Looking back at 2024: Final quarter brought more changes

October started with a large community event and the Poplar Bluff Community rallied to help a family after a Christmas tragedy. These and many more stories filled out the final three months of the year.

OCTOBER

Tuesday, Oct. 1

• The city of Poplar Bluff enjoyed the largest attended Iron Horse event in its 15th year. The event was held downtown the weekend before and saw multiple vendors and pedestrians enjoying the event.

• Officers arrested Kevin D Spratt, 26, of Poplar Bluff on charges of armed criminal action, first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon after a weekend shooting of an individual who survived with non-life threatening injuries.

Wednesday, Oct. 2

• The North-side Nutrition Center marked their 50th anniversary with a commemorative dinner and fundraiser. The center noted they currently serve an estimated 350-400 individuals over the age of 60 with meals delivered to their homes.

Thursday, Oct. 3

• The theft of a car leads to a fatal two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Highway 53 and Highway 142. According to the report, Sharnea Brown, 38, of Poplar Bluff stole a 1987 Chrysler Fifth Avenue and was struck by a 2022 Kia Carnival. Brown was pronounced dead at the hospital.

• Jamie Hardesty and Jesse Schraeding of Poplar Bluff were both arrested on charges of child neglect after multiple instances if a very young child being found wandering unattended in public. Police had previously responded to the same type of call less than 6 months earlier involving the same child and the same adults.

Friday, Oct. 4

• Eric “Quinn” Moore, of Lowndes, was arrested after the fatal shooting of a woman and near-fatal shooting of another man. An extensive manhunt involving multiple law enforcement officer sled to the arrest of Moore later that evening.

• The annual Haven House trail ride raised $21,000 for the shelter. The collected funds go to cover operating expenses and serve as matching grant funding.

Saturday, Oct. 5

• Two people are found dead after a propane tank exploded at a Butler County residence. Danny Batchelor and Diana Baker were found after emergency personnel cleared the scene and firefighters extinguished the fire.

Tuesday, Oct. 8

• Dakota Christian Schrieber, 29, of Fenton, was arrested on the charge of first-degree sodomy/attempted sodomy with a victim less than 12 years old.

Thursday, Oct. 10

• East side flood zone designation looms as FEMA and local officials clash. Federal officials claim they have waiting on necessary paperwork from Butler County for 10 years, while county officials claim they didn’t have the necessary documents. Large sections of the east side could be placed at a higher flood risk category as a result.

Saturday, Oct 12

• Judge Wade Pierce rules that Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner knowingly violated the law when he refused to release body camera footage of a 2023 incident where a family dog was shot by a deputy. Hefner was ordered to pay more than $6,000.

Tuesday, Oct. 15

• The Boys and Girls Club of the Heartland breaks ground on a new 31,000 square-foot Regional Workforce Development Teen Center next to Highway 67 and the Poplar Bluff High School.

• Rodriguez Hopkins, 24, of Poplar Bluff, is injured after being shot by a homeowner after allegedly breaking into the residence. Rodriguez faces charges of first-degree burglary and second-degree property damage.

Wednesday, Oct. 16

• The Missouri State Fire Marshal joined forces with the Poplar Bluff Fire Department to investigate alleged arson and burglary that took place a few days earlier at the 700 block of Vine Street.

Saturday, Oct. 19

• Jason R Hicks-Simpson pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor in federal court. Butler County Prosecutor Paul Oesterreicher said Hicks-Simpson will still face charges in Butler County despite the federal conviction.

Thursday, Oct. 24

• A high-speed chase that started in Arkansas culminated with the suspect being fatally shot in Poplar Bluff after he fired at officers who were in pursuit. The incident started when the suspect robbed a package store in Arkansas and started driving north into Butler County.

Friday, Oct. 25

• The Poplar Bluff R-I School Board discussed security equipment to improve school security to help detect weapons and vapes. The school board also revisited discussion of banning cell phones.

Saturday, Oct. 26

• Butler County received the second-lowest rating possible on a routine state audit. The results of the audit appear to mean the county will need to pay back more than $200,000 in over-collected property taxes.

