Stories from Friday, December 16, 2011

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Dexter, Mo., man now facing more than 60 child pornography charges had his case continued during a court appearance Thursday afternoon. Arlie Richard Lewis Jr., 26, was supposed to appear before Associate Circuit Judge Joe Satterfield for a preliminary hearing on the Class B felony of possession of child pornography and the Class A misdemeanor of possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Poplar Bluff R-I School District electric bills are expected to exceed budgeted amounts by nearly $100,000, after a 10 percent rate increase and higher than expected usage in the first five months of the school year, according to information presented Thursday at the monthly Board of Education meeting...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Poplar Bluff R-I School District expects to scrap plans this year and next for late starts that create teacher collaboration time following results from staff and parent surveys which overwhelmingly favor other options...

A website has ranked Three Rivers College as having the third-safest college campus in the state of Missouri, according to a press release from the institution. "We received word on Friday, Dec. 2, that StateUniversity.com, the leading website for college information, has released a new ranking of the safest colleges and universities in the U.S.," said college President Devin Stephenson in an email to the Board of Trustees...

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Operation Off Street, an outreach at risk after-school program, located at 425 Harper St. needs parent's child enrollments and volunteers. According to Helen Frye, Central Baptist Church, this is their second year. The program is designed to fit the child or children where no child is left out--not behind. ...

By SCOTT MOYERS SEMO News Service CHARLESTON, Mo. -- For more than seven months, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has worked to undo some of the damage it caused in May when three holes were blasted in the Birds Point-New Madrid levee. With work coming to a halt this week until warmer weather returns next year, corps officials Thursday met with farmers and local officials to discuss what looks to be a winter of uncertainty...

The Dexter Lady Bearcats are looking to get back to the top of the field at the Lady Royals Classic. Dexter won the tournament three straight times from 2006-2009 but Neelyville has won the past two titles. "There is definitely some good teams in the field and it is a tough tournament to win," Dexter coach Chad Allen said. "The girls have been working hard and have been improving...

PARAGOULD, Ark. -- Poplar Bluff's first road test of the season turned into a hard lesson for the Lady Mules. Poplar Bluff's offense produced a season-low point total by shooting 29 percent from the field in a 70-36 loss at Greene County Tech. "They really took it to us," Lady Mules coach Kirk Chronister said. "They played an outstanding game -- very aggressive defensivly, executed really well and shot the ball really well."...

BROSELEY -- Clearwater coach Darren Garrison challenged his squad early Thursday night in an Ozark Foothills Conference game. The Lady Tigers fell behind but battled back to earn the win over Twin Rivers, 58-52. "That's a big win for our program," Garrison said...

By REG HENRY Pittsburgh Post-Gazette People sometimes ask me what I do. That's easy. Like most other Americans, I attend meetings. Why, sometimes I attend meetings called to discuss other meetings. At other times, the meetings have no connection to much of anything...

Let's just do it! I'm speaking out about President Obama giving our tax money to support the gays and lesbians of the world. We pay good tax money so it can be spent in the United States and it is not being spent in the United States. I think the people of the United States knows what needs to be done in the 2012 election. People, let's just do it! This get this man out of office before he ruins the entire world. Thank you...

By REG HENRY Pittsburgh Post-Gazette My column today is about personal hygiene. And the Occupy movement. And Newt Gingrich. In short, there's fun for the whole family. It is also about how history keeps repeating itself, first as tragedy and second as farce -- as noted famously by Karl Marx, who occupied a large and possibly unhygienic beard and made a lot of trouble...

The Bowling Center on Highway 160 in Doniphan, Mo., will hold the sixth annual Bowling Tournament for Persons with Special Needs beginning at noon Saturday, Dec. 31. The event provided two free games of bowling, free shoe rental, a free soft drink and cookies for each participant...

Altrusa International Inc., of Poplar Bluff has received a grant of $750 from Altrusa International Foundation Inc., of Chicago, Ill., for increasing the local clubs's literacy projects, particularly Santa Land. The money supplements the money raised locally by the club through its fundraisers. The local club distributes books to pre-school children and elementary age children...

