Stories from Thursday, February 8, 2024

In 1949, Poplar Bluff shows traits of a growing metropolis — robust parking meter profits, growing schools and plans for a city centennial. Feb. 8, 1924 • The Justrite Oil Company is almost finished with construction in Sikeston and Poplar Bluff. The DAR’s predecessor, The Interstate American, declared the Sikeston location “one of the best bulk stations...that can be found in Southeast Missouri” and noted the “beautiful brick filling station” north of Poplar Bluff will open March 1...

With Neelyville School District’s recent decision to move to a four-day week, the number of schools doing the same in Missouri swelled to 163. This new model of education has elicited strong perspectives. The response of students and teachers has been overwhelmingly positive according to Carie Fowler, superintendent of the Malden School District. Malden moved to the new model after the COVID-19 pandemic. She observed a significant increase in faculty and student morale...

The new year is underway, and it’s a time when people will normally be looking at their tax information for breaks. In Wayne County there is a location that can help with that. The Williamsville Area Association of Senior Citizens, Inc., (more commonly known as the Wayne County Nutrition Center) is now part of a program allowing people to donate while obtaining tax credits for the future...

A waiver of the city’s commercial solar panel policy was approved in a split vote Monday by the Poplar Bluff City Council. This had been a discussion item during December and January meetings. The waiver for Empire Comfort Systems was amended following a motion by Mayor pro tem Jerrica Fox. It was approved by Fox, Mayor Shane Cornman, and council members Lisa Parson, Barbara Horton and Mark Massingham. Council members Billy DePew and Robert Smith voted against the measure...