Stories from Monday, November 18, 2013

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Although death is inevitable, there is nothing more devastating than the loss of a child. When Teresa Tiarks of Poplar Bluff, Mo. lost her son to cancer she was devastated. Her family was supportive. Friends responded in different ways. ...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Poplar Bluff school officials helped local authorities identify and arrest the teenager suspected in a strong-arm robbery, which occurred earlier this month at the Wal-Mart Supercenter. At about 6:15 a.m. Nov. ...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Area women are very happy Hobby Lobby is coming to Poplar Bluff, Mo. "We are looking to open in the spring. No exact date has been set. We are looking forward to becoming part of the community," said Vince Parker, a spokesman for Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor During the past seven years, Rob Callahan and his wife, Donna, have traveled 24,000 miles between Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Washington, D.C., taking World War II veterans to see the World War II Memorial. "I'm thrilled we get to take them," the U.S. Air Force retiree said following their 12th trip in early November. "We have taken close to 400 veterans."...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Thank you God, teenager Hannah Patterson prayed, for every hand that helped pack the shoebox presents which will be distributed to needy children through Operation Christmas Child. Patterson stood with about 20 youth, heads bowed, hands resting on a pile of red and green cardboard packages...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Fortunately, most of the area served by the Daily American Republican escaped the brunt of the severe storms that moved across Southeast Missouri Sunday, but high winds downed tree limbs, causing 1,000 customers in Wayne and Stoddard counties to lose power...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Since he was 12 years old, Buddy Godwin has been "swinging the wrenches" on a golf course. "It's been my passion," he said, "and I've been fortunate enough to play all over the country." Godwin's golf career began when he started caddying for other golfers at the Westwood Hills Country Club, a short distance from the farm he was raised on, while getting in a round when he could...

By SAMANTHA KLUESNER SEMO News Service MORLEY, Mo. -- Severe weather swept across the region Sunday afternoon, causing extensive damage in Scott County, where storms destroyed a seed store and mobile homes in Morley; toppled a grain bin near Oran, Mo.; knocked out power to the sheriff's department; and caused damage in other areas east of Benton, Mo...

Sticker shock Here's a little something few people are paying attention to, but the inaction of our Congress has caused a sudden spike in a commodity that nearly every home uses. And, no, I'm not talking about gasoline. I'm talking about something as simple as milk. ...

Sarah Elizabeth Gray of Jackson, Mo., and Benjamin Ralph Paynter of Poplar Bluff, Mo. were married Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, at the First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The Rev. David McCormack performed the double-ring ceremony. The bride was given in marriage by her father...

By ALEX WEST Staff Writer Nora Deprow of Poplar Bluff, Mo., was three when her mother gave her and her two sisters up for adoption. For 57 years, she has treasured a baby book left for them with a mother's message of love and regret. "I didn't give you up because I didn't want and love you. I did it because I love you and wanted to protect you."...

Gladys Inman Gladys Louise Inman, 80, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Friday, Nov. 15, 2013, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Inman was born June 6, 1933, in Thebes, Ill., to Ralph Carmi and Alma Sowders Robison. They preceded her in death...

Vernie Cates DONIPHAN, Mo.--Vernie Ardella Cates, 102, of Doniphan, died Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013 at the Southeast Health Care of Ripley County. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Sunday at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services for Mrs. Cates will be at 11 a.m. Monday in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Hubert Payne officiating. Burial will be in the Johnston Chapel Cemetery...

Kinsey Parkey, the daughter of Bryan and Lisa Parkey, has been selected to represent the fourth grade as student of the month for September for O'Neal Elementary. Parkey is a student in Karmen Carson's class. She was chosen because she is an excellent student who always strives to do her best. Her favorite subjects are social studies, art, music, math and spelling. She tries to be a friend to everyone. The students in Mrs. Carson's class value Parkey as a class leader and trusted friend...

By SHARON RANDALL Scripps Howard News Service It's not like we need an excuse to get together. Especially if it involves food, as it always does. But this time, besides eating, my family had several good reasons to gather. The best reason? It wasn't a funeral...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER "Even if it takes a change to the law, the president should honor the commitment the federal government made to those people and let them keep what they got." -- Bill Clinton, Nov. 12 WASHINGTON -- So the former president asserts that the current president continues to dishonor his "you like your plan, you can keep your plan" pledge. And calls for the Affordable Care Act to be changed, despite furious White House resistance to the very idea...

