POPLAR BLUFF CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE THREE NEW MEMBERSThere will be three new members of the Poplar Bluff City Council.
According to the Butler County Clerk’s website, both Jack Rushin and David Johnson were elected to the two at large seats in the Poplar Bluff City Council over Ron Black and incumbent Susan McVey. The other at large seat had been occupied by Loyd Matthews, who passed away in January.
For the Ward 5 seat, Peter Tinsley defeated incumbent Robert Louis Smith by 27 votes.
In other contested city races in Butler County, Glen Sedrick was elected Qulin mayor and Cheryl Johnson-Carter was elected as Alderman for Ward 1 in Qulin. POPLAR BLUFF TAX LEVY PASSES A new Poplar Bluff tax levy increase of 80 cents was passed yesterday during the General Municipal Election.
The levy will facilitate improvements to the Poplar Bluff School District which will also include transferring the High School to the current site of the 5th and 6th grade center, while 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students will move to the existing High School site.
The vote total was 2,850 yes votes and 2,226 no votes.
A Neelyville school proposition for construction, renovating, remodeling, and improvement of school facilities at both the Hillview and Neelyville campuses did not receive the necessary 57 percent of yes votes it needed to pass, only amassing 51 percent of the vote. TWO NEW MEMBERS ELECTED TO THREE RIVERS COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Two new members will soon be joining the Three Rivers College Board of Trustees.
Chris Williams and Eric Schalk were elected to the board yesterday, with each receiving over 3,100 votes. Wilbur Thornton, who has served on the board since 2008, came in third on the ballot with just over 2,300 votes. BUTLER COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD RACES Three People have been elected to the Poplar Bluff School Board.
According to the Butler County Clerk’s office, Steve Sells, and Alana Robertson were reelected to the Board of Education, joining newcomer John Scott, who had the highest vote total.
Robert Thurman, Billy Watson, and Roger Baxter, were chosen for the Twin Rivers Board of Education.
For the Neelyville Board of Education, voters in Butler County chose Robert Dean Fisher, Paul Petty, and Shane Eaker. TWO MISSING AFTER BARGE CAPSIZES NEAR BLYTHEVILLE Authorities say a barge capsized on the Mississippi River in northeast Arkansas and that two people who fell into the water are missing.
The barge overturned Tuesday at a shipping terminal near Blytheville.
Richard Wheatley, a spokesman for the Houston-based company that owns the terminal, Kinder Morgan, says the barge was being unloaded when it capsized.
The Coast Guard is searching the river for two people who fell into the water. The missing people's names weren't released.
Coast Guard Lieutenant Brandon McMillan says the barge was carrying steel coils, and that he doesn't know if anything that fell into the river poses an environmental concern. RESUME PREPARATION CLASS TO BE HELD AT POPLAR BLUFF LIBRARY Job seekers wanting to make sure that they stand out for employers should attend a resume preparation class this Thursday.
The class will be held from 1 to 3 pm Thursday at the Poplar Bluff Public Library. The class is free and open to the public, but space is limited, so registration is recommended.
To register, fill out the online registration form at poplarbluff.org or call 573-686-8639. ILLINOIS MAN ARRESTED IN CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY ON DRUG CHARGES An Illinois man is facing multiple marijuana related charges following his arrest Tuesday night.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 27 year old Jarmez L. Smith, of Cairo, Illinois, was arrested shortly before 8 pm in Cape Girardeau County on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute – marijuana.
Smith is also charged with possession of a controlled substance – marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. BILL WOULD KEEP COMMON CORE IN PLACE IN MISSOURI UNTIL AT LEAST 2016 Missouri's Republican-led House has backed off its opposition to new education standards and endorsed legislation to keep them in place while a commission studies their effectiveness.
State education officials voted to adopt the Common Core State Standards in 2010. Since then, opponents have charged that the standards take away control of curriculum from local school districts.
But House opponents acknowledged Tuesday that schools have already spent money to implement the standards for assessments tests scheduled for this fall. They agreed to allow them to remain in place until a group makes a recommendation for the 2016-17 academic year.
The group would be charged with developing standards for English, language arts, math, history and government.
The bill needs one more vote before moving to the Senate. MISSOURI VOTERS COULD BE ASKED TO DECIDE ON ONE CENT SALES TAX FOR TRANSPORTATION FUNDING Missouri voters would be asked to approve a one-cent sales tax for transportation funding under legislation endorsed by the state House.
The proposed constitutional amendment approved on Tuesday would appear on the November ballot if passed by the Legislature. It needs another affirmative vote in the House before moving to the Senate.
State transportation officials estimate the tax to generate about $800 million annually. It would need to be reauthorized by voters after 10 years to remain in effect. Ten percent of the funds raised would go toward local transportation projects.
Supporters say the penny tax is necessary for the state to maintain roads and bridges, and to finance new infrastructure projects. Opponents say the sales tax hike would disproportionately hurt low-income Missourians who may not frequently use roads. PIPE REPLACEMENT SCHEDULED FOR TODAY IN NEW MADRID COUNTY Highway 153 in New Madrid County will be closed today so Missouri Department of Transportation crews can replace a pipe under the roadway.
The work zone will be located between Route B and County Road 240.
Work is scheduled to take place today from 8 am to 3 pm.
