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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.”...

If things go as Poplar Bluff officials hope, residents of the city and surrounding areas may have a new place to fish in the future. On the drawing board is a potential fishing pond, to be constructed in what is expected to be called the Pike Creek Park. It would be located in the low, wetland area of the city’s new property between Roxie Road, Shelby Road and Kanell Boulevard, and adjacent to the under-construction police department...

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...

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.”...

A former Poplar Bluff resident will have a hand in helping the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope find new galaxies. Launched two weeks ago, Webb is outfitted with the largest and most sensitive mirror ever put into space. Isaac Laseter is currently a graduate student with the University of Wisconsin and a year ago had an opportunity to join the team working on the Near Infrared Spectrograph, one of four main instruments on the James Webb Space Telescope. ...

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...

A Poplar Bluff man is in jail on arson charges after he allegedly tried to burn down his estranged wife’s home, and then returned to the property while law enforcement responded to the fire. Tommy L. Rouse Sr., 44, of the 600 block of Carolyn Drive, is charged with the Class B felony of first-degree arson in relation to a fire that took place Friday on Wallace Street...

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...

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...