Stories from Monday, May 11, 2015

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Two Muskegon County, Mich., technology companies claim Information Systems Intelligence had an unfair advantage when receiving government contracts. While working as chief financial and technology officer for Muskegon County, Heath Kaplan allegedly warned competing technology company Corlnet it could no longer do business with the county if it chose to pursue legal action against ISI...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor Children are the most valuable asset you'll ever have, said Ellsinore mother and retired teacher Denise Thompson. Thompson and her husband, Rawland, have six children and 19 grandchildren, with number 20 expected in August...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer The Daily American Republic has received documentation showing City Manager Heath Kaplan signed a promissory note in 2012 to repay a loan from Information Systems Intelligence owner Ryan Leestma. Kaplan was chief financial and technology officer with Muskegon County at the time...

From Staff Reports Love, moral compass, honor and blessing are a few of the words, Denise Thompson's family uses to describe the mother of six and grandmother to 19. Her husband of 36 years, Rawland, says, the love of his life, "has been my moral compass.. Her compassion and ability to forgive makes me want to be a better person. I don't know how I'd get along without her."...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Butler County authorities continue their search for an inmate who walked away from the jail Thursday afternoon while he was taking out the trash as part of his work duties as a "downstairs trusty." Jeremy Allen Hicks, 25, of Fisk was discovered missing from the Butler County Justice Center by David Light, the jail's administrator, according to Deputy Brian Kearbey's report...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A group of Poplar Bluff police employees have been putting their carpentry skills into action as they continue to transform a former store into their soon-to-be new home. The police department is expected to move into its new temporary home at 1111 Poplar St. sometime this month. It is expected to remain there 18 to 24 months...

You can parade your pooch and have lots of inexpensive fun on Sunday afternoon, May 17. That's when the Animal Welfare Alliance is holding "Bark in the Park," from 2 to 5 p.m. at Hendrickson Park in Poplar Bluff. Dog training demonstrations, vendors, a pet parade and goofy pet contests like dog/owner look-alike, best-dressed and funniest-trick competitions are on the agenda...

Where's pride [mail] Where is the pride? The parking lot at the Poplar Bluff Square is appalling. You would think the owner would have more pride in the appearance of his property. The pot holes are worse than riding down a gravel road. The entrance to the shopping area and the US Bank is beyond description. If the customers of the bank and the shops would stop shopping there, then the owners of the stories would complain to the property owner to have the parking lot resurfaced...

We hear it talked about all over town. The subject: City Manager Heath Kaplan's apparently cozy relationship with ISI, a computer technology firm from Michigan. At Kaplan's urging, the city council has approved spending millions of dollars with ISI. The spending, which began even before Kaplan's arrival, has raised eyebrows and lots and lots of questions. Some citizens even speculate the possibility that the dealings might not be all kosher...

Editor's Note: Sara Smith Jones shared the following story about her life with Becky Hill, a correspondent with the Doniphan Prospect-News, for the Sunday Extra Section of the Daily American Republic. Mrs. Jones died Thursday morning. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Central Baptist Church...

Taren Jackson and Denny Cates of Corning, Ark., announce the engagement of their daughter, Chasidy Michelle Cates, also of Corning, to Tyler Ray Darnell of Poplar Bluff. Jeff and Monda Darnell of Poplar Bluff are the parents of the bridegroom-to-be...

Sandra Davis of Fisk and Larry Davis of Scott City announce the engagement of their daughter Larra Lynn Davis to Zachary Tubb, son of Kristi Tubb of Poplar Bluff. Davis is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and is employed by Poplar Bluff schools...

Donald Miller ELLSINORE, Mo. -- Donald "Don" Ray Miller, 78, of Ellsinore died Friday, May 8, 2015, at his home. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Monday at McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Mike Miller officiating. Burial will be in the Carson Hill Cemetery...

Mariece Bruce FISK, Mo. -- Mariece Bruce, 83, of Moscow Mills died Saturday May 9, 2015, at St. Joseph Hospital West in Lake Saint Louis. Arrangements are pending with White-Sanders Funeral Home at Fisk. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.whitesandersfuneralhome.com...

Jacqueline Marie Sweatt PUXICO, Mo.--Jacqueline "Jackie" Marie Sweatt, 78, of Wappapello, went home to be with her Lord Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at St. Francis Medical Center. Mrs. Sweatt was born March 27, 1937 in St. Louis. She was retired from Wayne County Court House where she was a dispatcher for Wayne County Sheriff's Department. Mrs. Sweatt enjoyed cooking, going to auctions, spending time with her family and friends, and taking care of her "Fir-babies."...

