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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

Is it possible the key to community success is right under our own front door welcome mat? States and communities are spending millions on attracting big box stores and chains to their malls. But could it be when it comes to community economic development, we are totally missing the boat? It's not that there is not a place in a local community for big box and chain stores, but according to a lot of research, smaller may actually be better for a local economy. According to a 2009 Time Magazine article, “At the most basic level, when you buy local, more money stays in the community.” The New Economics Foundation, and independent economic think tank based in London, conducted a

It was the 76th Annual Meeting of the membership of the Ozark Border Electric Cooperative. There was important business conducted, but it was not a typical a business meeting. It had an atmosphere of a family reunion or old time church meeting. Blue Grass music and gospel music filled the Bess Activities Center on the Three Rivers College Campus. Old friends greeted one another; everyone finding time for the picnic lunch and registering to win prizes in the drawing that would be held later. Stanley Estes, General Manager for Ozark Border, says that's exactly the way this meeting is supposed to feel. “Ozark Border is unique. Our customers are actually our members, and it feels like family because many of these people

According to CareerCast.com, and other career analysts, being a newspaper reporter is among the worst jobs. I left this career in 1987, at least for the most part. My bachelor's degree was in Communications. I was editor of my campus newspaper. Then I was hired at a new fledgling newspaper in Cape Girardeau known as the Bulletin Journal, owned by Gary Rust. Gary Rust felt there was a need for another voice in Cape Girardeau other than the Southeast Missourian. And the Bulletin Journal was very successful. Rust ended up buying the Southeast Missourian and opening a chain of newspapers throughout Southeast Missouri. I loved that job. Every day was different. I constantly got to meet new and interesting people.