DEVILS WELL $1.5M for Offers Intense 911 Center Experience but Actual Center

POPLAR BLUFF, MISSOURI $1.25

FIRST EXPLORATION IN 30 YEARS City spends DEVILS WELL $1.5M for offers intense 911 center experience but actual center

By DONNA FARLEY only got $10K of it Staff Writer By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer

The hills of Shannon Poplar Bluff opened a new 911 center last week with an estimated $10,000 County squeezed tight in technology provided for the move by Information Systems Intelligence, around Tony Schmitt on a company the city council gave more Kaplan than $1.5 million in December for a “disaster recovery plan.” Thursday as he began This was part of more than $3 million spent with ISI in 2014, paid for with capital improvement funds. the 100-foot vertical Equipment budgets for other departments were slashed, including money that would have provided badly needed protective gear for city ﬁ reﬁ ghters this year. descent into Devils The Daily American Republic has learned through Well, the largest known See CITY/2A natural underground lake in Missouri. VA to host open

See DEVILS/2A house Tues. for vets From Staff Reports “If you’ve ever driven by the Poplar Bluff VA The John J. Pershing Medical Center and found VA Medical Center in yourself wondering what Poplar Bluff will have an kinds of programs we have open house from noon to to benefi t veterans, this is a 6 p.m. Tuesday June 30, good time to drop in,” ex- from noon to 6:00 p.m. at plained VA Public Affairs the medical center, locat- Offi cer Angela Smith. “We ed at 1500 N. Westwood are delighted to welcome Blvd., in Poplar Bluff. special guests from the St. Experts will be on hand Louis Regional Offi ce and to explain the Veterans the Bloomfi eld, Mo. Vet- Choice Program, help veterans Cemetery who will erans look into the status also be available to answer of their service-connected questions. I would encour- disability claims, enroll for age all Veterans who have VA health care, learn about not explored the full ex- programs to help veterans Photo provided by the Cave Research Foundation get jobs, and much more. See VA/2A

Man convicted of sodomy with child commits suicide SEMO News Service March 16, 2003, to Dec. 1, 2004. BENTON, Mo. -- A Witnesses for the pros- Sikeston, Mo., man con- ecution included the vic- victed of statutory sodomy tim, her mother, her sis- Thursday later took his ter, a former girlfriend, (TOP) Cavers paddle infl atable rafts Thursday in Devils Well, an own life. Sikeston Department of underground lake in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways that A jury deliberated over Public Safety offi cers has not been explored in more than 30 years. The surface of three hours Thursday Anthony Odum and De- the lake is about 100 feet below the above-ground entrance. before fi nding Shannon tective John Blakely and The lake itself is between 80-100 feet deep. (ABOVE) Jerry Mouser, 40, guilty of one Kathy Blevins, an expert Vineyard, 80, of Ozark, Mo., one of the original explorers of count of fi rst degree statu- in forensic interviews and Devils Well, examines the area near the entrance Thursday. tory sodomy for having forensic medical exami- Also pictured are Mark Andrich and Vineyard’s grandchildren. (RIGHT) Rick Haley (yellow) helps Tony Schmitt, the fi rst person deviate sexual intercourse nations. Testifying for the to enter Devils Well in more than 30 years, exit the shaft used with a child less than 12 defense were Mouser’s Thursday to enter the underground lake 100 feet below. years of age at a residence in Scott County between See MAN/2A DAR PHOTOS BY DONNA FARLEY • MORE PHOTOS ON PAGES 8A, 8C

INSIDE TODAY WEATHER 6A OBITUARIES 6A 2 OPEN HOUSES SUNDAY, JUNE 28th 1-3 P.M. OPINION/4A SUNDAY Gene Gunn — Lilliwaup, Wash. RECORD/6A Patricia Williams — Poplar Bluff $124,500 $169,900 SPORTS/1B Connie Richardson — Poplar Bluff BIGAR’S STARS, Eileen Sechrest — Farmington ANNIE’S MAILBOX, DONIPHAN, 18.7 ACRES Jack Baker — Poplar Bluff BATSON MINI FARMS CROSSWORD/7B Athena Napier — Poplar Bluff RT. 3, BOX 6744, DONIPHAN 2403 W. DONNA DR. DIRECTIONS: 67 South to 160W, take 142E to MO-U, SUNDAY EXTRA/1C KIM Jeffrey Morrison — Poplar Bluff DIRECTIONS: 67 North to PP Hwy. to Woodland Meadows property is on the right. Look for private drive sign. SHAWN CLASSIFIEDS/3-7C (Batson Mini Farms), make left on Donna Drive, 1st home KING ADAMS SUNNY Naman Caldwell — Puxico on the right. #9934517L 429.9200 #9934001W 714.5973 High/83° MORE BUYERS Jacky Miller — Manila, Ark. AND SELLERS ° Poplar Bluff Realty, Inc. 785.7600 LIST Low/66 TRUST US! 1800 N. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 www.poplarbluffrealtyinc.com WITH US! PAGE 2A | SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2015 | DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC

