Stories from Friday, April 28, 2017

For long time Fellowship of Christian Athletes Area Representative Bill Ray, last night's Southeast Missouri Home Team Banquet was his last. With an end of summer retirement on the horizon, Ray used the gathering as an opportunity to speak about the local history of the FCA...

Despite a flurry of social media rumors to the contrary, Butler County authorities say bullying did not play a role in a Poplar Bluff teenager taking his own life. County Coroner Andy Moore has ruled the death of the 17-year-old a suicide. The Daily American Republic is not publishing his name out of respect for the family and community in time of grief. He died about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Butler County...

Athletes from around the region challenged themselves in the spirit of friendly competition Wednesday at the Special Olympics Missouri Southeast Area spring games at Poplar Bluff Junior High School. The event, which has been held at the school for at least 15 years, gives local athletes overcoming physical and/or intellectual barriers a chance to compete in Olympic style track-and-field events for medals, recognition and just for fun...

The Bootheel United Zymurgist (BUZ) are inviting the public to come sample some of the best craft beers in the land for a good cause. The third annual Bootheel Beerfest and Homebrew Competition will take place noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, rain or shine, at the Ad Grotto, 3102 Kennedy Lane in Poplar Bluff. The event features music, tastings and food pairings from dozens of regional vendors and artisans...

Construction is expected to finish in the next two weeks on the first of what judges hope will be a series of security upgrades at Butler County Courthouse. County employees are building a new workstation for the family and probate court. This workstation will become the new entrance for the family court offices, which are located on the ground floor...

More police tickets needed I just read an article in Sunday's paper about the Speak Out issue up in Ellsinore about the cops writing the speeding tickets and everything. You know the city of Poplar Bluff I'm proud to live in but they say that this city is hurting for money and could try to always get more funds from other entities. ...

To the Editor, I would like to issue a heart-felt thank you to those who volunteered their time for the Buff up the Bluff project of 2017. The city-wide clean up filled 20 dumpsters with unwanted items from Poplar Bluff residents. Volunteers also completed 180 pickups from the homes of elderly citizens...

Having turned professional, Carr Vernon won't be rolling in putts on the greens at Westwood Hills Country Club this weekend at the 71st annual Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational. At least not during the two-day tournament, which begins Saturday. The two-time Ozark champion is preparing for his next qualifying event, trying to climb the professional ranks. He said Wednesday the greens at Westwood Hills are "rolling really smooth."...

DEXTER, Mo. - Herman "Jack" Jackson, son of the late Herman R. Jackson and Erma L. Hamilton Jackson was born on October 22, 1936 and departed this life on April 27, 2017 at the Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 80...

Beverly Ann Beck Pace, 66, of the Poplar Bluff and St. Louis, Mo. area, passed away on April 25, 2017 at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. She was married to Jim Pace. He preceded her in death. Survivors include one son; Quentin Pace and one daughter; Nikki Pace both of St. ...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN "You all start with the premise that democracy is some good. I don't think it's worth a damn. Churchill is right. The only thing to be said for democracy is that there is nothing else that's any better. ... "People say, 'If the Congress were more representative of the people it would be better.' I say Congress is too damn representative. It's just as stupid as the people are, just as uneducated, just as dumb, just as selfish."...

By GEORGE F. WILL WASHINGTON -- In his first annual message to Congress, John Quincy Adams, among the most experienced and intellectually formidable presidents, warned leaders against giving the impression that "we are palsied by the will of our constituents." In this regard, if in no other, the 45th president resembles the sixth...

Betty Winder Hodge, age 89, of Cadiz, Kentucky, passed away Thursday, April 27, 2017 at Shady Lawn Nursing Center in Cadiz. Mrs. Hodge was a homemaker and former co-owner and operator of Handy Korner Market in the Rockcastle community of Trigg County. She had been an active member of the TOPS Club and was a member of Princeton General Baptist Church in Princeton, Kentucky...

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- The highest court in the United Methodist Church considered Tuesday whether to invalidate the election of the denomination's first openly gay bishop, amid a struggle to avoid schism over the Bible and same-sex relationships. The challenge was filed last year to the election of Bishop Karen Oliveto, who is married to another woman. ...

Wilburn Lloyd Duncan, 90, of Poplar Bluff, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at his residence. Mr. Duncan, son of the late Obidiah and Stella (Holoman) Duncan, was born September 8, 1926 in Hickory Ridge, Arkansas. He was a loving husband, father, grandpa, and great-grandpa and will be dearly missed...

Marie Boxx quilt correction A photo that ran in the April 21 edition showed Marie Boxx with a quilt constructed of patchwork depicting each county and making up the State of Missouri. The caption said that Boxx and the ladies at First Baptist Church did the quilt. Actually, the patchwork forming the state was done by Boxx...

The 71st annual Tom Hoover Ozark Invitational may turn into a soggy mess this weekend at Westwood Hills Country Club. With rain in the forecast both days, the 128-player field will be tested starting Saturday morning. "Golf is a game that's played outside," said Jimmy Vernon, tournament director. "Weather is just something you have to deal with. Obviously we can't play if it's detrimental to the players...

After suffering their first loss of the season to Notre Dame last week, the Poplar Bluff tennis team returned the favor. The Mules swept doubles play with a comeback by Adeesh Mishra and Brett Keele to hand Notre Dame its first loss 7-2 Thursday. "Happy with everybody's efforts and the different result this time out," Mules coach Charles Harper said...

The Lady Raiders put in a long day Thursday. And then they got on the bus for a four-hour drive. Three Rivers and Crowder were supposed to play their season finale doubleheader on Wednesday. With heavy rains in the forecast, they decided Tuesday to cancel the games...

The Three Rivers Endowment Trust recently recognized two of its volunteers for exceptional service and support. Margaret Orlando and Brad Thielemier were honored with the inaugural "Friend of the Endowment Trust Award." "Margaret and Brad are two great examples of how people can give back and support Three Rivers without opening their wallet," said Michelle Reynolds, director of development at Three Rivers College. ...

ELLSINORE -- Kody Orchard dropped down a bases-loaded squeeze bunt to give the East Carter baseball team a 1-0 walk-off win over Eminence in eight innings Thursday. Hunter Berry, Corby Seib and Drew Asher, who schored the winning run, had the only other hits for East Carter (10-3). Asher also went the distance on the mound, striking out eight and only allowing three hits...