Wednesday, Oct. 30

• A pedestrian was fatally struck by a vehicle. Topanga Thompson, 27, of Poplar Bluff, was fatally struck by a 2024 Nissan Altima which was driven by Chuck Bailey. The incident occurred on Highway B.

NOVEMBER

Friday, Nov. 1

• “Rock the Country” is announced to return to Poplar Bluff on May 2-3 in 2025, following the great success of the same event just a few months earlier.

Saturday, Nov. 2

• Butler County Clerk Donna Hillis reported record absentee voting that eclipsed the record-numbers established in the 2020 election.

Tuesday, Nov. 5

• The State Fire Marshal investigated a structure fire that totaled a commercial storage facility at 1928 S. Broadway.

Wednesday, Nov. 6

• Following the election, Ralph Stucker won the Butler County Commission Eastern District Seat, Larry Wells won the Butler County Commission Western District Commission Seat, and Jeff Darnell retained his seat as Butler County Administrator.

• Police seek details in a shooting that left a 34 year-old man in critical condition. The incident occurred in an area near Illinois Avenue and Iowa Avenue.

Thursday, Nov. 7

• Current River flood waters crested in Van Buren at 23 feet, and leads to moderate flooding in the immediate area.

• The Poplar Bluff Community reacts to the death of Susan Carroll after several years of battling multiple sclerosis. Carroll was the Poplar Bluff Police Department’s first female police sergeant.

Friday, Nov. 8

• The Mules Cafe reopened with a new menu at a new location next to Poplar Bluff High School that provides a more restaurant-accurate environment.

• A fatal crash occurred on Highway 53, south of Quln after a 2006 Ford Escort collided with a 2021 Buick Encore.

Saturday, Nov. 9

• Chase Mock, 20, of Poplar Bluff, died in a motorcycle crash after his 2005 Kawasaki Ninja ran off the roadway and ejected him from the motorcycle. He was pronounced dead at the scene,

Tuesday, Nov. 12

• All military branches were saluted at the Veterans Day Ceremony at the Black River Coliseum. The united Gospel Rescue Mission also hosted a veterans banquet that served hundreds of veterans and veteran family members.

Thursday, Nov. 14

• Kroger holds a grand re-opening after spending $2.3 million on renovating the Poplar Bluff location. Kroger also donated $5,000 to the Bread Shed in Poplar Bluff as part of its “Zero Hunger, Zero Waste” effort.

Friday, Nov. 15

• Filming for the move “Idle Hands” started at Haffy’s in downtown Poplar Bluff. The movie is an independent feature that was written, directed and stars Michael Hibler.

Saturday, Nov. 16

• Neelyville students honor veterans through pictures, poems, songs, and art projects at their showcase in the Neelyville High School gym.

Tuesday, Nov. 19

• Details are released concerning the arrest of Wesley Shatley, 29, of Piedmont on first-degree felony endangering the welfare of a child and first-degree harassment.

Wednesday, Nov. 20

• The Poplar Bluff City Council announced the Poplar Bluff Regional Business Airport Director Gary Pride would be retiring after seven years in the position. His last day of work was Dec. 31.

• A Fisk family is safe after losing their home in a fire. No one was injured, and a cause of the fire had not been determined.

Friday, Nov. 22

• Poplar Bluff gets in the holiday spirit as city utility workers hang new Christmas decorations downtown. The new decorations were purchased by the group Downtown Poplar Bluff Inc.

Saturday, Nov 23

• A house fire in Neelyville causes one person to be transported to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. One bedroom of the home sustained significant damage while the rest of the house sustained smoke and water damage.

Tuesday, Nov. 26

• The Boys and Girls Club of the Heartland announced they were seeking staff to fill 17 different part-time positions to accommodate the growing waiting list of youth across area schools.

Wednesday, Nov. 27

• The family of three year-old Henry Osborn provided optimistic updates about his battle with cancer, and expressed thanks to the supportive community of Poplar Bluff.

Saturday, Nov. 30

• The United Gospel Rescue Mission fed a record number of 2,500 people through delivered meals as well as meals at the mission.

