Opinion

I love the personal story David Moore shared in Guidepost Magazine many years ago. His pilot friend, Henry Gardner, agreed to fly him to Asheville, North Carolina, in his Cessna. After leaving Victoria, Texas, the two stopped in Jackson, Mississippi, to fix a malfunctioning radio. After it was repaired, they continued their trip. As they neared their destination, they encountered fog so thick the Asheville air traffic controller refused to let them land. He suggested they fly to Greenville...

“Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done. He was a career politician.” So says Hillary Clinton of her former Senate colleague and 2016 rival for the Democratic nomination, Bernie Sanders. Her assessment of Sanders’ populist-socialist agenda?...

As the Senate impeachment trial unfolds, we’re witnessing an alarming dual justice system where Democrats accuse the president and the Republican Party of criminal wrongdoing and foul play while giving themselves a pass for the very same acts of which they accuse others...

On Jan. 20, 2017, Donald Trump stood on the West Front of the United States Capitol Building, overlooking the National Mall and the monuments erected to honor our nation’s greatest heroes — Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and King — and was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. Sitting on the giant stage with the newly elected president, I was filled with optimism about the fresh perspective he would bring to a broken Washington...

Vulgar language I’ve got a complaint about that Steve Harvey show on TV, Family Feud. They took one show off of there, for talking so vulgar. The Steve Harvey show, that’s some of the ugliest talking show. It isn’t fitting for youngsters to watch. It ought to be taken off the air or do something with it. It’s getting to where the Steve Harvey show is absolutely ridiculous, the language they use on it...

Dear Editor Farley: I am Lt. Cmdr. Robert Burgett, USN, Retired. I served in the United States Navy for 30 years active duty. During Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) I was on a 430 day mission assigned to Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq (MNSTC-I) Baghdad Iraq as a part of the 2007 United States military surge to develop, train and equip the Ministry of Interior (MOI) Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) /Iraqi Police to be capable of sustaining security in their country.. ...

Three children from the ages of 5 to 11 were removed Wednesday by local law enforcement from a home with an active and very dangerous meth lab. It was so dangerous law enforcement immediately evacuated the home and won’t re-enter until a hazmat team clears the area...

One of my priorities as your state representative is to support our great military service members. To that end, this session I am co-sponsoring a bill that will benefit some of the tens of thousands of defense personnel and their families who live right here in Missouri. ...

After unconstitutionally delaying the transmission for almost four weeks, Speaker Pelosi finally sent the Articles of Impeachment to the United States Senate this week. The Speaker supposedly delayed sending the Articles because she was worried about “fairness” – a stunning word for someone who blocked Republican requests for witnesses, held weeks of closed-door meetings and depositions, and denied the President of the United States his right to due process or even to present opposing evidence throughout the entire impeachment circus, which played out in your House of Representatives.. ...

Luke 14:15-24 contains one of Jesus’ less-famous parables. He told the story of a wealthy man, who invited friends to a party. No one was obligated to attend, but once they accepted his invitation, they were expected to. However, when the time for the party arrived, everyone had an excuse...

Many years ago, I read the story of an elderly woman who fulfilled a lifelong dream when she traveled to Italy. Her family had immigrated from there. Since she was already older, it was not a complete surprise when she became ill. She was forced to cut her trip short. While disappointed, she was still grateful for her chance to visit the country of her origin...

Luke’s account of Jesus the Christ includes the eight days after His earthly, fleshly birth, in which Jesus was circumcised. When He was 40 days old, His mother and father brought Him to the temple to make a sacrifice, required by the Law as recorded in Leviticus 12:1-5 for the purification of Mary and the presentation of Jesus as her first born. ...

Robert Hudson was a man who could turn a wrong number telephone call from a stranger states away into not only a close friendship, but also the kind of partnership that makes our community stronger. His loss this past week will be felt far beyond the Butler County Health Department, where he had been administrator since 1997...

President Trump must think the American people are plumb stupid. Everybody knows why he took out that Iran leader over there. It wasn’t for our sake. It’s because he’s fixing to be impeached, and everybody knows that in a time of war, a sitting president can’t be put out. ...

With the holiday season behind us for yet another year, many memorable events remain etched in my mind from 2019. As I look forward to this new year, I, like many, gaze with apprehensive eyes. For with each new day, we expect the same while hoping for brighter horizons. We seemingly cannot avoid apprehension as others voice their intentions of creating a better path, making more viable choices or even turning the page on a story seemingly written as a endless rerun...