CITY designated for 60 months service. sessment, dated Oct. 14, DAR the service was need- servers and virtual desk- of “hosting” charges, which Data replication was recommended placing a ed to run the new city sys- tops from replicated data,” FROM PAGE 1A have never been fully ex- never mentioned by Kaplan large hard drive at ISI’s tems. Kaplan did not pro- it said. plained by city offi cials or when he explained the 911 datacenter in Michigan for vide other information and By Oct. 20, city council conversations with local public documents. center project at Dec. 15 and data storage. This assess- said no other documentation documents detail an almost technology professionals The only items provided Dec. 29 council meetings. ment had a price tag of al- about the hosting existed be- $1.8 million project, with- and city offi cials the ma- by ISI specifi cally for the The city council ordi- most $2 million. yond the invoices. out hosting or off-site data- jority of spending for the move, according to offi cers, nance on Dec. 29 was ap- Hosting charges had Data replication was still center. disaster recovery project ap- are one switch, one router proved for the “disaster re- been removed in this docu- part of the Oct. 14 assess- Hosting and the datacen- pears to have supported data and two transceiver mod- covery plan and necessary ment. When the purpose ment. ter equipment did not reap- recovery, rather than fi rst ules. The same items were infrastructure to accommo- of the hosting charges was “Upon any sort of equip- pear until December, but responder emergency opera- bought for all city buildings date a consolidated 911 cen- questioned, Kaplan directed ment failure, the IT team neither was mentioned in tions. under the October purchase ter with Butler County, Mis- a city employee to tell the could remotely bring up all public meetings. About $750,000 is be- and those installed in the souri, that will include the lieved to have paid for off- 911 center may have come installation of video confer- site data replication through from that project, sources encing and disaster recovery “We will have hot dogs to volunteer in support of equipment now installed in VA say. Costs for these products equipment.” from noon to 2 and popcorn America’s Veterans. The Michigan, on behalf of the in October were: switch, Included with council FROM PAGE 1A all afternoon in addition department has an outstand- city. This includes the du- $3,637; router, $4,334; documents was a one page to a great deal of informa- ing volunteer program, con- plicate purchases of expen- and transceiver modules, diagram of the city’s emer- tent of their benefi ts to stop tion,” Smith said. “All sisting of more than 76,000 sive data storage equipment, $1,094.50. gency operations and com- by and fi nd out how we can veterans, family members volunteers around the na- switches, routers and other DATA REPLICATION munications network, which help.” and caregivers are welcome tion; with a goal of reach- items bought by the city Data replication dupli- included 11 locations. A Smith added information to come and learn more ing 100,000 by Labor Day. from ISI in October. cates much of the switches, Poplar Bluff datacenter and tables will cover topics such about benefi ts available to At the John J. Pershing VA The 911 center, now routers and data storage a second datacenter, loca- as My HealtheVet, a web- those who have served. If Medical Center in 2014, located on the campus of technology bought from ISI tion to be decided, are part site that allows veterans to you’ve served - this is truly 157 regular volunteers con- Three Rivers College, was during October’s $1.7 mil- of the diagram. refi ll their prescriptions and an event you won’t want to tributed 17,882 hours meet- pitched to residents by for- lion project, according to Ten pages of the coun- view their medical records miss.” ing the needs of veterans mer city manager Heath city invoices. cil documents detailed the online, Caregiver Support, The open house event is in southern Missouri and Kaplan as a necessary im- It appears from the in- product specifi cations of the homeless veteran support part of the Department of northeastern Arkansas. provement for public safety. voices the data replication video conferencing equip- services, veteran employ- Veterans Affairs’ national Those seeking more in- “Right now folks, we’re could serve not only the 911 ment. ment support programs, “Summer of Service,” with formation about volunteer- just not ready for a disaster,” center, which can have a Another nine pages listed home telehealth, alterna- agency staff emphasizing ing may contact the Vol- Kaplan told the city council maximum of four operators, manufacturer part numbers tive therapies, services for their commitment to the untary Service Offi ce at in December. “It’s amazing but all of the city’s more and prices of the equipment women and minority veter- mission and welcoming 573-778-4276 or 573-778- to me what our profession- than 200 employees, tech- to be purchased. ans and more. members of the community 4499. als can do with such little nology sources say. “Bait and switch” they’ve been given. … To That December equip- Individuals familiar with me it feels like a calling. I ment is believed by city ISI documents have de- “Mrs. Blevins explained Mouser faced from 10 to 30 feel like I’m meant to be sources to now be located at scribed what was pitched MAN to the jury the process of years in the Missouri De- here to help with this proj- ISI operations in Michigan. to the city as a “bait and FROM PAGE 1A disclosure that child victims partment of Corrections. A ect.” City offi cials were asked switch” or “shell game.” of sexual assault go through sentencing hearing was set The disaster recovery early last week to confi rm It appears both ISI and mother and Kendra Eades, if they disclose abuse at all. for Aug. 19. money was expected by this, but no information was Kaplan knew the full scope who had conducted the fo- Mrs. Blevin’s testifi ed to the “The victim in this case many to help create and provided as of press time. of the technology they want- rensic interview of the vic- jury that over 66 percent of should be given praise for support joint 911 operations Data replication would ed to sell the city of Poplar tim in July 2012. adults who were child vic- coming forward, going between the city, county and allow city employees to run Bluff well before residents. According to Scott tims never disclose their through the pressures of a other agencies. all city operations through ISI proposed providing County Prosecutor Paul R. abuse out of fear, confu- trial and sharing her story “It’s paramount that we Michigan, following a ma- both hosting and off-site Boyd, who presented the sion, embarrassment and/or so that others might be safe think about the general wel- jor disaster, such as an data replication in a ser- case along with Assistant constraints placed on them in the community,” Boyd fare of our city. That’s why earthquake, local technol- vice assessment dated Sept. Prosecutor Tabatha Blakely, by others. She indicated it said. “As to Mr. Mouser’s we’re here,” Kaplan said at ogy professionals said. 18. That document was the Mouser’s attorney attempt- was ‘more of the norm’ not decision to end his life, our the time. No documents received third revision, according to ed to discredit the victim’s to report being a victim of thoughts and prayers go out The center has yet to be by the