Stories from Wednesday, May 9, 2018

The weather was strange on May 9, 1927, as Grace Garner and her small son left the train depot in downtown Poplar Bluff after saying good-bye to a cousin from St. Louis. The sky had a peculiar brassy look, Garner remembered later when she recorded the story for her family, including daughter, Martha Albers of Poplar Bluff. It was cold, with a strong wind and a black cloud sitting over the western horizon...

By STEPHEN MOORE What is it about the internet that makes it so the government just can't seem to keep its greedy paws off of it? Every few years Congress makes a play to regulate and tax the internet, and free marketeers need to be ever vigilant in swatting them down...

By MIKE JENSEN I've never been a big fan of polling, specifically political polling. Today, polling has become big business. Experts offer all sorts of mathematical logic and reasoning to justify their polling techniques. And when their poll results are woefully off-base, they offer equally compelling logic to explain the outcome...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Eloise McMinn, 98, died Sunday, May 6, 2018 at Sikeston Convalescent Center in Sikeston, Missouri. She was born Dec. 16, 1919 in Berry to the late David Asher Jones and Allie Pluma (Gray) Jones. Eloise was the oldest living member of Southside Baptist Church of Charleston, Mo.and had worked as a cafeteria manager for Chrysler Corporation and a cashier for Reeves Boomland when they opened in 1977 before retiring...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS Before the massive growth of our welfare state, private charity was the sole option for an individual or family facing insurmountable financial difficulties or other challenges. How do we know that? There is no history of Americans dying on the streets because they could not find food or basic medical assistance. ...

Guy H. Richardson, a lifelong resident of Poplar Bluff, passed away on May 6, 2018, surrounded by his loving family. Guy was born Dec. 5, 1950 in Poplar Bluff to Robert and Wanda Richardson, both long-time teachers in Poplar Bluff, who preceded him in death. ...

Jackie O. Kearbey, Sr. was born Jan. 14, 1937 in rural Butler County, Missouri, a son of the late Braidy Champ and Cassie Lee (Bailey) Kearbey. Jack, formerly of Poplar Bluff, entered eternal rest Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at the Missouri Veterans Home in St. James, Missouri where he had resided for over 14 years...

A rebuilt Fazoli's will open May 22, a year to the day since firefighters were called to an overnight blaze that destroyed the Poplar Bluff restaurant. The Westwood Boulevard location will employ 70 people, with training to start next week, according to co-owners and brothers Jeremy and Jonas Duckett. Fazoli's is currently advertising for an assistant manager, assistant general manager, restaurant associates and kitchen staff...

Mildred "Mim" Ross passed into Heaven on Saturday, May 5, 2018 in Poplar Bluff. Mildred was born to Thomas and Geneva Radcliff Warden June 28, 1922 in Peach Orchard, Arkansas. Her father died when she was a small child, and she was raised by her amazing mother...

JCPenney in Poplar Bluff has now become a one-stop shop for special events with the addition of Sephora inside JCPenney. "Opening this location gives us an opportunity to connect with shoppers who have not experienced a beauty destination like Sephora," JCPenney General Manager Evelyn "Evie" Smith said. "As one of the comprehensive beauty attractions in town, we look forward to providing an elevated beauty buying experience that is not being offered anywhere else."...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Lillian G. Montgomery, 82, of Piedmont, Mo., died Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be held from 6 p.m, Thursday, May 10, 2018, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. Services will follow 1 p.m. Friday, May 11, 2018, also at the chapel. Burial will follow at Alwood Cemetery...

Patsy Hagy, 82, of Dexter, Mo., died at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo., Monday, May 7, 2018, Joint visitation with her husband Carrol Leroy Hagy, who died Sunday, will be on Thursday, May 10, 2018, after 11:30 a.m. at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter, Mo. Joint funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 10, 2018, at 1 p.m. in the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter, Missouri with the Rev. Earl Hagy of St. Louis and Rev. Ray Rowland of Dexter officiating...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Our precious Lilly Pearl Rush, departed this world May 7, 2018. Pearl was born in Corning, Arkansas, April 24, 1935. She was the daughter of Monroe Cherry and Edna (Wallace) Cherry. Pearl Cherry was married to the love of her life, Ronald Joy Rush, May 9, 1953. Pearl and Ronnie would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in just two days...

Lake Road Elementary is one of eight schools in the state chosen as a 2018 Missouri Gold Star School by the Missouri Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education. As a result, Lake Road has also been nominated for national Blue Ribbon recognition, the winners of which will be announced this fall...