Stories from Tuesday, June 20, 2017

STEELE, Mo. (AP) -- Another small earthquake has rattled parts of southeast Missouri along the New Madrid fault. The U.S. Geological Survey's Earthquakes Hazards Program says the earthquake with a magnitude of 2.7 rumbled at 4:26 a.m. Monday, centered near the small town of Steele in the Missouri Bootheel region. There were no immediate reports of injury or damage...

Levee repairs on the Black River in southern Butler County held less than 48 hours before failing Monday morning. The breach is expected to once again flood between 5,000 and 10,000 acres of home and farmland as the damaged area continues to erode, said Drainage District 7 board member Andy Clark, who spent Monday afternoon warning about 15 families who live in the area...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man preempted his trial by pleading guilty Monday morning to six felonies, including a murder charge in connection with the shooting death of a good Samaritan who had given him a ride. Joseph Wade Wisdom pleaded guilty to the Class A felony of second-degree murder, two Class B felonies of first-degree assault, two Class B felonies of unlawful use of a weapon and the Class D felony of unlawful use of a weapon before Circuit Judge David Jones, according to Butler County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Paul Oesterreicher.. ...

Changes in the process to receive federal flood recovery dollars will not hinder applications, according to some local officials. About 150 representatives of local and county agencies attended a briefing in Poplar Bluff Monday on Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance programs and other ways communities can receive help to repair or replace public infrastructure and buildings...

Poplar Bluff City Council members voted Monday to move forward with the issuance of approximately $11 million in additional bonds for developers of the Eight Points retail area. The money reimburses developers for certain land acquisition, construction costs, professional fees and financing costs for new businesses at the site...

Austin Tyler Varvell, 18, of Puxico, son of Robbie and Tammy Santos Varvell, was born April 4, 1999 in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and passed away at Baptist Health Center in Little Rock on, June 14, 2017. Austin had lived in Puxico all his life and was a member the Puxico General Baptist Church. Austin was in SCCLA & Rayni Day Miracle Club of Poplar Bluff, enjoyed watching movies, playing music and traveling...

In the early morning hours of June 14 - in the middle of a picturesque American backdrop - a gunman targeted Members of Congress and opened fire on a baseball field in Virginia where they were practicing for their annual charity baseball game. The shooting in Virginia was the second time in less than a decade that a member of the U.S. ...

Updates for Wappapello Lake includes dates road openings, information about sites, boat ramps and camping sites, as well as special events. The Pine Ridge Trail and Fish Cleaning Station are closed until Friday, June 30. This area is a construction site and off limits to the public. Repairs to Highway T is on schedule and it will be open by July 4th weekend, Corps officials project...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN President Trump may be chief of state, head of government and commander in chief, but his administration is shot through with disloyalists plotting to bring him down. We are approaching something of a civil war where the capital city seeks the overthrow of the sovereign and its own restoration...

Missouri Lottery players won more than $65.5 million in prizes during May. Of that total, there were more than $5.5 million were prizes of $1,000 or more. Winners of $1,000 or more from this area include: Pick 4 winners: Randall Renfro, Dexter, $6,500...

Three Rivers College has released its Spring Dean's List. Honorees are as follows Bollinger County Glen Allen Jennifer Cook Zalma Jimmy Casey Butler County Broseley Amber Hornbeck, Chelsey Mitchell Fisk Kira Cunningham, Dylan Heath, Mathew Pickard Harviell...

Robert Lawrence Stucker, 75, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Friday, June 16, 2017 at his residence surrounded by his family. Lawrence, the son of the late Clarence and Maggie Vandergriff Stucker of Poplar Bluff, was born June 6, 1942 in Poplar Bluff. He attended Agee Fellowship Church and owned and operated B & H Auto Electric for 45 years. ...

PHOENIX (AP) -- Airlines canceled flights in Phoenix and doctors urged people to be careful around concrete, playground equipment and vehicle interiors Monday as a punishing heat wave threatens to bring temperatures approaching 120 degrees to parts of the Southwestern U.S...

Larry J. Morgan, 74, of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, June 20, 2017, at his residence. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service and will be announced when completed.

It is time to mark your calendars for the 2017 Sifford Family Gathering which will be held the last weekend in July. The family will meet at the American Steakhouse in Dexter July 28 at 6 p.m. This will be a time to enjoy s good food and fellowship with family and friends...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. - Michael Fielder, 55, of Doniphan, Mo., passed away on Saturday, June 17, 2017. Mr. Fielder was born May 30, 1962 in Marmaduke, Ark. He was self employed, working as a painter/artist and was a member of the West Point United Pentecostal Church. He enjoyed art, fishing, hunting, woodworking and working on mowers and cars. On May 28, 1988 he married Pamela Gentry in Doniphan. She survives...

