POPLAR BLUFF GIRLS TENNIS TEAM TO PLAY TODAY IN STATE TOURNAMENT
The Poplar Bluff High School girls tennis team has claimed a district championship and are now turning their sights towards a state championship.
The girls won the Class 2, District 1 Team Tennis Tournament last week, defeating Notre Dame 5-2 in the championship game. It is the first tennis district championship for the Lady Mules since 2003.
The Lady Mules will travel to MICDS today to take on the Lady Rams in the MSHSAA Class 2 State Quarterfinals.
Two Lady Mules Golfers will also be starting the Class 3 State Championship tournament today. Both Rhyan Waddell and Olivia Thetford will be teeing off this morning at the Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield.
NEELYVILLE SOFTBALL EASILY DISPATCHES EAST CARTER, ADVANCES TO DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP
The Neelyville Lady Tigers defeated the East Carter Lady Redbirds 11-1 in the softball Class 2 District 1 Semifinal.
The Lady Tigers scored 3 runs in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th innings. In the bottom of the 5th Senior Reese Dobbins smashed a game ending 2 run homerun to center field.
Senior pitcher September Preslar pitched 5 innings and gave up three hits, one run, and struck out seven.
The Lady Tigers will play for the District Championship on Tuesday at 4:30 pm against the host Chaffee.
The Championship game will be broadcast live on Today’s Talk KWOC 93.3 FM and 930 AM as well as at KWOC.com. A video feed of the game will be available to purchase at MSHSAA.TV.
Pregame will begin at 4 pm.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR
A Poplar Bluff man will be sentenced early next year after admitting to recording his rape of a minor with an intellectual disability.
46 year old Jason Hicks-Simpson pleaded guilty on Friday in U.S. District Court to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor.
The victim told investigators that Hicks-Simpson had been sexually abusing them for multiple years. They also said Hicks-Simpson threatened to kill them if they did not keep it a secret.
Investigators found videos dating back to May of 2023 on his phone according to the plea agreement.
As part of the plea agreement, both sides have agreed to recommend 20 years in prison. Sentencing has been scheduled for January 31, 2025.
14 POPLAR BLUFF STUDENTS CHOSEN FOR ALL-DISTRICT CHOIR
Numerous Poplar Bluff High School students have been chosen to participate in the All-District Choir concert in November.
According to school officials, a total of 14 PBHS students were selected for the All-District Choir concert, which will be held on Saturday, November 9th, in Cape Girardeau.
Officials say that auditions consisted of a solo component – preparing an art song for a panel of judges, and sight-reading – identifying key signatures and performing a melody.
The students chosen in the freshman and sophomore section were Alexis Agee, Kate Harris and Jazlynn LeGrand in the soprano section; Dalton Rommel as tenor; and Bryden McElhaney as bass.
Selected to perform in the junior and senior section were: Victoria Conover, Cheyann Downing and Gabby Rushing in the soprano section; Frances Nelson and Virginiagrace Vandewarker as altos, Andrew Noble – tenor; and Elijah Bosch, Cayden Innes and Avain Pettigrew in the bass section.
CULVERT REPLACEMENTS TO FORCE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF BUTLER COUNTY ROAD
Route M in Butler County will be closed this week so crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation can replace several culverts under the roadway and perform pavement repairs.
The work zone is located between County Road 470 and County Road 462 near Poplar Bluff.
Weather permitting, work will take place today through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
PAVEMENT REPAIRS SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEK ON INTERSTATE 55 IN NEW MADRID COUNTY
Northbound Interstate 55 in New Madrid County will be reduced to one lane with a 10-foot width restriction this week as contractor crews perform pavement repairs.
ThE section of roadway is located from mile marker 54.6 to mile marker 56 near Matthews.
Weather permitting, work will take place from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Wednesday.
