Stories from Wednesday, May 19, 2021

The Poplar Bluff R-I School Board voted Tuesday to roll back mandatory COVID-19 prevention procedures and return to normal operations as of May 24. Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill reported the district had zero active cases and only five people under preventive quarantines...

Ollie's "Good Stuff Cheap" held their grand opening for their new store in the Mansion Mall.

Rex Dale Swiney (63) of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, formerly of Campbell, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, May 15, 2021, at the Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis, Missouri, after a fierce battle with cancer. Rex, son of George and Gladys Swiney, was born on June 26, 1957, in Poplar Bluff. Both George and Gladys preceded him in death...

Lorrie Crook, of Poplar Bluff, passed away May 16, 2021 at her residence. A memorial visitation will be Friday, May 21 starting at 4 p.m. with memorial service Saturday, May 22 starting at 11 a.m., all in the Fowler and Sons Funeral Home.

Three Rivers College will hand out “a huge number of academic credentials, and we will see almost 400 of our students walk across the stage to be honored,” said college President Dr. Wes Payne during Wednesday’s monthly board meeting. “We were not able to do commencement last year,” Payne said, “so it’s wonderful to be able to hold the ceremony this year.”...

Butler County had 22 new cases of COVID-19 this week, with the total cases in the county at 4,549, local health department Director Emily Goodin announced Wednesday during the weekly COVID briefing. Currently there are 20 active cases. “Friday, from 9 a.m. ...