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CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO – Today, Congressman Jason Smith (R-MO) celebrated the passage of Amendment 1, the Right to Farm. Before his election to the United States House of Representatives in June 2013, Smith was the original sponsor of the Right to Farm legislation in the Missouri General Assembly. "I couldn't be happier with the success of the Right to Farm Amendment. Missouri farmers now have protection from outside interest groups written into our state constitution,” said Smith. “When I proposed the Amendment in the Missouri House I knew it would be a tough fight, but as a farmer I knew what was at stake. This is a proud moment for me and a victory for all Missourians."

Many family members, friends, and admirers were saddened Sunday to learn of the passing of Brenda Fox, 62, a woman who has been the Butler County Collector since 1999. Marion Tibbs, Butler County Assessor, noted that he would be missing Fox not only professionally, but also personally. “She was just a great person. One of the most dependable people I've ever known,” commented Tibbs. Though she won her office back in 1998 as a Republican, she was always known as a team player and a problem-solver. “It's not uncommon for County Assessors and County Collectors to sometimes butt heads,” explained Tibbs. “But she was not like that. She always worked to solve a problem. Fox was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer

Photo: Property 1 sold for $828,000; property 2 sold for $789,000; property 3 sold for $1,000,000; property 4 purchase price has not been released   A tentative agreement has finally been reached between the City of Poplar Bluff, and Robert and Robin Whelan of Whelan Wealth Management, 2895 N. Westwood Blvd. “We have finally come to a tentative verbal agreement,” said Whelan. Though he did not want to comment on the exact figure agreed upon, he noted he was pleased, and particularly pleased with the speed in which the new Poplar Bluff City Council and city staff ironed out the agreement. “This had been going on for two years,” said Whelan. “There was never any reason for it to have gone on

Parental Involvement Key to Improving Our Children’s Education JEFFERSON CITY – This legislative session, the Missouri General Assembly passed House Bill 1490 (HB 1490), changing the laws regarding academic performance and learning standards in elementary and secondary education. This legislation was inspired by parents, citizens, and elected officials who pushed back against the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and their implementation in Missouri’s education system. The so-called “state standards” are the latest attempt at national standards. The CCSS “national” standards were never reviewed or approved by members of the Legislature as is required by Missouri law; the decision to adopt these standards was made unilaterally. “As a member of the Senate Education Committee I heard testimony from parents, teachers, and

Photo: MINIs parked while their owners refuel on Hayden’s Pink Lemonade and BBQ Sandwiches Poplar Bluff, Mo. - The MINI TAKES THE STATES tour for Mini Cooper owners passed through Poplar Bluff on a last-minute detour between Memphis and St. Louis on Monday, August 4. When the Mini Coopers pulled out of Memphis earlier that day, over 450 vehicles were on the tour which began in San Francisco on July 26 and makes a jagged-route across the states to Boston by August 9. John Clark, owner of Hayden's BBQ on Maud Street, got word late last week that Hayden's ranking on TripAdvisor.com caused the tour to select Hayden's for their lunchtime stop. The local favorite rolled out the pink carpet