Stories from Thursday, August 24, 2023

Cape Girardeau — The National Response Team (NRT) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) arrived on scene Wednesday to join agents from the Cape Girardeau, St. Louis and Fairview Heights ATF Offices in investigating a large fire that destroyed parts of Buffington Farms in Williamsville, Missouri...

Distracted driving will be officially banned in Missouri starting Monday, Aug. 28, when the Siddens Bening Hands Free Law takes effect. Senate Bill 398 passed both houses of the state General Assembly in the last week of regular session in May but not without notable opposition, although none from Southeast Missouri...

Officials with John J. Pershing VA Medical Center say creating access to a temporary construction entrance is critical for growth of the facility, but residents in the surrounding neighborhood say they are concerned about how it will impact daily life...

Poplar Bluff Fire Department will host a car seat safety check event Sept. 23, as part of Child Passenger Safety Week. “Most parents and caregivers with small children do their best and believe their car seats are installed correctly. Unfortunately, they are wrong. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost 46% of car seats and booster seats are used incorrectly,” organizers shared...

The SHO-ME Marching Band gathered in mid-August for camp to prepare for their new season, but their first performance will be shorter than expected. The band was originally scheduled to march for their first and second movements during Poplar Bluff’s first football game Friday, Aug. 25, but those plans have changed due to the heat...

Donna Nixon passed away peacefully Aug. 21, 2023, at the St. Bernards Hospital in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She was born Jan. 23, 1962 to Robert and Fay (Woodall) Philpot in Campbell, Missouri. She was married to Timothy “Tim” Nixon Aug. 12, 1983, having celebrated their 40 years of happiness...

In its first meeting since the start of the school year, the Three Rivers College board unanimously voted to keep last fiscal year’s tax levy of 0.2330 cents per $100 of property valuation in place. The vote was held in a special session before the board’s regular meeting on Wednesday...

Aug. 25, 1923 • Drilling to continue at Broseley until oil is struck. H.E. Springer said this afternoon the Standard rig at the Broseley well was started today. It “will be in operation night and day ‘until oil is struck.’” “We expect to strike a good deposit of oil,” Springer said. “We have the best outfit to be found in any oil field, now at Broseley, and we are going down into the earth at a rate of from 25 to 30 feet a day.”...

Norma Summers, 80, of Perryville. Missouri, died Wednesday, Aug. 23, at The Estates of Perryville. Visitation is at 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 26, in the Williamsville Assembly of God Church. Funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. also in the church. Burial is in Duncan Cemetery...

POPLAR BLUFF POLICE DEPARTMENT An employee at J.C. Penney at 515 S. Westwood Blvd. reported on Saturday, Aug. 19, a white female stole merchandise from the store. When the employee confronted the suspect outside, she fled the scene on foot, dropping stolen merchandise as she ran. The theft was captured on video...

MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL Eric L. Jackson, 40, of Ellsinore was arrested at 1:34 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23, in Carter County on suspicion of felony possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and no plates. He was booked at the Carter County jail...