With the holiday season behind us for yet another year, many memorable events remain etched in my mind from 2019. As I look forward to this new year, I, like many, gaze with apprehensive eyes. For with each new day, we expect the same while hoping for brighter horizons. We seemingly cannot avoid apprehension as others voice their intentions of creating a better path, making more viable choices or even turning the page on a story seemingly written as a endless rerun...

Robert Hudson was a man who could turn a wrong number phone call from a stranger states away into not only a close friendship, but the kind of partnership that makes our community stronger. His loss this past week will be felt far beyond Butler County Health Department, where he had been administrator since 1997...

Every morning to start the school day off right, my kiddos write down 10 things they are thankful for. It doesn’t seem too hard until you find out you can’t repeat the same things day after day. Sure it’s fine to occasionally add a repeat, but it can’t be repetitive and meaningless...

This past Sunday was Epiphany Sunday. This is the Sunday where some churches remember the visit of the wiseman. You can read the story in Matthew 2:1-12. We suspect there was three; we don’t know their names, nor are we sure where they came from. What we do know is this, they came looking for a king...

Here we are, the beginning of the year 2020. Resolutions have been prepared. Gym memberships have been purchased. Twenty-one day fasts have begun in our churches. It is a time for us to refocus, and a time for us to start fresh. By the time you are reading this column, you will be about 10 days in!...

There were more than 20,000 clicks to our website in December by people who were interested in the content, but were not subscribers. The number is even higher in some months, topping 31,000 clicks. We know people care about what is going on in their communities. The response to our stories proves that...

The second session of the 100th General Assembly is underway, and I am excited to be working for you again at the state capitol. I have already filed several bills, including legislation that protects consumers, safeguards our Second Amendment rights, helps maintain the integrity of our state’s constitution, and protects the lives of the unborn...

The Wappapello Lake Area Association (WLAA) wants to thank the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Operations Manager Bart Dearborn and his staff for their assistance for their assistance in coordinating the 27th Annual Festival of Lights Auto Tour 29 November to 3 January...

To the Editor: Here we go. The new decade has begun with 2020 rolling in and I have a feeling this one is going to be a dousey or however you spell it, it is going to be a year for the ages. The presidential elections are again amongst us and we get to listen to even more political rhetoric, bashing and back-stabbing. ...

To the Editor: President Trump has recently taken bold action to protect Americans in the Middle East from the scourge of state-sponsored terrorism. In recent weeks, the country of Iran has targeted American citizens, Iran has attacked our embassy and threatened the lives of hundreds of people. ...

In the United States of America, there are two institutions that need immediate attention in the form of a full audit. Starting with Poplar Bluff, Mo., a full audit by the state of Missouri. I think that the citizens of Poplar Bluff are fed up with all the lies coming out of city hall. ...

This past week, an Iranian led militia attacked, torched, and attempted to storm our Embassy in Baghdad. It came on the heels of Iran killing an American contractor based in Iraq one month prior. These are just two recent examples of Iran’s continued assault on American democracy, and our support for the rule of law, individual and religious freedoms, and the State of Israel...

Let me begin by wishing each one of you happy new year. As we begin this new year, many thoughts come to mind for many people. Maybe this new year will bring many new opportunities. The possibilities of new and exciting adventures or maybe a new unexpected relationship. If you have never accepted Christ as your savior, then this new year can start off with a real new start...

This past summer I was introduced to a new author. Bob Goff is one of those unique individuals who truly does march to his own drum. In “Everybody, Always,” he admits he struggles with patience. He explains how he read a children’s book suggesting that whatever we fill our bucket with we will become. So, he went to a local hardware store and purchased a metal bucket, which he began carrying with him everywhere as a reminder to be more patient...

At the start of 2019, for the second time in her life, Nancy Pelosi was sworn in as Speaker of the House of Representatives. While I knew this would mean a dramatic shift left for the policies advanced in your Congress, I at least had a brief moment of optimism during her opening remarks when Speaker Pelosi said that she was going to work “in a bipartisan way for the good of our country.”...

Courthouse Christmas tree Drove by the courthouse to see the beautiful Christmas tree that I’ve been waiting for. It wasn’t lit up. Dark as could be. You could barely see the tree. Way to go Poplar Bluff. Praise for TR-RX The Christmas program at Twin Rivers-Qulin school was very good. The children did fantastic...

We have a lot of New Year’s traditions, some meant to bring good luck, others so ingrained we may not even remember how they began. One of the most popular here is having black-eyed peas on New Year’s day. It’s usually slow cooked with ham and served with cornbread. Many families enjoy the meal and time together, hoping for good fortune with the new start...

