WASHINGTON, D.C. - United States Congressman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) Friday fired a letter to Missouri Public Service Commission Chairman Robert S. Kenney urging a rehearing by state regulators for Noranda Aluminum in its feud with power provider Ameren Missouri. The aluminum smelter offers employment to approximately 900 southeast Missouri workers. Up to 200 employees from its administration to labor sectors might be laid off during the next six months if a competitive power rate is not secured by Noranda, said President and Chief Executive Officer Layle K. "Kip" Smith. In addition, the plant might be forced to scale back its $45 million investment in a rod mill and seek locations in neighboring states to continue the project, Smith said. Smith
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Registration is now open for schools wanting to participate in the Sixth Annual Southeast Missouri Regional Spelling Bee, to be held on Saturday, February 28, 2015, at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff. Participating schools must complete their registration by October 15, 2014, and complete a school-wide spelling bee before Feb. 6, 2015, to participate. Students must not be older than age 14 on or before August 31, 2014, and cannot have passed beyond the eighth grade on or before Feb. 1, 2015. The top three contestants from each qualifying school will be eligible to participate in the regional spelling bee in Poplar Bluff, with the winner receiving an expenses-paid trip to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in
Sep 25,DEXTER - Police Dept. Maj. Larry Patterson, Jr., Thursday said officers here recovered a vehicle stolen from Kennett after chasing its driver both on city streets and on foot. The major said at approximately 1:15 am Thursday officers saw a blue Buick passenger car traveling south on Catalpa Street. The Buick was being operated in an erratic manner, Patterson noted. When police attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver failed to yield and the chase began, the major said. Officers continued to follow the Buick and attempted to stop the vehicle as it circled a few blocks through town, police said. The driver ditched the vehicle and ran, Patterson said. He escaped officers and is now being hunted, the major
Sep 25,POPLAR BLUFF – The crowds are gathering. The engines are revving. The Slough ripples with tons of fresh mud. Brick’s Offroad Park is ready for the drivers and the crowds. For years, not a single driver got through The Slough. But last year when Dustin McCutcheon got through it and claimed the $10,000 prize, he showed it could be done. The excitement for this year’s event has been building ever since. “Dustin was the first to get through it,” said Jay Brickell. “A lot of drivers took his example, and they think this year they can do it, too.” “It’s possible that more than one driver may make it through,” said Brickell. Because of that possibility, there will be a
Sep 25,KENNETT – Autumn was in the air Tuesday as the Delta Fair Parade opened the annual Delta Fair. This year's parade featured plenty of area law enforcement and emergency services vehicles, including one from out of state, an antique fire engine from Leachville, Ark. Marching bands from the Bootheel played old and new favorites while clowns strolled along beside them. One very colorful, very noisy clown who sported fright-wig-red hair cringed at being called "Bozo." He ranted feverishly at the audience, bemoaning the curse of the slanderous handle, all in good fun. The parade began at the intersection of the south bypass and St. Francis Street and ambled along First Street to Southeast Missouri State University's Kennett campus, very close
Sep 25,