2 elected to NV board Incumbents return to PB R-I board

Butler County voters returned two incumbents to the Poplar Bluff R-I school board and one incumbent and one former member to the Neelyville school board.

Tim Gaebler and Ken Davis received the most votes to secure their places for another term on the R-I board. Gaebler received 1,065 votes, while Davis collected 898 votes to keep his seat and Kevin Ellis netted 309 votes.

In the Neelyville school board election, Ronald Hover Jr. received 156 votes while Robert Fisher received 85 to win their seats. Travis Russom netted 84 to come in third.

Gaebler “feels awesome to spend a year” after being appointed to the board in 2020 to fill the unexpired term of Heather Tuggle and winning his first full term on the board.

Having the “community behind me feels good,” Gaebler said. “It feels good the community wanted me. I am happy they had confidence in me.”

He is the third generation of his family to serve on the board. His grandfather, Herbert Gaebler, and his father, Dale Gaebler, both were board members.

When reached by telephone, Gaebler was out picking up his campaign signs, which is another tradition his family taught him.

“We always have all of them down before daylight,” said the former teacher.

Davis, who currently serves as the vice president of the Poplar Bluff R-I Board of Education, won his third term on the board.

Winning this election, Davis said was ”no different than winning the first one. I want to do what is right for the kids. I am thankful I can continue.”

Hover Jr. is the lone incumbent running in this year’s Neelyville race.

He could not be reached for comments. Three of his children have either graduated or are currently going to school in the district. He also has two grandchildren currently attending the school.

Fisher said, “I’ve been on there once. I want to serve the community where I can. I’ve lived in Butler County and Neelyville all my life. Three of my kids have graduated from Neelyville and I have one in seventh grade.”

Fisher works in construction. When told he had only one vote more than Russom, he said, “I feel Travis would be a good one. Looks like they picked some good ones.”

When Russom was asked if he’d ask for a recount, he replied, “I probably will not. I will trust our process.”

Russom has two children attending the district.