Mildred Mallory Clark Mildred Mallory Clark, 94, of St. Louis died Tuesday, April 21, 2015, at her home. She was born Feb. 22, 1921. She was the great-granddaughter of one of Poplar Bluff's original settlers, John H. Souders, who was sheriff and county clerk for Butler County in the late 1800s. Although born in St. Louis, her heart was always in Poplar Bluff...

Dolly Vinson Dolly Clarabelle (Wheeling) Vinson, 75 of Poplar Bluff, passed away Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at her residence. Ms. Vinson was born Dec. 23, 1939 in Hendrickson, Mo. to the late Bert and Clara (Allen) Wheeling. After graduating from PBHS in 1957, she owned and operated Popular Beauty Shop on S. Main St. for many years with her sister, Dorthea Wheeling. She later retired from Poplar Bluff Regional Center, where she enjoyed assisting the handicap and the mentally disabled...

Sweety Belle Buhler NELLYVILLE, Mo. -- Sweety Belle Buhler, 83, Poplar Bluff died Friday, May 8, 2015, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born May 24, 1931, at Harviell. Her hobbies were quilting, flowers, enjoying her grandchildren, cooking and her church. She was a Sunday school teacher and a member of the Harviell Pentecostal Church. A homemaker, Mrs. Buhler was a lifelong resident of the area. She married Lawrence Buhler March 24, 1948 in Poplar Bluff and he survives...

Rose Marie Fuechtman WILLOWBROOK, Ill. -- Rose Marie Fuechtman (nee Niederkorn), 80, of Aurora, Ill., died Thursday,, May 7, 2015, at the Edward's Hospital in Naperville, Ill. She was the beloved wife of the late Roman Joseph Fuechtman. Loving mother of Linda Fuechtman, Barbara Ingold (Barry), and David Fuechtman (Peggy). ...

By BARBARA ANN HORTON News Editor You have an emergency with your automobile, what should you do? The mechanic says preventive maintenance could have saved the repair bill. Just what is preventive or the basic maintenance, you ask? Jenny Hillis Fears and Ryan Decker, both of Larry Hillis Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, will teach the basic maintenance needs of a vehicle and what to do in an emergency at the Women Aware Luncheon at noon Thursday in the Grand Ballroom at the Holiday Inn...

JACKSON -- When they were freshmen, Poplar Bluff's seniors helped the Lady Mules edge Jackson by two points for the SEMO North Conference championship. Heading into the final race Friday -- the mile relay -- there was no doubt that Poplar Bluff would cruise to the title...

Rachel Davis PUXICO, Mo. -- Rachel Davis, daughter of the late Orville B. and Rosa Parilee Hollis Brady, was born in Collinwood, Tenn., on March 16, 1929, and passed away at the Puxico Nursing Center in Puxico on May 9, 2015, at the age of 86 years, 1 month and 23 days...

JACKSON -- Poplar Bluff didn't have the most gold medals Friday in the SEMO North Conference championships, but the Mules ended up with the title anyway. By sweeping the sprints and finishing second in eight events, Poplar Bluff beat host Jackson 95-82...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Puxico man faces multiple felonies, including attempted assault of the Stoddard County deputies who were called to assist on the scene of an alleged domestic disturbance. Shon Anthony Sigmon, 42, of the 300 block of Buena Vista was charged Thursday with two Class C felonies of attempted second-degree assault on a law enforcement officer, two Class C felonies of attempted second-degree assault on a corrections officer, the Class D felonies of aggravated stalking and attempted escape from custody and the Class C misdemeanor of second-degree sexual misconduct.. ...

Destiny Wallace has been one of the Poplar Bluff girls soccer team's biggest scoring threats this season. So when she intercepted a pass at midfield and weaved back and forth between four Farmington defenders before heading down the left side of the field towards the goal Friday night, the junior forward's fourth goal of the season appeared to be imminent...

FARMINGTON -- The rain washed away Three Rivers' momentum. Baziel Cabrera had just cut St. Louis' lead to one run with one swing when the tarp was pulled over Wilson-Rozier Park on Friday night. "I would have liked our chances if we could have kept playing," Three Rivers coach Stacey Burkey said...

DEXTER -- Jason Mattison and Chandler Young drove in a combined three RBIs in the bottom of the first inning to give the Bearcats the lead for good and help them to a 12-3 win over Twin Rivers on Friday. Dexter's Garrett Keathly hit a 2-run home run for Dexter (10-12) in the sixth and finished 2-for-4 with a team-high three RBIs...