Stories from Wednesday, May 23, 2018

PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Flora L. Helton, 83 of Piedmont, Mo., died Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at Mark Twain Caring Center, Poplar Bluff, Mo. A graveside service will be held at Carson Hill Cemetery near Mill Spring, Mo., at 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 23, 2018. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

By DENNIS PRAGER If you want to understand the moral sickness at the heart of leftism, read the first paragraph of the most recent column by Washington Post columnist E. J. Dionne: "It's never right to call other human beings 'animals.' It's not something we should even have to debate. No matter how debased the behavior of a given individual or group, no matter how much legitimate anger that genuinely evil actions might inspire, dehumanizing others always leads us down a dangerous path."...

By STEPHEN MOORE Donald Trump is now deep into trade negotiations with China and NAFTA 2.0 negotiations with Canada and Mexico. We are strong free traders, but we believe that Trump's plans to negotiate better trade agreements that reduce trade barriers abroad are right on the mark. He also has to make sure those deals fully protect U.S. intellectual property, or what is commonly called know-how...

Wanda M. Allen, 86, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at the Anna House Sarah Community in Bridgeton, Mo. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service.

Staff Reports An organization that provides programs for mental health, substance use disorders and other outreach in Butler County and across Southeast Missouri has named a chief executive officer. The Board of Directors of FCC Behavioral Health named Randy Ray as CEO, effective May 1, according to a press release. Ray has served as interim CEO for the past five months...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN That joking retort we heard as children, "Is the pope Catholic?" is starting to look like a serious question. Asked five years ago about a "gay lobby" in the Vatican, Pope Francis responded, "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?"...

Jessica Dawn and Tyler Wellington Phelps of Jackson, Mo. are the parents of twin boys born Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at Saint Francis Healthcare Family Birthplace. Jacob Dillon Phelps was born at 7:43 a.m. and Noah Avery Phelps was born at 7:56 a.m. Jacob weighted 3 pounds 10 ounces and was 16 inches. Noah weighted 3 pounds 15 ounces and was 15 inches...

On Tuesday, Poplar Bluff senior linebacker Tanner Dunivan put pen to paper and signed his letter of intent to play football at Westminster College. The three-year letterman was named All-Conference and All-Region in 2016 and 2017, along with an appearance in the Blue-Grey High School All-American Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas...

From staff reports A volunteer group will hold a boat blessing from 1-3 p.m. June 3 at Peoples Creek Recreation Area. The Wappapello Lake Area Association has also steadily been raising money for a fireworks celebration to be held at Wappapello Lake in honor of July 4th...

Located approximately one mile from Wappapello Lake, The Camp offers a variety of family-friendly outdoor activities in a laid-back environment. Opened in 2017 by Scott Preslar and Dina Rhodes, the scenic camping resort aims to be a home-away-from-home and provide services its guests find appealing...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Raymond "Gene" Litton, 60, of Harviell, Mo., formerly of Florida, died Monday, May 21, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born Aug. 20, 1957 in Gideon, Mo. and had been a resident of Butler County since 1988. Mr. Litton was self employed in produce sales. On July 28, 1976 he married Debbie Howell in Golfo Springs, Fla. She survives of the home...

Jeffrey James Taylor, 59, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service.

Forsman Sonja Renee McKinney-Forsman, age 54, of Rossville, Tenn, passed away on the morning of Monday, May 21, 2018 at her home surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer. She was the beloved wife of Josh Forsman and mother to Chelsea and Dylan Forsman...

Tick season befalls Missouri in April and lasts through September, according to the Missouri Dept. of Conservation. The small, bloodsucking parasites are known to carry diseases and often are found in areas where animals are abundant. At least six different human tick-borne diseases have been reported statewide, the MDC stated, and yearly human case numbers are generally on the rise. ...

Citizens were appointed Monday to serve on about 20 Poplar Bluff advisory boards. This is a service that is valuable to the city and residents, according to Tucker Davis, who has completed his last term with the Municipal Utilities Advisory Board. Davis has been on the board since 2008...

For the past 16 years, the family of Traci English has been seen traveling the east and west lanes of Highway 60 collecting trash along a 2 1/2-mile stretch. "This keeps our sister's memory alive and more than anything it's a way to honor her," Traci's sister, Erin English Deaton, said...