Stories from Sunday, July 23, 2017

Analyzing the economy Speak Out, I'd just like to remind everyone when you are doing comparisons of an economy today and, say, 20 years ago, it's erroneous to look at dollar figures. The true gauge is numbers of an item sold that tells you the condition the consumer is in. ...

Everyone wants to be proud of their community, but it doesn't come easily. It takes all of us. Unfortunately, some people believe improving a community can only be done by those who have funds to put behind their ideas. Granted, benefactors who invest in our community are a valuable component; however, everyone can contribute toward improving our community. ...

By GEORGE F. WILL MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The aircraft arrayed around the spacious lawn of Maxwell Air Force Base, home of the Air University, mostly represent long-retired types. The largest, however, is a glistening B-52 bomber, which represents a still-employed component of the Air Force's aging fleet: The youngest B-52 entered service in 1962. Sons have flown the same plane their fathers and grandfathers flew...

WASHINGTON -- One cannot imagine a more wrenching moral dilemma than the case of little Charlie Gard. He is a beautiful 11-month-old boy with an incurable genetic disease. It depletes his cells' energy-producing structures (the mitochondria), thereby progressively ravaging his organs. ...

The FEMA Hazard Mitigation Community Education and Outreach will be at PACK'S Do It Center, 918 S Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, Mo. from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday and from 7 a.m. to noon Tuesday. The FEMA team will provide information about rebuilding stronger and reducing future damage, disaster preparedness and flood insurance with guidance on where to get additional information of help. ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Rev. Allen Garner, 93, departed this life and by faith entered into the joy of his salvation Wednesday, July 5, 2017, in Lexington, Ky. He was surrounded by family at his death. Rev. Garner was born June 25, 1924, to Allen and Grace Garner in Poplar Bluff, where he grew up. ...

PALMDALE, CALIF. -- Olaf Carlson Smith, 85, passed away Sunday, June 16, 2017, after battling cancer and declining health. He was born Sept. 20, 1931, in St. Louis, Mo., to John W.E. and Olivia (Carlson) Smith. The love of his life, MaryJo, passed away in November, 2013. ...

Patty Ruth "Pat" Ward, 73, of Arnold, Mo., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Friday, July 21, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Pat, the daughter of the late Eldon and Hettie Huskey Osborn, was born May 20, 1944, in Poplar Bluff, and graduated from Poplar Bluff High School. ...

GIDEON, Mo. - Wanda Marie Parson, 89, of Kingston, Ill., formerly of Gideon died Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at her residence. Visitation was at noon, Saturday, July 22 at Bradshaw Funeral Homes, Inc. in Gideon. The funeral followed at 2 p.m. in the Bradshaw Chapel. Burial was in Memorial Park in Malden, Mo...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Harold Payne, 87, of Doniphan, Mo., died Friday, July 21, 2017, at the Current River Nursing Center in Doniphan. Visitation will start at noon, Sunday, July 23, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Brother Lial Holland officiating. Burial will be in the Doniphan City Cemetery...

JUNCTION CITY, KAN. -- Russell James Johnson, 93, formerly of Butler County, Mo., died at his home Wednesday, July 19, 2017, in Junction City, Kan. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Junction City. A Committal Service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Kansas Veterans' Cemetery near Ogden, Kan. A Memorial Service will be held at the Immanuel Lutheran Church at 11:30 a.m., followed by a luncheon and fellowship at the church...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Judy Ann Willcut, 76, of Stockton, Mo., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Aurora, Mo., and Neelyville died Thursday, July 20, 2017, at Stockton, Mo. Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday at Fowler-Sullivan Memorial Chapel in Neelyville. Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Cochran Cemetery near Harviell, Mo...

Minnie Rimel Davis, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Friday, July 21, 2017 at Delmar Gardens Center in O'Fallon, Mo. Mrs. Davis, the daughter of the late Jacob and Lucille (McDowell) Rimel, was born July 9, 1934 in Poplar Bluff. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church...

Mary Bilbrey, 82, of Poplar Bluff died Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Black River medical center. Arrangements pending with Fowler Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

Michael Hawkins, 69, of Stringtown died Saturday, July 22, 2017, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending with Fowler Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff.

Butler County officials said Friday they will seek additional funding to make up a shortfall of at least 30 percent in the cost to construct a long-awaited railroad overpass at the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park. Bids for the project were opened July 14 and came in well over the $2.6 million initially expected...

The 2014 bond issue promised a lot to Poplar Bluff High School according to the 2014 Election Fact Sheet published on the school district's web site, and according to Principal Mike Owen, all promises were kept. Owen said although there have been "growing pains" associated with the new construction, the benefits of the project far outweigh the negatives...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Permits were issued last week by the city of Poplar Bluff for a new building at Mansion Mall that is expected to include a Starbucks. It is among approximately $3.3 million in new construction and remodeling permits issued recently...

Sixteen vacant houses in Poplar Bluff, Mo., have been intentionally set on fire since February. Fire officials say there is no pattern to the fires. They haven't been set during the same time of day, in the same area of town or in the same locations in the structures...