DAR through Sun- an email sent Sept. 29 to testimony because of her sexual assault as a child,” to the Mouser family and joined by any other agen- shine Law requests detail Kaplan from ISI employee eight-year delay in reporting Boyd said in a news release. his three children he left be- cy. County offi cials were what the city will pay ISI to Jordan Sagorski. the abuse in 2012. With the conviction, hind.” openly hesitant in January, maintain the equipment, or “ISI recommends a host- saying they did not have how the equipment could be ed solution for datacenter enough information to com- recovered by Poplar Bluff infrastructure which will be DEVILS Schmitt’s descent on a Crews assisting with the mit their own resources. if the business relationship hosted in ISI’s datacenter (in climbing rope took only a project on the surface had The December purchase ends. Michigan). Disaster recov- FROM PAGE 1A few minutes. By bosun’s no way of knowing what also included more than The city has not used ery, and replication of data chair, it took 15 minutes to the men in the cavern found $300,000 in high end video data replication previously. will be done off site,” the Schmitt is the fi rst person reach the lake, said Vine- until the group began to conferencing equipment. Local technology pro- Sept. 18 assessment states. in more than 30 years to at- yard, of Ozark, Mo. emerge. Police offi cers in charge fessionals say many orga- At that time, ISI pro- tempt this journey, which The cavern stretches 400 Attempts to commu- of the 911 center move say nizations utilize the less posed a $2.6 million project. begins in a narrow shaft. feet in length and 100 feet nicate by handheld radios no one has discussed this expensive option of off-site Other quotes in September Devils Well sits on the wide. It is said to be large failed for the most part, both equipment or its installation data storage, without dupli- emails to Kaplan top $2.7 upper edge of the Ozark enough to hold an ocean-go- on the surface and within with them. cating all of the equipment million. National Scenic Riverways. ing ship with room left over. the cavern. Another $330,000 was and systems needed to run a A different service as- The entrance has been “It’s unlike anything The cave echoes so bad- guarded for many years by else,” Schmitt, of Fenton, ly, Schmitt said, that even a locked metal grate. Mo., explained leaving when paddling near some- It took a year and a half behind the cool cave and one, words had to be spoken of planning between the chilly water for the welcom- slowly and carefully. Cave Research Founda- ing heat and humidity of a Devils Well has not lost tion and the National Park late June afternoon in the any of it excitement or its Service to make this trip Ozarks. attraction or its terror, Vine- possible, with the hopes of Schmitt has caved all yard said. establishing procedures for over the world during the “It was just an absolutely future exploration. past 28 years and found overwhelming experience As Schmitt worked Devils Well to be a unique to see that and it still is,” his way down the climb- and challenging adventure. he said. “It’s a scary place ing ropes shortly before 10 “It’s an intense place.” to be. It’s noisy down there. a.m., he had no idea what he Schmitt said. There’s water everywhere. would see inside the cavern The new explorers … after so many decades. dropped infl atable rafts di- “It’s such a big place and From above, only a con- rectly into the water, which you know that you don’t stant stream of 59-degree itself is known to be 80-100 have any handles on it any- air offers any indication of feet deep. The men then at- where. If you fall into it, you what lies under the thick tempted to lower into the have a diffi cult time getting vegetation. rafts from above. out. It does add a certain The view from below, An unexpected current amount of terror associated Jerry Vineyard already caused the boats to drift and with it.” knew, would be, quite sim- made this challenging, they Devils Well can hold ply, breathtaking. said later. up to 22 million gallons of Vineyard was one of the Vineyard and other ear- water, which covers every fi rst people known to have lier explorers of Devils Well natural surface. The well is entered Devils Well, travel- lowered aluminum canoes fed by rainwater, like last ing down by bosun’s chair into the underground lake, week’s heavy downpours, in the mid-1950s with a car- having no idea, he said, if which can change the eleva- bide lamp. they would ever be able to tion dramatically, Vineyard Now 80, he followed the get the boats out again. said. progress Thursday with a Before entering the cave, Water is constantly pour- quiet, but almost child-like gear in Vineyard’s day also ing into the well from sev- eagerness. had to be lowered 60 feet eral waterfalls, including “I remember the excite- down a steep hill to a natu- one that drops over climbers ment of it. Just the immen- ral stone bridge above the throughout the descend. No sity of this place is striking,” entrance. matter how dry the summer said Vineyard, who carries a “We were going in pretty is, Vineyard said, there is cane that is often set aside much blind,” Vineyard said. always water fl owing down and has acquired a slight “It was a truly daunting ex- the shaft that leads to the stoop to his shoulders, but perience because none of well. has lost none of his passion this infrastructure was here. “We don’t go down there for the world below. We didn’t have anything to to be scared or anything like “Most people think of stand on except a few boards that,” Vineyard said. “We Feeling Tired and Run Down? caves as muddy places and nailed above the entrance.” want to explore and learn dark places,” he said later. Thursday’s descent was new things about the earth, “Cavers don’t look at it that staged from a long set of that have never been learned call us for your FREE vein screening today. way. They sees caves as staircases and platforms that before I guess.” places where underground have been built leading to Tracking the fl ow of beauty fl ourishes. It grows the entrance of the shaft. groundwater is also impor- in darkness, then when you In the well, Schmitt and tant in helping solve pol- 877.870.5244 shine a light on it, it’s in- cavers Mike Tennant, Dan lution and contamination credibly beautiful, so we Lamping, and Bob Lerch problems, said Vineyard, treasure that sort of thing.” found the remnants of a who spent many years map- The shaft leading into the wooden platform and elec- ping Missouri’s cave and MISSOURI cavern remains constricted tric lines built decades ago spring systems. for 20-30 feet, Schmitt said by private landholders. Through dye tracing, veincare when he emerged just after The platform helped Vineyard established that noon. provide an area to leave the Devils Well empties out 877-905-0545 • 573-785-0545 After that, cavers sudden- water and rearrange gear about a mile south at Cave ly fi nd themselves swinging disrupted by the descent and Spring. 2016 N. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff free from the vaulted ceil- entering the water, Schmitt “Everything that is hap- ing, 100 feet from any wall said. pening in the world affects and 80 feet from the surface The four men wore wet- www.missouriveincare.com of the water. suits to combat the cold. See DEVILS/8A PAGE 8A | SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2015 | DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC

