Stories from Sunday, June 10, 2018

Before he grew to 6-foot-4, became a Missouri Sports Hall of Famer and built a respected law practice from the ground up, Louie Joe Scott was simply a little boy in pint-sized overalls from Gainesville, Mo. He hunted squirrels with his mother and his best friend was a black and white hound named Pal...

The proverbial cat was out of the bag for Rev. Greg Kirk when Lt. Col. Oliver North not only recognized the former soldier, but addressed him by name during a visit to Poplar Bluff. Despite a rousing military career, Kirk said the reason he gave it up was to pursue a calling from God to join the ministry...

When I heard my brother Jonathan had taken his own life, my first thought, unfiltered through the sieve of reason, was: "Why the hell did he do this to me, to my mother, to us?" When I learned on Tuesday that Kate Spade had taken her own life, my first thought was: "Why did she do that to them?" referring to her husband and 13-year-old daughter...

The United Gospel Rescue Mission is kicking off its Golden Anniversary this week with two community celebrations. The 50th Anniversary Banquet will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Black River Coliseum. From 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday will be the UGRM Family Fun Day sponsored by Ozark Federal Credit Union...

As the detailed fabrication of a handmade quilt, so is the history of the United Gospel Rescue Mission. The stories are its pieces, each resembling one another, yet varying ever so slightly. In the end, they fit together to create a lasting patchwork that is the Poplar Bluff Rescue Mission's first 50 years...

By MARC A. THIESSEN WASHINGTON -- When it comes to the Iran nuclear deal, the Obama administration increasingly appears to have been a bottomless pit of deception. First, President Barack Obama failed to disclose to Congress the existence of secret side deals on inspections when he transmitted the nuclear accord to Capitol Hill. ...

I have been uncharacteristically silent these past 10 months. I had thought that silence would soon be coming to an end, but I'm afraid I must tell you now that fate has decided on a different course for me. In August of last year, I underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in my abdomen. ...

Thomas Huffman, 75, of Poplar Bluff, died on Thursday, June 7, 2018 at The Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The family will hold a private celebration of life at a later time. Online Condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

DONIPHAN, Mo. - William F. "Bill" Halcomb, 96, of Cape Girardeau, died June 7, 2018, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He was born Sept. 29, 1921, in Doniphan, Missouri, to Samuel Jesse and Willa Belle Payton Halcomb. While proudly serving in the Army for five years in the South Pacific during WWII, Bill attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant and earned a bronze star. In 1945, upon returning to his hometown of Doniphan, he met and married Nancy Elaine Ponder...

Danny Duane Thompson, 79, of Poplar Bluff, passed away on Thursday, June 7, 2018. Danny was born on May 23, 1939 to James and Eva Thompson of Campbell, Mo. Danny attended school at The University of Arkansas where he obtained his Bachelor of Literature. ...

MALDEN, Mo. - Saylor Grace Vinyard, the daughter of Justin and Whitney Hamlett Vinyard, was born June 4, 2018, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She weighed 11 lb. 10 oz. and measured 23 inches. Saylor died Wednesday, June 6, 2018, in St. Louis, Mo., at the age of two days old...

DONIPHAN, Mo. - Susie Trellis Young, 98, departed this life Wednesday, June 6, 2018, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mrs. Young, daughter of William E. and Clarisa Willmerth (Brooks) McDowell, was born February 7, 1920, in Ripley County, Mo. ...

Stoddard County 911 has become the first agency in Missouri set to roll out new public safety software from Zuercher Technologies to integrate many agencies within the county to one system. Stoddard County 911 Administrator Carol Moreland credited the passing of a 2016 tax behind the upgrade...

Chance Holden of Dexter finished atop a group of a 11 players who recently qualified for the 2018 Missouri Amateur Championship. Held at Westwood Hills Country Club, Holden shot a 64 to carry the low round of the day by two strokes of Travis Simmons of Cape Girardeau...

KENNETT, Mo. -- Hospital leaders Friday provided an update on the operations of Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center, saying inpatient, emergency room or hospital-based outpatient services will no longer be available after 11:59 p.m. Monday. During the city council meeting Tuesday night, Dunklin County Commissioner Don Collins addressed the council to discuss a proposed county tax to be placed on the August 7 ballot...

The Carter County Sheriff's Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to a home on Highway 21 South, outside the Grandin city limits, after reports of hearing alleged gunfire from neighbors. According to Carter County Sheriff Richard Stephens, officers reported to the home of Justin R. Nance, 30, and his father Saturday morning...

The Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame will grow this fall with its 33rd induction class and its Board of Director are seeking possible nominees to consider. To be eligible for election, a person must have reached the age of 35 as of September 1, 2018, be a native of Poplar Bluff who has participated in or contributed to sports here or elsewhere, or a person who came to Poplar Bluff and became distinguished here...

Poplar Bluff's Tyson Cox signed his National Letter of Intent on Friday to play baseball for University of Tennessee-Martin. The four-year letterman was named first team All-District and first team All-Conference in each of the past three seasons. In 2017, he earned the SEMO Conference Player of the Year and was a first team All-State infielder...

It's not uncommon for a prospect to commit to a school early in a season, then de-commit and join another school at the end of the year. Whether it's due to a different head coach or an opportunity to play on a bigger stage in front of a larger crowd, these decisions are typically made through the lens of athletics...

DEXTER -- Lloyd Hyten loves basketball and the City of Dexter. He should be a perfect fit to lead the Dexter High School boys basketball program. "I was born and raised in Dexter. I've always lived in Dexter," said Hyten who played for the school's all-time winningest boys basketball coach Jim Hall. ...

KENNETT, Mo. --The Poplar Bluff swim team picked up 16 wins and placed second to host Kennett 1,858.5 to 450.5 while beating four other teams Saturday. Gavin Vaughn won three events in the 13-14 age division, missing a fourth by 0.08 of a second, while Paige Bradley won three events in the 15-18 division and Teagan Kassing also won three times in the 9-10 division...

DEXTER -- Steps are being taken at the recently restructured Dexter Police Department to increase safety throughout the schools and community. "We now have two captains; you have a captain (Hank Trout) that runs the detective division, which is associated with the SRO (school-resource officer)," explained Trevor Pulley, who was appointed police chief May 14 after having served as acting chief prior to that time. He previously had headed up the department's detective division since 2002...