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Airport hosts skydivers, private jets, and dozens of aircraft for eclipse (4/10/24)At Poplar Bluff Regional Business Airport, all eyes were fixed on the sky. For the hours leading up to the eclipse’s grand finale, millions of dollars worth of aircraft landed in a seemingly unending procession. Sizes ranged from single-seater Cessnas to triple-engine private jets. As an added bonus, Skydive St. Louis performed two jumps, one a few hours before the eclipse and one right at the moment of totality...
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Moment of totality captured by DAR staff (4/8/24)Staff from the Daily American Republic are spread out across Poplar Bluff today, capturing all the excitement. Two of our staff members captured these images of totality.
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Guests from around the world celebrate in Poplar Bluff (4/8/24)The world came to Southeast Missouri on April 8, and Poplar Bluff was waiting. “Our community really stepped up to welcome people,” said Steve Halter, president of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. The Poplar Bluff High School campus was packed with visitors for the Total Eclipse of the Bluff, adding to the once-in-a-lifetime event with food trucks, games, music and appearances by local and state icons: record-breaking Three Rivers College coach Gene Bess alongside TRC’s Rocky Raider and Kansas City’s mascot KC Wolf.. ...
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Donations announced to help kick off BRC’s 25th anniversary celebration (4/7/24)Local officials want to mark the 25th anniversary of the Black River Coliseum by highlighting what it does best, serving the community. The goal is to raise $25,000 to benefit the charity Sleep In Heavenly Peace and hold one massive build day Aug. 10, Robbie Myers, a c-chair of the 25th anniversary event. SIHP provides beds to children who are without and currently has a waiting list.
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Virginia Tech students showed ballooning profficiency ahead of eclipse launch (4/6/24)A team from Virginia Tech demonstrated the intricacies of high-altitude ballooning Saturday at Clinton Park. Two balloons attached to flight lines will launch from either Salem, Arkansas, or Thayer, Missouri to live stream the eclipse. Ginny Smith, team mentor and 15-year ballooning veteran, oversaw the students inflating two practice balloons and preparing the payloads. The practice inflatables were just 300 gram capacity while the ones on game day will take 2,000 grams of helium...
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Retired NASA scientist to study solar eclipse from Broseley-area farm (4/5/24)Dr. Michael Meyer eats, breathes, and sleeps all things science. So, with the solar eclipse taking place on April 8, the recently retired NASA scientist thought a trip to Southeast Missouri was a fitting way to fully embrace the event. Meyer and members of his family will visit the Bieller farm in Broseley next week...
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Virginia Tech team to research and stream eclipse in Poplar Bluff (4/2/24)The stars figuratively aligned for a research team from Virginia Tech to come to Poplar Bluff for the eclipse. A group of 20 undergraduates and two graduate students led by research associate Kevin Sterne and doctoral candidate Ginny Smith will launch two high-altitude balloons in the Poplar Bluff area to live-stream the celestial event...
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Fireworks set to music at Brick’s (4/1/24)Fireworks worth $25,000 are poised to give an unforgettable show at Brick’s Off-road Park at dusk on Friday. According to president of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce Steve Halter, the 20-minute display will be set to eclipse-themed music...
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Over the Moon for the 80s joins Total Eclipse of the Bluff (4/1/24)Missouri Highlands Healthcare will sponsor Over the Moon for the 80s events throughout Total Eclipse of the Bluff. Missouri Highlands first began seeing patients in this region in the 1980s, said Robbie Myers, Butler County Emergency Management Agency director, who helped make the announcement Monday afternoon...
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Mark Twain National Forest ready to be your eclipse pick (3/29/24)Mark Twain National Forest spans 1.5 million acres. More than a third of that land will be within the path of the solar eclipse on April 8. Preparations are being put in place in case large crowds of people decide to utilize the Forest as a place to view the eclipse. ...
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City offers free shuttles for eclipse (3/26/24)Shuttles will be available April 6 and 8 to help alleviate traffic congestion in Poplar Bluff for the music festival and eclipse. President of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce Steve Halter explained the service will be free. The chamber and the city are sponsoring five shuttles, each capable of taking 30 passengers...
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Eclipse events begin this weekend (3/20/24)Are you ready for the total solar eclipse? You will be after this weekend’s MAIN EVENT roundup.
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KC Wolf coming to Poplar Bluff for the eclipse (3/18/24)He kept the crowd roaring as they cheered the Kansas City Chiefs to victory in the last two consecutive Super Bowls. Now, he will be coming to Poplar Bluff.
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Prime eclipse viewing offered by 4-H (2/27/24)The first weekend of April will see the Poplar Bluff area filled with people from all over the region, as well as some visitors from other states — and possibly even from other countries — all to get a good look at the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8.
- Wappapello delivers eclipse history, science
- Local author, artists publish children’s book about the night sky
- Local hotels see occupancy boom ahead of eclipse
- Chamber announces eclipse music festival, headlining act
- Jeff Foxworthy joins lineup of eclipse attractions
- MHAM welcomes first 2024 exhibit, announces Total Eclipse of the Arts
- Chamber promotes spring hiking challenges
More details about these events can be found in the Total Eclipse of the Bluff magazine, on the page numbers listed.
Thursday, April 4
• Poetry Slam, 6-7 p.m., WHERE Plaster Lecture Hall, Three Rivers College COST Free
• Spring Showcase, 7 p.m. WHERE Tinnin Fine Arts Center, Three Rivers College COST Free WHAT Performance by the TRC Music Department
Friday, April 5
• Karaoke , 7-11 p.m. WHERE The Camp at Lake Wappapello, 153 University Forest Dr, Wappapello COST Free
• The Platters at Rodgers, 7:30 p.m. WHERE Historic Rodgers Theatre COST $20 WHAT Live music
• Fireworks, dusk WHERE Brick’s Off Road Park COST $5
• Night Golf, WHERE Ozark Ridge Golf Course WHAT Time to be determined.
