Stories from Tuesday, March 14, 2023

The Neelyville High School gymnasium will be transformed into a ballroom April 1 for the annual Daddy Daughter dance. “The main goal of this event is to give our community an opportunity to get dressed up and make memories,” organizer Brandi Lumby said. “With this being our seventh year, we have actually watched little girls mature into young ladies. It is truly is a special event.”...

“Children are prized possessions” who need to be properly protected at all times, especially in vehicles, said Poplar Bluff Firefighter Josh Buhler. Buhler is among a trio of fire department car seat technicians. The others are firefighter Tyler Daggett and Lt. Andrew Fox. They agree child safety seats reduce the risk of death, but more than half of car seats are not correctly used or installed...

Poplar Bluff ophthalmologist Dr. Porter Smith was in a bad car wreck about three years ago. While he didn’t need a blood transfusion, he knows that many people do, and now he tries to donate every three to four months. Smith was among the donors who signed up Tuesday to participate in a community blood drive co-hosted by the Daily American Republic and the American Red Cross. The event was held at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce...

Jimmie Ray Middleton, 76, of Vulcan, Missouri, passed away Monday, March 13, 2023, at Parkland Medical Center, Farmington, Missouri. Visitation is at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 16, at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont Chapel. Funeral service following at 1 p.m., also in the Piedmont Chapel. Burial is in Sutton Cemetery, Vulcan...

Boys & Girls Club of the Heartland and Three Rivers College both plan to expand the collaborative Great Futures Program. The program brings high school students into TRC college courses at no cost, helping participants graduate high school with up to 18 college credits or electrical process technician certification, along with a chance at scholarships to Missouri State University. These technician jobs alone pay $40,000 to start plus benefits, explained Boys and Girls Club CEO Chris Rushin...

Poplar Bluff ophthalmologist Dr. Porter Smith was in a bad car wreck about three years ago. While he didn’t need a blood transfusion, he knows that many people do, and now he tries to donate every three to four months. Smith was among the donors who signed up Tuesday to participate in a community blood drive co-hosted by the Daily American Republic and the American Red Cross. The event was held at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce...

“Children are prized possessions” who need to be properly protected at all times, especially in vehicles, said Poplar Bluff Firefighter Josh Buhler. Buhler is among a trio of fire department car seat technicians. The others are firefighter Tyler Daggett and Lt. Andrew Fox. They agree child safety seats reduce the risk of death, but more than half of car seats are not correctly used or installed...

Butler County Sheriff Kenneth Harold Betz, 47, of Poplar Bluff, was booked at the Butler County jail at 1:45 a.m. Tuesday, March 14, for parole violation first degree stalking, second or subsequent offense. Cash-only bond was set at $5,000. _ Bradley Wayne Boone, 53, of Kansas City, was booked at the Butler County jail at 11:50 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, amphetamine or methamphetamine...