Stories from Thursday, December 25, 2014

KENNETT, Mo. -- A Kennett police officer killed a dog after a pack of them charged him Sunday, the Daily Dunklin Democrat reported. Officers responded to the 1600 block of Bradley Street around 1 p.m. because of several reports of vicious dogs running loose and trying to attack people...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Eight deputies with the Butler County Sheriff's Department and their helpers delivered toys and a Christmas meal to nine children in three needy families Tuesday. Three-year-old Alissa Coldiron was jumping up and down with glee as three deputies, Bo Skinner, James Lewis and Chris Ridens and his wife, Shelly, carried in wrapped presents...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Mark Devault spent four years in the Marine Corps, serving as a combat medic in Vietnam. More than 40 years later, the Poplar Bluff, Mo., resident struggles with severe depression, due in part to his time in the service. He receives intensive, in-home help from VA mental health services...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Holiday wish lists have undergone dramatic changes over the years. To show how dramatically, the Daily American Republic spoke with a group of seniors about their Christmas gifts during a hardscrabble era and how they feel about the wish lists of today...

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) invite Missouri public, private, and home-school students in grades K-8 to help fight litter in the Show-Me State -- and to have creative and educational fun -- by participating in the 2015 "Yes You CAN Make Missouri Litter-Free" trash-can-decorating contest...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL Voters will have the opportunity to choose two candidates to serve three-year terms when they go to the polls April 7, 2015. The opening date to file for school board was Dec. 16, 2014, and candidates will have until close of business Jan. 20, 2015, to file their declaration of candidacy...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL Mike Radake of Van de Ven LLC was on hand at the regular monthly meeting of the Puxico Board of Aldermen Dec. 18 to discuss the city's audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014. "This year you're showing $934,386 as a total net position," said Radake. "Last year it was $959,000 so this year it decreased about $25,000."...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL Filing for the April 7 municipal election opened Dec. 16, and, as of Dec. 18, two incumbents will face off against an opponent. Incumbent Ward I Alderman G.S. Kilbreth filed his declaration of candidacy Dec. 17 in an attempt to retain his seat. Former mayor Doyle Mitchell also filed for the two-year term for the Ward I seat on the same day...

By MICHELLE L. VARVIL Members of the Puxico Board of Aldermen chose to change insurance providers during their regular monthly meeting Dec. 18. Alan Hedrick and Zach Hedrick of CountyWide Insurance in Dexter and Jackie Riggins of MHJ Insurance in Dexter were on hand to answers questions regarding their respective quotes for coverage for the city's buildings, contents and vehicle insurance...

The presents will soon be unwrapped, and people will begin taking down their Christmas decorations and hauling out those Christmas trees as another holiday season comes to an end. If you chose a real tree as part of your Christmas decorations this year, the gift giving does not have to stop. Mingo National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake are both accepting real Christmas trees for their habitat efforts...

Darrin Denbow COLUMBIA, Mo.-Darrin was born in Poplar Bluff, the son of Micheal and Sandra Sifford Denbow. He joined a brother, Devlin. Darrin attended elementary school in Mtn. Grove. Darrin was baptized at Trinity Methodist Church. Later the family moved to Centralia, where Darrin joined the United Methodist Church. ...

Maggy Bess Maggy Bess, 70, of Puxico, died Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, at her residence. She was the daughter of the late Nolan Travis and Virginia Williams Thomason. She was born in Harrell, Ark., on Nov. 28, 1944. Maggy had lived in Florida for 10 years and returned to Puxico where she has lived the past 18 years. She was a member of the Christian Church and most enjoyed spending time with her family. She worked for Mel's Diner in Puxico as a cashier...

It is Christmas time again, our Father, And we feel the urge to pray; May thy Spirit from within us give us the words to say... How grateful we are for Jesus Who came from heaven above, To redeem us from our lostness And fill our hearts with love. Peace on earth was promised,...

Editor's Note: The Puxico basketball team will play Bloomfield in the Christmas Tournament. By SCOTT BORKGREN Sports Writer BROSELEY -- With Puxico's post presence on the bench Dec. 16, Twin Rivers' post presence did whatever it wanted. Andrew Mittelstadt and Seth Snider both put up season highs in points against Puxico and the Royals won at home 74-52 Tuesday...

By STEVE CHAPMAN Anyone skeptical about entrusting ambitious tasks to the government was not stunned by the dismal rollout of the Affordable Care Act. It featured technical snafus, cost overruns and false advertising ("If you like your plan, you'll be able to keep it."). Things got so bad that President Barack Obama apologized and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius resigned...

Would rather have the DAR I certainly don't believe everything in the newspaper. There's a lot of things about it that I disagree with; however, I certainly would rather the newspaper be running this city than the city manager we have brought in here from the north...

