Stories from Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Missouri Education Commissioner Dr. Margie Vandeven and the Blue Ribbon Commission detailed their efforts in addressing what was labeled a statewide teacher recruitment and retention “crisis” during their final public engagement forum held Thursday, Nov. 17, at Poplar Bluff Schools...

Donald Sexton, 83, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, died Friday, Nov. 25, 2022 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Sexton was born July 30, 1939 in Campbell, Missouri, son of the late Kenneth and Lois Sexton. He graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 1959 and had served in the Air Force defense command during the Vietnam War. ...

Animal Welfare Alliance Director Jessica West spent the majority of her day Saturday at Petsmart in Poplar Bluff uniting pets with families. “Animals in Black was a great success,” West said. She explained that black animals have the highest numbers in shelters and are often overlooked. During the special adoption event, the AWA was able to place five cats and five dogs in their furever homes...

Fires at abandoned homes are keeping the Butler County firefighters busy. Six county firefighters responded at 3:26 p.m. Monday to a structure fire at 4662 County Road 338 at Harviell. Crews spent an hour and 15 minutes battling the blaze at the property owned by Erma Gardener, but the building was lost, according to reports...

Neelyville School District is one of 25 rural school districts in the area recently awarded a clean school bus program rebate, according to the United States EPA. The Neelyville Board communicated via zoom with Brian Simmons, of Lion Electric, in regards to a quote considering electric-powered transportation for the district...

Thursday, Dec. 1 • Noon A.A. Poplar Bluff Serenity Group, 506 E. Pine St., closed meeting. Contact: 573-714-2768. • 5:30 p.m. TOPS MO 1172 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), Second Baptist Church, 503 West Pine St. PB. Weigh-in starts at 5 p.m., meeting follows. Contact: 573-712-8069 or 573-785-2017...