Stories from Tuesday, March 10, 2020

"Fortress Europe is an illusion." So declares the Financial Times in the closing line of its Saturday editorial: "Europe Cannot Ignore Syrian Migrant Crisis." The FT undertakes to instruct the Old Continent on what its duty is and what its future holds: "The EU will face flows of migrants and asylum seekers across the Mediterranean for decades to come."...

The Democratic presidential field is down to two old, white males, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders. Though they are said to represent two polar-opposite wings of the party, on one issue, they are in complete agreement. They both have solemnly pledged to destroy millions of blue-collar jobs across Middle America's oil patch...

Taylor is Top Lister Lucas Edington, broker/owner of Mossy Oak Properties Mozark Realty, announced Sandy Taylor as the Top Lister for February. Taylor has been an agent for Mossy Oak Properties since August of 2012 and a Realtor for nine years, serving the area seven of the last eight years. ...

It is with great sadness the family of Charles E. Leach announces his sudden and unexpected passing March 2, 2020, at the age of 80. Charles was born July 7, 1939 in Ellsinore, Mo., the son of Arthur and Ima Leach. Upon joining the United States Air Force, Charles earned the nickname “Leach”, which became the name he went by for his remaining lifetime...

There are no cases of coronavirus in either Butler or Ripley County as of Monday afternoon — but local health agencies are still preparing for the arrival of the virus. “The main thing is for us to all be cautious but not to be over-cautious,” Jan Morrow, the administrator of the Ripley County Public Health Center, said. “I think we can all practice better health.”...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL A 25-year-old Poplar Bluff man was injured in a one-vehicle crash at 2:28 p.m. Monday, March 9, on U.S. 67, about one-half mile north of Highway E, in Madison County. According to the report, Steven J. Arnold was operating a 1996 Honda Civic northbound when it ran off the road and struck the barrier cable...

County firefighters responded at 12:52 p.m. Monday, March 9, to a grass fire at 164 County Road 410. According to the report, a small area, owned by Sondra Crowley, burned. _____

Turnout was light as voters went to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in Missouri’s presidential primary. “We had two people here before we opened at 6 o’clock,” said David Silverberg, an election judge in Ward 2. “It’s been slow since then, but it was expected to be slow.”...

ST. LOUIS — A Poplar Bluff man was among 29 UPS drivers from Missouri and 1,316 nationwide recently inducted into the Circle of Honor, an honorary organization for UPS drivers who have achieved 25 or more years of accident-free driving. Missouri boasts 226 Circle of Honor drivers, including David Gilmore, an employee with UPS location in Poplar Bluff. The drivers have a combined 6,210 years of accident-free driving...

Kroger in Poplar Bluff has awarded a $3,000 grant to Southeast Missouri Food Bank to provide truck-to-table mobile food pantry distributions. Funding will supply Butler County families with nutritious food through three mobiles to be held near the Kroger grocery store. Each mobile serves an average of 200 families...

DEXTER — Dexter Police officials announced they are joining with statewide law enforcement March 15-31 for a high visibility youth seat belt mobilization to help increase seat belt use among teens and reduce highway fatalities. Only 74% of Missouri teens wear their seat belts when driving or riding in a motor vehicle. Seven out of 10 teen vehicle drivers and passengers killed in traffic crashes are unbuckled...

DEXTER — Green beer, leprechauns and elusive pots of gold are all hallmarks of St. Patrick’s Day, the long-awaited Irish holiday. Dexter police officials urge those celebrating to make sure you and your friends stay safe this St. Paddy’s Day by remembering one important piece of advice: buzzed driving Is drunk driving...

Poplar Bluff Middle School Principal Dr. Brad Owings was named ‘distinguished principal’ of the Southeast Region during the 31st annual conference of the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals held Saturday, Feb. 29, at Osage Beach.

The Daily American Republic recently received incorrect information from the Poplar Bluff Fire Department regarding the owner of 421 Valley St. Contrary to the provided information, Chester Pumphrey is not the owner of the property. Records were checked at the Butler County offices of recorder, assessor and collector, and it was determined the actual owners of the property are the late Robert and Noreen Sloan...

Charles Ernest Hoffmann II, 73, son of the late Ernest Hoffmann and Elsie Throwkill Hoffmann, was born Aug. 20, 1946 in Poplar Bluff, and departed this life March 9, 2020 at his residence in Poplar Bluff. Friends may call at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from noon to 2 p.m. ...

Peter Ray Bennett, 51, of Neelyville passed away Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Bennett was born Dec. 17, 1968 in Los Angeles, Calif., to Levi Bennett and Paula VanHoff. Peter was a sign mechanic and installer. He enjoyed tinkering and building things...

The Ripley County Sheriff’s Department is seeking information related to an “endangered person,” according to a release from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Butler County voters turned out Tuesday to elect former vice-president Joe Biden and current president Donald J. Trump in the presidential primary.

Republican voters in Butler County overwhelmingly supported President Donald Trump during Tuesday's presidential election primary, handing him 98.55% of their votes. In all, Republican voters in the county cast 3,039 votes, with 2,998 going to Trump...