previously recorded in Dev- The group hopes to con- 400 known caves within its the use of dive equipment, think it’s a great gift we’ve DEVILS ils Well, but said the water duct future trips to learn boundaries, House said. he said. been given stewardship of.” FROM PAGE 2A was too murky from recent more about the ecological This fi rst trip into the There has been no explo- As families with young storms. system in the well and study well helped create the stan- ration of side passages on children made the trip down the groundwater at some A turtle eating an apple its other features. dards that could be used in the downstream side of the the staircase to view the point,” Vineyard said. did make an appearance, The project was part of a the future, he said. well, Vineyard added. cavers work, Vineyard said The more caves and Schmitt said. Other debris cooperative project between There are several pas- It was a great feeling, he he hoped the event would underground water are un- dropped into the cave over the NPS and the Cave Re- sages above the water line said, to see a new genera- inspire more interest in ex- derstood, the more those the past decades was also search Foundation, said that lead to other caves, tion of explorers begin to ploration. affects are understood, found, including an “Off- Scott House, the founda- Vineyard said. None he dis- learn the wonders of Devils For Schmitt, Devils Well Vineyard said. spring” CD, and old trac- tion’s Ozarks operations covered are as large as the Well. was an adventure he had The new group of cavers tor tires predating the metal manager. main cavern, but some go “I love to see people dreamt about since he was hoped to fi nd some of the grate that now covers the The foundation helps for a long distance. Some marveling at nature, espe- 12 years old and fi rst visited blind cavefi sh and other fi sh entrance. the park monitor about are only accessible through cially geology,” he said. “I the area.

