Stories from Friday, June 16, 2017

One of Poplar Bluff's familiar faces, Jo Nell Seifert, recently was featured as "The Trivia Dancer" on Live with Kelly during her 10-day trip to New York City. "It may be the most fun I've ever had in my life," said Seifert, of her April appearance on the morning television show featuring guest-host John Leguizamo...

Issues with 911 addresses may have caused mistakes in denial letters sent to Missouri flood victims requesting assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Nearly 2,400 individuals across the state have registered with FEMA under this declaration, said media specialist Troy York...

Poplar Bluff has so many parks, there are activities for everyone, new city horticulturist Murray Hammond said this week during a walk through of an area of Hendrickson Park which will be expanded this summer. A donation of about two acres on the park's 13th Street side will add green space to the children's discovery and learning area, officials say. The donation came at the end of 2016 and work will be done over the summer to transform the dirt lots...

We've already paid This is in response to supporting four lanes to Jonesboro, Ark. I have already paid for a four lane from Poplar Bluff to Fredericktown. If Jonesboro wants us to shop there, go to school there, and enjoy their beautiful city, they should pay for it. We have done our job. We have paid our way to Fredericktown and I'd like to thank everybody that did that. I'm able to shop there, buy cars there and enjoy St. Louis a lot cheaper than I used to. Thank you...

To the Editor, The family of SSgt Eric Summers would like to thank all who made the 4th Annual SSgt Eric Summers Play for Honor golf tournament/silent auction a success. To the sponsors and those who donated to the silent auction, the players, those who bought auction items and raffle tickets, and the family and friends who worked the tournament and dinner we give a huge thank you! We could not have done it without you. ...

By GEORGE F. WILL OSSINING, N.Y. -- Sparkling in the sunlight that inspired 19th-century romantic painters of the Hudson River School, Sing Sing prison's razor wire, through which inmates can see the flowing river, is almost pretty. Almost. Rain or shine, however, a fog of regret permeates any maximum-security prison. ...

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS George Orwell said, "The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history." In the former USSR, censorship, rewriting of history and eliminating undesirable people became part of Soviets' effort to ensure that the correct ideological and political spin was put on their history. Deviation from official propaganda was punished by confinement in labor camps and execution...

GIDEON, Mo. -- Bertha Fay Lacey, 78, of Gideon, died Thursday, June 15, 2017, at Gideon Care Center in Gideon. Visitation will be at noon, Saturday, at the Bradshaw Funeral Homes, Inc., in Gideon. The funeral will be at 3 p.m., Saturday, at Bradshaw Chapel in Gideon with Rev. Greg Mullins officiating...

Nadine Johnson was hostess for the Agee Community Club meeting and picnic luncheon Friday, June 9, at her home. President Cathy Womack gave the invocation and the members repeated the club motto. Johnson read Devotional from the BBI BULLETIN, My Biography of Dr. ...

Elsie R. Walters, 94, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, June 15, 2017 at The Manor. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- David Randall Gayle, born Dec. 28, 1943 in Saint Louis, Mo. to Mary (Ladd) Gayle and Roy Gayle, died Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at his home in Piedmont, Mo. after a battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Peggy (McGhee) Gayle; his brother, Richard (Kathie) Gayle; his daughter, Julie (Jim) Gronski; his son, Andy (Shelly) Gayle; his grandchildren, Darrian Gayle, Elizabeth Gronski, John Gronski, Drew Gayle, and Emily Gayle and many dear nieces and nephews...

Dennis William King, 37, Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Thursday, June 15, 2017. He was born Jan. 2, 1980 in Poplar Buff, Mo., to Caroline King and Dennis William Young. Survivors include four daughters: Alexa Vance King, Isabell Daesha King, Jazlyn Faith King and Serenity Denise King, all of Poplar Bluff; five siblings: Leah Summer Webb, Devonte Harold Wallace, Lopez Buddy Wallace, Mariah Young and Gabby Young. ...

Austin Tyler Varvell, 18, of Puxico, son of Robbie and Tammy Santos Varvell, was born April 4, 1999 in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and passed away at Baptist Health Center in Little Rock on, June 14, 2017. Austin had lived in Puxico all his life and was a member the Puxico General Baptist Church. Austin was in SCCLA & Rayni Day Miracle Club of Poplar Bluff, enjoyed watching movies, playing music and traveling...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A woman was abducted Thursday morning from the Wal-Mart Supercenter parking lot in Cape Girardeau and later found unharmed in a field near Chaffee, Missouri, police said. Police are searching for two men in a silver 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara with a North Carolina license plate that reads EFK7387, Sgt. Rick Schmidt said...