Stories from Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Neelyville School Board candidate Preston Gill recently made allegations in the Daily American Republic accusing the R-IV's board of education of voting to increase taxes for residents in the district. The claim is unsubstantiated, as a school board does not have the power to manipulate the tax rate. After receiving inquiries from the public about Gill's statement, Superintendent Brad Hagood was contacted and verified this information...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer A decision on who should control Municipal Utilities was delayed Monday night at the request of outgoing Poplar City Council members, however an approximately $1.8 million electric meter project will move forward. In a 4-2 vote, council members chose to wait for a new council before proceeding with a request to create an autonomous board for the utility department...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man was arrested early this morning after allegedly firing a shot during a disturbance outside his ex-girlfriend's Kinzer Street home. At 5:44 a.m., Poplar Bluff Police Patrolman Zachary Tubb and other officers were dispatched to a report of a "unwanted guest with shots fired" at a home in the 900 block of Kinzer Street...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer Eugene Field Teacher of the Year Jessica Thurston has one of the most challenging jobs in education as an interventionist, but her colleagues say she meets each day with enthusiasm. Thurston began working as an intervention teacher for Poplar Bluff schools in 2009 and has served at several campuses during her career. In that role, she helps the most discipline and academically challenged students learn the basics...

By CHELSAE CORDIA Staff Writer As the saying goes, "the early bird gets the worm," but the empty poll booths in Poplar Bluff this morning suggest the early bird may be sleeping late. "Voter turnout is usually low in the April election," County Clerk Tonyi Deffendall said. "But we were hoping it wouldn't be this low."...

We are witnesses to an abuse of power by government that represents a test of our democracy. Anyone who fails to rally to the cause of the Americans victimized in this case should be discredited. Though I have not been shy about criticizing President Donald Trump when I think he deserves it, he is not involved...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- Under the dark gray cloud, amid the general gloom, allow me to offer a ray of sunshine. The last two months have brought a pleasant surprise: Turns out the much feared, much predicted withering of our democratic institutions has been grossly exaggerated. The system lives...

What if I told you your government was about to triple your monthly electric bill? President Obama's so called "Clean Power Plan" would have done just that - increasing electric costs and forcing coal plants in Missouri to close. Missouri residents get 83 percent of their energy from coal-fired power plants. ...

The Butler County unit of MRTA will meet Wednesday, April 19, in the Altrusa Room at Twin Towers. Superintendent Scott Dill of the Poplar Bluff School District will address the group. President James Barnhill will share news from the Missouri Retired Teachers Association. A scholarship recipient will be announced...

An Easter Egg Hunt will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Fisk City Park. The Easter Bunny will be present for pictures an activities. Attendance prizes will be given out including two new bikes donated by White Sanders Funeral Home and First Missouri State Bank. The Easter egg hunt is for children preschool through fifth grade. If rained out the hunt will be rescheduled for April 15. Participants should bring a basket. Adults must accompany children...

By DAR STAFF MALDEN -- Michael Anagnostopoulos hit a three-run homer to cap Poplar Bluff's six-run sixth inning Monday as the Mules beat Malden 13-6. Turner Fritts doubled and later scored on an error to break a tie in the fifth for the Mules, who scored all of their insurance runs in the sixth with two outs...

JACKSON, Mo. -- A weather delay couldn't keep the Mules golf team from claiming their first title of the season Monday at the Notre Dame Invitational. Poplar Bluff players were a combined 2-under par over the final three holes after turning to Bent Creek Golf Course...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- After starting the season 2-11, the Lady Raiders are a win away from .500. Three Rivers College swept MCC-Maple Woods on Sunday, winning the opener 8-6 and the nightcap 11-1, and is 12-4 in the last month since its rough start to the season...

Ruby Ward PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Ruby Ward, 89, of Mill Spring, died Friday, March 31, 2017, at her home. Visitation and funeral service were held Monday at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. Burial followed in Carson Hill Cemetery.

Violet Marie Snider PUXICO, Mo. -- Violet Marie Snider, 87, of Fort Worth, Texas, formerly Puxico, died Sunday, April 2, 2017, at the Remarkable Health Care Center in Ft. Worth, Texas. Visitation will be held from 5 - 7 p.m., Friday, at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Puxico with the Rev. Justin Miller of Puxico officiating...