CITY COUNCIL APPROVES RATE HIKES FOR SEWER AND WATER IN POPLAR BLUFF
Water and sewer rates will be going up for citizens in Poplar Bluff.
During the regular City Council meeting Monday night, the council approved rate increases for Municipal Utilities.
According to information supplied by Municipal Utilities, the average water user will see an increase of $2.79 per month for 2023. The proposed rate track will have the water rate per 1,000 gallons go from the current $2.88 to $3.84 in 2027.
The average sewer customer will see an increase of $1.36 per month for 2023. The proposed rate track will result in the sewer rate per 1,000 gallons going from the current $3.00 to $3.40 in 2027.
In 2008, citizens passed a bond issue to secure monies from the State Revolving Fund for Water Treatment Improvement Projects. Municipal Utilities General Manager William Bach had previously informed the Council that the bond requires the city to make sure that rates will continually cover all expenses as well as other obligations.
The City Council also approved a bid from Summit Commercial Roofing for the roof restoration project for Fire Station Number 3.
FORMER POPLAR BLUFF AREA POSTAL WORKER SENTENCED FOR STEALING MAIL
A former postal worker from the Poplar Bluff area has been sentenced for stealing mail.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 29 year old Brittney Bulliner, was caught in a sting stealing Walmart gift cards and a gift card for Kohl’s and admitted stealing and rifling through 17 greeting cards two days before she was confronted.
The investigation began after postal customers in the Poplar Bluff area began complaining in April 2022 about mail that was missing contents. In August, Bulliner was identified as a possible suspect. She was a sales and service distribution clerk at the time.
The investigation identified at least 45 Postal Service customers who were missing mail taken by Bulliner.
She was indicted by a federal grand jury in October on two counts of theft of mail and pleaded guilty to both charges in February.
On Tuesday, Bulliner was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution.
WOMAN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN CONNECTION TO STOLEN VEHICLE
A Poplar Bluff woman has been taken into custody for allegedly stealing a vehicle.
According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, shortly after 3 pm Monday a woman reported that her car had been stolen from an area parking lot.
Officials say that the vehicle was recovered at 11:30 pm Monday night after it was involved in a motor vehicle accident.
21 year old Alisha Keirns was taken into custody at the scene.
Keirns was booked into the Butler County Jail on charges of stealing a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident.
ONE DEAD, TWO INJURED, FOLLOWING TWO VEHICLE CRASH ON INTERSTATE 55
A New Madrid woman has died following a two vehicle crash on Interstate 55.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred Monday evening, three miles south of Matthews, when a vehicle driven by 27 year old Erin Pipkin struck the rear of another vehicle.
Pipkin was pronounced dead at the scene by New Madrid County Coroner George Delisle.
A nine year old passenger in Pipkin’s vehicle was flown to a Memphis hospital with moderate injuries. An adult passenger also suffered moderate injuries and was transported to a Cape Girardeau hospital.
HEAVY RAINS RESULT IN DAMAGE TO PIEDMONT AREA ROAD
A road in the Piedmont area was heavily damaged by storms Monday night and Tuesday morning.
The Piedmont Police Department is reporting that a road going into the MeadowBrook subdivision was washed out.
A large culvert has been exposed with portions of the road missing.
Police officials are urging motorists to stay out of the area.
We have a picture of the damage available on our Facebook page.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI MAN SENTENCED ON GUN AND DRUG CHARGES
A southeast Missouri man will be spending multiple years behind bars for gun and drug offenses.
Officials with the the United States Attorney's Office tell KWOC News that 40 year old Steven Chunn, of Kennett, was sentenced Tuesday to serve a total aggregate sentence of 120 months in federal prison for the charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
At a guilty plea hearing in February, Chunn admitted that he was found to be in possession of 59 grams of methamphetamine and a semi-automatic pistol following a traffic stop in Portageville.
Chunn further admitted he possessed the methamphetamine for distribution and the firearm was for protection of the drugs and money obtained from drug sales.
At the time of his arrest, Chunn had an active warrant for a parole violation on a felony drug case out of New Madrid County. The judge ordered Chunn’s federal sentence to run consecutive to his state case.
SIGNAGE WORK TO CAUSE DELAYS ON INTERSTATE 55
Northbound Interstate 55 in Pemiscot County will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction this week as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform signage work.
The section of Interstate 55 being reduced is located from mile marker 17 to mile marker 20 near Hayti.
Weather permitting, work will take place both today and tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day.
