BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF MARK DOBBS TO BE KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR 9/11 REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY IN POPLAR BLUFF

A special ceremony will be held in Poplar Bluff to commemorate 25 years since the deadly terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001.

The 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony is scheduled to begin at 9 am on Friday, September 11th at Larry Hillis Dodge in Poplar Bluff.

Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs will serve as the keynote speaker and State Representatives Hardy Billington and Cameron Parker Bunting are also expected to be in attendance.

BODY RECOVERED FROM SPORTSMAN’S PARK IN BUTLER COUNTY, SUSPECT IN CUSTODY

An investigation is underway after a body was recovered near the Black River in Butler County on Wednesday afternoon.

Poplar Bluff Police Chief JR Keirsey tells KWOC News that the body of 77-year-old Daniel O’Connor was found in the grassy area just east of the boat ramp at Sportsman’s Park in Poplar Bluff.

An autopsy was conducted Thursday, which was followed by the activation of the Butler County Major Case Squad to investigate.

FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATION APPROVED IN RESPONSE TO FLOODING AND SEVERE STORMS FROM EARLY JULY

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has announced that President Donald Trump approved a Federal Disaster Declaration in response to the historic flash flooding and severe storms that occurred July 9th through 11th.

According to the governor's office, joint preliminary damage assessments estimated more than $26.5 million in emergency response costs and damage to public infrastructure in nine counties, including Bollinger, Reynolds, Ripley, and Wayne counties.

On Tuesday, President Trump approved 19.9 million dollars to assist recovery efforts.

MODOT CREWS PREPARING FOR TRAFFIC SHIFT ON US HIGHWAY 67 IN BUTLER COUNTY

The Missouri Department of Transportation is preparing for new traffic patterns along U.S. Route 67 in Butler County between U.S. 160 and Route MM in the coming weeks.

During the transition, construction crews will shift traffic from the existing U.S. 67 roadway to the newly constructed four-lane facility.

MoDOT Resident Engineer Matt Wilkerson tells KWOC News that tentatively, MoDOT anticipates the transition to occur in mid-September. Wilkerson added that impacts to traffic, though brief, will be significant during that time.

FORMER RIPLEY COUNTY CHIEF DEPUTY SHERIFF SENTENCED ON FELONY CHARGES

A former Ripley County Chief Deputy Sheriff has been sentenced for receiving stolen property.

In April of 2025, the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Crime Control investigative unit was requested to investigate the alleged possession of stolen property by former Ripley County Sheriff’s Office employees.

One employee was identified as former Chief Deputy Charles Mays.

MAN CONVICTED FOR BUTLER COUNTY DOUBLE MURDER FROM 2022

A man has been found guilty on multiple charges in connection to the 2022 shooting deaths of two women in Qulin.

According to Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, Stephen T. Scott was convicted on two counts of murder in the first degree, two counts of armed criminal action, one count of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, and an additional count of armed criminal action connected to the child endangerment charge.

The jury also found Scott guilty of unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a weapon.

MULES FOOTBALL KICKS OFF REGULAR SEASON TONIGHT AGAINST JEFFERSON CITY

Friday Night Lights returns to Poplar Bluff tonight.

The Poplar Bluff Mules will host Jefferson City tonight, with kickoff set for 7 pm. It will be the first game for each team this season.

The Mules went 3-7 in the regular season last year before falling to Fox in the Class 5, District 1 QuarterFinals. The Jays finished the 2025 campaign with a 4-6 record.