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WAPPAPELLO — One person died in an early-morning house fire near Wappapello Monday while two others narrowly escaped. “The call was received at 4:16 a.m.,” said Wayne County Sheriff Dean Finch. “Basically, the call came in as a structure fire,” Finch added. “and the Wappapello Fire Department was paged out.”...

Dr. Fred Caldwell, who died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, is described as a pillar of the community and his church. He lived his life according to biblical principles of kindness, generosity, strength and compassion, according to those who knew him best. “Dr. Fred Caldwell did not live his life for self, he lived for a savior,” First Baptist Church lead pastor Brandon Spain said. “He was a man who was perfectly fine with living in the shadows so the savior could receive all the glory and honor.”...

An Ellsinore man sits in the Butler County jail after he allegedly molested an eight-year-old child. Jimmy D. Farrar, 39, of Ellsinore is charged with the Class A felony of first-degree child molestation, two unclassified felony counts of statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy on a child under the age of 12, and one unclassified felony count of first-degree statutory rape or attempted statutory rape of a child under the age of 12...

The Twin Rivers school district closed Wednesday, Jan. 12, through the holiday weekend due to low attendance from widespread illnesses. The shutdown is not due to staffing shortages, although a statement on the district’s Facebook confirmed some employees are also sick...

A Doniphan man was charged with involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment in the death of his daughter. Four-year-old Brooklyn Jo Buse died shortly before 2:30 a.m. Saturday, May 22, 2021, while riding an ATV with her parents near the Dunrovin campground on Current River...

Heather Black will be the new superintendent for the Neelyville R-IV School District when current superintendent Debra Parrish retires. Black is currently principal of Neelyville Elementary. The decision was made Tuesday during a special meeting of the school board, which also has closed campuses through Friday due to illness among both students and staff...

A Poplar Bluff man faces child molestation charges in Ripley County after he allegedly had sexual contact with a girl over a period of several years. David M. DeRousse, 42, of the 200 block of Red Robin Lane is charged with three Class B felonies of first-degree child molestation, three Class C felonies of third-degree child molestation and the Class E felony of fourth-degree child molestation...

The Poplar Bluff Police Department reports several incidences of citizens assisting officers with the apprehension of suspects, but cautions doing so can be dangerous. “Over the past couple of weeks, the Poplar Bluff Police Department has been provided help from it’s citizens in the apprehension of suspected criminals,” said Capt. ...

A Wayne County man’s 2018 convictions on charges of manslaughter and armed criminal action were vacated Tuesday by the Missouri Supreme Court, sending the case back to circuit court. Samuel J. Whitaker was convicted in Wayne County in the 2013 shooting death of his stepson-in-law, Carl Streeval. He was sentenced to 10 years for manslaughter and 13 years for armed criminal action...

A public comment period will be open until Feb. 17 on the second phase of upgrades to Highway 67 south as part of a future Interstate 57 project. The Missouri Department of Transportation will hold a virtual meeting from 4-6 p.m. Feb. 3 to discuss the planned work...