support@semo.net
1573 686-9114​​​​

This week, the United States House of Representatives passed the “Jobs for America Act” to grow our economy and put Americans back to work. This package of bills included proposals to provide our farmers and small business owners with needed tax relief, and reduce unnecessary regulations. For the 2014 tax year, unless the “Jobs for America Act” or something like it passes, the amount of equipment that farmers and small businesses can expense like tractors, heavy machinery, or computer software, will be reduced by ninety-five percent. Section 179 of the tax code – the section that provides for the equipment deduction – expired on January first of this year. Unless it is renewed for 2014, folks will only be able

After soliciting personal stories and tips from Missouri consumers, Senator aims for new federal law surrounding cable, satellite, other pay-TV business practices   WASHINGTON –After soliciting personal stories and tips from Missouri consumers, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, who leads the Senate panel on Consumer Protection, today introduced an amendment aimed at bringing transparency and fairness to cable, satellite, and other pay-TV billing practices. Earlier this year, McCaskill asked any consumer who believes they have experienced deceptive or confusing billing practices by a cable, satellite, or other pay-TV company to visit her website, www.McCaskill.senate.gov and use the “Submit Your Scam” web tool to tell their story. Over the approximately 10-day period following the call for pay-TV stories, McCaskill’s office received 428 responses. “Consumers in every corner of the

Det. Bryce Colvin of the Poplar Bluff Police Department served as a guest speaker for the new popular Forensic Science elective at Senior High on Friday, Sept. 12, demonstrating fingerprint analysis. Earlier this month Colvin became a certified crime scene investigator from the International Association for Identification. Colvin has served as a criminal investigator in Afghanistan for the United States Army Reserve. He has been a detective for four years in his tenure with the police department and a cop for 10 years prior. “I used to have a poster that said, ‘Science is a verb,’ and I want students to see that it holds true,” said instructor Kathy Miller, explaining why she had a desire to start a Forensic

[From left] Rotarian Sheldon Tyler, PBHS assistant principal; StuCo president Lydia Keller and vice president Trevor Asher; and Rotary Club president-elect Matt Winters. On Thursday, Sept. 11, the Rotary Club of Poplar Bluff funded Voting 4 Schools software for Senior High Student Council to use for elections, including the Mock Election, student body and the homecoming court as well as the senior personality awards. The web-based application will save teachers time and make voting more efficient for students allowing for additional data analysis, according to Poplar Bluff R-I educators. In years past, paper ballots were used which high school staff had to hand count. Leaders from the Rotary Club said underwriting the online software subscription was a “no-brainer,” considering all

5-year-old Brock Murphy with a big Kentucky Lake crappie he caught with his dad, Kevin   There is no greater time of year for us outdoor-folk than fall. The deer are moving about, the squirrels are cutting, the ducks are preparing for their migration down the Mississippi Fly Way, and the fish are gorging themselves! I've seen plenty of posts from people on Facebook about fall bringing hoodies, campfires, and football, and while I’m a proponent of all three, my thoughts are drawn more towards big bucks, mallard ducks, and plucking crappie from Reelfoot stumps! (The rhymes are free, you’re welcome.) Alright, I may have regurgitated that opening paragraph from last year’s column, but when you hit the nail on