Paul Davis
Paul Davis is the Outdoors Editor and photographer for the Daily American Republic. His regular outdoors column runs each Thursday.
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Few things beat being a grandparent
Posted Saturday, February 19, 2022, at 12:00 AMLightning McQueen, that lovable, bright red speedster from the “Cars” movie series could outrun anyone, but I think he may have met his match in my 3-year-old grandson. Sure enough, I got a video a few days ago showing McQueen getting pulled over by a police car, siren wailing, right there on the family couch... -
Some things I just don’t understand
Posted Saturday, January 15, 2022, at 12:00 AM3Lately, I’ve been pondering a lot of things I just don’t understand. I’m not talking about the meaning of life, the Book of Revelation, the federal tax code, quantum physics, how to solve a Rubik’s Cube or other trivial things... -
A tribute to some unsung heroes
Posted Saturday, December 18, 2021, at 12:00 AMA week ago, a nightmarish December storm system raked across the region just to our south and east. We’ve all seen the videos and photographs, and we’ve heard the stories of those who made it, and those who didn’t. Our homes, workplaces and, most importantly, our families, were spared, but a small change in the initial track of that storm could have proven disastrous for Poplar Bluff and surrounding communities... -
Thank you for keeping the wheels turning
Posted Saturday, November 20, 2021, at 12:00 AMThank you to those who show up to work every day, whether you’re a fast-food cook or server, truck driver, mailman, retail employee, teacher, public servant or whatever. Thank you for keeping the world around us going, despite tough odds... -
I can promise you that I won’t forget
Posted Saturday, September 11, 2021, at 12:00 AMLike pretty much everybody who was old enough to understand what was happening at the time, Sept. 11, 2001, will go down for me as a day to never forget. I vividly remember many details of the morning, though some have gotten hazy over the years... -
Difference Makers lift people up
Posted Saturday, August 14, 2021, at 12:00 AMIt’s that time of year again when the Daily American Republic recognizes the often unnoticed work of individuals in the community who go above and beyond to help their fellow man. In today’s newspaper, you’ll find a special section featuring this year’s top 10 finalists, and you’ll undoubtedly notice each one is a solid choice as a Difference Maker... -
Sweet, prickly treat worth the pain
Posted Saturday, July 10, 2021, at 12:00 AMIf you happened to hear some weird sounds emanating across Butler County Monday morning, I apologize. It was me sounding like a 4-year-old girl as a great wall of thorns seemingly poked, prodded and sucked every ounce of blood out of me... -
Historic volcano eruption left mark on world, DAR staffer
Posted Saturday, June 12, 2021, at 12:00 AMJune 12 is a significant day for myself and a few thousand other American service members who were stationed in the Philippines three decades ago. Today is the 30th anniversary of the first eruption of the Mount Pinatubo volcano in several hundred years... -
Reflecting on the great mothers in my life
Posted Saturday, May 8, 2021, at 12:00 AMWith Mother’s Day coming up tomorrow, it got me to thinking about the three ladies in my life who I’m ever grateful for. My mother worked hard to provide for my sister and I growing up. Neither of us made things too hard for her, as far as I know, but nevertheless, she was always there for us... -
A special group offers inspiration
Posted Saturday, April 17, 2021, at 12:00 AMEvery year, there are a certain few events I like to cover for the Daily American Republic, like the Buddy Ball games in early summer, which I’ve written about before. On Friday, I had the opportunity to go to another event I try to never miss - the Southeast Area Special Olympics... -
Patience offers rare albino deer sighting
Posted Thursday, March 11, 2021, at 9:04 PMI’ve always heard ghosts don’t show up on camera, but I have proof otherwise. Well, technically, I didn’t see and photograph a ghost in the traditional sense. Instead, it was a rare ghost of the woods — an albino deer... -
Goodbye 2020, and good riddance
Posted Saturday, December 26, 2020, at 12:00 AMThis was a year like no other, and just like everyone else, I’m ready to see it to the door. When 2020 started, it held so much promise for so many things. And then it turned into a complete dumpster fire, thanks to the COVID-19 virus, which has disrupted nearly every single person on the planet’s lives since mid-March... -
Take a minute to reflect on veterans, good fortune
Posted Friday, November 20, 2020, at 6:00 PM1Another Veterans Day has come and gone, and it certainly didn’t go unnoticed in my household. I hope folks took the time to understand what it means, especially to those of us who have served. As Air Force veterans, the day is important for both my wife and I... -
‘Old-Man-Itis’ crept in when I wasn’t looking
Posted Saturday, October 17, 2020, at 12:00 AMBy PAUL DAVIS, Staff Writer A couple weekends back, I learned a hard lesson when I got tasked with helping a local landowner in trying to catch a young piglet he was hoping to sell. I had been in a tree stand 300 yards away, watching through binoculars for a half hour as the landowner and a few others tried to get about eight or nine pigs into a horse trailer. It actually was quite comical as the routine went on and on, and I kept thinking, “what can be so hard about it?”... -
Fall is just around the corner, and I can't wait
Posted Saturday, September 12, 2020, at 8:00 AMBy PAUL DAVIS, Outdoors Editor Summer is winding down, and I couldn’t be any happier to see it go away. I know the majority of people love summer days on the river or going to the beach or whatever, but you can have your river days and beach time and all of that. I certainly won’t be crowding you. I’d rather spend my time away from hordes of people... -
Difference Makers recognizes many humble, good people
Posted Friday, August 7, 2020, at 3:49 PMOver the last week, I’ve had the opportunity to meet lots of new people while working on the newspaper’s upcoming Difference Makers program. If you haven’t heard of it, Difference Makers is a program designed to highlight people from the region who go above and beyond to help others in their community in various ways... -
VA provides positive experience
Posted Thursday, July 2, 2020, at 7:48 PMThere’s no doubt the Veterans Health Administration gets a bad rap from time to time. You read about it and see it on television often, with people unhappy about the care they received, or in some cases, didn’t receive. I have no doubt there are a lot of legitimate concerns, but I have a different perspective... -
Don’t take young animals home
Posted Sunday, May 31, 2020, at 2:15 PMBy PAUL DAVIS , Staff Writer Here it is the end of May, and that means it’s the time of year when you’re most likely to find baby wildlife in places you may not normally find it. Baby birds, deer, raccoons … even newborn snakes — you’re sure to see one near your home. ... -
Get outside during COVID-19 virus
Posted Saturday, April 25, 2020, at 2:06 PMThere’s no doubt the last several weeks have been stressful for everyone. Working from home isn’t as cushy as many would believe and not working at all is even worse. The stress of not knowing what each day will hold, and the fear of a complex virus that’s gripping the entire world, can take a toll on anyone... -
With compassion, we'll get through this
Posted Saturday, March 21, 2020, at 12:00 AMA lot has changed in the last week or so, and pretty much everyone’s life has been turned upside down in one way or another. Some are scared of the current situation, and some are more nonchalant, but everyone is trying to maintain some semblance of order...
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