Stories from Friday, July 7, 2023

Butler County Sheriff’s Department believes some $230,000 in illegal narcotics was mailed to an area home for resale. The more than 40 pounds of items recovered Thursday include high-grade marijuana, Ecstasy, LSD and cocaine. Deputies were conducting a search warrant when the items were found in the home of 26-year-old Samuel Moore, Sheriff Mark Dobbs said...

CAPE GIRARDEAU – A woman pleaded guilty to federal charges Thursday and admitted fraudulently applying for a $167,999 Payroll Protection Program loan during the coronavirus pandemic for a Poplar Bluff business she did not run or own. Maxine Michelle Burns, 44, of Willow Springs in Howell County pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution...

David L. Mattingly, 64, of Malden, Missouri, died Thursday, July 6, 2023 at Aspire Health and Rehab in Malden.

As a law enforcement officer, Zachary Tubb relishes putting the pieces of the puzzle together to solve crimes. Tubb, a Poplar Bluff patrolman since April 2015, was promoted in May to detective in the Criminal Investigation Division. “Poplar Bluff (police) has always been a pinnacle, in southern Missouri,” Tubb said. “Its reputation for proficiency, being ethical, and being able to close cases has created a reputation I believe is stronger than a lot of others.”...

Retired fire chief John Jones helped christen Poplar Bluff Fire Department’s new fire truck this week. The truck led the Daily American Republic’s Independence Day parade on Tuesday, with Jones in the passenger seat. Jones was instrumental in 1973 with bringing the department it’s first aerial truck, according to Fire Chief Mike Moffitt...

Nearly one month has passed since the end of the 2023 legislative session, and of the 62 bills truly agreed and passed by the General Assembly, seven more have officially been signed into law. Gov. Mike Parson on Wednesday, June 7, gave his stamp of approval to the following pieces of legislation, which are set to take full effect on Aug. 28, 2023...

We want to thank everyone who helped Poplar Bluff celebrate July 4th this week. Hundreds turned out to enjoy the annual parade and fireworks, and it feels like almost that many helped make those events happen. It was the Daily American Republic’s first year acting as coordinator for the parade, and helping more closely with the fundraising for the fireworks...

Poplar Bluff’s community theater The Stage Co. is once again seeking a new home, ideally a permanent one, after leaving its temporary headquarters in The Method Playhouse. Until they do, the city will lack live theater shows. The Stage Co. moved into a community room at First United Methodist Church after leaving the Rodgers Theatre due to rising rent in 2021. ...