Stories from Friday, May 11, 2018

Opportunities for Missouri high school students will expand through changes to the state's A+ Schools program after lawmakers passed legislation loosening requirements for the A+ Scholarship. House members voted 136-5 last week to pass the measure, referred to as House Bill 1744. The bill currently awaits final authorization from the governor's office before the changes take effect...

GREENVILLE - Jack Becker went 2 for 3 with a home run and five RBIs to lead the Greenville Bears to a 19-7 rout of Woodland on Thursday. Tryston Kelsoe went 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs, as part of Greenville's 13-hit attack. Tye Huff went 3 for 3 with a double and two RBIs, Dylan Barks went 2 for 3 with three RBIs, and Jason Bratton doubled and drove home a run as Greenville improved to 9-10...

The Poplar Bluff Fire Department will soon put new air packs into service thanks to a federal grant worth $141,000. "Our system is (nearly) 15 years old," explained Chief Ralph Stucker. "If the guys don't have (the air packs), they are not making entry into a house ... they're not going to be able to go into a structure."...

Southeast Missourian Gov. Eric Greitens recently appointed Bob MacDonald of Poplar Bluff, to the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents. MacDonald is the president and CEO of S.H. Smith & Co. Inc. He previously served as mayor and city councilman for the City of Poplar Bluff...

By ADRIANA COHEN Democrats have long claimed to be the party of women -- a political party that wants women to have a "seat at the table" in boardrooms across industries, including access to top government jobs, and equal pay. They wear pussy hats at women's marches and carry signs touting various incarnations of inclusivity and "female empowerment."...

PUXICO, Mo. -- U.W. "Junior" Freeman of Scotsvile, Ky., died Wednesday at Bowling Green, Ky. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Monday, May 14, at Morgan Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico followed by the funeral at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Rev. Ray Placher will officiate. Burial will be i the Puxico City Cemetery...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Gary Lynn Greenlee Sr. 61, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died at home Thursday, May 10, 2018. Services are pending and will be held at Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan, Mo. Online condolences: edwardsfuneralhome.org

Katherine Marie (Dowd) Turner, 92, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Monday, May 7, 2018 at Shady Oaks Retirement Home in Poplar Bluff. She was born on Sept. 18, 1925 to Harold and Olive (Watts) Dowd in Bessville, Mo. Katherine worked for the Social security Administration for 25 years, retiring in 1989...

By MARC A. THIESSEN WASHINGTON -- Democrats routinely express outrage over claims of collusion with a foreign power to undermine our democracy. So where is the outrage over revelations that former secretary of state John Kerry held not one but two secret meetings with Iran's foreign minister to strategize over how to undermine President Trump's plans to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal?...

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- The Kennett Indians softball team put up a late fight but was unable to overcome a seven-run deficit in the final inning Thursday evening. Park Hills Central withstood a late rally as it beat Kennett 7-2 in a MSHSAA Class 1 quarterfinal at Park Hills Sports Complex...

A record number of people gathered inside the front entrance of the Black River Coliseum and down the sidewalk Thursday awaiting the beginning of the 12th annual Taste of the Town. Items from chicken wings, burrito bowls, Philly cheesesteaks and every sweet treat imaginable were available to provide something for everyone during the fundraiser to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Poplar Bluff...

FISK, Mo. -- George "Rick" Trout, 64, of Wappapello, Mo., died Thursday, May 10, 2018 at his residence, in Wappapello, Mo. Mr. Trout was born Tuesday, Sept. 8, 1953 in Gideon, Mo., son of the late George Daniel and Oretha Catharine Trout. He was a truck driver and worked for MFA at Bernie. Rick enjoyed playing music and singing and played with the Red Light band for many years...

FISK, Mo. -- William "Bill" Davis, 72, of Wappapello, Mo., died Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at his residence in Wappapello. Mr. Davis was born Nov. 10, 1945 in Cape Girardeau, Mo. to the late Lewis and Viola Davis. He served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He retired from Emerson Electric in Kennett. He was a member of the VFW in Wappapello and was a former post commander. He enjoyed fishing and rebuilding tractors...

Ruth Evelyn Scoggins went joyously to meet Jesus on Monday, April 30, 2018 at Oakdale Skilled Nursing Center in Poplar Bluff. Ruth was born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, to H. A. (Arch) and Laura Areena Scoggins August 4, 1932. Ruth graduated from PBHS in 1950 as Salutatorian of her class. She immediately began her career in banking at the State Bank on Main at Vine...

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Dorothy Irene Shriver, 82, of Piedmont, Mo., died Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont, Mo.

Emma Foxx, 89, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, May 11, 2018 at Cedargate Health Care. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

For those that follow the church calendar, May 20 is Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost is the day when Christians recall how the Holy Spirit first bounced into a locked room of frightened Jesus followers and rested on the disciples' heads "as tongues of fire." (Acts 2:3). The story continues with fiery disciples running out of the room with the ability to speak in different languages. No Rosetta Stone software was necessary...

Ruthie Mae McCain, 60, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Friday, May 4, 2018, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 12, 2018, at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff followed at 11 a.m. by the funeral at the funeral home. Burial will be in City Cemetery. Fowler-Sullian Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Patsy Kay Mungle Barnes, 70, of Dexter, Mo., formerly of Malden, died Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo. Visitation will be from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Friday, May 11, at Landess Funeral Chapel in Malden. The funeral will begin at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Rosewood Cemetery First Addition in Malden...

By JACKIE CUSHMAN President Donald Trump wins big in foreign policy this week. In pulling out of the The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Trump both keeps a campaign promise and sends a signal to North Korea that he is willing to walk away from a "bad deal."...

Editor's note: Mohammad Hassan Khalil, associate professor of religious studies and director of the Muslim Studies Program at Michigan State University, answers six questions about the significance of the Muslim month of fasting. Why is Ramadan called Ramadan?...