Stories from Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Two people have been found dead inside their submerged vehicles after apparently driving through flood waters in Butler County. At 8:35 a.m. this morning, Butler County Coroner Andy Moore, pronounced a woman dead. Her name is being withheld pending notification of her next of kin...

Recovery efforts are just beginning today in Doniphan and Van Buren, two Missouri towns that sit along the Current River and have seen massive devastation from high water levels, which broke century-old records. More than 100 homes and 13 businesses were damaged or destroyed in Van Buren, according to initial assessments, said Carter County Sheriff Richard Stephens. ...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer While the Black River crested Monday, officials are warning residents a second round of flooding could pose more problems before the end of the week for already damaged levees. The river could start to rise again Tuesday with the addition of a record outflow from Clearwater Lake, Poplar Bluff city manager Mark Massingham said Monday night. Massingham spoke after the city council voted to declare a state of emergency...

Wappapello Lake crested Tuesday morning and Clearwater Lake is not expected to crest until Wednesday. Officials say rainfall Wednesday could continue to set record levels. Each lake is releasing water from both its primary and secondary spillways. Clearwater has never topped its overflow spillway and reached more than 367.6 feet, more than a foot higher than the previous record. It is expected to crest at 568.3 feet. Clearwater controls water released into the Black River...

A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man accused of firing multiple rounds into a passing vehicle is in jail today on a $250,000 bond after he turned himself in to police Monday afternoon. Authorities had been searching for Michael Dewayne Jackson, 34, of the 1100 block of Fairmont Street since Friday afternoon...

Neighborhood bar not fun anymore At one time it used to be fun to go to the neighborhood bar, but unless you've got a pocket full of money now you can't enjoy yourself. You don't feel welcome and you don't feel appreciated. If you don't care, please print this. It would be very much appreciated. Thank you...

To the Editor: The successful closing reception for the 7th Annual ART for ANIMALS art show and silent auction would not have been possible without the hard work of many in our community. The Animal Welfare Alliance of Southeast Missouri (also known as AWA) wants to express our gratitude to every citizen who contributed to the event by: donating goods and cash, giving time to staff the event, bidding on the works or art, and of course, painting the works of art! The animals who will benefit from the funds raised thank you, and we at AWA thank you for another year of a great event.. ...

When we discuss international trade and balance of payments, there are two types of accounts. There is the current account, which includes goods and services imported and exported and receives the most political attention. In 2016, the American people imported $479 billion worth of goods and services from Chinese producers, and we sold $170 billion worth of goods and services to Chinese customers. ...

Nick Woolard brought his John A. Logan College teammates to his hometown as a tune-up to the upcoming national tournament. It worked out pretty good for one of them. Hunter York won the 71st Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational with a 5-under-par 66 Saturday and a lot of rain to cancel the second round Sunday at Westwood Hills Country Club...

Ernestine Pennington, 75, of Poplar Bluff, died Monday, May 1, 2017 at her residence. Arrangements are pending with Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

MALDEN -- The top two seeds made big statements to kick off Round 1 of the MSHSAA Class 1 District 3 tournament Monday. Second-seeded Bernie opened things up with a 14-0 victory in five innings over No. 7 Bloomfield and top-seeded Malden followed suit with a 16-0 rout of No. 8 Richland in three innings to advance to the semifinals...

Scotty "Ducky" Frazier, Jr., 17, of Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at his residence. Visitation will be held from 1 - 3 p.m., Saturday, May 13, 2017 at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. A Memorial Service will follow at 3 p.m. in the chapel...

MALDEN -- Experience and youth combined to help the Dexter softball team play a near-flawless game Monday. The fifth-seeded Lady Bearcats piled up nine hits in six innings behind a four-hit gem from their young ace to make their MSHAA Class 1 District 3 opener a quick one, taking down No. 4 Charleston 16-1 in six innings...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Helen N. Slusher, 92, of Annapolis, Mo., died Monday, May 1, 2017, at the Townhouse Nursing Center in Annapolis. Arrangements are pending with Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel, Piedmont.

DEXTER, Mo. - James "Jim" Dill of Puxico, Missouri, son of the late Herbert and Lena Bond Dill, was born Jan. 9, 1939 in Weiner, Ark. and passed away at his home in Puxico on April 29, 2017 at the age of 78 years, 3 months and 20 days. James grew up in Dexter and moved to St. ...

The Red Cross has taken over the Black River Coliseum in an effort to provide shelter and warm meals to flood victims and evacuees in a joint effort with the United Gospel Rescue Mission. Red Cross Site Director Jeff Shawan said as of Tuesday morning, the shelter is housing 138 people...

With a 6-0 vote Monday to rezone a portion of Eugene Boulevard, the Poplar Bluff City Council accepted the promise of a developer who says 48 units of affordable housing will be occupied only by veterans. The Missouri National Guard Foundation asked that approximately 3.4 acres of vacant property at the end of Eugene Boulevard be rezoned from commercial to residential apartment...

Butler County resident Nicole Collins helped rescue crews carry her five dogs and what little belongings she could fit into a suitcase out her front door to safety as Black River poured over the levee just a stone's throw from her house on County Road 607...

Residents on the south side of Poplar Bluff voluntarily evacuated, roads were closed and school was canceled as Black River spilled its banks following days of heavy rain. Black River crested at 21.96 feet at 11:30 a.m. Monday according to U.S. Geological Survey. Water levels continued to drop overnight and were expected to fall below 19 feet - moderate flood stage - Tuesday afternoon. The gauge record is 22 feet 1 inch and flood stage is 16 feet...

Softball was the furthest thing from Will Davis' mind Monday morning. Davis' Puxico Lady Indians, slated to open play in the MSHSAA Class 1 District 3 tournament, had their world turned upside down when the Wappapello Lake began to rise, closing Highway T and flooding areas where most of the players live...