To the editor: Here it is, December 17th, a week before Christmas Eve and boy have things changed throughout the years. As a child growing up in the early 60’s, things were so intriguing. There were lights, snowmen in the yards, lawn settings of nativity scenes, wreathes on the doors of homes and just an all around Christmas atmosphere...

A major goal for the region is beginning to come into focus. For several years, local leaders and citizens have worked hard to improve the transportation network in our area. With the recent announcement that the state is poised to contribute nearly $6 million to expand Highway 67 to four lanes south of Poplar Bluff, we have much to celebrate...

We are four days away from the big day, the one some of us spend all year working up to, while for others, December is a mad dash to Dec. 25. The holiday season is filled with good cheer, but also many heavy doses of stress, as we try to find ways to show those near and far how much we love and appreciate them...

One of my favorite authors is Theodor Geise who is better known as Doctor Seuss.

To the editor: Liberal politicians and media elites love to trivialize the continuing assault on Christmas. They celebrate when a large corporation removes any reference to Christ from their productions and rejoice as schools substitute “Holiday” in place of “Christmas” on our children’s calendars. ...

My grandmother (Granny) told me bedtime stories. Not the stories of Red Riding Hood or the Gingerbread Man, but family stories. One of my favorites was the naming of my dad and my uncle, her two youngest children. Here is how she told it. On Christmas Eve 1929, my grandmother was due to bear her fourth child. ...

Pill drop boxes I don’t understand the need for these pill drop off boxes. If you don’t need your pills, pitch them in the commode, flush it, you’re good. Don’t need any pill drop off boxes.

The entire impeachment process has not had a shred of fairness, has had nothing close to due process, and has been entirely detached from both reality and fact. Despite the Left’s claims of reluctance to pursue impeachment, the truth is they have been trying to get rid of President Trump dating all the way back to his candidacy in 2016...

It seems every year the Christmas “stuff” is put out in the stores earlier and earlier. It seemed like this year the skeleton heads and the vampire teeth were not even removed from the aisles yet and here came Santa Clause and his reindeer. Not only were there Black Friday sales, but this year, we had pre-Black Friday sales...

The story of how Jesus used a little boy’s lunch to feed a massive crowd is found in all four gospels, the books of the Bible that tell the story of Jesus’ life. The miracle took place in a remote region far from where food was readily available. Apparently, the large crowd consisting of 5,000 men plus women and children were so excited to hear Jesus teach and to see him perform miracles that few planned ahead...

The Daily American Republic recently took a hard look at one of its content features, Speak Out. The discussion centered on a few topics, including what benefit does it provide to the community and what harm might it do. We want to be a source of trusted news for our region, for both the information you need, and the information you want...

To the Editor: With each passing Christmas season, it seems that the Christian holiday is further stripped of any semblance of Christianity and is instead replaced with secular platitudes and commercialism. The season continues to be commercialized and mined for all its worth, while relegating the birth of Christ to the manger, for a second time...

This Christmas season, we have much to celebrate. For one thing, America is thriving. By every measure, the national economy is booming. A record number of Americans are participating in the labor force, and unemployment is at record lows for blacks and Hispanics. Under President Trump, America is indeed great again...

Water district bill issues Who’s water bill am I paying? I live in the Water District #3 area of Butler County. In February of this year, my meter was changed over to a new meter. My readings have never been this high before and my bill is through the roof. ...

To the editor: This letter is in response to an opinion letter by Jason Smith on the subject of impeachment. If his message is the only thing people have read on the subject, then they have received a distorted impression of what is happening. Impeachment process is about unacceptable, criminal behavior of the elected official we call President. ...

The original purpose of welfare was to help those who are in the midst of a rough patch get back on their feet. However, the Left has over time tried to turn it into something else: a lifelong entitlement. Through this distortion, welfare has trapped people in a vicious cycle of dependency instead of empowering them to get back into the workforce. This is holding back countless able-bodied men and women from reaching their full potential and achieving the American Dream...

This past Sunday started the Liturgical Christmas Season. Sorry to burst your bubble, but Black Friday is not the official start of Christmas, no matter what Walmart says. No, this past Sunday was the start of the pre-Christmas Season, or Advent. It is during Advent that we look to the Bible to see what to expect. During these next four weeks we actually look into the Old Testament to find out what is coming. Yes, the Old Testament...

Sunday, Dec. 1 opened the New Year for the Church with Advent, the four week season of repentance and anticipation of the birth of the long-prophesied and promised Messiah, which was first mentioned, many believers hold, when the earth was new, and Adam and Eve were put in that perfect Garden to be God’s obedient people, yet they sinned, distrusted their Creator...