Stories from Friday, December 8, 2017

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Suspended Mississippi County Sheriff Cory Hutcheson was back in court Thursday for a pre-trial hearing. A trial for Hutcheson, who is facing first degree robbery charges, is set for April 2. The trial is expected to take five days...

The public is invited to a special celebration Saturday of the newly created Garfield Historic District. The district has been named to the National Register of Historic Places, following more than two years of work by residents and city officials. The event will begin at 4 p.m., on the grounds of Wheatley School building. The school is one of four structures that make up the district, which is in the 900 block of Garfield Street...

The Daily American Republic print edition is late today due to mechanical problems with the Poplar Bluff press. A free electronic version of the Friday paper will be posted to darnews.com. A subscription is not required to access this edition. Normal print editions of the Sunday paper will be available...

From STAFF REPORTS Students at Poplar Bluff Middle School are using their imaginations to combine creativity with practicality in a pop-culture inspired concept. Fifth and sixth grade STEM, or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, students have been designing new products using broken toys in an activity teachers Kimberly Davis and Cody Young are calling Santa's Workshop. ...

By ADRIANA COHEN Democrats are their own worst enemy. Instead of protecting the fundamental integrity of our democracy by allowing Bernie Sanders and the grass roots a fair shot at challenging establishment pick Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election, they engaged in dirty dealings at both the Democratic National Committee and Barack Obama's FBI, handing the presidency to Donald Trump...

By LEE H. HAMILTON One of the quirks of life in Washington, D.C., is that pretty much the only people who don't refer to lobbyists by that name are, well, lobbyists. They're "policy advisors," or "strategic counsel," or "public relations advisors," or lawyers, or even just "consultants." Whatever they're called, though, they play a huge role in making policy...

By STEPHEN MOORE Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson has caused a bit of a hullabaloo by complaining that small businesses don't get the benefits that corporations do in the GOP tax plan. Johnson has credibility here because he is one of those rare breeds in Congress who actually knows something about running a business, having done so for nearly 30 years...

FARMINGTON, Mo. - Doris Maxine Ridge, 74, died Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, at her Farmington residence. Memorial service at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, at Taylor Funeral Service Chapel with Rev. Scott Hall officiating. Burial follows at Hillview Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Farmington. Memorials to: Kindred Hospice...

Arthur Leon McGee, 90, of Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 at Cedargate Healthcare in Poplar Bluff. Arrangements are pending with Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

Pat Hente, 60, of Poplar Bluff, died Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2016. Arrangements are pending with Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Online condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

Garry Matlock, 63, of Poplar Bluff died Friday, Dec. 1, 2017 at his home. There will be a memorial visitation 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017 at Central Missionary Baptist Church, 1023 Alice St., Poplar Bluff, Mo. Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements...

DES ARC, Mo. - Nelma "Sue" McCormack, 69, of Des Arc, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017, at her residence. Visitation will be held Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, at 5:00 p.m., at First Assembly of God Church, Des Arc, Mo. Funeral Services will follow at the church at 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017. Burial will be at Three Rivers Cemetery near Farmington, Mo...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. - Donte Piroli, 87, of Poplar Bluff, died on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017 at his residence. Visitation will be held on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017 from 1-2 p.m. at Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Funeral services will be immediately following visitation at 2 p.m. in the Moore Funeral Service Chapel...

QULIN, Mo. - Howard Stanley Stevenson, age 90, of Qulin, Mo., died Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Mr. Stevenson was born Tuesday, Jan. 18, 1927 in Des Arc, Mo., to the late Glen and Ollie (Howard) Stevenson. Mr. Stevenson had worked as an Engineer for Terminal Railroad. He had served in the Army during the Korean Conflict. Mr. Stevenson was a member of Qulin Lions Club. He had also attended Fagus General Baptist Church...

DONIPHAN, Mo. - Larry Milburn, 69, of Doniphan, Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Visitation will begin at noon Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, at Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Bobby Ball officiating. Burial will be in the Mt. Olive Cemetery...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. - Leo Melvin Foust, 95, of Poplar Bluff passed away Dec. 6, 2017 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Foust was born Sept. 12, 1922 in Coon Island. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force and served in World War II. He enjoyed working outdoors and on the golf course. He worked in metal aircraft production...

Keirsten Keirsey doesn't normally start for Dexter, and she's never played the tall guard spot in the offense. She did both Thursday, and did both well enough to earn the Player of the Game award as the Bearcats beat Earle (Ark.) 52-44 in the Border Challenge at Poplar Bluff...

Thursday's game wasn't the best for the Lady Mules. They didn't communicate all that well, the didn't handle the ball all that well, passing could have been better, movement could have been better, but they still beat Oxford (Miss.) 48-37 in the Border Challenge at the Senior High Gym...

SIKESTON, Mo. - The seventh-seeded Dexter Bearcats made a late run in the semifinals of the SEMO Conference Tournament on Thursday night. However, the sixth-seeded Notre Dame Bulldogs and junior Dawson Dohogne held on for a 69-64 win to earn a spot in the championship game against Sikeston...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- The Chaffee girls basketball team didn't like the way things went down a year ago in its own early-season tournament, when it bowed out in a semifinal. This time around, the only acceptable outcome was playing for the tournament title...

LESTERVILLE, Mo. -- Clearwater knocked off state-ranked Lesterville 59-50 Thursday night. Tied at 33, the Tigers closed the third quarter with a six-point run and carried it into the fourth quarter for a 12-2 run against the No. 9 ranked team in Class 1...