Stories from Thursday, August 19, 2021

Twenty-three teams fished last weekend’s Current River Smallmouth Association tournament at Van Buren, with all but one team weighing a five-fish limit at the end of the day. The total overall weight of fish caught was nearly 178 pounds. Roberson and Sisco led the day with a weight of 11.21 pounds, followed by Barnes and Cooper with 9.82 pounds...

DEXTER — A 120-year prison sentence imposed on a man in relation to a string of burglaries and arson fires was upheld after a lengthy legal battle Wednesday. Edward Lusk was originally sentenced to 120 years in prison in August 2017 after being convicted in relation to a string of incidents in Dexter in the summer of 2016...

Like everyone last year, Dave Elledge watched the Difference Makers online from home. Until his internet went down. By the time he was able to resume watching, Elledge was about 10 minutes behind the live feed. One of 10 finalists for Difference Maker of the Year 2020, Elledge started getting texts of congratulations from people watching...

Volunteers help make life in Poplar Bluff wonderful, local author and historical preservationist Kati Wylie Ray told the crowd at the Daily American Republic newspaper’s third annual Difference Makers event Thursday night. Using her favorite movie, the 1946 classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” to illustrate what life in the local community would be like with and without volunteers, “Sometimes, we all drive through our little town and get discouraged with the way things look,” Ray said. ...

The foster kids of Poplar Bluff received a boost Thursday in the form of a check from the Daily American Republic. The local chapter of FosterAdopt Connect received a donation of $7,450, which will help the organization continue its efforts to help area foster families...

On a crumpled piece of notebook paper, an anonymous woman wrote, “Whomever you are, you are truly something special… I can’t stop crying… just can’t put into words how much what you’re doing truly touches my heart…” The note was left behind at a drop spot where Michelle Hessling and those she has organized leave supplies for Poplar Bluff’s homeless residents...

The Daily American Republic recognized 20 Difference Makers — 10 each from 2020 and 2021 — Thursday at the Black River Coliseum for the impact they make on the community. This year’s finalists include: Brenda Allen with Habitat for Humanity; Alex Tinker, Dave Elledge, Laurie Coleman and Lisa Collins with Buddy Ball; Tom Burns, a volunteer recently retired from the Butler County Sheriff’s Department; Misty Dodson with the Poplar Bluff R-I School District; Michelle Hessling for her work on behalf of the homeless; Jason Matlock and RT McCain for their work with youth; Linda Nelson, a volunteer at O’Neal Elementary; the SEMO Honor Guard for its efforts to honor veterans; Jimi Waggoner with Crossroads Ministries; and Jim Ward with the Bread Shed.. ...