Highway 25 reopened

Highway 25 reopened to traffic just before 2 p.m. today, according to John Prance, Stoddard County emergency management director.

The road was closed on Saturday after high winds blew down utility poles along a half-mile path between Dexter, Mo., and Bernie, Mo.. AmerenUE crews replaced nine large poles, Prance said.

A line of severe thunderstorms with winds gusting to 60 miles an hour led to the damage, he said, which sent some of the poles crashing into the roadway, along with sparking power lines, trapping three cars.

"One person got out of her car," Prance said. "The other two stayed in their cars."

Prance surveyed Stoddard County on Sunday and said Highway 25 was just one area with damage.

"Some trees down in western part of the county, south of Highway 60. They were older trees, fallen on secondary gravel roads in Liberty Township," he said. Crews are on duty shredding and removing debris.

Spotty damage was reported in several Southeast Missouri counties, including a roof partially torn off a home near Oak Ridge.

For more on this story, return to www.semissourian.com or read Monday's paper.