News

Neelyville School Board is expected to swear in four new members Thursday during a special board meeting. The names were released Wednesday morning...

Joe Ward spent 30-plus years following his childhood dream of being a police officer. He retired recently after serving with Poplar Bluff Police Department, where he made friends with coworkers, as well as those he arrested, and the public. Along the way, he received almost every honor given to area law enforcement...

Just in time for the coming of cooler temperatures, a number of fall events are slated in this week’s MAIN EVENT. Haff Whiskey Saloon in Downtown Poplar Bluff will host a pickleball tournament Saturday to benefit the Boy and Girl Scouts. The tournament is open to players of all skill levels and the winning team at the event will take home $500...

Once again, the Margaret Harwell Art Museum’s Cork + Fork dinner has delighted patrons and local arts. The return of the iconic “Driftwood Mule” statue to the Friends Sculpture Garden brought another reason for guests to celebrate. The “Driftwood Mule” was vandalized in the spring. ...

Wednesday, Oct. 4 • 7 p.m. A.A. Poplar Bluff Serenity Group, 506 E. Pine St., closed meeting. • 10 a.m. Domestic Violence Support Group, Haven House. • 9-10 a.m. ILCSEMO Arthritis Land Exercises Classes (free), Twin Towers Senior Center activity room...

Two property owners who wish to combine acreage on Kanell Boulevard for future commercial development got one step closer Monday. The owners would need to maintain a 25-foot natural green barrier on the north side of the land as part of a C-2 general commercial designation, according to stipulations discussed by the Poplar Bluff City Council...

For years, O’Neal Elementary has been using its school garden to help provide students with a hands-on botany education that extends beyond Missouri Learning Standards. “My goal for them is to one day be able to supply their own food through gardening that they learned back in the third grade,” stated Laura Beth Smith, third grade instructor...

Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center offers the world’s smallest pacemakers Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center is offering one of the world’s smallest leadless pacemaker, comparable in size to a large vitamin. The first procedure at PBRMC using the small pacemaker was performed in August by Dr. Roland Njoh, interventional cardiologist with Regional Physician Services’ Cardiovascular Institute of Southern Missouri...

This month isn’t just October, it’s Walk-Tober — a chance for Poplar Bluff to enjoy the autumn air, win prizes and discover local history. The Butler County Community Resource Wellness Council has partnered with the Poplar Bluff Parks & Recreation Department and the Poplar Bluff Museum to offer three programs for walkers...

One business in Poplar Bluff and another in Dexter will each receive one of 48 marijuana microbusiness licenses issued by the state following a recent lottery. The announcement was made Tuesday by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services...

FEMA will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts Wednesday afternoon in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission. Both the EAS and WEA will be tested at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday. The WEA portion of the test will go to all consumer cell phones, while the EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and TVs...

The 2023 Iron Horse Festival kicked off with the traditional pancake breakfast at the Historic Iron Mountain Depot on Saturday morning, followed by a flagpole dedication by the Poplar Bluff High School band, JROTC Honor Guard and other community members...

Oct. 3, 1923 • A Qulin man is fatally injured in a hay baling accident. John White, 56, was forcing hay into the baler with his right leg when the “compress apparatus” caught and mangled it. White was transported to a local doctor and then to Poplar Bluff hospital, in serious condition from shock and blood loss. An update in the Oct. 4 paper stated he succumbed to his injuries the following afternoon...

Alarms started sounding at the Butler County Fire Department about 1:09 p.m. Saturday and continued non-stop until 2:32 p.m. The first of three calls was at 2181 County Road 484. According to fire reports, crews responded to a motor home on fire and fully involved upon arrival. The seven firefighters used 2,500 gallons of water in fighting the blaze...

As Naylor celebrates both its heritage and its farmers Saturday, R-II Ag Educator Roger Smith and the members of the Future Farmers of America will lead the traditional parade. Floats and fanfare for the Oct. 7 Heritage Days in Naylor will depict the theme, “A Salute to Farmers.”...

SATURDAY75 years agoSept. 30, 1948 • Robert Lee Reed, 38, of rural Harviell was arrested by Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Earl Bradley and Trooper A. Herman Hocker yesterday (Sept. 29) on behalf of Michigan authorities, Butler County Sheriff Bill Brent said this morning...

Dozens of organizations seized the chance Friday to serve locally at the annual Community Outreach Event. Businesses, food banks, health care providers and more set up booths in the First United Methodist Church parking lot. Coordinator Jennifer Lay estimated around 300 people attended this year, though attendance was still being calculated at press time. This number was down around 30% from 2022’s event...

From “A White Christmas,” to “Tommy, The Rock Opera,” Poplar Bluff’s historic Rodgers Theatre holds many fond memories for residents near and far. This is the first in a series of stories called Memories of the Rodgers running in the Daily American Republic between now and the Oct. 21 premiere of a locally filmed movie, directed by a Poplar Bluff native...

A Poplar Bluff man was arrested after at least two vehicles were involved in an accident at 10:30 p.m. Thursday at Ninth and Cedar streets. Dylan Ward, 31, of Wappapello was arrested at 10:38 p.m. by Poplar Bluff police during the investigation of the accident, according to police reports. Ward was booked on a charge of driving while intoxicated and he was lodged in the Butler County jail...

Black smoke darkened the sky on the east side of Poplar Bluff about 4 p.m. Thursday prompting callers to alert emergency responders. No one was able to provide an exact location, but Poplar Bluff firefighters soon tracked down the source at the city landfill/yard waste collection site at F Street and County Road 604...

100 years ago Sept. 29, 1923 • Butler County farmer Grady Landrum won a Ford touring car in a drawing at the Butler County fairgrounds this afternoon. There were 8,000 people estimated to be there, with much interest in the drawing. Yesterday afternoon (Sept. 28), Girard Saracini won the drawing for the third pig given away at this year’s Butler County fair...

Zion Lutheran Church of Poplar Bluff is in the beginning stages of planning to build a new church on their nearly 9-acre property on Shelby Road. The property is already beginning to change in appearance, with underbrush being removed by a company from Hillsboro, Missouri. Tentative plans include a sanctuary and fellowship hall, and a possible outdoor worship center and meditation trail, according to officials with the church...

The Green Thumb Garden Club is doubling its annual plant swap as well as having a Tree Festival. The club members have had a plant swap in the spring for many decades, but they are adding a second event Saturday at the Iron Horse Festival. It will be held in the Little, Schellhammer, Richardson & Knowlan law office parking lot, on the side nearest the Butler County Courthouse...

The delayed completion of the new junior high activity center may be near the end, as the Poplar Bluff R-I School Board learned the planned completion date is now Nov. 4. Originally scheduled to be ready for the beginning of this school year, construction was delayed due to many factors, including rainy weather and delays in roofing materials...

There is a diverse assortment of local happenings to highlight in this week’s MAIN EVENT. First United Methodist Church in Poplar Bluff is the site of Community Outreach Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. This is a one-stop event where individuals and families in need can access free services and assistance. Services include housing, social services, employment, veteran services, medical and groceries. For more information, contact: 573-778-4425 or 573-772-9128...