseball team looks to keep things rolling. Tyson Cox, Mason Libla, Turner Fritts, Austin McIntosh and Cameron Jones return for their senior year to defend a conference and district championship, but the Mules graduated four pitchers, including a pair that were a combined 27-6 during their career...

DEXTER -- Dexter baseball coach Brian Becker hopes the return of Clay Mullins and Spencer Owens and the addition of a new hitting coach will mean more wins for the Bearcats this season. The Bearcats open the season Saturday against Malden at 10 a.m. and Clearwater at 2 p.m. Both games will be played at East City Park...

JACKSON, Tenn. -- After winning nine in a row to start the season, the Lady Raiders have lost seven straight. After losing its final four games in the Crowder Bash, Three Rivers was swept at Jackson State on Tuesday, losing the opener 9-1 in five innings and the nightcap 13-11...

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- "Pete" Sanford Ward Pridy, P.h.D. 86, passed away peacefully Saturday, March 10, 2018. Beloved husband of Virginia Pridy (nee Jackson); dear father of Jennifer (Joe) Flanakin and the late Lisa Gail Pridy; Devoted grandfather of Lauren (Alex) Greco, Joe Ryan (Emily) Flanakin and Jonathan Ward Flanakin; Brother and brother-in-law to Jeane (Tom) Lawson, the late Roger (Harolene) Pridy and the late Sheryl Pridy. ...