Walmart & Harps Tie For Best Prices - Krogers Most Expensive POPLAR BLUFF – While talking with a friend about the new Harps in Poplar Bluff (on Shelby Road), they said, “Harps is really nice, but it’s more expensive.” SEMO TIMES felt it would be an interesting task to see how grocery shopping in Poplar Bluff compared among stores. When we mentioned grocery stores to Poplar Bluffians, the list was usually Walmart, Kroger and Harps. So those were the stores we focused on. Yes, there are other places to buy groceries but on the budget we had for the story the limit was set at three. If this story is popular, we might also do a comparison of ALDI, PriceSaver

While “Gone Girl” fever is sweeping the nation, two Poplar Bluff residents are enjoying knowing they had a small role to play in the thriller’s success. Jamie Hickson and Michael Hibler, both of Poplar Bluff, spent days on set in Cape Girardeau as extras in the film. It’s an experience they will remember for their entire lives. “I saw a post on Facebook about a movie being filmed in Cape Girardeau, so I went to the casting call,” recalled Hickson. He said it took him about ten minutes to fill out the paper work and then it was waiting time. “They’d bring groups of people up on stage, shoot individual pictures of them, and then it was time to wait

JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Jay Nixon and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Gail Vasterling today announced that the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory has been designated as an Ebola Virus Disease testing laboratory as part of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Laboratory Response Network. The Missouri State Public Health Laboratory, located in Jefferson City, will now be able to provide presumptive testing of Ebola samples prior to confirmation testing at the CDC in Atlanta. “We stand ready to respond to suspected cases of Ebola should one ever occur in Missouri. This designation will give us the ability to quickly assist health professionals by performing the presumptive test here in Missouri,” Gov. Nixon said. “Missouri’s

POPLAR BLUFF - A local court dismissed Doug Bagby's breach of contract case against the City of Poplar Bluff. Judge Kelly Parker ruled that there was no legal basis for former City Manager Bagby's claim that he had a three-year contract for life. In ruling for the City, and as SEMO TIMES reported earlier this year, the court determined that the claim was too weak to require a trial before a jury. The judge determined in Bagby's case that contracts greater than one year were against the law and, therefore, Bagby served at the pleasure of the City Council. This ruling follows longstanding state laws and local city ordinance. The City terminated Bagby's employment earlier this year.  After an extensive nationwide

Dhafer’s Mediterranean Steakhouse 117 S. Locust, Dexter For most of my life, if someone would tell me they were eating in Dexter my mind instantly wondered if it was Hickory Log or Dexter BBQ. These two restaurants feature the iconic flavors of hickory-smoked barbeque that made dry-rub famous in these parts, earning their reputations as the very best. But now, the mention of Dexter has a Pavolovian effect on my pallet after one meal at Dhafer’s Mediterranean Steakhouse. After several days of being in downtown Dexter; enjoying getting to know the owners of the local businesses and interviewing the city administrator, chamber director, college director, I stopped at Dhafer’s for dinner. In one meal, this restaurant’s personality, charm and cuisine

Director Tim Thompson of Three Rivers’ Center Stage says it never occurred to him what a topical play “Marvin’s Room” is for October, which is highly recognized as cancer awareness month. “I wish I could say I planned that,” laughed Thompson, “but it honestly never occurred to me.” Thompson recalls that he first saw the play at an International Thespian Festival in the early 1990’s. It was later made into a movie starring Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, Diane Keaton, Hume Cronyn, and Robert DeNiro. Thompson said he immediately loved the play because of the glimpse “into the human condition.” It was written by Scott McPherson, who sadly never really got to see the impact of the play. He died at