Stories from Monday, May 22, 2023

A delay in delivery of the permanent electrical panel for the detention center effectively halted plans to open on June 1; however, during the May 10 update, commissioners were told that they should be able to count on having the jail ready for prisoners by July 1...

Shoppers were out Saturday morning at the Ed DeGaris Memorial Farmers Market to buy fresh produce, meat, baked goods and handcrafted items. In dedicating the market Thursday to the late Poplar Bluff city councilman and police officer who gave much of his retirement to the community, city manager Matt Winters talked about the building being a hands on project...

Two Poplar Bluff students’ college funds grew recently when they received scholarships from the Poplar Bluff Housing Authority and the Missouri National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. Jacob W. Phillips, 18, received $2,000 and Kaile Harper, 20, got $500...

JONESBORO – Gerald A. Saracini passed away on Thursday, May 18, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was 86 years old. Jerry was a devoted husband, loving father, generous grandfather, and proud great-grandfather. He accepted life’s successes and challenges with unwavering gratitude and faith...

Michael ‘Mike’ David Smith, 73, of Poplar Bluff and Lady Lake, Florida, passed away Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Florida. Mike was born in Poplar Bluff on Nov. 29, 1949, to Lester Jack and Ruth Ann Odle Smith. He was a Poplar Bluff City Council member from 2003-2008 and airport manager from 2006-2017. As of 2017, Smith had been active at the airport for more than 30 years and planned to continue working with the airport development board...

Neelyville School District has applied to participate in a pilot program which officials believe would help provide additional opportunities for teaching history. The program is designed to provide more training when teaching about the Holocaust, Traci Reinbott, curriculum and director of federal programs, told board members Thursday, during a meeting that also touched on other grant, building maintenance and banking matters...

Tracey Hall is a busy person. Her main job title at Poplar Bluff High School is practical arts department head — but teachers and students know her as a go-getter, a volunteer, an inspiration and a friend. Like many teachers of the year, Hall was surprised to be awarded. She was named the Secondary Grade Level Teacher of the Year, also earning the honor for her PBHS campus...

Poplar Bluff Police An employee at Rent One reported at 7:30 a.m. Monday, May 22, a customer failed to return rented property to the store. _ An employee at Poplar Bluff High School reported at 8:01 a.m. Monday, May 22, a juvenile student wrote disparaging notes about another student on walls in three restrooms. The matter was referred to the juvenile office...

Butler County Sheriff Deon Andriel Daily, 34, of Farmington, was booked at 2:05 p.m. Monday, May 22 at the Butler County Sheriff’s Department for a writ of habeas corpus to appear for prosecution. _ Leslie Jennifer Patterson, 40, of Poplar Bluff, was booked at the Butler County Sheriffs Department at 3:08 a.m. Monday, May 22, for failure to appear on burglary charges. A cash only bond was set at $1,000...