POPLAR BLUFF SCHOOL OFFICIALS REMIND PARENTS TO GET THEIR STUDENTS VACCINATED FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR 

The Poplar Bluff school year has come to an end, but school officials are preparing for next year. 

Parents are reminded to make sure that your children are properly immunized to go to school. 

Children attending school must be immunized against tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, hepatitis B, and meningitis. 

Parents of incoming 12th graders are also reminded that two doses of the Meningococcal vaccine are required, unless the first dose was administered to a student who was 16 years of age or older, in which case only one dose is required. 

Incoming 12th graders must provide documentation verifying they received the vaccine to the school nurse before school starts in the fall. Parents are being urged to make these appointments now and not wait until right before the school year begins. 

Incoming 12th graders are also recommended to receive two doses of the HPV vaccine and one dose of the Meningococcal B vaccine.

WOMAN DROWNS IN CURRENT RIVER 

A Salem, Missouri woman drowned over the weekend while kayaking on the Current River. 

Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that 63 year old Katherine Koehnen was pushed into a downed tree by the water current, kayak overturned, and was swept under a tree. 

Officials say the incident occurred Sunday afternoon in Shannon County.

MISSOURI HOT WEATHER LAW IS NOW IN EFFECT 

Missouri’s Hot Weather Law is now in effect. 

The Missouri Public Service Commission has announced that regulated utility companies are barred from disconnecting service during periods of extreme heat. Under state regulations, shutoffs are prohibited if the National Weather Service forecasts temperatures above 95 degrees or a heat index exceeding 105 degrees between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. within the next 24 hours. The rule is designed to protect residents from health risks associated with excessive heat.

Consumers are still responsible to pay their bills. 

Officials say the law was created to protect all residential customers of investor-owned utilities from having their electric or natural gas service disconnected due to non-payment when electricity or natural gas is used as the source of cooling or to operate the only cooling equipment at the residence. 

The law is in effect each year from June 1st through September 30th.