Popular Stories

PB schools invests in virtual instruction (7/2/20)

Students in the Poplar Bluff R-I district area will have the option next school year to take courses virtually with an R-I teacher, a need that was highlighted by the school cancellations during the pandemic.
Fisk man stabbed, girlfriend arrested (7/1/20)

An apparent domestic dispute early Tuesday morning between a Fisk couple left one with multiple stabs wounds and his girlfriend in jail. Butler County deputies were called to a home in the 500 block of Fourth Street at about 2:45 a.m. regarding a report of a man “being covered in blood, acting erratic and screaming” for an ambulance to be called, Deputy Austin Dunlap wrote in his report...
Pandemic pays for increased courthouse security (6/30/20)

Making sure everybody who enters the Butler County Courthouse is safe and free of COVID-19 has become the responsibility of two retired Poplar Bluff police officers. Stationed just inside the east door of the courthouse are retired Lt. Ralph Jefferson and Patrolman Jim Gerber, who ask health-related questions, take temperatures and man a metal detector...
Admitted Qulin drug dealer faces minimum 10-year sentence (7/2/20)

CAPE GIRARDEAU — A Butler County man faces a mandatory minimum 10 years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty Wednesday to drug- and weapons-related crimes. Jestin L. Smith, 34, pleaded guilty to the felonies of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Sorrell...
Mass coronavirus testing available at Libla July 7-9 (7/1/20)

Mass testing for COVID-19 will be available in Poplar Bluff from July 7-9. The free, drive-through tests will be performed at the Libla Family Sports Complex and are open to all Missouri residents. People do not need to be showing symptoms to be eligible, and there is no need to present insurance information or have a doctor's order...
Decriminalization of marijuana would help our community (6/30/20)

To the Editor: I hereby declare that I fully support the decriminalization of marijuana. I support decriminalization because... 1.) My mother passed away from a prescription narcotic overdose in November of 2011, at the age of 46. 2.) I believe that marijuana is a lifesaving plant, as people suffering from debilitating pain and/or terminal illnesses can use marijuana and be relieved of pain, without having to deal with the many negative side-effects of narcotics...
Butler County reaches 100th case of COVID-19 (7/6/20)

The Butler County Health Department announced the county’s 100th confirmed case of COVID-19 Monday morning. Of those cases, 68 are classified as recovered, 30 as self isolating and one is hospitalized. There is one confirmed death. The county saw four new cases Friday and one Sunday as well...
Butler County Fair continues with parade, pageant (7/4/20)

The Butler County Fair’s festivities continued Saturday as hundreds of area residents lined the streets of downtown Poplar Bluff to celebrate freedom with a July 4th parade. Children, and some adults alike, scampered for candy as floats, antique vehicles, emergency responders and others passed by along the parade route...
Park dept. is positive asset (6/30/20)

To the Editor: I experienced this (the weekend of June 20) such a positive event for your community in Poplar Bluff. It is my opinion this happened because of the support of the park department finally allowing a large venue, which was a youth sanctioned baseball tournament...
Autopsy scheduled for Qulin man found after house fire (6/30/20)

QULIN — An autopsy will be performed Wednesday on a Qulin man whose body was found in a burning trailer early Monday morning.