Monday, April 20, 2026
SPRING SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS NIGHT SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT AT RODGERS THEATRE
Butler County residents will have the opportunity to learn more about staying safe during severe weather at a special upcoming event in Poplar Bluff.
The Butler County Emergency Management Agency and Missouri Highlands Healthcare will be hosting a Spring Severe Weather Preparedness Night tonight at Rodgers Theatre in Downtown Poplar Bluff. The event will be free and open to the public.
Starting at 5 pm, attendees will get to meet members of the SEMO Safety Network and visit with volunteers from the Poplar Bluff Severe Weather Response Team along with Today Talk KWOC’s Frankie Casteel.
There will be a presentation and panel discussion starting at 6 pm featuring behind the scenes stories from those delivering weather updates during storms as well as tips on how to keep your family safe during severe weather.
Immediately following the discussion, Rodgers Theatre will be holding a watch party for American Idol as Hannah Harper takes the stage for Disney Week.
JACOB NICKELSON SELECTED AS NEW POPLAR BLUFF R-1 ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
The Poplar Bluff School Board has selected the district’s next Athletic Director.
Board members voted Thursday night to name Jacob Nickelson as the new Athletic Director. He will replace current AD Joe Brown, who is leaving the district this summer.
Nickelson is already a familiar face in Poplar Bluff, currently serving as Assistant Athletic Director. His background in the district also includes time as a junior high basketball and football coach, along with serving as an assistant baseball coach.
A 2012 graduate of Fulton High School, Nickelson went on to continue both his education and baseball career at Three Rivers College before finishing at the University of Central Missouri. While at UCM, he earned recognition in both the university’s Baseball Hall of Fame and Athletics Hall of Fame. He also holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership.
Nickelson brings a well-rounded résumé in both coaching and administration. He served as an assistant baseball coach at Poplar Bluff from 2016 to 2019 before moving to Winona, where he coached baseball and basketball while also serving as Athletic Director from 2019 to 2022. He then became head baseball coach at Van Buren in 2022 and later took on a dual role as head baseball coach and Athletic Director from 2023 to 2024, leading the program to two district championships.
He returned to Poplar Bluff in 2025 as Assistant Athletic Director and now steps into the district’s top athletic leadership role.
Nickelson, his wife Brittany, and their daughter Chloe say they are excited to continue serving the Poplar Bluff community.
He will officially assume the position on July 1.
SPRING TURKEY SEASON BEGINS TODAY IN MISSOURI
The regular spring turkey season is underway in Missouri.
According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, Turkey Season will run through May 10th.
Conservation officials say that two male turkeys or turkeys with visible beards may be taken during the season by Missouri residents and nonresident landowners.
Hunters are allowed to take only one turkey during the first week and if you do not take one during the first week, then you may take two turkeys during the second and third week.
Hunters are also not allowed to take two turkeys on the same day.
Nonresident hunters may harvest only one bearded turkey.
For more information, visit mdc.mo.gov.
AREA LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HOST DRUG TAKE BACK EVENT
Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas residents will have a chance to safely dispose of their unused, unwanted, or expired prescription drugs this week.
Multiple area law enforcement agencies will be participating in National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25th from 10 am to 2 pm.
You can find a drop off location in your area by going to DeaTakeBack.com.
MDC RECOMMENDS YOU DON’T PLANT INVASIVE CALLERY PEAR TREE
Spring is underway and the Missouri Department of Conservation is cautioning residents to stay away from planting a specific kind of tree.
MDC officials are urging the public to avoid the Callery pear tree.
Also known as the Bradford pear, Cleveland Select, Autumn Blaze, or Aristocrat, the Callery pear tree is a highly invasive tree that multiplies quickly and crowds out Missouri native plants.
Callery pears’ ability to cross-pollinate is why many roadsides, rights-of-way, parks, and other natural areas are filled with white blooms every spring.
Missourians with Callery pear trees on their property have the opportunity to cut down their trees and receive a free, noninvasive tree in return at several “buy-back” events around the state from 3 to 6 pm on April 21st, including in Doniphan and Sikeston.
To qualify, participants must submit a photo of their cut-down Callery pear online. One free native tree will be provided to each registered participant at the selected location.
For more information on the buy-back events and how to register, visit MOInvasives.org.
BRIDGE REHABILITATION PROJECT BEGINS TODAY IN WAYNE COUNTY
Route 134 in Wayne County will be reduced through early August so contractor crews can rehabilitate the bridge over Clark Creek.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, the bridge is located between County Road 312 and Route 143.
Work began this morning with completion anticipated by Monday, August 3rd, weather permitting.