HURRY IN FOR AMAZING JULY 4TH OFFERS! - LIMITED TIME ONLY!

Photo provided by Cave Research Foundation

DAR/Donna Farley (ABOVE LEFT) When cavers fi rst began entering Devils HURRY IN FOR AMAZING JULY 4TH OFFERS! - LIMITED TIME ONLY! Well in 1954, this natural bridge above the entrance was used as a staging area to lower people into the cavern. ELEVATE & Staircases and platforms were later constructed by the National Park Service. (ABOVE RIGHT) Cave safety experts Rick Haley and Mark Andrich help caver Dan Lamp- ing prepare to descend into Devils Well, which was en- ELEVATE & tered Thursday for the fi rst time in more than 20 years. SAVE UP TO Terror on SAVE$ 1098UP TO Tunisia beach $ on a Serta Adjustable Mattress Set* By ELAINE GANLEY Some people cried as 1098 Associated Press they placed their offerings. on a Serta Adjustable Mattress Set* Then there are the horrif- SOUSSE, Tunisia (AP) ic recollections of the living Choose Gel Memory Foam or Hybrid Technology – Serta makes it easy! — Tunisia's postcard desti- — many of whom quickly nation for tourists is reeling fl ed Sousse. The comfort of memory foam infused with from the terror that blighted ___ ® the support and cooling touch of gel. MATTRESS another day of play at the Tony Callaghan of Nor- Choose Gel Memory Foam or Hybrid Technology – Serta makes it easy! Mediterranean seaside re- folk, England, was near the Flat Set Adjustable Set FOXFIELD sort of Sousse. A man armed pool around midday when Price Price The comfort of memory foam infused with “FIRM” with a Kalashnikov and gre- he heard what many oth- $ $ Queen Size was 1499 Queen Sizethe support and coolingwas touch 3299of gel. now $1299 now $2599 nades gunned down tour- ers thought were fi reworks. INSIGHT INSIGHT SAVE $200 SAVE $725 ists on a private beach, and With his 23 years in the EVERFEEL Flat Set EVERFEEL Adjustable Set Royal Air Force, Callaghan Price Price SALE then moved methodically King Size was $1999 King Size was $5399 SALE through the grounds of a knew better. INSIGHTQueen Size nowwas $1799 INSIGHTQueen Size nowwas $4299 EVERFEEL SAVEnow $200 EVERFEEL SAVEnow $1098 $ TWIN SET $ luxury hotel — to the swim- “I knew it was gunfi re SAVE SAVE 249 ming pool, reception area ... The hotel was being at- 399 FULL SET $ QUEEN SET 349 and offi ces. tacked.” King Size was King Size was KING SET $699 now A unique hybrid of dual-actionnow gel memory At least 38 people were Callaghan, 63, suffered SAVE foam and Serta’s most advancedSAVE innerspring. killed and dozens of others a gunshot wound to his leg FOXFIELD wounded in Friday's deadly and his wife, Christine, 62, Flat Set Adjustable Set “EUROTOP” Price Price noon rampage by a young had her femur shattered. A unique hybrid of dual-action gel memory was $ was $ Tunisian disguised as a tour- Both were among those be- Queen Size 1499 Queenfoam Size and Serta’s most advanced innerspring.3299 now $ now $ V PLUS 1299 V PLUS 2599 ist ready for fun in the sun. ing treated at Sahloul Hospi- SAVE $200 SAVE $725 From accounts of the at- tal, the largest in Sousse. OR FIRM Flat Set OR FIRM Adjustable Set Price Price SALE King Size was $1999 King Size was $5399 tack by shocked survivors, Along with what he said was was Queen Size now $1799 Queen Size now $4299 SALE tourists who stayed on, life- were some 40 people, they V PLUSH now V PLUSH now SAVE $200 SAVE $1098 $ TWIN SET $ guards and beach employees had taken refuge in the ho- OR FIRM SAVE OR FIRM SAVE 299 449 FULL SET $399 who helped at the site of the tel's administrative offi ces, was was QUEEN SET King Size King Size KING SET $ massacre emerge stories of not far from the reception now PLUS now 749 love and horror. area. They climbed to the SAVE SAVE Purchase iComfort® Purchase Serta® No one grasped what was fi rst fl oor, “but then we were or iSeries® and Perfect Sleeper® and happening at fi rst in what trapped.” Callaghan said he Start EarningPLUS Today! Start Getting Rewarded! became Tunisia's worst ter- told people to hide because $ Save $100s on everyday products rorist attack. Were the pop- the gunman was following EARN® 100 PER YEAR ® Purchase iComfort and servicesPurchase plus Serta up to $100 off your ping sounds and explosions “and shooting coming up or iSeries® and $ Perfect Sleeper® and Start EarningUP Today! TO 1000 TOWARDS nextStart SertaGetting® Rewarded!mattress purchase.2 fi reworks for yet another the stairs.” YOUR NEXT BED PURCHASE!1 celebration? His wife stumbled in the EARN $100 PER YEAR Save $100s on everyday products On Saturday, the private corridor and “was screaming $ and services plus up to $100 