Stories from Sunday, December 24, 2017

Tossing spare change into a bright red Salvation Army bucket is a reflex for many folks during the holiday season, not only because the clanging bells and shivering volunteers urge them to do so, but because Christmas is a time for charity. People across the globe use the holidays as an opportunity to show gratitude for what they have and support for those who have less. ...

A community effort led by staff at the Butler and Ripley County children's division recently provided a brighter Christmas for children who lack the one thing they want most this holiday season, a permanent home to call their own. The Christmas extravaganza was held at Westwood Baptist Church for children in foster care, offering presents, carnival games, food and, of course, Santa Claus...

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- The Grinch came to Van Buren this year in the form of a historic flood, but the people were much stronger than he knew. Despite so much destruction and loss, the trees were lit, the stockings hung and the people full of Christmas spirit...

A group of employees from the Daily American Republic broke a tradition this year and decided to spread some Christmas cheer outside the newspaper office. Instead of buying Christmas presents for one another within departments, the employees pulled their money together and made sure a group of elderly people would have a very merry Christmas...

PFC Zachary and Stormie Norden of Fort Lewis, Wash., are the parents of 7-pound 3-ounce son they named Dawson Michael-Allen Norden born at 7:55 a.m. Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, at Madigan Army Medical Center. He was 20 inches long. Grandparents are Poppy and David Norden and Michael and Tanya Davis, all of Poplar Bluff. ...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Michael Paul Robertson of Naylor, Mo., departed this life on Dec. 18, 2017, at the age of 70 at his residence. Mr. Robertson was born Feb. 5, 1947, in Streator, Ill., to the late Paul Robertson and Kathryn Mouser. In his spare time he enjoyed playing pool with his grandson and playing with his cats and dogs...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Gere Masters' father worked in circulation for the Springfield newspaper for 40 years. Over the course of his lifetime, Ray Wageman collected piles of newspaper clippings. "He just didn't throw anything away," Masters said. The Springfield News-Leader reports that before Wageman passed away in 2014, he suffered from dementia. Sometimes he couldn't even remember what he ate for breakfast, Masters said...

Keith and Melba Hancock of Puxico will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30 at Duck Creek Church on County Road 283. The couple has lived in the Puxico area their entire marriage. They have two children Brian Hancock of Puxico and Beth and Jonathan Stewart of O'Fallon. They also have three grandchildren Jordi, Elexa and Jensen Stewart, all of O'Fallon...

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) -- It's a little bit of faith and a lot of matchmaking, with a baseball theme. "How St. Louis is that?" jokes Risa Zwerling, the wife of Washington University Chancellor Mark Wrighton. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Zwerling, the longtime first lady of St. ...

Danny Whiteley takes his job as Poplar Bluff police chief seriously and everybody in the state knows it. That was proven recently when the Missouri Police Chiefs Association honored Whiteley as Missouri's Top Cop at its annual meeting in Jefferson City...

By STEPHEN MOORE Last week during an address at the White House, President Donald Trump likened his tax plan to the tax cut that John F. Kennedy proposed 55 years ago. This elicited some howls of protest from Trump's liberal critics, who say it's historically inaccurate to compare the Trump plan to JFK's...

Sixty persons visited the Moark Regional Railroad Museum Dec. 9 when Santa and Mrs. Claus stopped by to visit with children. Each child received a candy cane and viewed the museum's Christmas train. They also saw a freight train and Amtrak passenger train running on a 30-foot layout. The Missouri Pacific caboose also was open. The museum will be closed Dec. 23 for Christmas weekend and Dec. 30 for New Year's Day weekend...

By PATRICK J. BUCHANAN President Trump, every Republican senator, and the GOP majority in Speaker Paul Ryan's House just put the future of their party on the line. By enacting the largest tax cut since the Reagan administration, the heart of which is cutting the corporate rate from 35 to 21 percent, Republicans have boldly bet the farm...

BLOOMFIELD -- The Dexter Bearcats are looking for a repeat performance. The Hayti Indians are seeking completion of unfinished business. Dexter enters the 61st annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament as the top seed and defending champion. The Bearcats beat last year's top seed, Hayti, 57-34 to win their tournament-leading 10th championship...

BROSELEY -- The Bearcats kept their grip on the Lady Royals Christmas Classic title Friday night, fending off one run after another by Neelyville. Dexter scored the final eight points of the third quarter after its double-digit lead shrank to a single point to beat the Tigers 66-58 at Twin Rivers High School...

MALDEN, Mo. -- Ruby Joann Wagoner, 82, of Malden, Mo., died Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, at her residence. Visitation will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017, at Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden. Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. in the chapel with Mr. James Powell officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Malden...

BROSELEY -- Down 15 with 10 1/2 minutes remaining Friday night, Twin Rivers rallied to finish third in the Lady Royals Christmas Classic. The host Royals put together a 30-8 run to end the game to stun Chaffee 48-41. "We just really worked aggressive pressure (defense)," Twin Rivers coach Kelly Westerfield said of the comeback...

Knowell "Wade" Hampton, 68, of Poplar Bluff, died on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017 at his residence in Poplar Bluff. Arrangements are pending with Moore Funeral Service in Poplar Bluff. Onlince Condolences: www.moorefuneralservice.com

Leta Lee Whiteley, 89, of Poplar Bluff, Mo. passed away on Friday, Dec. 22, 2017 at Hearthside Senior Living Center in Collierville, Tenn. She was born on March 10, 1928 to Harrison and Cora (Druly) Snodgrass in Moark, Ark. She graduated from Neelyville High School. ...

BROSELEY -- This time the 3-pointer at the buzzer didn't fall for the Donettes. Naylor held off a late rally by Doniphan for a 50-48 win to place fifth in the Lady Royals Christmas Classic on Friday, 11 days after losing to their county rivals on a late go-ahead 3-pointer...

FISK, Mo. -- Nellie May Leutert, 97, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017 at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017 at White-Sanders Funeral Home in Fisk with graveside services following 11:30 a.m. at Brown Chapel Cemetery in Broseley with Rev. Jim Sanders officiating...

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Officials in Carter County hope to learn shortly after Christmas about an appeal to the federal government for additional financial assistance they believe is the only way to repair government offices. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has said it will cover only 42 percent of damages to the county's courthouse, jail and sheriff's department, said presiding commissioner Donald Black...