After a one year hiatus, the kindergarten and first grade basketball league is returning to Poplar Bluff’s First United Methodist Church. “We did it for 20 years,” said the church’s David Stewart, “but with staff changes and new flooring, it didn’t work out last year. We’re back up and running this year.”...

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jason Smith (R-MO) has introduced legislation for the Senate to amend its Rules of Procedure and Practice When Sitting on Impeachment Trials, according to a press release from Smith’s office. Smith says he is calling for members of the United States Senate who are actively running for President of the U.S. and campaigning against President Trump to recuse themselves from the Senate’s impeachment proceedings...

FREE ACCESS: Authorities are searching for an Ellsinore woman who allegedly escaped Thursday morning from the custody of a Carter County deputy as she was being released from Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. After her arrest at about 6:35 a.m., Samantha Jo Freeze, 33, was taken by ambulance to the Poplar Bluff hospital after she complained of injuries from a previous incident, explained Carter County Sheriff Rick Stephens...

A reception will be held from 1-4 p.m. Sunday at Margaret Harwell Art Museum for the December and January show, a display from the Missouri Star Quilters. The reception will have a Victorian Christmas theme, said Steve Whitworth, museum director. Hot cider punch and cookies will be served...

QULIN — Carlon Breckenridge started hunting deer near Fort Leonard Wood in the early 1950s, and at 91 years old, he’s still enjoying it, and finding success, to this day. A native of Beech Grove, Ark., Breckenridge learned about the outdoors from his coon-hunting father and other relatives, taking an early interest in duck hunting before the deer hunting bug got to him...

Two area residents may face drug trafficking charges after local authorities conducted a traffic stop Wednesday night in Poplar Bluff and seized nearly 4 ounces of suspected crystal methamphetamine. Renee Katherine Taylor, 40, of Williamsville and William Joseph Kirn, 46, of Poplar Bluff were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking at about 8:45 p.m. Police Patrolman Billie Duckett stopped a Chevrolet Blazer driven by Kirn in the 200 block of South Westwood Boulevard...

The holiday season is now in full swing and there are lots of Christmasy-type events the whole family can enjoy this weekend. Check at the end of this column for some nifty gift wrapping hacks that are easy and super cute. Remember, there are only 20 days left until Christmas. Are you ready?...

Experience the sights and sounds of the first Christmas during a free “A Walk Through Bethlehem” Dec. 13-15 in the gymnasium at the First Church of God, 3482 S. Westwood Blvd., in Poplar Bluff. Christmas today, with all it’s lights and tinsel, is so different from the first celebration when Jesus was born, said Pastor Ben Higgins of the First Church of God...