off your beach of the 370-room Im- 'Help me! Help me!'” Cal- UP TO 1000 TOWARDS next Serta® mattress purchase.2 1 perial Marhaba Hotel was laghan said shortly before America’s #1 YOUR NEXT BED PURCHASE! immaculate with chairs lined heading for surgery. Another Mattress FREE FREE FREE ** Local Delivery Set Up & Removal Bed Frame up under straw umbrellas — woman had been shot four Manufacturer * Save up to $1,000 on select iComfort® and iSeries® adjustable mattress sets at participating retailers in the United States and the District of Columbia purchased from June 24, 2015 – July 13, 2015. Offer is available only on qualified iComfort and iSeries mattresses purchased with a Motion Custom®, times, he said, and “was ly- ® ™ and police tape sealing it Motion Perfect II or Motion SignatureAmerica’s #1 Perfect Sleeper® mattress set purchases. **Source: Furniture Today Top U.S. Bedding Producers, June 16th 2015. off. Only the emptiness and ing in a pool of blood.” The Best Buy Seal and other licensed materials are registered certification marks and trademarks of Consumers Digest Communications, LLC, used under license. For award FREEinformation, visit ConsumersDigest.com. WomanCertifiedFREE inc. does not in any way endorse any business,FREE brand, product and/or service, but instead reports the collectiveMattress opinion and judgment of female customers. Visit www.womenschoiceaward.com to learn more. The gunfi re appeared 1 VIP Reward Redemption on $999+ purchase after 120 days. May earn** on multiple qualifying beds at once. Maximum redemption of $1,000 on $1,999+ purchase. Value of rewardLocal reduced Delivery by 50% for twin or full size. Part ofSet registration Up includes& Removal customer agreement to receive marketingBed communications Frame in an overturned lounge chair exchange for earning rewards. ManufacturerIf you opt out of marketing communications you will loose your points after 60 days. 2 Serta Perfect Rewards membership requires a qualified Serta® Perfect Sleeper® purchase, other terms and conditions apply. Must complete Rewards Redemption form after purchase. Save up to $100 off your 2nd Serta mattress purchase of $1,000 or more or help a friend save (up to twice a year). Visit with fl owers accumulating endless. For Callaghan, it * Savewww.sertaperfectrewards.com up to $1,000 on select iComfort for® details. and iSeries® adjustable mattress sets at participating retailers in the United States and the District of Columbia purchased from June 24, 2015 – July 13, 2015. Offer is available only on qualified iComfort and iSeries mattresses purchased with a Motion Custom®, Motion Perfect® II or Motion Signature™ hinted at the horror. “Why? lasted about 40 minutes. “It Perfect Sleeper® mattress set purchases. **Source: Furniture Today Top U.S. Bedding Producers, June 16th 2015. The Best Buy Seal and other licensed materials are registered certification marks and trademarks of Consumers Digest Communications, LLC, used under license. For award information, visit ConsumersDigest.com. WomanCertified inc. does not in any way endorse any business, brand, product and/or Warum?” read a note on one was, like, incessant.” service, but instead reports the collective opinion and judgment of female customers. Visit www.womenschoiceaward.com to learn more. The Sleep You Need GUARANTEED 1 VIP Reward Redemption on $999+ purchase after 120 days. May earn on multiple qualifying beds at once. Maximum redemption of $1,000 on $1,999+ purchase. Value of reward reduced by 50% for twin or full size. Part of registration includes customer agreement to receive marketing communications in exchange for earning rewards. If you opt out of marketing communications you will loose your points after 60 days. But no one really counted 2 ® ® bouquet. “Warum” is Ger- Serta Perfect Rewards membership requires a qualified Serta Perfect Sleeper purchase, other terms and conditions apply. Must complete Rewards Redemption form after purchase. Save up to $100 off your 2nd Serta mattress purchase of $1,000 or more or help a friend save (up to twice a year). Visit ® man for “why.” Sousse is a as they looked to save their www.sertaperfectrewards.com for details. MATTRESS popular destination for Ger- lives. Some others suggest- mans and at least one Ger- ed it lasted about 20 min- 1040-I North Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 • 573-712-2881 man was killed in the attack. utes. OPEN MONDAY-SATURDAY 9 A.M.-5:30 P.M. PAGE 8C | SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2015 | DAILY AMERICAN REPUBLIC Devils Well CONTINUED FROM PAGES 1A AND 8A

