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New Madrid, Mo. – Today, the Public Service Commission delivered what is expected to be a fatal blow to the area’s largest employer, Noranda Aluminum, by denying a compromise rate adjustment that would have kept the plant in business. The commission, made up entirely of members along the I-70 corridor, sided with Ameren UE in stating that the loss of 1,000 jobs in the poorest part of the state was not worthy to take action on. “This is a very, very difficult public policy decision and the impact would be felt statewide. Noranda failed to show that their current rate is causing a crisis of liquidity. I hope the parties can continue to work together to solve this issue,” said

County Commissioner's meeting.  From left to right: Jim Hager (Field Spotter Coordinator), Frankie Casteel (Communications director at Sheriff’s office), Rick Shanklin (Warnings Coordinator - NWS - Paducah), Jeff Shawan (Butler County EMA Director) and Craig Meador (Director of PBSWRT)  ​ Poplar Bluff, Mo. - Craig Meador and Jim Hager, of the Poplar Bluff Severe Weather Response Team, have been chosen by the National Weather Service office in Paducah, KY, to be their ambassadors representing storm spotters from the entire Paducah Region at their open house being held at the NWS Office on September 20th. In a phone interview today Meador said, "I consider it a great honor that the weather service has chosen our team out of the entire area to represent the

The Missouri Department of Conservation raised the daily limit of squirrels to 10 over a year ago. There may be plenty in some areas but they are scarce in others. I took my first serious trip to the woods last Saturday and I did see three of the bushy tailed animals. I shot two of them and didn’t get to retrieve either of them. The first one was in a small hickory and at the crack of the gun, it started to fall and lodged in a small fork of the limb just below. I checked every angle to figure some way to get it out but it was stuck to where there was no way that I could dislodge

KENNETT, Mo. - Jim Baker of Kennett is proud of making music. He's even more proud of the friendships forged within The Usual Suspects, a rockin-blues-based outfit that has performed live and in the studio since 2003. The band performs its annual no-holds-barred shindig at 5 pm Saturday at BB King's nightclub on Beale Street at Memphis. As talented as the group might be, Baker said the band evolved from humble beginnings. "We got a call in 2003 from Chris Drokes," the guitarist told SEMO TIMES Wednesday. "He needed a band for the Little River Festival there in Hornersville." The band recruited lead guitarist Dunk Carter, "born and raised in Kennett," Baker said. "We went down and played the festival

KENNETT, Mo. - The Kennett City Council, Tuesday, discussed a number of issues and inked a deal with NewWave Communications to provide telephone service to the city. Kennett Police Department Chief Johnny Dennis approached the council with the proposal citing a net savings to the city of close to $10,000 annually. The 60-month contract costs the city approximately $36,600 plus taxes per year opposed to a bill of approximately $45,000 last year, Dennis said. The communications company will use a portion of Kennett's City Light, Gas and Water infrastructure to provide telephone service, which includes backup capabilities in case of disaster or emergencies, the chief added. The contract was approved by a 7-2 vote, with council members Nick Weathermax and