The members of the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church will be hosting a Sunday Singing the last Sunday of each month. Anyone and everyone is invited to attend. Bring psyour instrument, voice or just yourself to listen. A potluck meal will be served afterwards...

A special performance of the Freedom Winds quintet will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 2 at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. The United States Air Force Band of Mid-America ensemble will perform in the main lobby and the public is invited to attend...

The members of the Egypt Community Church will host Vacation Bible School at 6 p.m. July 10-14. Theme for this year's VBS is Play, Learn and Grow Together. There will be puppet shows, fun, music, snacks and prizes. Class ages range from 5-8, 9-11, 12-17 and Adult...

Mingo Wildlife Refuge officials announce a variety of upcoming activities. July 1 - Photography Hike, location to be determined. July 15 - Photo Workshop 9 -10:30 a.m., This event is part of the three part category featuring photography hikes, photography workhops,and a photo contest. The contest will be offered by the Mingo Swamp Friends. This workshop will focus on editing, printing, and matting photos...

Upcoming blood donation opportunities: Bollinger County: 2:30-6:30 p.m. June 28 at First Baptist Church, 502 Broadway in Marble Hill. Butler County: 2-6 p.m. June 26 Westwood Baptist Church at 419 County Road 5231, 2:30-6:30 p.m. July 3 at the Poplar Bluff Eagles at 1400 South Broadway and 12-6 p.m. July 7 at Sacred Heart Catholic School at 111 North 8th Street, all in Poplar Bluff...

VAN BUREN,, Mo. -- William "Bill" Whitson Wilson, 78, of Ellsinore, died Saturday, June 17, 2017. A visitation will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at South Van Buren General Baptist Church in Van Buren. Online condolences: www.mcspaddenfh.com...

On the last night of Jesus' earthly life he assembled the His beloved Apostles in an upper room of a friend to observe His last Passover with them. John wrote later, "Jesus, knowing the hour had come for Him to return to the Father, having loved His own, He loved them to the end." John 13:1...

The Missouri Baseball Coaches Association has released its 2017 All-State teams. Six players from the Daily American Republic coverage area received recognition across three different classes. Following an extraordinary season in which they reached the quarterfinals for the first time in program history, three Poplar Bluff players were named to the Class 5 all-state team. Prior to this season, only four Poplar Bluff players had been enshrined with all-state honors...

The Summer Reading Program at the Puxico Public Library kicked off in June and will end Friday, July 28, Library Director JoLeah Tettleton told the board recently at its quarterly meetings. Around $900 of prizes have been donated with all prizes being age appropriate to the distinct age categories, along with Bills Market donating refreshment for the Summer Reading Program Party. The party will be hosted Thursday, Aug. 3, at the Puxico Public Library...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Smith & Company, Engineers, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., has identified six of the most deficient bridges in Stoddard County at the request of the Stoddard County Commission. The bridges will be replaced using Off-System Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program (BRO) funds...

The first week of June held two of the biggest book conferences in the United States, and this year Puxico was put on the map thanks to local author Cari Barnfield Pointer. Pointer is the author of two children's books both with the theme of "Hey Mom." She premiered her new and second book, "Hey Mom, Can I Be Big?" in the series at the Book Expo in Manhattan June 1-2, and then premiered it again at Storybook Genius Publishing's Book Conference June 3- 4...

From Staff Reports Wappapello Lake businesses and residents are determined the flooding will not dampen their spirits for the area's Independence celebration. Trevor Williams of People's Community Bank updated plans and distributed brochures for the 4th of July Celebration (Independence Day Celebration) at the Wappapello Lake Area Association (WLAA) June 13 meeting at the Bill Emerson Memorial Visitor Center...

PUXICO, Mo. -- A Puxico woman remains in the Stoddard County Jail, charged with domestic assault and first degree property damage after allegedly ramming a vehicle repeatedly into a tree and a house trailer and attempting several times to run over her male companion...

PUXICO, Mo. -- John E. Lewis Sr. of Puxico died Friday, June 16, 2017, at the Puxico Nursing and Rehab Center. Arrangements are pending with Morgan Sifford Funeral Home at Puxico.