Sullivan Library Receives “The River Panther” From Local Author

Dennis Roedemeier has compiled his second tabletop book titled “The River Panther.”

The book was donated to Sullivan Library on Thursday.

Roedemeier is a Crawford County Historical Society member, former state director of business development and former president of Missouri Research Corporation at Southeast Missouri State University.

Roedemeier tells the legend of The River Panthers, a theory of underwater panthers that may have be written off as a fireside story for children regarding the Meramec River, but asks why is there an ancient clan of the Oasage Indians called the “Underwater Panthers.”

It is the second in a series of five books Roedemeier is working on to bring Crawford County closer together. The books talk about the Meramec River in Bourbon, Steelville, Sullivan areas as well as St. James.

Roedemeier has researched the facts, obtained legal documents and Supreme Court rulings for all of his current books and those coming ahead.

“I have gathered all the facts to this series I’m working on to the best of my ability,” said Roedemeier. “Over 1000 years ago, Osage Indian legend predicted that the Meramec River would consume one soul a year. Most are males in their 30’s, all in a group or group circle with friends and all have been found deceased some 20 yards upstream from where they originally went underwater.”

Roedemeier is working on other books in the series that will include Betty Braumer, the local woman Jim Bottomley fell in love with; Death of Mary, the youngest child ever hanged in Missouri by a Judge in Steelville, Mo., and a book on General William S. Harney.

The River Panther is a short read and available on Amazon but locally it can be found at Clark St. Cafe, Sullivan, Sinks, Bourbon, Cuba Bakery, Cuba, Ozark Outdoors, Leasburg and Meramec Springs, St. James.

You can also check out the book at Sullivan Library.