News

Poplar Bluff mourned its oldest resident on this day in 1949. John Bradley, 106, was the oldest man in the city and likely the entire state. Other headlines included missing cash, near-misses on the train tracks, and preparations for the first baby of 1975...

DEXTER — A tense situation unfolded Christmas Day in Dexter when a man called 911 threatening to provoke a “suicide by cop” scenario. The caller, identified as Steven Parks, 29, of Dexter, informed dispatchers that he intended to shoot at police officers upon their arrival at his residence at 913 N. Sassafras St...

Pride and patriotism filled the room as Air Force veteran Jim Todd sang Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” at the recent Wake Foundation Military Christmas Ball.

It was a Sunday like any other Sunday back in the early 2000s at the corner of Ninth and Cedar in Poplar Bluff. Church was in full swing, and everyone was singing praises as they would normally do. But there was suddenly a fire alarm — a threat.

Donald Alfred Pucci (Oct. 4, 1957-Dec. 21, 2024) It is with great sadness that the family of Donald “Don” Alfred Pucci share that he passed away at the age of 67 Dec. 21, 2024, at his residence in Ellsinore, Missouri. Don was born in Chicago in 1957 to Alfred and Violet Pucci. He attended East Leyden High School in Franklin Park, Illinois before earning a Master of Science in Biology at Southern Illinois University...

Dash to the Past — Oldest man in Missouri dies By SAMANTHA TUCKER Assistant Editor Poplar Bluff mourned its oldest resident on this day in 1949. John Bradley, age 106, was the oldest man in the city and likely the entire state, and moved to the area in 1869. Other news on this date included a repentant burglar and a tragic plane crash...

The local community’s giving spirit in response to Rodney and Tanja Kennedy, who lost their home Christmas morning to a fire, is helping restore the family’s faith. A GoFundMe account set up for the family topped $16,000 by the morning of Dec. 26...

FREE ACCESS Rodney and Tanja Kennedy went to bed at midnight Christmas Eve to be awakened minutes later to a burning home. They escaped their residence at 1411 Christy Lane in Pine Cone Estates with their two sons, but lost their home, family pet and possessions. A GoFundMe account has been set up for the family and has already raised approximately $17,000. It is helping the family as they deal with the loss of their home, vehicles and pet Muggzy...

The National Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice, Southern Soybean and Corn, Delta States Irrigation, and the Southern Precision Ag Conferences will be held at the Hilton Convention Center in East Memphis on Jan. 27-28. “The conference is a gathering of the most knowledgeable researchers/specialists in the mid-states and midsouth-states, and highly productive farmers who produce cotton, rice, soybeans and corn,” John LaRose Jr., steering committee chairman, said in a press release. ...

The Poplar Bluff R-I school board has approved revisions to district policy to account for the imminent deployment of weapons detectors and cell phone restriction pouches in the next few months. Last month, the board approved the purchase of portable weapons detection systems that will be used initially at the high school, junior high and Mark Twain school. ...

A case of mistaken identity nearly landed a rail worker in prison, but his freedom was restored in 1924. Later years brought new reasons for happiness. The Daily American Republic bought its own Christmas gift in 1949 — a new printing press — and continued a Christmas Eve tradition in 1974...

The adage states that everything happens for a reason. And while the loss of a child leaves a permanent black hole, positives somehow can derive from such tragedies. For Michelle Worley-Hurt, both ring true, as Rayni Day Miracles was birthed in 1999, when her daughter Rayni, was 2 years old. Rayni passed away in 2012. “She did not have an immune system at all. She benefitted from a cord blood transplant,” Worley-Hurt said. ...

NEELYVILLE — The Neelyville community is coming together to build the new concessions and restroom building by the baseball field. Matthew Moss and Matthew Blackburn are spearheading the project, and the pair presented thousands of dollars worth of donated material and labor to make the structure a reality...

Evelyn Jackson, who was born Dec. 25, 1924, in the United States, will observe her 100th birthday in England, where she has spent most of her life. Jackson has had quite a journey after beginning life on a farm surrounded with oven-warmed bricks as a makeshift incubator, said her only child, Sally Gray of London...

Poplar Bluff firefighters spent three hours battling a three-alarm structure fire Sunday afternoon at 1002 Nooney St. Two crews of off-duty firefighters were called in to assist at the scene. According to acting battalion chief Capt. Jonathan Miller, the fire department was dispatched at 1 p.m. ...

Daniel Anderson, a licensed practical nurse at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center’s main campus in Poplar Bluff, has been recognized as the latest recipient of The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. “I was very surprised…I had no clue,” said Anderson of the recognition, presented by Interim Associate Director for Patient Care Services, Jamie Crawford. “I’m humbled by it. However, I do think there are other deserving people as well, and I’m just doing my job taking care of veterans.”...

Captain Jason J. Cluver, commanding officer of Troop E, Poplar Bluff, is pleased to announce the assignment of two new troopers to Troop E. The new troopers were members of the 122nd Recruit Class that graduated on Dec. 20. Trooper Ryan W. Brown of Doniphan has been assigned to Zone 1, which serves the citizens of Butler and Ripley counties. Brown is a graduate of Doniphan High School. His field training officer will be Cpl. Marcus L. Schlief. He is married and has three children...

At a recent meeting, Butler County Retired Teachers and School Personnel voted to help fund a guitar class taught by Suzanne Abney at the Twin Rivers High School. Abney had submitted a grant request in June to the Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation, but the application wasn’t granted at that time...

Angelique Santiago was named Miss Poplar Bluff in the America’s Best Pageant in Farmington on Dec. 8, and advances to the national competition in Nashville next year. Santiago made a donation Dec. 13 to Poplar Bluff Fire Department. ‘I want to put Poplar Bluff on the map, bring awareness to the community and try to get as many people involved as I can,” she said...

Neelyville R-4 held their annual Christmas Food Drive from Dec. 3-Dec. 18. All donated items will be given to the Neelyville Food Pantry to help citizens in the community. The grand total for all three campuses was 3,120 items. The class at each campus bringing in the most food won a class party. The party supplies were donated by Mr. and Mrs. Gary Parish. Neelyville R-IV thanked them for their generosity...

The Daily American Republic is going to do more than turn the page on the calendar this year to mark the New Year. We’re also unveiling a new website. The site is scheduled to go live Jan. 6. We’re excited for you to see the new look and improved experience at www.darnews.com. The address will remain the same. Once the site goes live, you’ll automatically be taken to the new page...

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the United Gospel Rescue Mission, where the staff is preparing for Wednesday’s traditional holiday dinner. While delivery boxes are being assembled, the Rev. Dr. Greg Kirk, is preparing at least 2,500 meals for Christmas and is cooking 100 turkeys to go along with the ham and other food. The mission fed almost 2,600 meals on Thanksgiving...

Missouri received a dubious Christmas gift from Mother Nature in 1924: A winter storm that snapped communication lines and brought train travel to a screeching halt.

BENTON, Mo. — An investigation by a Scott County special prosecutor has resulted in the federal indictment of a Sikeston man for the murder of Angela Mischelle Lawless. Lawless, 19, was murdered around 1 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, 1992, in the vicinity of the 80-mile marker, northbound exit ramp of Interstate 55 and Missouri Highway 77 in Benton/Scott County...

Without a dollar to spare, the Poplar Bluff City Council approved a balanced budget Monday evening for 2025.