Ronald Golden Ronald Golden, 68, Wappapello, Mo., died Friday, Nov. 15, 2013 at Degreeff Hospice House in St. Louis, Mo. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service.

Eric Summers Eric William Summers, 32, of Oceanside, Calif., formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013, at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Funeral arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff.

By CAROLYN SMITH Staff Writer Walk into the Oakdale Care Center on Debbie Lane during one of the exercise classes and you will most likely see 105-year-old Hattie Bilbrey, formerly of Shook, Mo., participating from her wheelchair in the back row. If you ask if she enjoys exercise, she replies, "Once in a while."...

SHO-ME band chili supper Fri. The SHO-ME Band Chili Supper will be held at 6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 22 at the 5th & 6th Grade Center. Tickets are $5 each. Menu included; bowl of chili or chili dog, peanut butter sandwiches and drink. There will also be a bake sale and a 50-50 raffle. To-go orders will be available. Please provide container for take-out...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The State Department said Friday that it has been quietly offering rewards since January of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any person involved in last year's attack on a US diplomatic compound in Libya. The announcement ends weeks of Obama administration silence on questions about whether it was using all available means to catch the attackers...

Ten games into the season, Tyler Hansbrough is still getting acclimated to playing with new teammates in a new city. "Actually, the transition has been much smoother than you would think," said Hansbrough by phone Thursday afternoon after practice in Toronto...

SEDALIA -- Three Rivers kept things together just enough late to scrape out its fourth win of the season. The Lady Raiders went 1-for-12 and committed five turnovers in the final eight minutes against Independence on Friday in their first game of the State Fair Classic, but still managed to hold on long enough for an 82-78 win...

PARK HILLS -- Forty percent has been the magic number for the Three Rivers Raiders through six games this season. When teams shoot worse than that, Three Rivers wins. When they shoot better, Three Rivers loses. The Raiders led wire-to-wire Friday, beating Wabash Valley (Ill.) 75-60 in the first of two games in the Bob Sechrest Classic at Mineral Area...

Hilda Bergene Hilda D. Bergene, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. The arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cotrell Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff.

Jim Collins PIEDMONT, Mo. -- James Hartford "Jim" Collins, 77, of Piedmont died Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013, at his residence in Piedmont. Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. today at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. Services will follow at 2 p.m. Tuesday also at the chapel in Piedmont. Burial will be in Annapolis Cemetery...

PARK HILLS -- In his 44th season, Three Rivers coach Gene Bess is still adding accomplishments to his resumé. "I don't think anybody has ever beaten John A. Logan twice in one week, I know we haven't," he said. After beating John A. Logan (Ill.) 67-59 on its home court Tuesday, the Raiders made their free throws late to win 74-71 Saturday in the Bob Sechrest Classic at Mineral Area College...

Margaret Alexander CAMPBELL, Mo. -- Margaret Theresa Stenger Alexander, 97, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013, at her residence. Mrs. Alexander, daughter of Fredrick and Theresa Ressman Koeller, was born Nov. 1, 1916, in Glennonville, Mo...

Ronald Golden WAPPAPELLO, Mo. -- Ronald G. Golden, 68, of Wappapello, formerly of St. Louis, Mo., passed away Friday, Nov. 15, 2013, at de Greeff Hospice House in St. Louis. Mr. Golden was born May 4, 1945 in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was a member of Tower Grove Baptist Church and had retired from the Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. ...

Qulin Elementary has announced its first quarter honor and merit rolls for the 2013-2014 school year. Honor Roll First Grade: Alexis Armes, Kendell Austin, Austin Birchfield, Madison Butler, Reese Crismon, Sophia Galloway, Gene Kinney, Thomas Martin, Aidan Miller, Reagan Null, Bryer Osgood, Autumn Tanksley, Jesse Thurner, Layla Tompkins, Elias Trout, Emma Vancil, Karissa Welty...