Stories from Friday, August 24, 2018

One only needs to take an Amtrak train bound from here to Philadelphia to witness scores of abandoned factories -- all victims to one-sided U.S. free-trade pacts with cheap labor countries like China. While there is a valid argument that America's industrial base was overtaken by technological advances, such as automation and robotics, the fact that even modern American manufacturing plants have joined the ranks of the abandoned show how nations like China, Mexico and India are capturing America's techno-industrial base.. ...

By MONA CHAREN An avid fan of President Trump, she carried a red Make America Great Again hat in the backseat of her car. But when she was asked to render a verdict on Paul Manafort, she voted guilty. Juror Paula Duncan told Fox News that "Finding Mr. ...

Lee Ann Stith, 58, of Poplar Bluff, died Thursday, Aug.23, 2018 at Clark's Mountain Care Facility in Piedmont, Mo. Visitation will be held from 9- 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 27, 2018 at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Funeral services will be held immediately following visitation at 11 a.m. in the Moore Funeral Service Chapel...

Mary Ellen Davis, 88, daughter of the late Ben Wilkerson and Della Haislip Wilkerson. was born Dec. 26, 1929 in Fisk, Missouri and departed this life Aug. 22, 2018 at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri Mrs. Davis was a homemaker and attended the Second General Baptist Church in Dexter...

Crystal Weaver, 32, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018 at her residence. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service.

After a long, slow climb following the Great Recession, the U.S. economy is finally thriving again. Thanks largely to tax and regulatory reform, wages and take-home pay are higher, employment has risen and the consumers who drive the economy are confident...

PIEDMONT,Mo. -- Sharon Kay Hicks, 61, Piedmont died Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Saturday at the Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in the Masonic Cemetery...

Arthur D, Ruessing, 67, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, at his residence. Mr. Ruessing was born July 30, 1957, in St. Louis County. He was a member of the Twin Oaks Baptist Church. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and was a member of the American Legion...

Can the Mules conquer the Man Maker? Poplar Bluff's most difficult meet of the season is just two weeks away at Sioux Passage High School, which Poplar Bluff coach Beth Lewis said was the most difficult in Missouri and a top 10 course in the country...

Poplar Bluff is hoping to double its win total and compete in the district after a tough 2017 season. The Mules won four games last season against Union, Sikeston, Murphysboro (Ill.) and Parkview. They lost 14 of their final 15 games of the season to finish 4-17...

Getting back at someone is not Christian. Okay, granted that is a pretty abrupt way to start, but I want you to understand the point of this article. Many of us remember when there was civility in our conversation and actions. We believed in politeness and manners. Now it seems everything is a free-for-all...

The season hasn't started and Poplar Bluff is already hurting from the injury bug. Brylee Misner tore her ACL during soccer season and was always going to be out. A week ago, Kylie Rogers broke her finger and is now out for the season. Coach Lisa Boyer was expecting Rogers to be a part of the pitching rotation, so the Mules are down to one pitcher and suddenly have a domino effect running through infield...

A performer who got his start as a child playing pots and pans alongside street bands in downtown Poplar Bluff will take the stage this weekend at The Camp, in a lineup full of Southeast Missouri talent. Poplar Bluff native Jon Sousan will provide a weekend packed with classic rock hits, according to Lauren Lady, guest manager...

Members of a Stoddard County board created to help developmentally disabled residents have been asked to sell a newly constructed building as officials continue to debate what programs to support and how. A special meeting of the Senate Bill 40 board was held Thursday with the agenda including discussion of a nearly $1.3 million building loan and a contract with the existing Stoddard County Sheltered Workshop...

The vision of an Early Childhood Center connected to the Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center is one step closer to reality for the district following the release of drawings for bid Aug. 12. The Poplar Bluff R-1 Board of Education was presented with the design concept from Mike Pollard of Dille & Traxel Architecture during their monthly meeting Thursday evening...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Kmart at 11 S. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau will close in November, along with 45 other Sears and Kmart stores nationwide, Sears Holdings announced Thursday morning. According to the company news release, the closures are part of ongoing efforts to streamline operations, strengthen the company's capital position and focus on the best stores...

Speak up about poachers Deer season. Here it is about time for deer or tree hunting to begin. So we start havin' poachers begin their season now. This happens every year on the gravel roads south of Oglesville. Now they're usin' their dogs for coyote hunting; that's their story. ...