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Brick’s Water Speedway in Poplar Bluff, Missouri to Host International Event After 10 years abroad, the World Series of Sprint Boat Racing is returning to the United States. Brick’s Water Speedway in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, will host this United States Sprint Boat Association (USSBA) and Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) sanctioned event on August 15-17, 2014. More than 30 teams from four countries will be represented; countries include Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. Each team will be timed as they race their boats through the world’s largest track. Many will complete the maze-like track in less than a minute, running at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. Sprint boats are often equipped with 1500 horsepower engines,

First United Methodist Church Missions and Outreach Committee SERVE2014 – Serving our Community Do you know someone who is elderly or disabled, owns their home, and could use a little help with some projects around their house like minor repairs, window washing, gutter cleaning, trimming hedges, and things like that? Members of the First United Methodist Church and volunteers from our community will participate in SERVE2014 and plan to work on Saturday, September 20 to provide assistance. To sign up for help contact First United Methodist Church Missions Committee Member Ernestine Arnold at 573-785-6238.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Noranda, an aluminum smelter based in New Madrid, is the largest employer in Southeast Missouri with over 888 employees. Located in the St. Jude Industrial Park, the plant covers over 3000 acres with more than 40 acres under roof. Electricity is one-third of all operational expenses for Noranda; last year they paid Ameren $160,000,000 for electricity. Ameren’s rate to Noranda has increased by 40% since 2007, and more than $44M since 2009. Noranda requested the Public Service Commission to reduce their electric rate from Ameren stating that without a reduction it would be difficult for them to keep the factory open. There’s been an epidemic of aluminum smelter shutdowns over the recent years as 32 smelters

Captain David Sutton released a press release at 17:23 today: On 08-11-14 at around 1545 hrs Officers with the Poplar Bluff Police Department responded to the 1300 block of West Maud st, in reference to a report that a body was found in a wooded area. The body was in an advanced stage of decomposition; and no cause of death was immediately apparent. Investigators with the Poplar Bluff Police Department, Butler County Coroner's Office, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control responded to process the scene.

On 08-10-14 at approximately 2:30 am, Officers with the Poplar Bluff Police Department were dispatched to the 300 block of Roxie Dr in reference to shots fired into a residence. Witnesses reported that Christopher Gainwell (25 years old, of Poplar Bluff) demanded entry to a residence in the 300 block of Roxie Dr. When the residents refused to let him in, Gainwell produced a handgun and fired three shots into the residence, through a window at the front of the house. No injuries were reported. At the time of this report, Christopher Gainwell was also wanted on outstanding warrants for unrelated felony charges. Christopher Gainwell should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with knowledge of Gainwell's whereabouts is encouraged to