Stories from Wednesday, February 12, 2020

A candidate forum will be held April 2 to help provide more information on the large number of candidates running for two Poplar Bluff City Council at-large seats. One incumbent and eight challengers have filed for the seats, which will be decided in the April 7 election...

Photo provided Bread+Butter and owners, Matt and Erin Dodd, will provide lunch Feb. 13 for veterans honored at ceremony hosted by the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. Matt Dodd told VA staff, “Veterans have played a crucial role in protecting our freedoms and our country. We can’t thank these individuals and their families enough for the sacrifices they have made ensuring our safety and way of life. Giving back is the best way we can say thank you.”...

Mildred Sinks, 91, died Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. She was born Oct. 27, 1928, in Lafe, Ark. Her parents Marion and Agatha Sinks preceded her in death. She retired as a line worker at General Motors. She was a member of Second Baptist Church of Poplar Bluff...

Today, Three Rivers College and the Associated General Contractors of Missouri (AGCMO) announced a new workforce partnership designed to bring additional job training for the construction industry and new employment opportunities to Southeast Missouri. The collaboration will include career days, community outreach, education on available careers in construction, classes, certificate programs and other expanded curricula.

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL Kearstyne L. Johnson, 25, of Poplar Bluff was arrested at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, on a Butler County failure to appear warrant for receiving stolen property and possession of marijuana and on suspicion of possession of marijuana. She was booked at the Butler County jail...

City firefighters responded at 6:33 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, to a report of a disabled vehicle in the 3000 block of Oak Grove Road. According to the report, firefighters found two vehicles blocking westbound traffic, with two people standing on the side of the road...

The last remaining small game hunting seasons are closing in Missouri on Saturday, giving rabbit and squirrel hunters only a couple days left to head afield. At this point, everything has been pressured for quite some time, so the hunting might not be especially easy. However, I have seen quite a few gray squirrels and a good number of rabbits while driving along area backroads, so the potential is there for a strong finish...

The annual Poplar Bluff City Cemetery clean up begins March 2, according to the Poplar Bluff Street Department. Workers will clean both the city and Woodlawn portions. The street department asks individuals remove any flower arrangements, personal items and other decorations they would like to keep before March 2. The clean up will be complete March 31...

Clarence F. Smith, 90, of Neelyville died Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mr. Smith was born Oct. 5, 1929, Butler County, Mo. He was a lifelong resident of the Coon Island and Neelyville area. He was a member of the Coon Island General Baptist Church...

CAPE GIRARDEAU — A Poplar Bluff man made his first appearance in federal court Wednesday after his recent indictment on multiple gun-related felonies. Butler County deputies reportedly turned Carlos James Wallace, 31, over Wednesday morning to agent(s) with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, who took him to Cape Girardeau...

Christopher John Batrano, 51, of Poplar Bluff, passed away Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 at Southeast Hospital after a long battle with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Christopher was born March 6, 1968 in Camden, New Jersey to John and Georgiana Batrano. Chris was a graduate of Poplar Bluff High School, attended TRC and graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia Mizzou with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. He worked for EPM in Fulton, Mo., as a systems programmer. He retired in 2004...

A judge has dismissed a court case filed to prevent the city of Poplar Bluff from purchasing property on Shelby Road. The issues to be decided by the court were very narrow and related to the wording of an ordinance passed Nov. 4 by the council, according to a judgement issued Monday by Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett. The case was filed Nov. 13 by local attorney Robert Smith...

From potato batteries and student participation rates to shampoo quality and magnetized trains, the students at Fisk Middle School conducted a variety of experiments for the annual science fair held Tuesday night.

Education played an important role in the lives of five Poplar Bluff women, who have formed a community outreach organization named “Women of Purpose” to help others negotiate the road to success.