KENNETT MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SECOND DEGREE MURDERA Kennett man will be sentenced in April after pleading guilty to a murder charge.
According to Missouri Case Net, Allan Branum pled guilty to 2nd degree murder on Wednesday. The charge is in connection to the 2014 shooting death of his wife Regena Branum.
Branum’s sentencing date was set for April 21st.
PIEDMONT MAN ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE DRUG CHARGES A Piedmont man is facing multiple drug related charges following his arrest in Wayne County.
Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell us that 25 year old Timothy Whitaker was taken into custody shortly after 6 pm Wednesday on charges of possession of a controlled substance - methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana.
Whitaker is also facing a felony charge of 1st degree child endangerment.
SECOND CANDIDATE FILES FOR BUTLER COUNTY EASTERN DISTRICT COMMISSIONER A second candidate has filed for the Butler County Eastern District Commissioner seat.
Broseley resident Bobby King filed for the spot on Wednesday. King is challenging incumbent Don Anderson who filed for reelection on Tuesday.
The primary election will be held in August.
THREE RIVERS LITERARY MAGAZINE RECEIVES NATIONAL HONORS Three Rivers College’s annual literary journal has been chosen for a national honor.
“Confluence,” received two awards from the American Scholastic Press Association for its 2015 issue. The journal, which is put together by the college’s languages department, contains poetry, short fiction, and essays written by Three Rivers’ students, faculty, and staff.
“Confluence” was one of five literary magazines to receive “First Place with Merit.” The award is given for excellence in design, layout, content, and editing. The journal also received the Outstanding Theme award for its “Back to the Future” theme.
The magazine is distributed for free each year at Three Rivers’ open mic poetry night. This year’s event will be held on Tuesday, April 26th, at 6 pm in room 108 of the Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center on the college’s Poplar Bluff campus.
Admission to the event is free.
ARREST MADE AFTER STOLEN ITEMS RECOVERED FROM DUNKLIN COUNTY RESIDENCE One man has been arrested after authorities recovered several stolen items from a Dunklin County residence.
A search warrant was executed at the residence in Senath and authorities found items, including hand tools and four wheelers, which had been taken during burglaries in Dunklin and Pemiscot Counties.
31 year old Trent Martin, of Senath, was taken into custody. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and more arrests could be made.
POPLAR BLUFF WOMAN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON WAYNE COUNTY WARRANTS A Poplar Bluff woman has been taken into custody in Butler County on multiple warrants.
According to authorities, 37 year old Tracy Rodgers was arrested Wednesday night on Wayne County warrants for narcotic possession and identity theft.
Following the arrest, Rodgers was held in the Butler County Jail.
ONLY TWO COMPETITIVE RACES SO FAR FOR MISSOURI SENATE AND HOUSE SEATS AFFECTING BUTLER COUNTY Missouri State Senator Doug Libla and State Representative Steve Cookson are both facing Democratic challengers to their seats this fall.
Both Republicans filed for reelection this week to the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Bill Burlison, of Wardell, filed for Libla’s position as Senator for District 25, which covers eight counties including Butler, Stoddard, and Carter.
Cookson will face Matt Michel, of Fairdealing, for representative of District 153, which covers all of Carter and Ripley County, along with Northern Butler County and Southern Wayne County.
Southeast Missouri’s Representative for the United States Congress will have a race in both the primary and the general election this year.
Incumbent Jason Smith, of Cape Girardeau, will take on Todd Mahn, of Desoto, and Phillip Smith, of Gatewood, in the Republican primary. Libertarian Jonathan Shell, of Fredericktown, also filed for the seat.
MEETING TO BE HELD IN QULIN TO DISCUSS UPCOMING BUTLER AND DUNKLIN COUNTY BRIDGE PROJECT Officials with the Missouri Department of Transportation will be holding a public meeting today in Qulin to discuss an upcoming bridge project in Butler and Dunklin Counties.
The project includes constructing a bridge over the St. Francis River on Route 53 to replace the existing St. Francis River and overflow bridges at the location.
Improvements are expected to begin in Spring 2017, with completion anticipated in Fall 2018.
A public meeting to discuss the project will be held from 4 to 6 pm at the Qulin Middle School.
Project Manager Eric Krapf tells us that visitors can stop-by anytime between 4 and 6 pm to discuss the details of the project with a member of the project team and provide their comments.
