VOTING ON USE TAX FOR POPLAR BLUFF FAILING MIGHT LEAD TO LAYOFFS
The recent voting on a use tax for Poplar Bluff on Tuesday failed with 598 for the tax and 654 against.
The tax, if passed, was going to be used on specific out of state online purchases for the same rate they would be taxed if bought from businesses.
City Manager Mark Massingham states that some non-essential functions of the city may be cut due to this, and that it is possible some layoffs will occur.
ELECTIONS HELD FOR CITY COUNCIL POSITIONS IN BUTLER COUNTY
Two seats for the Poplar Bluff City Council were decided during Tuesday’s voting.
The Council seats were won by incumbent Steve Davis, who had a total of 501 votes, and newcomer Chris Taylor, who had 485 votes.
Davis received the majority of votes from Wards 1, 2, and 3, receiving 36, 109, and 42 votes respectively. Taylor, meanwhile, won Wards 4 and 5, totaling 206 and 65 votes respectively.
ROADWAY IN BUTLER COUNTY SET TO CLOSE DURING MAINTENANCE
A roadway in Butler County will be closed for road maintenance.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, a section of Route BB, between County Road 338 and 340, will be closed while MoDOT crews replace a pipe beneath the roadway.
The work is scheduled to take place today from 8 am to 3:30 pm.
SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS HELD TUESDAY IN BUTLER COUNTY
Multiple area school boards elections were held yesterday in Butler County.
For the Twin Rivers School District, the top three vote getters were Jeff Arnold, Billy Watson, and Joshua Johnson.
The three candidates to receive the most votes for the Neelyville School District were Paul Petty, Shane Eaker, and newcomer Robert Burgett.
For the Doniphan School District, the two winning candidates were Deborah Lathum and Jane Marie Stilwell.
MISSOURI GOVERNOR SENDS NATIONAL GUARD TO MONITOR VIOLENT PROTESTING
Missouri Governor Mike Parson has issued the Missouri National Guard in response to recent protests within the state.
The decision was made during a press conference on Tuesday, where Governor Parson announced that the Guard will be sent to assist officers with cases of violent protesting- one of which resulted in the shooting of four officers in St. Louis, and the killing of retired St. Louis police captain David Dorn, who was shot outside of a pawn shop in the city.
To help keep the peace, over 1,000 troops with the Guard will be sent in response to these deadly protests.
NEW CASES OF COVID-19 REPORTED IN STODDARD COUNTY; MISSOURI CASES CONTINUE TO RISE
New confirmed cases of the coronavirus were reported in Stoddard County.
According to the Stoddard County Health Department, 10 additional cases were reported since yesterday, raising the County’s total to 94 cases. The patients have been quarantined, and the department is working with the CDC to contact anyone who may have been exposed to the virus while the patients were active.
In Missouri, as of Tuesday, there are a total of 13,575 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, and 783 deaths in the state have been directly linked to the disease.
Anyone who is showing symptoms of the virus, including fever, persistent coughing, and shortness of breath, is urged to contact their primary healthcare provider before visiting any hospital or emergency rooms.
MAN ARRESTED IN PEMISCOT COUNTY ON DRUG POSSESSION
A Caruthersville man was taken into custody in Pemiscot County on Tuesday on a drug possession charge.
According to officials with the Pemiscot County Sheriff’s Department, 42 year old Ernesto Luna was arrested on a felony charge for possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine.
Following his arrest, he was transported to the Pemiscot County Jail.
