JEFFERSON CITY - State Budget Director Linda Luebbering announced today that 2015 fiscal year-to-date net general revenue collections increased 4.3 percent compared to 2014, from $2.48 billion last year to $2.59 billion this year. Net general revenue collections for October 2014 increased by 6.1 percent compared to those for October 2013, from $530.9 million to $563.0 million. GROSS COLLECTIONS BY TAX TYPE  - Download the Excel Spread Sheet Individual income tax collections • Increased 5.8 percent for the year, from $1.74 billion last year to $1.84 billion this year. • Increased 6.4 percent for the month. Sales and use tax collections • Increased 3.3 percent for the year, from $644.8 million last year to $666.0 million this year. • Increased

Three Rivers College’s Music Department will host its Annual Music Technology Day on Nov. 13, 2014, in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center on the college’s Poplar Bluff campus. The event will feature a day of music technology master classes for college, high school and junior high music students, followed by an evening concert by area jazz groups. “This annual event brings many area music students and top-notch educators to our campus to both improve and display their talents,” said William White, Band Director at Three Rivers College. “The evening concert in particular features some of the finest jazz performers in the region.” The concert is open to the public and will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Tinnin Fine Arts

Three Rivers College’s Testing Services department now offers the MEGA test for students completing their four-year education degree. The test will replace the Praxis II exam for determining competency in areas of instruction. “We’re pleased to be partnering with Pearson Vue to offer this exam in Poplar Bluff,” said Diane Patterson, Testing Coordinator at Three Rivers. “Previously, students had to go to Cape Girardeau or Jonesboro to take the MEGA exam, so we feel like this is a great service for students in our region.” According to Patterson, the next test date will be offered in January, with test dates following in March, June, August, and October of each year. The length and cost of the test varies depending on

Van Rhodes didn’t grow up with black powder guns. “My family just had the typical kinds of guns and shotguns around the house,” he said. But the moment he fell in love with guns was the first time he saw one at an auction. He bought it. “After that first black powder pistol I bought, I found they were just fun to shoot,” Rhodes said. “I’m intrigued by their history and the fact that they are beautiful guns,” he continued. He said black powder firearms originated in the U.S. in the 1800’s. They were the weapon of the American Civil War. As with everything having to do with the Civil War, there were divisions. “The Union forces used guns with

CPR training was recently extended to the entire Poplar Bluff R-I staff after Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital medical professionals credited our athletic trainer and coaching staff this summer for saving the life of a student athlete by using mouth to mouth. About 85 district employees representing all buildings and numerous departments participated in the voluntary training offered by R-I Health & Drug Free Coordinator Sheryl Talkington and her school nursing staff after business hours in the Missouri Room. “CPR saves lives every day,” Talkington stated. “We certainly have witnessed that firsthand this year.”

For those who read this column and enjoy the outdoor colors in the fall of the year, it would be wise to take a trip this weekend as the colors will begin to fade pretty soon. For reasons that only Mother Nature knows, the colors did not begin to appear as early as they normally do and therefore the early October color watching didn’t happen. The late spring, the warm conditions during part of the winter seems to have messed up everything outdoors.  I have recently seen doe deer with young ones that still have their spots.  During the normal weather, the young buck deer have nubbins on their heads that you can see if you get close enough.  Usually