DECEMBER

Tuesday, Dec. 3

• Jonathan Smith, of Fisk, was arrested for allegedly setting fire to his girlfriend’s apartment. He was charged with first-degree burglary, first-degree stalking and trespassing, second-degree domestic assault, second-degree property damage, and fourth-degree domestic assault.

Wednesday, Dec. 4

• Poplar Bluff interim city manager Lori Phelps presented a $15 million city budget that she referred to as being “fairly conservative” with modest increases based on projected year-end revenues.

• For the first time ever, worker at the Faurecia/Forvia plant in Dexter went on strike after contract negotiations fell apart. Workers stated they were seeking fair overtime wages/treatment among other things.

Thursday, Dec. 5

• Austin Davis, 30, of Poplar Bluff was arrested for an alleged sexual assault that took place in the women’s bathroom at the Poplar Bluff Holiday Inn a few nights earlier.

• Santa Land is a big success and sees more than 1,000 children served with Christmas activities and presents at the Black River Coliseum.

Friday, Dec. 6

• The city of Poplar Bluff enters an aviation consultant agreement with Osborn Incorporated for the development and expansion of the Poplar Bluff Regional Business Airport.

Saturday, Dec. 7

• David Scrivner, 44, of Doniphan pleaded guilty to the 2019 second-degree murder of Daniel Richardson. Scrivner was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Tuesday, Dec. 10

• The annual Christmas parade enchants a large crowd despite freezing temperatures as area businesses, charities, and organizations participated in the event.

Thursday, Dec. 12

• Stacy Andrew Gipson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a 2020 robbery gone wrong. Gipson was initially arrested after a manhunt found him in West Virginia.

Friday, Dec. 13

• Three Rivers College broke ground on a new agriculture facility on Highway 160. The facility will serve agriculture students and the TRC rodeo team.

• Corvette Allen Christian, 34, of Poplar Bluff pleaded guilty to identical charges in both Butler and Ripley Counties on the charge of first-degree statutory rape.

Saturday, Dec. 14

• The region rallied behind the Ripley County Toys for Tots program which started nearly 50 years earlier by Jerry Lynxwiler. 500 children were served up to the age of 12.

Tuesday, Dec. 17

• Veterans of all branches were recognized as part of the Wreaths Across America ceremony which was held at the Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Poplar Bluff.

• Approximately 100 children were able to “Shop with a hero” for Christmas with first responders at Walmart. First responders from throughout the area participated in the event.

Wednesday, Dec. 18

• Department of Social Services Director Robert Knodell was selected by the Poplar Bluff City Council to be the new city manager. Knodell was selected with a unanimous vote from a pool of 14 candidates.

• Habitat for Humanity has teamed with the Recycling Grace womens ministry to construct a structure that will house pregnant women who are trying to recover from substance use disorder.

Thursday, Dec. 19

• The Kiwanis Club’s “Jama Rama” collected 476 new pairs of pajamas to distribute to children in need.

Friday, Dec. 20

• The Poplar Bluff City Council approved a 2025 budget of $15,696,932.

Saturday, Dec. 21

• The Poplar Bluff High School choir sang Christmas carols at the Early Childhood Center under the direction of Joshua Allen.

Tuesday, Dec. 24

• The Neelyville community came together to build a new concessions and restroom buildings by the baseball field. Thousands of dollars of materials and labor were donated to the project.

Thursday, Dec. 26

• It is reported that the Twin Rivers R-X School Board voted to update the school’s AI policy in a move to protect student safety, privacy, and data. Superintendent Rob Brown informed the board that the policy will likely need to be revisited multiple times in the next year.

Friday, Dec. 27

• The community rallies after a Christmas house fire displaces the family of Rodney and Tanja Kennedy. A GoFundMe account quickly collected $16,000 by the following morning.

Saturday, Dec. 28

• A holiday standoff in Dexter ended peacefully after Steven Parks, 29, of Dexter had threatened to provoke a “suicide by cop” scenario and fired at officers. He was taken into custody without further incident.

Tuesday, Dec. 31

• Butler County officials were sworn into office by Presiding Judge Kasey Proctor.

• A structure fire on Harper Street brought out fire crews to contain the extinguish the blaze. The property was a vacant house.