Stories from Monday, October 3, 2022

Approaching Fire Prevention month, the fate of the county’s nine volunteer fire departments was a hot topic at last week’s meeting of the Ripley County Commission. There is concern that with rising costs of fuel, insurance, equipment, repairs, building maintenance and power, some of the departments may not survive much longer...

State officials are calling Tuesday's in-person "Connecting All Missourians" broadband summit in Jefferson City a "first-of-its-kind event." Cape Girardeau Central and SEMO graduate BJ Tanksley, director of the state's Office of Broadband Development, will help lead the summit and will be joined by Gov. Mike Parson and at least two other state officials...

The costs of virtually all construction materials have gone up in this year's inflationary spiral. The price of asphalt is no exception. Michael Brandon, Missouri Department of Transportation project designer for the 25-county Southeast District, told Southeast Metropolitan Planning Organization (SEMPO) stakeholders this month the increase is marked and substantial...

Local law enforcement and first responders will now be able to use 911 callers’ cellphones to see live video feeds and pictures. The new system, Prepared Live, allows dispatchers to text a web link to emergency callers that, if followed, will allow them to take video of emergency situations to provide responders with the Cape Girardeau Police Department, the Cape Girardeau Fire Department and 911 call centers with better knowledge of situations at the scene and real-time GPS coordinates ...

Rusty Lee Stratton, 33, of Harviell, Missouri, died Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at his home. Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral & Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.

Rebecca Wood, 64, of Williamsville, died Friday, Sept. 30, at her residence. Graveside service is at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Military Crossing Cemetery, Williamsville, MO. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com

After facing cancellation this year, Butler County Fair drew competitors, families and visitors to Ray Clinton Park on Friday and Saturday for a variety of events. Chalk Bluff Rodeo helped kick things off Friday night a variety of activities in the arena, including barrel racing and bull riding. Saturday offered an antique tractor show in memory of Melvin Lewis, live music, food trucks and a truck and tractor pull from USA Pullers...

Oct. 14, 2017, forever changed the lives of many Poplar Bluff residents after a tragic accident on Highway W prematurely took the lives of three local high school students. Camille McCain was one of those young lives taken too soon. McCain was an avid sportswoman with a passion for softball. She, along with her three friends, were cruising town before the accident, like teenagers so often do, according to McCain’s mother, Tawana Ashcroft...

Missouri First Lady Teresa Parson visited Monday afternoon with Neelyville R-IV students who are part of Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program. Parson shared a story about a shy young man named Sam whose involvement in the JAG program helped him develop into someone who could speak to a thousand people at the national level. She described Sam’s development as “unbelievable. JAG had given him a clear idea of what he could do. Today, Sam is working in the medical field.”...

BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT Christopher Allen Blake, 49, of Lowndes was booked at the Butler County jail Sunday, Oct. 2, on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance. ­­­­_ Brandon Lee Churchwell, 19, of Malden was booked at the Butler County jail Saturday, Oct. 1, on a failure to appear warrant for assault...