Stories from Wednesday, December 9, 2015

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer Despite the many complaints from residents about service issues, Poplar Bluff, Mo., officials said Monday they have little choice but to settle a contract dispute with the owners of NewWave Communications for almost $1.8 million...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is backpedaling its approval of a herbicide containing the same chemicals that allegedly sickened three people in the spring of 2015 near Wappapello, Mo. According to the Associated Press, the EPA announced in a court filing Nov. 25 that it had received new information from manufacturer Dow AgroSciences that a weed killer called Enlist Duo is probably more toxic to other plants than previously thought...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor This meteorological fall was warmer and wetter than September, October and November of 2014. Rainfall totaled 14.87 inches at the Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport which is the second highest amount in the past five years. The highest was 16.32 inches in 2011...

By PAT PRATT Staff Writer A 77-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran says a local non-profit has given him a reason to return to doing what he loves most - making quilts. Hermon Peaslee of Poplar Bluff may look a little out of place in the local sewing circle, but the retired technical sergeant has been quilting since childhood, a skill passed down from his mother...

Steve Tipton Steve Eugene Tipton, 59, of Wappapello died Dec. 1, 2015 at the Puxico Nursing Center. Services were held Dec. 4, 2015, at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk. Rev. James Tipton officiated.

Garrin Bonjour Garrin Bonjour, 12 of Jonesboro, Ark. was born Sept. 4, 2003 and passed away Nov. 23, 2015 in Arkansas. Garrin was a 7th grade student at Westside who enjoyed football, car racing and video games. He was a wonderful, loving son that will be greatly missed. Garrin was preceded in death by his brother, Tyler Bonjour and his grandfather, Greg Harris...

James "Star" Tanner James Thomas "Star" Tanner of Wappapello, son of the late Thomas Edward and Cora Blanche Ramsey Tanner, was born in Puxico on Oct. 18, 1923, and passed away at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo., on Nov. 29, 2015, at the age of 92 years, 1 month and 11 days...

Judy Chilton PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Judy Ann Chilton, 68, died Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, at Hillcrest Manor in Desoto, Mo. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday also at the Piedmont Chapel. Burial will be at Mt. View Cemetery...

Eugene Field Elementary School has selected its Students of the Month for November. Trenton Goodnight, son of Tony and Gary Goodnight, was nominated by his first grade teacher, Michelle Adams because he is an excellent leader in the classroom. He is always smiling and is happy when others are successful...

T. Rivers trustees meet Wed. The Three Rivers College Board will meet at noon Wednesday in the Tinnin Center board room. Agenda items include financial reports, bids, president's report, a new faculty promotion plan, personnel (employment, resignation, retirement, appointment), and policies on budget and financial processes, annual audit, budget preparation and adoption, banking and cash management, and college store learning materials...

Dorothy P. Carter DEXTER, Mo. -- Dorothy P. Carter, 90, of West Bloomfield, Mich., formerly of Dexter, died Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, in Detroit, Mich. Visitation was held Tuesday at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter. Funerals services followed at 1 p.m. with Pastor Rich Grayson of Hillsboro officiating...

To the Editor: As the end of my first year as the Presiding Commissioner of Butler County approaches, I along with the Butler County Commission would like to take this time to give some special recognition to a team of people whose efforts help make Butler County a better place to live for our families...

To the Editor: The SEMO United Blind Club would like to thank the Daily American Republic and Carolyn Smith for the excellent article regarding our White Cane Walk. The white cane walk was held in October in conjunction with White Cane Safety Day. We would also like to thank all of our sponsors and donors as follows: Mayor Absheer, Larry Kimbrough, The Lions Club, Harps, The Donut House, Larry Hillis Dodge, First Midwest Bank, Dr. ...

Herbert "Bud" Hash Herbert "Bud" Hash, 78, of Poplar Bluff, died on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Arrangements are pending with Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Online Condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com...

