Stories from Friday, March 4, 2022

John Paul Carter of Ellsinore, Missouri passed away March 2, 2022 at his home in the arms of his wife and five daughters. John was born Sept. 11, 1936 to Cozy and Samantha Carter. He had attained the age of 85 years, five months and 21 days. On Nov. ...

John Everett Ritzman of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, age 48, passed away Jan. 29, 2022. He was born July 30, 1973, in Aurora, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his oldest brother, Tony Ritzman. He is survived by his son, Zion Everett Ritzman of Newnan, Georgia, and Zion’s mother, Suzanne Poole; his parents, Constance Cartwright of San Antonio, Texas and James Ritzman of Lake City, Florida; a brother, Brad (Brenda) Ritzman of San Antonio;and many aunts, uncles and cousins...

While Poplar Bluff has seen exponential growth in recent years, its police department hasn’t kept pace, according to those who have watched both the positive and negative impacts of that. With looming retirements, administrative staff are worried about how services could suffer in the future...

The Daily American Republic has partnered with the American Red Cross and is sponsoring a community blood drive Tuesday, Mar. 8, at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. The event will take place from 12:30 p.m. held in the chamber’s community room at 1111 W. Pine St. in Poplar Bluff...

The National Weather Service and State Emergency Management Agency are partnering to present Severe Weather Preparedness Week, March 7-11, with days dedicated to hail and wind, lightning, floods and tornadoes. Tornado Safety Day is Tuesday, March 8 and begins with a statewide tornado drill at 10 a.m., with outdoor tornado sirens and emergency alerts...

BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT Monica Lee Goodwin, 38, of Poplar Bluff, was booked at the Butler County jail Wednesday, March 2, on a failure to appear warrant for passing bad checks. _ Matthew Leon Helms, 34, of Poplar Bluff, was booked at the Butler County jail Wednesday, March 2, to serve 72 hour shock time...

POPLAR BLUFF FIRE DEPARTMENT Firefighters were dispatched at 12:33 p.m. Thursday, March 3, to 1109 Mary St., where smoke was reported. It was determined some limbs had been burned behind the house and the fire was out on their arrival. _ Firefighters responded at 8:41 a.m.. Thursday, March 3, to a motor vehicle accident at the corner of Kentucky Street and West Victor Street. Bystanders had the driver out of the vehicle upon firefighters’ arrival...

Local veterans have the opportunity to learn how to play guitar, but the experience gives them far more than musical skills. Lee Willard, a retired Marine Corps veteran and Certified Peer Specialist at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, leads the class in basic guitar instruction...

Team Action Wrestling of Poplar Bluff recently competed in the Missouri state AAU championships in St. Charles. Pictured are, from left, (front row) John Clausen (quarterfinals Midget Division), Kanten Livingston (third place Midget Division), Nash Ligons (second place Midget Division), Riley Knapp (fifth place Novice Division), Mason Proctor (third place Bantam Division), Gavin Edelman (quarterfinals Midget Division), (middle) Payten Edelman, Jackson Shatley (fourth place School Boy Division), Ryan Hopkins (fourth place Novice Division), Jaydon Eddy (fifth place School Boy Division, third at USA districts to qualify for regionals), (back) coaches Michael Clausen, Preston Edelman (first place School Boy Division), Jacob Ford and Steve Eddy; (not pictured) Austin Crismon (third place Midget Division), Levi Lacy (quarterfinals Bantam Division) and Matthew Dazey (quarterfinals Midget Division).. ...