The Agee Community Club met on Dec. 13, at the home of hostess Nadine Johnson. President Cathy Womack opened the meeting with the group repeating the club motto. Jacque Gallamore gave the invocation before a lovely meal of comfort foods. Jeanie Figgins read the Devotional from Luke 2:4-14. Roll call was answered by each lady reading a quip from Country Magazine that was written by Rural Pearl...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Listed here are a few of the needs children's charity Project Christmas Promise would like to help fill this holiday season. The Daily American Republic will continue to publish these lists between now and Dec. 25. Please contact AmeriCorps Project Manager Misty Dunkin at Poplar Bluff's Promise Volunteer Center if you would like more information about a family's needs, to adopt a family for the holiday or to help with some of a family's needs. ...

Thelia Harris PUXICO, Mo. -- Thelia Harris, 74, of Puxico, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011, at her residence. Mrs. Harris was born Sept. 4, 1937, in Wayne County, Mo. She was a lifetime resident of Puxico. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and was a homemaker...

Donald Johnson DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Donald Ray Johnson, 53, life-long resident of Bardley, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Johnson, son of J. W. and Betty (Hulan) Johnson, was born Nov. 13, 1958, in Galesburg, Ill. He was a self-employed sawmiller. Mr. Johnson was a member of the Twin Pines Pentecostal Church...

Karen Walker PUXICO, Mo. -- Karen Walker, 60, of Puxico, Mo., died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, at Puxico Nursing and Rehab Center. Mrs. Walker was born Dec. 10, 1951, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She previously lived at Aid, Mo., and was a homemaker. She was a member of Liberty Hill Baptist Church...

Charmane Politte GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Charmane Politte, 54, of Silva, Mo., died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center, Cape Girardeau, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Homes of Greenville, Mo.

Paul Prather MALDEN, Mo. -- Paul Edward Eugene Prather, 48, of Bernie, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011, in Jefferson City, Mo. Mr. Prather was born Oct. 22, 1963, in Crawfordsville, Ark. He was married to Mary Prather. She survives of the home. Also surviving are three brothers, Edward Kelly of Detriot, Mich., Williette Smith of Bernie and Eddie Smith of Malden, Mo.; four sisters, Jeanette Hatcher of Indianapolis, Ind., Paulette Cole of Marion, Ind., Barbara Thomas of Jefferson City, and Delores Fugate of Moberly, Mo.; and several nieces and nephews.. ...

Karen Walker -- Puxico, Mo. Donald Johnson -- Bardley, Mo. Charmane Politte -- Silva, Mo. Paul Prather -- Bernie, Mo. Thelia Harris -- Puxico, Mo.

The Dexter Lady Bearcats are looking to get back to the top of the field at the Lady Royals Classic. Dexter won the tournament three straight times from 2006-2009 but Neelyville has won the past two titles. "There is definitely some good teams in the field and it is a tough tournament to win," Dexter coach Chad Allen said. "The girls have been working hard and have been improving...

By REG HENRY Pittsburgh Post-Gazette My column today is about personal hygiene. And the Occupy movement. And Newt Gingrich. In short, there's fun for the whole family. It is also about how history keeps repeating itself, first as tragedy and second as farce -- as noted famously by Karl Marx, who occupied a large and possibly unhygienic beard and made a lot of trouble...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Listed here are a few of the needs children's charity Project Christmas Promise would like to help fill this holiday season. The Daily American Republic will continue to publish these lists between now and Dec. 25. Please contact AmeriCorps Project Manager Misty Dunkin at Poplar Bluff's Promise Volunteer Center if you would like more information about a family's needs, to adopt a family for the holiday or to help with some of a family's needs. ...

Karen Walker PUXICO, Mo. -- Karen Walker, 60, of Puxico, Mo., died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, at Puxico Nursing and Rehab Center. Mrs. Walker was born Dec. 10, 1951, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She previously lived at Aid, Mo., and was a homemaker. She was a member of Liberty Hill Baptist Church...

Paul Prather MALDEN, Mo. -- Paul Edward Eugene Prather, 48, of Bernie, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011, in Jefferson City, Mo. Mr. Prather was born Oct. 22, 1963, in Crawfordsville, Ark. He was married to Mary Prather. She survives of the home. Also surviving are three brothers, Edward Kelly of Detriot, Mich., Williette Smith of Bernie and Eddie Smith of Malden, Mo.; four sisters, Jeanette Hatcher of Indianapolis, Ind., Paulette Cole of Marion, Ind., Barbara Thomas of Jefferson City, and Delores Fugate of Moberly, Mo.; and several nieces and nephews.. ...