By GEORGE F. WILL CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Sen. Tim Scott, who evidently has not received the memo explaining that politics is a grim and bitter business, laughs easily and often, as when, during lunch in this city's humming downtown, he explains that South Carolina's Lowcountry is benefiting from what are called "halfbacks." These are migrants who moved from Northern states to Florida in search of warmth but, finding high prices and congestion, then moved halfway back, settling in South Carolina. ...

Margetta Pace PIEDMONT, Mo. -- Margetta Pace, 92, of Herculaneum, Mo., formerly of Wayne County, died Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, at Town and Country, Mo. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Ruegg Funeral Home in Piedmont. Funeral services will begin at noon Thursday also at the Piedmont Chapel. Burial will be at Towles Cemetery in Doniphan, Mo...

Margetta Pace PIEDMONT, Mo.--Margetta Pace, 92, of Herculaneum, formerly of Wayne County, died Monday, Dec, 7, 2015, at Town and Country. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Homes. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com...

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Dexter played Notre Dame to a stalemate for the first 28 minutes but lost ground at the free-throw line in the final four minutes Monday night. Notre Dame made 9 of 11 free throws in that span and finished 15 of 18 from the charity stripe overall...

Avaleen Hutson FISK, Mo.--Avaleen Hutson, 72, of Poplar Bluff, formerly of Broseley, died Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015 at Life Care in Cape Girardeau. Mrs. Hutson was born Dec. 17, 1942 at Poplar Bluff to the late Frank and Pearl Cade. She was of the Baptist faith. ...

Phillip Wayne Barcliff ELLSINORE, Mo.--Phillip Wayne Barcliff, 67, of O'Fallon, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015 at his residence. Visitation will be held for the public, 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, in the McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellsinore. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m., Wednesday at the Assembly of God Church with Rev. Scott Reynolds officiating...

Melvina MaeElla Johnson Melvina MaeElla Johnson, 92, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015 at her home. Mrs. Johnson was born Feb. 9, 1923, in Poplar Bluff, to the late James and Marjorie (Ferby) Cleveland. She was a member of Central Baptist Church. She enjoyed crocheting, canning, gardening, fishing and loved cooking...

Taylor Norwood says she was the 7-year-old who couldn't swim the length of the pool without grabbing the lane dividers. Now, the Poplar Bluff sophomore moves them with her wake. "When I was 7, I was just kind of there," Norwood said. "It was fun to go to swim meets, but then I got older and I kind of wanted to win my events...

Charles Kimbrell Jr. Charles Kimbrell Jr., 53, of Rombauer, Mo. died Monday, Dec. 7, 2015 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. He was born May 29, 1962 in East St. Louis, Ill. to Charles Kimbrell, Sr. of Collinsville, Ill. and Janice Pasnokot of Belleville, Ill. Charles moved here from Illinois 14 years ago. He was a member of the Rombauer General Baptist Church...

Jerry Davidson KENNETT, Mo. -- Mr. Jerry Dewayne Davidson, 79, of Kennett, Mo., departed this life on Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, at Campbell General Baptist Nursing Center in Campbell. Mr. Davidson was born Sunday, May 10, 1936, in Rector, Ark., to the late Vernon and Lita Lorene Mott Davidson. ...

Erin Bollmann got her first start of the season for Southeast Missouri State on Friday against Wichita State. The Redhawks won in overtime 66-62 and Bollmann finished with seven points and eight rebounds in 36 minutes. Bollmann's steal with a minute left in overtime set up Brianna Mitchell's layup that put the Redhawks ahead for good...

County retired teachers to meet The Butler County unit of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association (MRTA) will meet at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 16, in the Altrusa Room of Twin Towers. All retired teachers and school personnel are invited to attend this fun and informative meeting...

Judy Ann Chilton PIEDMONT, Mo.--Judy Ann Chilton, 68, died Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, at Hillcrest Manor in Desoto. Arrangements are pending with Ruegg Funeral Homes. Online condolences: www.rueggfuneralhomes.com