Stories from Friday, June 19, 2015

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Poplar Bluff electric department consistently keeps the lights on, achieving one of the highest reported levels of service reliability among more than 60 members of Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma. The Poplar Bluff utility was recognized with an award for its reliability during MESO's annual convention. MESO represents cities in Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Highway PP will be reduced to one lane while contractor crews build a roundabout at the Township Line intersection, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. Construction began Wednesday and will continue from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Nov. 15...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer They buzz. They bite. They leave behind itchy, red welts. Poplar Bluff's other season -- the mosquito months -- is upon residents. City officials rolled out an improved program this week they hope will make a visible -- and itch-free -- difference...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor The state dismissed the charges against a Broseley man who had been charged in connection with the April shooting death of another man inside a Cynthia Street apartment. The case was "dismissed because of insufficient evidence in that Walter (Lee) Currie (Jr.) appeared to be acting in self defense," said Butler County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Paul Oesterreicher, who dismissed the charge Monday, the same day the 21-year-old was supposed to appear for a preliminary hearing in his case.. ...

The following students at the University of Missouri were named to the spring 2015 Dean's List. Each school and college at the University of Missouri determines those students who are named to the list based on unique criteria. Advance John Middleton, Senior...

Danny Williams, 40, of Poplar Bluff, was arrested at 2:05 p.m. Friday in the 400 block of Fifth Street on suspicion of burglary and possession of a controlled substance. He was booked at the Butler County jail. _ Nick J. Patten, 47, of Poplar Bluff, was arrested at 8:52 p.m. Friday in the 700 block of Dewey on suspicion of stealing over $500. He was booked at the Butler County jail...

Don't eat the pricey eggs Hello, Speak Out. This is Saturday, June 13th. The morning news is on. News people just said because of the bird flu the price of eggs had gone up 12 percent. The only thing I can figure is the people on CBS don't know how to use a calculator because the stores that I frequent in Poplar Bluff eggs up well over 100 percent. ...

Don't believe everything you hear or see! Recently we had a call from a client about a new electric pressure cooker she had heard about on television. Well the experts at the University of Georgia's National Center for Food Preservation do not support the use of electric, multi-cooker appliances to make USDA-approved pressure canning recipes, even if the device features canning or steam-canning buttons or manufacturers' directions for pressure canning. ...

The photographs accompanying the Music Recital Friday article on page 7A of the Wednesday Daily American Republic were misidentified. The photos of Brooks Propst of Dexter and Dana Ziomek of Poplar Bluff were named incorrectly. The Senior Music Recital will be presented for the public at 7 p.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church. The DAR regrets the error...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN Thousands of U.S. troops safeguard the border of South Korea. U.S. warships patrol the South China Sea to stand witness to the territorial claims of Asian allies against China. U.S. troops move in and out of the Baltic States to signal our willingness to defend the frontiers of these tiny NATO allies...

To the Editor: I do not know how people 'sorta' figure out how the country's economy is going. I do that by the attendance of the major league baseball games. And I think our economy is in not too good of shape right now. Last year the attendance was way down. ...

By PETER J. PITTS The Philadelphia Inquirer A new federal report misleadingly estimates the cost of the Medicare Part D program at $103 billion. That figure is bunk. Nonetheless, it will give President Barack Obama more ammunition for his assault on Part D _ a program that provides affordable prescription drug insurance to 36 million seniors...

Dianne Carol Paul Dianne Carol Paul, 66, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Tuesday, June 16, 2015, at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mrs. Paul was born in Swartz Creek, Mich., on Feb. 14, 1949, to the late Jack Browder and Marvella Ballard Howe...

Glenda Sullivan PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Glenda P. "Granny" Sullivan 93, of Des Arc, Mo., died Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at Clarks Mountain Nursing Center in Piedmont. The visitation will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday also in the chapel, burial to follow at Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery in Brunot, Mo...

Kay Skaggs GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Kay Skaggs, 58, of Silva, Mo., died Tuesday, June 16, 2015, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. Visitation will be at noon Friday at Ruegg Funeral Home, Greenville. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. Friday also at the chapel in Greenville...

Ruby "Jane" Allen PUXICO, Mo.--Ruby "Jane" Allen, 66, of Puxico, passed away peacefully Monday, June 15, 2015, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. She was surrounded by those closest to her at the end of a battle with cancer. Born Jan. 31, 1949, in Piggott, Ark. ...

Bobby Lee Brown Born Oct. 28, 1925, Bobby Lee Brown was raised on Crowley's Ridge. In 1944, he married the love of his life, Jacqueline Jones Brown. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps becoming a pilot and later a test pilot. Upon returning from World War II, he and Jackie raised their family on the farm in Dexter, Mo. Later he became and Agri-Executive with MFA...

Betty Jane Monaghan Betty Jane Monaghan, 89. of Davenport, Fla., died Tuesday evening, June 16, 2015, in Davenport. Mrs. Monaghan was born Jan. 28, 1926, in (Independent City) Baltimore, Md. She was a member of the Methodist Church and retired at the Crossroads Homes of the Elderly in Davenport where she paid her dues. She volunteered to help the elderly on Disney World's property...