News

The Neelyville R-IV school district will put in new lighting before the start of the fall semester.

Mass COVID-19 testing began Tuesday in Poplar Bluff, with more than 650 people expected to take part through Thursday. “Today and tomorrow, we have a quota of 250, and on Thursday, we have a quota of 150,” said Missouri Army National Guard Capt. Erika Haley...

It will cost just under $31,000 to replace the 42-year-old roof at Fire Station 1 at 200 S. Broadway. Poplar Bluff City Council members approved a low bid Monday from Meinerhagen Roofing and Sheeting of Farmington. Payment for Fire Station 1 roof will come from the city’s capital fund, according to city manager Mark Massingham...

College and industry officials say a pilot class tailored to meet the need for qualified workers in highway construction in the local area has been a huge success. Six men recently completed a six-week course (40 hours per week) and earned certificates in heavy highway construction. The course was the result of a partnership between Associated General Contractors of Missouri, Three Rivers College and area contractors...

Sabrina Ridings has been promoted to regional vice president in the National Church Residences affordable housing division, overseeing properties in California, Arizona, Washington, Idaho, Missouri, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio. “Sabrina’s experience, dedication and passion for helping others achieve success are ideal for this new role,” said senior vice president and chief operating officer of senior living and affordable housing, Steve Bodkin. ...

Butler County Health Department will begin sharing additional information Wednesday about the movements of COVID-19 positive patients. Butler County announced four new cases Tuesday, bringing the total to 108. As people have started to resume normal activities, it has become harder in some instances to identify everyone the patient came into contact with before diagnosis, according to Emily Goodin, BCHD administrator...

It's time to do your taxes — no more delays. As the coronavirus pandemic took hold this spring, the federal government postponed the traditional April 15 filing deadline until July 15. The move provided some economic and logistical relief for taxpayers dealing with the disruptions and uncertainty brought on by lockdowns, school closures and shuttered businesses. But now that new deadline is rapidly approaching...

FREE ACCESS A line of vehicles was already waiting before the 10 a.m. opening today of a mass COVID-19 testing site in Butler County. This is the first day of operation at the Libla Family Sports Complex, on the campus of Three Rivers College.

Poplar Bluff City Manager Mark Massingham laid out a stark series of numbers for council members during his last meeting at the helm of the municipal budget. The city needs to trim $200,000 from its expenses in the next couple weeks to avoid dipping into cash reserves further...

FREE ACCESS Those who haven’t yet registered to vote in the upcoming Missouri primary election but wish to do so are running out of time to complete the task. “Wednesday is the deadline,” said Butler County Clerk Tonyi Deffendall. “We have to receive it by 5 on Wednesday.”...

Contrary to original plans, some Twin Rivers High School students will be able to participate in summer school.

Mavrick K. Kipper, 24, of Poplar Bluff suffered serious injuries when his 2006 Honda 450R overturned at 3:25 p.m. Saturday, July 4, while driving near 149 County Road 449 in Scott County. According to the report, Kipper was ejected from the vehicle and was transported by Air Evac to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis for treatment...

One person suffered serious injuries in a single-car crash a 12:58 p.m. Sunday, July 5, in Butler County. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Cody A. Vaughn, 32, was traveling eastbound on Route PP, three miles west of Poplar Bluff, when his 2011 Ford Fiesta ran off the right side of the roadway, striking a traffic sign and a tree...

Two people were injured in an ATV crash at 2 a.m. Sunday, July 5, on County Road 511A, five miles southeast of Bloomfield. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Gavin M. Musgrave, 20, of Bloomfield was driving a 2016 Polaris Ranger, which failed to negotiate a curve, overturned and ejected himself and a passenger, Michael Angel, 20, of Bloomfield...

One person was killed in a single-car accident at 10:20 p.m. Sunday, July 5, in Butler County. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Donna Fee, 61, of Fruitland, Missouri, was driving eastbound on U.S. Highway 60 East about five miles east of Poplar Bluff when her 2003 Dodge Caravan struck a pedestrian in the roadway...

Route N in Butler County will be closed as Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a culvert beneath the roadway. This section of roadway is located between County Road 215 and County Road 214. Weather permitting, work will take place Tuesday, July 7 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m...

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...

Sikeston, Mo — Southeast Missouri Food Bank has scheduled more Covid-19 Response Mobile food distributions to respond to the increased need for food assistance following business closures and temporary layoffs due to the outbreak of Covid-19.

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...

GREENVILLE — Members of Greenville Lodge No. 107 A.F. & A.M., recently presented Bro. Truman Barks of Clubb with gifts and mementos from the Greater St. Louis Honor Flight organization. Barks was visited by W.B. Allen Brooks (Worshipful Master), W.B. Terance Baker (Past Master) and R.W.B. Ted Marlow (Past Master)...

Poplar Bluff has purchased an online learning program for district students after a recent change in state legislation.

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.

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...

Everyone interested in area railroad history and model train layouts will have two opportunities to visit the Moark Regional Railroad Museum on Saturday. Located in the historic 1928 Frisco Depot in Downtown Poplar Bluff, the museum will be open from 1-4 p.m. and from 6:30-8:30 p.m. for those awaiting the annual fireworks display...

The Missouri Army National Guard has announced it will be conducting live firing drills at its training site at Wappapello from 1-9 p.m. July 8 and again from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. July 9. The area, which is located along County Road 517 at Wappapello, will be closed to all public entry during the training exercise times...