Photo provided by the Cave Research Foundation DAR/Donna Farley A member of the Cave Research Foundation is lowered through a constant Jerry Vineyard watches from a platform as a group below prepares to enter stream of water to an inflatable raft Thursday in Devils Well in Shannon County. Devils Well in Shannon County for the first time in more than 30 years.

DAR/Donna Farley Members of the Cave Research Foundation meet Thursday with Jerry Vineyard, an early explorer of Devils Well. Pictured are: Mike Tennant, Tony Schmitt, Vineyard, Dan Lamping, Scott House, Bob Lerch, Joe Sikorski. Not shown are: Rick Haley and Mark Andrich.

DAR/Donna Farley Jerry Vineyard, 80, of Ozark, Mo., first entered Devils Well in the mid-1950s.

DAR photos/Donna Farley (ABOVE LEFT) Jerry Vineyard, one of the original explorers of Devils Well, looks Thursday into the cave’s entrance with daughter Vanessa Hamons. (ABOVE RIGHT) Mark “Elvis” Andrich attempts to use a radio Thursday at the entrance of Devils Well, where communication was made difficult by constant water flow and echoes within the chamber of the underground lake.

DAR/Donna Farley Tony Schmitt stands Thursday on the staircase above Devils Well shortly after exiting the cavern DAR/Donna Farley which holds an underground lake that is between Jerry Vineyard, who first entered Devils Well in the mid-1950s, tips his hat Thursday to Tony Schmitt, 80 and 100 feet deep. the first person to enter the Shannon County cave in more than 30 years.