Stories from Tuesday, October 6, 2015

By NOREEN HYSLOP SEMO News Service DEXTER, Mo. -- A Morehouse, Missouri, man has serious injuries, but walked away from a wooded area south of Dexter after his Cessna 150 crashed within 75 yards of a residence. John Launius took off from the Dexter Airport just before 4 a.m. Monday, according to the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor When Steve Davis retired Wednesday from Probation & Parole, he closed the final chapter in his family's law enforcement tradition, which had dated back to the turn of the century. "I came from a family of law enforcement and criminal justice people," said Davis, who worked 23 years as a probation officer for Probation & Parole District No. 25. "I had actually a great-uncle who was a Probation & Parole officer, I think, for about 25 years...

David DeCourley FISK, Mo. - David L. DeCourley, age 53 of Fisk, died Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will begin today at 6:00 pm at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. Funeral services will be Tuesday at 11:00 am in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Marlin Rice officiating. Burial will follow in Shain Memorial Cemetery. Condolences: www.whitesandersfuneralhome.com...

By MICHELLE MALKIN You've heard endlessly about "white privilege" from the professional social justice warrior gripers. But rarely does that crusading crowd -- or their spiritual leaders in the White House -- acknowledge the brutal impact of wealthy Middle Eastern thug privilege in America...

As the governor recently proposed a plan to increase funding for Missouri's institutions of higher learning, House budget leaders immediately urged a more cautious approach as the state waits to see if it will have revenues to afford an increase. Both Budget Chairman Tom Flanigan and Budget Vice Chairman Scott Fitzpatrick said the Missouri House is committed to supporting higher education, but will take a wait and see approach to increased funding until it's clear that revenues will increase sufficiently.. ...

Vema Street PIEDMONT, Mo. - Vema Street, 98, of St. Louis, Mo., formerly of Piedmont and Des Arc, Mo., passed away Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, at St. Anthony's Medical Center in St. Louis. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhome.com...

Lewis Pruitt Lewis Franklin Pruitt, 54, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Monday, Oct. 5, 2015. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff, Mo.

John Woodruff John Woodruff, 65, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015 at his residence. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Mary Harris NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Mary Alline Harris, 77, of Doniphan, died Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born on Dec. 29, 1937 in Dyersburg, Tn to William and Martha Aldridge Miller. On Dec. 12, 1997, she married Delbert Harris, Sr. ...

City firefighters responded at midnight Friday to a false alarm at 124 West 10th St. The alarm malfunctioned and no fire was found according to reports. _ City firefighters responded at 3 a.m. Friday to a false alarm at 445 North Second S. The alarm malfunctioned and no fire was found according to reports...

A Chaffee, Mo. man was killed in a motorcycle accident Friday afternoon in Scott County. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Andy J. Conn, 55, was pronounced dead by Scott County Sheriff Rick Walters at 4:02 p.m. He was transported to Amick Funeral Home...

James D. Hagy, 32, of Dexter, was arrested on a probation violation. He was held without bond at the county jail. _____ Zackary L. McCoy, 18, of Puxico, was arrested on a probation violation. He bonded out of the county jail.

_ County firefighters responded 12:18 p.m. Friday to a mobile home fire at 10855 U.S. Highway 67 south. The fire was contained to a small area in the kitchen and no injuries were reported. _ County firefighters responded to a shed fire 9:44 a.m. Saturday at 1195 County Road 309. The structure was destroyed, but no injuries were reported...

Joesph L. Burkhart, 35, of Poplar Bluff, was arrested at 12:03 a.m. Thursday in the 3100 block of Oak Grove Road on failure to appear warrants for second-degree assault and driving while intoxicated. He was booked at the Butler County jail. _ Sierra S. Schulte 38, of the 600 block of Lindsay, was arrested at her residence 4:08 p.m. Thursday on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and stealing over $500. She was booked at the Butler County jail...

Timothy L. Boyer, 29, of Van Buren, was booked at the Butler County jail Friday on suspicion of first-degree trespassing. _ Hailey D. Coston, 39, of the 6000 block of Highway 142, was booked at the Butler County jail Friday on two failure to appear warrants for forgery...

Wiley Fitzpatrick PIEDMONT, Mo. - Wiley Dewayne Fitzpatrick, 78, formerly of Piedmont, MO, passed away Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, at Missouri Baptist Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont, Mo. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhome.com...