Stories from Friday, May 4, 2018

By WILLIAM H. NOACK In its recent report on college basketball, the special commission headed by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made several long overdue recommendations aimed at dealing with the sport's "crisis of accountability." But, wisely, it stopped short of suggesting that players be paid...

By DON KUSLER College athletics at the highest levels is a profitable entertainment business and too many athletes sweating and producing for the industry are exploited and under compensated. The system needs to change and an appropriate compensation arrangement should be enacted...

The dictionary defines purpose as "the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists." Some spend their entire lives searching for their purpose, but I believe all of our purpose can be summed up in something as simple as loving God and loving people. The very reason for which we were created is to worship God and make his name known and to love others with everything we've got...

FISK, Mo. - Quincy C. Dickey, 90, of Bonne Terre, Mo., died Thursday, May 3, 2018, at the Farmington Presbyterian Manor. Funeral arrangements are pending with White-Sanders Funeral Home.

Natural gas customers for Spire, formerly Laclede Gas, will see a rate change this month that could lead to some savings. The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved changes to the company's rate structure that are expected to reduce customers' bills approximately 5 percent, or an average of $2 per month...

Two Poplar Bluff R-1 Schools recently received national recognition for Capturing Kids Hearts, a program aiming to strengthen connections between teachers and students. Lake Road Elementary and Poplar Bluff Junior High are among four Missouri schools and 123 in the United States to be considered national showcase award winners. The schools were selected after program officials visited each nominated school to gather information about its implementation...

Ruth E. Scoggins, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, April 30, 2018 at Oakdale Care Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 14, at Living Word Baptist Church, with the funeral service at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 15. A complete obituary will be published in the May 11 edition of the Daily American Republic...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Frances Irene Headd, 94, formerly of Parma, Mo., died at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 5, 2018, at the Parma Cemetery, Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter is in charge of arrangements...

PIEDMNT, Mo. -- Gene Craig, 91, of Piedmont, Mo., died Saturday, April 28, 2018, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Center, Piedmont. The family will have a memorial service open to the public at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 6, 2018, at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church near Piedmont...

KENNETT, Mo. -- The City of Kennett has been in an uproar since the announcement came Monday morning that its hospital would be closing soon. Employees of Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center, along with several state and county officials, were in attendance at the City Council meeting, and expressed their concerns for the entire county, not just the City of Kennett...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo -- Scott County Prosecutor Paul Boyd said Thursday the Missouri Supreme Court did not acquit David Robinson and he could be retried for a 17-year-old murder. The high court's decision to set aside his conviction on the grounds he met the "gateway claim" of innocence does not mean he has been exonerated, Boyd said...