Stories from Thursday, August 15, 2019

The forecasted weekend weather says it’s still summer but most area schools headed back to classes this week, much to the chagrin of my son, Cooper and certainly many other students. Local college campuses are also set to open on Monday. Traditionally, I’ve always tried to lessen the first week of school dregs by scheduling a fun activity for Cooper and me to do the weekend after classes begin. ...

The annual Kearbey Chapel Cemetery lunch and meeting is set for Saturday, Sept. 7 on the church grounds. Lunch will begin at noon and the meeting will immediately follow. In case of inclement weather, the lunch and meeting will move to the Bethel Chapel Church on County Rd. 415...

City firefighters responded at 11:02 a.m. Wednesday to a report of a unauthorized burn at the intersection of Woodrow and Hays streets. According to the report, firefighters found property owner, Bruce Jenkins, tearing down an abandoned house and burning some of the lumber...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL Christopher M. Grubb, 30, of Fremont was arrested at 2:17 p.m. Wednesday on a Carter County warrant, a Jackson County warrant and on suspicion of no seat belt. He was booked at the Carter County Sheriff’s Department. _ Johnny Alfrey, 51, of Piedmont was arrested at 10:05 a.m. Wednesday on suspicion of resisting arrest, possession of fewer than 10 grams of marijuana and speeding. He was booked at the Wayne County Jail...

Emotions ran high at the Poplar Bluff Early Childhood Center on Thursday morning as older kids returned to school and parents dropped off kindergartners for the first time.

UPDATE: Changes will be coming to Briggs & Stratton’s location in Poplar Bluff, bringing more than 200 new jobs over time and a $15 million investment. Company officials told the Daily American Republic Thursday morning they are certain they will hire for 130 new jobs in Poplar Bluff over the next 12 months, with around 140-150 additional jobs in year two...

Students made their way onto the Qulin campus Thursday morning with a few tears and plenty of movement as Twin Rivers R-X kicked off the first day of classes.

DONIPHAN, Mo. — Craig Martin Cline, 47, of Doniphan, died Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16 in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Doniphan. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17 with Pastor Steve Sanders officiating. Burial will follow in the Hunt-White Memorial Garden...

BLOOMFIELD — A Dexter father appeared in court Thursday on child endangerment and abuse charges after his two young children recently tested positive for methamphetamine. Raymond Edward Hoppe, 55, was formally arraigned by Associate Circuit Judge Joe Satterfield on two Class D felonies of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and two Class D felonies of abuse or neglect of a child. Given the high level of methamphetamine the two children tested positive for, authorities say they believe each would have had to ingest the drug itself in some form.

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Duke Croy, 85, passed away on August 13, 2019 at his home in Poplar Bluff. He was born January 24, 1934 to W.C. and Thelma Lee Croy in Bonne Terre, Mo. Duke married the love of his life Maxine (Bennett) on Dec. 26, 1953. He was a graduate of Poplar Bluff High School and served in the U.S. ...

VAN BUREN, Mo. — Carolyn Kaye Daniels, 75, of Van Buren, died Thursday, August 14, 2019 in the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17 at McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. with Rev. Ross Marshall officiating. Burial will be in the Tedder Cemetery...

But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him. He granted him favor with the prison warden. Genesis 39:21 Every time I read Joseph’s story, it brings me hope. Joseph had it rough, to put it mildly. He was given a dream, and the ones he loved most rejected it most. He was thrown into a well to die by his brothers, then removed from the well and sold into slavery because it seemed more cost effective...

My grandfather, who I affectionately referred to as “Daddy Bill,” died in 1971 when I was a baby. I don’t remember anything about him, but I know him. I’ve studied pictures of his smile, actions on old videos and hobbies. I looked at one old black and white picture in which he was holding me as a baby a month before he died. He looked proud and the love he had for me was obvious. He was my hero...

**UPDATE VIDEO INCLUDED** Workers replaced the metal frame tower that sits on top of the iconic Rodgers Theatre marquee early Thursday morning. It’s the first step in work to replace the roof and eventually restore the exterior to the glory that made the Poplar Bluff location among the best of original owner Walter Rodgers’ chain.