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From meeting the President of the United States to playing college baseball for a Hall of Fame catcher — and getting to know many others in between — Dexter attorney Sawyer Smith has lived a lifetime of experience in his 29 years. Smith’s journey started when he was recruited to play college baseball for Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida by Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter...

A loud explosion on Poplar Bluff’s south side Wednesday afternoon may have shook up some residents, but the cause is what Police Chief Danny Whiteley considers somewhat routine. It turned out to be two military grenades found recently, which were disposed of by members of the Southeast Missouri Bomb Squad at the city leaf and limb disposal site...

BREAKING: A shooting in Poplar Bluff Tuesday evening left one person seriously injured and an area of town off North Main Street cordoned off by the Poplar Bluff Police Department. According to reports, the shooting happened near the north end of the mini park near Alice and Garfield streets at approximately 7:15 p.m. Tuesday. Three people were shot, with one of them reportedly wounded seriously. The other two suffered non-life-threatening injuries...

Poplar Bluff Fire Chief Ralph Stucker lives in a world of worst case scenarios. It’s a world that has been fed for 26 years as a city firefighter with the first-hand reality of lives lost, and homes and businesses destroyed by fires his crews didn’t learn about fast enough, couldn’t fight quickly enough...

A Fisk woman died Thursday morning in a two-vehicle crash which occurred around 6:30 a.m. on Route B east of Poplar Bluff. Amanda LeGrand, 54, was driving a 2004 Dodge Durango northbound when she pulled into the path of a westbound 2000 Freightliner driven by Kyle Oberkramer, 30, of Broseley...

For Neelyville Elementary educator LaMonica Moore, a love of teaching started when she was 15-years-old and teaching Sunday school. However, that love developed more in college when she observed a class. “There was a little boy and I pulled him to the back to try and help him,” she said. “I noticed he struggled and needed a lot of help. Working with that little boy, I changed my major to a double major. So I graduated with (degrees) in elementary ed and special ed.”...

KENNETT — Kennett and Dunklin County law enforcement officials are looking for a Kennett man presumed to be on the run after he was charged in the death of another man Thursday. Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Jain announced that Jimmy L. Gooden Jr., 51, was charged with the class A felony of murder in the second degree, the unclassified felony of armed criminal action and the class D felony of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death...

The 37 graduates in the Neelyville High School Class of 2021 Saturday were challenged to dream, be accountable, conquer their fear and take the high road in life. High School Principal Justin Dobbins told the graduates and a gym filled with “people who love you” to have big dreams, whether it is college, trade school or the military...

Neelyville High School’s top two 2021 graduates praise their parents for encouraging them to do their best. Valedictorian Payton Raeann Reinbott is the daughter of Chuck and Traci Reinbott of Poplar Bluff. Reinbott said, “I want to thank my parents for always pushing me to be the best I can be.”...

By BILL ALLEN Staff Writer Over 400 years of experience and service to Poplar Bluff R-I Schools were celebrated Tuesday in a reception held at the Westwood Center. The district honored 26 retiring employees. Two retirees, in particular, were present to mark another milestone in their lifelong relationship...