BUTLER COUNTY OFFICIALS WARN “BE PREPARED” FOR WINTER WEATHER Snow and ice are in the forecast for Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas and officials in Butler County say now is the time to prepare.
Jeff Shawan with Butler Emergency Management says the best thing to do in times of severe winter weather is stay home. However, if you must be out, you should keep several items in your vehicle.
Shawan says make sure you have warm blankets, a flashlight with extra batteries, a first aid kit, snacks, kitty litter or sand, a shovel, booster cables and a small tool kit.
Shawan also advises that every home should have a working weather alert radio and extra batteries for it.
The National Weather Service has announced that a Winter Storm Warning will go into effect beginning at 3 pm Thursday afternoon
TEENAGER MISSING OUT OF INDEPENDENCE COUNTY ARKANSAS
Authorities in Independence County Arkansas are looking for information about a girl who went missing earlier this week.
According to KAIT, 16 year old Jordan Townsend was last seen leaving home for school on Tuesday, December 3rd.
Townsend has black hair and hazel eyes, is five foot tall and weighs 110 pounds. She may be in the Cushman area. Anyone who has information about Townsend’s whereabouts is asked to contact 870-793-8878.
NEW GROCERY STORE COMING TO POPLAR BLUFF
A new grocery store is coming to Poplar Bluff.
According to the Daily American Republic, Harps Foods has purchased land in the Cripple Creek Development. The land, which is located between the Kindergarten Center and Shelby road, will be used for the 30,000 square foot grocery store which is set to be open next fall.
Officials expect the store to hire 80 employees. The grocery store will also have a gas station. MAN SUFFERS NON LIFE THREATENING INJURIES AFTER BEING HIT BY CAR
A man is in the hospital with non life threatening injuries after being hit by a vehicle.
According to KAIT, the incident happened in Jonesboro. Witnesses reportedly told police that the man had tried crossing Huntington Avenue while a don’t walk symbol was lit.
The name of the man was not released. TIME RUNNING OUT TO REGISTER FOR SPRING CLASSES AT THREE RIVERS
Time is running out for prospective students to get registered for classes this spring at Three Rivers College.
Prospective students must have taken the ACT or Compass placement tests before becoming eligible to register for classes, and only a handful of test dates remain before the registration deadline. They must also fill out a free application and attend an orientation to be eligible to register.
Registration for the Spring semester will continue through January 10th at the Poplar Bluff campus and the centers in Sikeston, Dexter, Kennett, Malden, and Cape Girardeau. The semester starts on Jan. 13th.
More information is available online at trcc.edu. INFORMATIONAL MEETING TO BE HELD NEXT WEEK AT LAKE WAPPAPELLO STATE PARK
An informational meeting has been scheduled for next week at Lake Wappapello state park.
Park representatives will provide information about the facility and answer questions. Visitors are invited to share feedback and suggestions about park services and operations.
The meeting will be held at the Lake Wappapello park office from 3 to 5 pm on Thursday, December 12th. MISSOURI STATE VETERANS CEMETERY AT BLOOMFIELD TO PARTICIPATE IN WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA
Coming up next week, the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield will participate in the annual Wreaths Across America program.
During the ceremony a wreath will be placed on every grave in the cemetery. Families and friends of those interred as well as the general public are invited to attend.
The program will start at 11 am on Saturday, December 14th, at the Committal Shelter Pavilion at the Cemetery. CONTRACTS AWARDED FOR SOUTHEAST MISSOURI ROAD PROJECTS
Several contracts have been awarded for Southeast Missouri road projects.
The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded the contracts during a special session on December 3rd. Among the contracts awarded was a $922,457 contract for diamond grinding and asphalt pavement on Highway 412 in Dunklin County.
A $419,126 contract was also awarded for guard rail repairs and upgrades on Highway 60 between Highways 67 and 114 in Butler and Stoddard Counties. EDUCATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS SCHOOL CHANGES
A Missouri House interim education committee is recommending changes to student transfers, more funding for early childhood education and increased learning time for students.
The panel held 11 public meetings throughout the state this fall and released its report Tuesday to the House speaker.
One of its major topics was Missouri's law allowing students in unaccredited districts to transfer to neighboring districts.
The committee recommended setting a fixed rate of tuition that schools receiving transfer students could charge. It also suggested prescribing the scope of receiving districts' control over the numbers and conditions of transfers they accept.
The panel also recommended that the Legislature look at providing more money for early childhood education, and longer school days for students, especially those who struggle academically or attend troubled districts. SENATOR McCASKILL TO DELIVER COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AT SEMO
Senator Claire McCaskill will deliver the winter commencement address when 740 students graduate at Southeast Missouri State University on December 21st.
Plans for the commencement were announced by the university on Tuesday. Degree recipients will include 574 undergraduate students, along with graduate, specialist and doctoral students. Ten undergraduate students will be honored for perfect 4.0 grade point averages.
Commencement events will take place at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.
