Thursday, January 15, 2026
LOANS AVAILABLE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND PRIVATE NONPROFITS AFFECTED BY DROUGHTS
Small businesses and private nonprofits affected by drought in southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas are now eligible for low interest federal disaster loans.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, the loans are to offset economic losses caused by drought beginning September 9th, 2025.
The declaration covers 36 Missouri counties, including Butler, Carter, Ripley, Stoddard, and Wayne as well as nine Arkansas counties including Clay and Randolph.
Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs including faith-based organizations with financial losses directly related to the disaster.
The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.
More information is available at sba.gov/disaster.
THREE RIVERS COLLEGE TO OPEN NEW CLASSROOM IN FAIRDEALING
Three Rivers College will soon be opening a new classroom in Fairdealing.
Members of the public are invited to attend a ribbon cutting for the new Farm Credit Ag Classroom building at 1:30 p.m. on January 22nd, at the TRC Farm in Fairdealing.
The classroom is part of a partnership between Three Rivers College and Farm Credit Southeast Missouri that includes new agriculture education classrooms at TRC locations in Poplar Bluff, Dexter, Kennett, Sikeston, and Fairdealing.
23 ACRES OF LAND DONATED TO MISSOURI VETERANS CEMETERY IN BLOOMFIELD
A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held this week to celebrate a recent donation to a veterans cemetery.
According to officials, over 23 acres of land has been donated to the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
A small reception and ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 10 am on January 16th at the MVC-Bloomfield conference room.
WOLF CREEK TRAIL RUN SCHEDULED FOR APRIL
A marathon run is coming this spring to the Poplar Bluff area.
The Poplar Bluff Kiwanis Club and US Forest Service will host the 13th Annual Wolf Creek Trail Run on Saturday, April 4th. The Half Marathon will begin at 8 am, while the 6K run and 1.7 mile walk will start at 9:30 am.
Proceeds from the event will go to Kiwanis Bacon Memorial Park.
For more information, including pricing and how to register, visit UltraSignup.com.
CREWS TO CONTINUE WORKING TODAY ON ROUTE FF IN BUTLER COUNTY
Route FF in Butler County will be closed again today as Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a culvert under the roadway.
Today’s closure will be located between County Road 624 and County Road 622 near Fisk. While work takes place, the road will be open to local traffic only.
Weather permitting, work will take place today from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
PAVEMENT REPAIRS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY IN DEXTER
One Mile Road in Stoddard County will be reduced today so crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation can perform pavement repairs.
Crews will be working in Dexter today from Business 60 to Christian Drive.
Weather permitting, work will take place through 3 p.m.