Stories from Thursday, March 16, 2017

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Long-time Poplar Bluff Junior High Principal Bob Case will retire at the end of the 2016-17 school year. "This is my 33rd year in education. I've had an unbelievably great career. Education to me is a calling, it is a passion, it is not a job. I love what I am doing, I just feel it is time for me to step aside, and take what we've done at junior high and take it to the next level," Case said...

James "Jim" E. Figgins -- Independence, Mo. Mary Inez Wells Siegrist -- Malden, Mo. James Willard Nations -- Nixa, Mo. Jerry Soens -- Farmington, Mo. Timothy Shawn Anderson -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Alice Leonard -- Poplar Bluff, Mo. Bob Becker -- Williamsville, Mo...

To the Editor: On March second at about 1:30 p.m., I was pulling on to 53 Hwy. from County Mart and didn't pull up far enough and drove off into the ditch. In just a minute a red flatbed truck pulled in with two men who were out and checking on me, I was terrified I was going to tip over onto the passenger side as I was holding myself up on the center console. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN At Mar-a-Lago this weekend President Donald Trump was filled "with fury" says The Washington Post, "mad -- steaming, raging, mad." The fuming president exploded with this tweet: "Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my 'wires tapped' in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!"...

By MONA CHAREN The cover image on iTunes for the Academy Award-winning documentary series "O.J. Simpson: Made in America" is a dripping glove in the design of the stars and stripes. It perfectly captures the message of the series -- the "trial of the century" was really a reflection of America's sins...

Cut over half of 'em Yes. This is in regards to "cutting home health is deplorable." What's deplorable is that over half of the people I know who get it are in their 30s and 40s and they have no problem on the first of the month taking their check to Walmart and all different places. ...

Championship contenders usually just don't happen. They're often built over a course of time. In the case of the Dexter girls basketball program, the Lady Bearcats' current situation started five years ago. Yet after a two-year absence in the MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown, Dexter is setting out to start a new path for the program and accomplish something no other team has done -- win a state title...

After a pair of disappointing finishes in their last two state tournament runs, the Dexter Lady Bearcats are back for a shot at redemption. With last Saturday's 81-63 thumping of Lutheran South, Dexter will head to Columbia this Thursday for another shot at the MSHSAA Class 4 championship for the third time in five seasons...

TAMPA, Fla., -- The Raiders' first big inning of the season and best offensive game of the year was sparked by a fake steal. Three Rivers College set new season highs in multiple offensive categories as it beat University of Tampa JV 21-8 on Tuesday...

Mary Inez Wells Siegrist MALDEN, Mo. -- Mary Inez Wells Siegrist, 96, of Malden, was born July 25, 1920 in Chanute, Kan. to the late David Samuel Wells and Noramanda T. Blanscet. She departed this life Thursday, March 9, 2017 at her residence in Malden...

Tammy Lynn Reed Tammy Lynn Reed, 50, of Ellsinore, Mo. passed away on Sunday, March 12, 2017 at her residence in Ellsinore. She was born on June 25, 1966 to Gerald and Shirley (Harris) Reneau in Columbia, Mo. She graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 1984...

Melba Brinkley PIEDMONT, Mo. - Melba Brinkley, 85, Mill Spring, Mo., formerly of Piedmont, died Wednesday, March 15, 2017, at Clark's Mountain Nursing Home. Visitation will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 17, also at the Piedmont chapel...

Mary Helen Morris Mary Helen Morris, 83, of Campbell, passed away on Monday, March 13, 2017 at General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell, Mo. She was born Oct. 29, 1933 to Frank McCullough and Voleen Duvall in Leland, Miss. Helen enjoyed reading, but especially loved spending time with her family...

Gary Thomas Benedict Gary Thomas Benedict, 77, of Doniphan, Mo., died Saturday, March 11, 2017, at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday at Current River Baptist Church in Doniphan. Online condolencess may be made at edwardsfuneralhome.org...

Bob Becker Bob Becker, 59, of Williamsville, Mo. died on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in Saint Louis, Mo. A full obituary will be published soon in The Daily American Republic. Visitation will be held from 4 - 8 p.m. Friday, March 24, 2017 in the Christian Life Center at the First United Methodist Church in Poplar Bluff. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 25, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church...

Alice Leonard CORNING, Ark.- Alice Leonard, 81, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away Sunday, March 12, 2017 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Mrs. Leonard was a homemaker. She was a warrior for Jesus Christ who loved reading the Bible, working crosswords and playing cards...

Timothy Shawn Anderson Timothy Shawn Anderson, 46, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. died Friday, Feb. 24, 2017 in Poplar Bluff. Memorial visitation will be held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at New Oak Hill General Baptist Church, Highway O, followed at 1 p.m. by a memorial service...

James W. Nations NIXA, Mo. - James Willard Nations, 85, of Nixa died at his home Monday, March 13, 2017. A visitation will be held from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, with funeral service to follow. Burial will be at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield, Mo. at 2 p.m. with full military rites. Arrangements are under the direction of Adams Funeral Home, Nixa...

James "Jim" E. Figgins BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - James "Jim" E. Figgins, 61, of Independence, Mo., died Sunday, March 12, 2017. Private graveside memorial service at the Missouri Veteran Cemetery-Bloomfield, Bloomfield. Jim is survived by his wife, Jeanie, sons; Michael, Mark and Eric...

By PAUL DAVIS Outdoors Editor One or two keeper crappies in a day of fishing sure makes an angler think he or she is wasting their time, and that's the sentiment heard a lot lately from those who fish for crappies at Wappapello Lake. The story is pretty much the same from everyone who spends time there...

By MIKE MCCOY Statesman Staff Writer BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The Stoddard County Commission voted 3-0 to pass an ordinance establishing a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) in Stoddard County at its regular meeting March 6. The county is the only one thus far in Southeast Missouri to adopt the program using a data collection system based in St. Louis County...

Joe M. Welch, 75, of Advance died Sunday, March 5, 2017 at his home. Funeral services were held March 8, 2017 at the Morgan Funeral Chapel in Advance. Rev. Eric Shrum officiated. Burial followed in the Morgan Memorial Park in Advance.