By MICHELLE MALKIN Allow me to unite America's left, right and center in just three words: No, Jeb, No. Former GOP Florida governor Jeb Bush made the obvious official this week when he announced on Facebook that he's "actively exploring" a 2016 White House run. Of course, he's running. That's what inveterate politicians do...

Mid Continent Steel & Wire, Inc. has announced the retirement of its founder & CEO David Libla, effective Dec. 31. He will be replaced by 20-year veteran of Deacero Mexico, Fernando Villanueva. Villanueva assumed his new position as CEO on Sept. 15 and has been working with Mr. Libla...

With the holidays approaching many folks will be receiving gifts of food. What's a person to do when your boss hands you a jar of her grandmother's favorite pickles? What if Aunt Emma gives you a jar of her prize-winning jam? Occasionally I have been asked about how to check to see if the food gifts are safe...

A graduating class of 1,100 was awarded diplomas during Arkansas State University's 2014 fall commencement ceremony, Dec. 13, in the Convocation Center. Listed below are the local graduates and degrees awarded by town: Broseley: Dustin Thomas Pearson, Bachelor of Arts, Criminology;...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor Much to the chagrin of the region's sportsmen and women, it looks like a dreaded outdoor lull is in full swing. For waterfowl, deer and small game hunters, success has been particularly hard to come by lately, and even the fishing hasn't been all that great either. You can blame Mother Nature for most of it, too...

Lacey Midgett of Dexter, has received the President's Scholarship to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 2015-2016 academic year. Midgett is the daughter of Janis Midgett of Dexter, and will be a 2015 graduate of Dexter High School.

By CANDICE DAVIS Mo. Dept. of Conservation CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation announces Kara McSpadden has been selected as the new Private Lands Conservationist for the Dexter area. In this position at Dexter, McSpadden is assigned duties in Butler, Dunklin and Stoddard counties...

Although they are home for the holidays every year, the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament hasn't been easy for the host Wildcats. They've only enjoyed winning it all three times, which happened consecutively from 1964-66. This year in a wide-open field, the Wildcats were seeded seventh and are looking to get on the "right" side of the bracket...

BROSELEY -- After one bad half of basketball cost the No. 10 Clearwater Lady Tigers a chance to be in the winner's bracket at the Twin Rivers Lady Royals Christmas Classic, they made best of it. The Lady Tigers capped off the tournament Tuesday evening with a 80-49 victory over eighth-seeded Chaffee in the consolation final...

Deputies euthanized a sick dog at 4:16 p.m. Sunday in the 100 block of Windy Ridge per the owners request. The animal was having seizures and the owner was unable to attend to it, so he asked the deputies to shoot it. _ Jimmie Barker reported at 6:08 p.m. Saturday a utility trailer missing from his residence in the 4600 block of Highway 142...

Gordon Waggoner, Sr. DEXTER, Mo.--Gordon Waggoner, Sr., 93, of Bloomfield, died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014 at his residence. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Friday at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Curtis McClard, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in the Sycamore Cemetery in Bloomfield...

Fred L. Pierce, Jr. PUXICO, Mo.-- Fred L. Pierce, Jr., 56, of Puxico, died Monday, Dec. 22, 2014, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. The visitation will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Morgan-Sifford Funeral Home in Puxico. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. Saturday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Ray Placher officiating...

Earnest McCollom, 55, of Bloomfield, was arrested Monday on a probation violation. He was booked at the Stoddard County Jail. _ Michael Dill, 51, of Puxico, was arrested Monday on suspicion of theft. He was booked at the Stoddard County Jail. _ Rebecca Schaefer, 44, of Dexter, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance. She was booked at the Stoddard County Jail...

Lisa Shaffer Lisa Carol Shaffer, 52, daughter of the late Edwin Arnold and Clara Barton (Sweeney) Stucker, Sr., was born Jan. 8, 1962 in Poplar Bluff and departed this life on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014 in the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau with her family by her side...

Joyce L. Walsh KENNETT, Mo.--Joyce Lorraine Walsh, 90, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the Veteran's Home in Cape Girardeau County. She was born in Summit, S. D. on Jan. 20, 1924 and grew up in Southeast South Dakota. In 1944, she joined the WAVES where she was awarded the World War II Victory Medal and American Campaign Medal...

Teddy Dale BONNE TERRE, Mo.--Teddy G. Dale, 74, of Bonne Terre, formerly of Bardley, died at his residence on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014. Visitation will be held at noon Friday until time of service at 2 p.m. at the C. Z. Boyer & Son Funeral Home in Bonne Terre...

Tuesday, Dec. 23 Mega Millions: 04-10-31-56-66 Mega Ball: 7 Megaplier: 3 Next jackpot: $156 million Pick 3 Evening: 7-8-2 Pick 3 Midday: 8-7-5 Pick 4 Evening: 8-0-9-5 Pick 4 Midday: 0-7-9-4 Show Me Cash: 03-09-14-18-35 Next jackpot: $50,000...