Stories from Saturday, August 13, 2016

By DONNA FARLEY Staff Writer City and county officials will hold public hearings Monday to set property tax rates for the next year. A slight increase in Butler County rates is expected to generate less than $21,000 of new money, while Poplar Bluff city rates are to remain the same...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., father allegedly fired a shot toward his brother early Thursday morning after the two began to argue over the threats allegedly made toward his daughter. Just after 7 a.m. Thursday, Butler County deputies were sent to a residence in the 1500 block of County Road 553 in reference to shots having been fired inside a residence, according to Sgt. Aaron Pratt's report...

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER WASHINGTON -- You may be thrilled by the feats of Katie Ledecky, mesmerized by the grace of the women gymnasts, startled by Rio spectators mocking U.S. soccer star Hope Solo with chants of "Zika! Zika!" (the first recorded instance, noted one wit, of a stadium rocking to the invocation of a virus). ...

To the Editor: I would like to take a moment to thank all the wonderful business owners and citizens of Polar Bluff for the love and help given during the tragic fire on Broadway and Vine earlier this week. Being raised in a military family and also being a veteran myself I have lived in dozen of towns and cities around our country and the world. Without exception, I have never seen a town that will come together in a time of crises like Poplar Bluff...

The American Red Cross urges blood donors to give in the final weeks of summer to help overcome a critical summer blood shortage. The summer months are among the most challenging times of years to collect enough blood and platelet donations to meet patient needs. Many regular donors delay giving while they take vacation and participate in summer activities. The need for blood doesn't take a summer break though...

Sarah Owens and Jesse Guilliams of Poplar Bluff and Puxico have chosen the name Brogan Alexander Guilliams for their 7-pound, 2-ounce son born at 1:59 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Brogan was 20 inches long. Grandparents are Erin Owens and Clark Chrisman of Poplar Bluff and Cassie and Russ Guilliams of Puxico...

On the same day football teams around the state are set to kick off the season with jamborees, the Missouri State High School Activities Association released its official classification and district assignments for the remaining fall sports. Football and basketball found out their postseason destinations earlier this year, but on Friday, MSHSAA announced assignments for boys soccer and volleyball...

Pageants, parades and carnival are some of the activities that will be held from Aug. 19 through Aug. 27 at the annual Missouri Peach Fair in Campbell. The festivities begin on Friday, Aug. 19 with the Miss Missouri Peach Fair Pageant. The contest is for young women, ages 16 through 21 and will be held at the Campbell Community Building beginning at 8 p.m...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor Once fire investigators wrapped up their investigation Thursday into the fire that destroyed a downtown Poplar Bluff, Mo., building, the first of its walls began being demolished. Two investigators with the Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office arrived early Thursday morning to the scene in the 300 block of Vine Street where they took photographs and sifted through the rubble...

By MICHELLE FRIEDRICH Associate Editor A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man is to appear in court in September after being charged this week with animal abuse after he allegedly failed to provide adequate care for his dog, which had to be put down due to its condition...