Saturday, April 6
• Wolf Creek Trail Run, 8 a.m. WHERE Wolf Creek Trail WHAT 1.7 mile walk, 6K and half marathon PAGE 15
• Total Eclipse of the Bluff Music Festival, Noon-6 p.m. WHERE Downtown Poplar Bluff WHAT Food trucks, entertainment and more. PAGE 11
• Community Easter egg hunt, 1-3 p.m. WHERE Hendrickson Park COST Free WHAT Hosted by Second Baptist Church.
• Poplar Bluff Museum open 1-4 p.m. WHERE 1010 N. Main St. COST Free
• Research balloon launch, demonstrations, 2-4 p.m. WHERE Clinton Park COST Free WHAT A research team from Virginia Tech will launch two high-altitude balloons to live-stream the celestial event. Demonstrations will be held.
• Live music from Just Enough , 7-11 p.m. WHERE The Camp at Lake Wappapello, 153 University Forest Dr, Wappapello COST Free
• A Delorean will be parked at Rodgers Theatre from 3-6 p.m. Saturday, during the Downtown music festival. Visitors will be able to take photos with the vehicle. This is part of Over the Moon for the 80s, sponsored by Missouri Highlands Healthcare. COST Free
• Night Ranger in concert, 8 p.m. WHERE Black River Coliseum COST $39, and up. WHAT Hits include, “Sister Christian,” and “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me.” PAGE 13
• An 80s-themed photo booth will be set up Saturday night during the Night Ranger concert at the Black River Coliseum. This is also part of Over the Moon for the 80s.
Sunday, April 7
• Reception for Total Eclipse of the Arts and the Plein Air Festival, 1-4 p.m. WHERE Margaret Harwell Art Museum. WHAT Sample refreshments and stunning visual arts. PAGE 17
• Poplar Bluff Museum open 1-4 p.m. WHERE 1010 N. Main St. COST Free
• A screening of “Back to the Future,” will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday. WHERE Rodgers Theatre. COST The screening is free and the first 200 people will receive free popcorn. This is also part of Over the Moon for the 80s.
• Live Music from As Is , 7-11 p.m. WHERE The Camp at Lake Wappapello, 153 University Forest Dr, Wappapello COST Free
• Jeff Foxworthy, 8 p.m. WHERE Black River Coliseum COST $20-$99 WHAT The comedian was the first to perform at the Coliseum when it opened and returns for the Total Eclipse of the Bluff. PAGE 13
• Sam A. Baker/Otahki Lake KOA Eclipse Festival, WHERE Sam A Baker State Park/Otahki Lake KOA. COST $25 day pass. WHAT Star Gazing, 5K Fun Run, Beer Garden, Live Entertainment. Event continues into Monday 4/8.
Monday, April 8
• 4-H solar eclipse festival, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. WHERE Poplar Bluff High School. COST $5, all proceeds support 4-H. WHAT Family-oriented festival. Live music by “Chains of Mercury.” And a special appearance by KC Wolf. PAGE 18
• Solar Spring 5K, 7-10 a.m. WHERE The walk/run starts at PB Realty Downtown and winds through Downtown Poplar Bluff. Medals for male and female contestants in six age groups, additional prizes for best dressed. PAGE 15
• Solar eclipse viewing and tailgate, noon WHERE Big Whiskey’s and Fairfield Inn & Suites WHAT Specials and open view of the sky.
• Total Eclipse of the Arts and Plein Air Festival, 10 a.m. WHERE Margaret Harwell Art Museum WHAT Art, food, music. PAGE 17
• Educational presentations hosted by Three Rivers College, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. WHERE Tinnin Fine Arts Center WHAT Retired NASA astronaut and Poplar Bluff resident Tom Akers, 10 a.m.; Poplar Bluff native and doctoral candidate in astrophysics Isaac Laseter, 11 a.m.; and Dr. Paul Larson, instructor in physics, will explain why eclipses occur by discussing the orbits of the sun, earth and moon, noon.
• The Dirt Shack Eclipse Viewing, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. WHERE 508 Vine St. COST Free WHAT Music from Blake Gardner and the Farmers and Kyle Schmidt, cornhole tournament ($20 per team), family fun games.
• Eclipse Viewing Event, 12 pm - 4 pm WHERE Wappapello State Park WHAT During Eclipse viewing, park staff providing activities, St. Louis University onsite to give informal talks, food, drinks and other retail items.
• Eclipse watch party, 1 p.m. WHERE The Camp at Lake Wappapello, 153 University Forest Dr, Wappapello COST Free
• Chaonia Landing Eclipse Festival, WHERE Chaonia Landing Parking Lot, WHAT Vendors, food, music, viewing glasses, and a guest astronomy speaker.
• Fellowship General Baptist Church WHERE 3581 N. Westwood, Poplar Bluff, WHAT Free family event with bounce houses, food, and games
• Eclipse at Keener Springs WHERE 3425 Hwy. JJ, Williamsville, MO. COST $20 per person, Children 10 and younger Free. WHAT A day at beautiful Keener Spring and Cave with eclipse viewing at one of the most scenic spots in Southeast Missouri.
• TOTAL ECLIPSE, 1:56 p.m.
Duration 4 minutes, 8 seconds