BLACK RIVER EXPECTED TO RISE TO 19.5 FEET THIS EVENINGResidents near the Black River are being cautioned to be aware of flooding in their area.
According to Butler County EMA Director Robbie Myers, the Black River at Poplar Bluff was at 17 feet this morning. The flood stage is at 16 feet.
Moderate flooding is expected as the river is forecast to continue rising to near 19.5 feet by this evening. The river is forecast to fall below flood stage tomorrow afternoon.
On Saturday afternoon the Black River at Poplar Bluff was only 3.8 feet.
PUBLIC HEARING SET FOR TONIGHT AT POPLAR BLUFF CITY HALL A public hearing has been held tonight to set the tax rate for the city of Poplar Bluff.
The hearing will be hosted by the Poplar Bluff City Council at 6:45 pm. The proposed tax rate is the same as it was last year with the General Fund being set at .5127 and the Police and Fire Pension at .0967.
The hearing will be followed by the city council’s regular meeting at 7 pm.
During the meeting, the council will receive the presentation of an audit for the city, review a bid for the city’s telecommunication services, and review a proposed grant agreement with the Department of Public Safety, along with other items.
THREE CHILDREN INJURED, ONE SERIOUSLY, IN SINGLE VEHICLE WRECK Three Wappapello children were injured over the weekend in a single vehicle wreck in Cape Girardeau County.
Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell us that the wreck occurred shortly after noon Saturday on Route AB when a driver lost control of his vehicle while attempting to overtake another vehicle on the rain covered roadway.
The vehicle then struck a concrete center divider and eventually overturned down a ditch. Two of the children in the vehicle, ages 13 and 10, suffered moderate injuries and were taken to St. Francis Medical Center. A third child, age 6, was seriously injured and taken to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis.
The driver of the vehicle received minor injuries.
TWIN RIVERS NINTH GRADE ORIENTATION SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT Incoming students to Twin Rivers High School are being encouraged to attend the orientation scheduled for tonight.
According to Twin Rivers High School Counselor Christina Miller, the ninth grade orientation will be held at 7 pm this evening at the High School cafeteria.
The orientation is for all incoming ninth grade students and their parents or guardians. Miller says that important information will be distributed during the meeting.
HEAVY RAIN TO CONTINUE TODAY Heavy Rain is set to continue today for most of Southeast Missouri.
Some areas of Southeast Missouri received an estimated over 10 inches of rainfall over the weekend, and a flood warning is in effect until 8:30 am this morning for Wayne, Bollinger, and Northern Butler Counties. Southeastern Carter County and Eastern Ripley County are also under a flood warning until 9 am this morning.
A flash flood watch is also in effect through Tuesday morning for most of Southeast Missouri.
According to the National Weather Service, several rounds of showers and thunderstorms with occasionally intense rainfall rates are expected. Some areas could see rainfall rates of up to an inch or so within a 30 to 45 minute window.
Motorists are being reminded to not drive through flood waters if they approach them. You can check the current condition of Missouri’s roadways on the Missouri Department of Transportation website at modot.org.
TWO ARRESTED ON METH CHARGE IN BUTLER COUNTY Two people were arrested Friday evening in Butler County on meth charges.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 35 year old Jessie Chaffin, of Poplar Bluff, and 25 year old Amber McDannald, of Ellsinore were both taken into custody at around 5:20 pm Friday on charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
They were both taken to the Butler County Jail on a 12 hour hold. The Highway Patrol did not release if the two arrests were connected to each other.
PUXICO MAN ARRESTED ON HEROIN WARRANT A Puxico man has been taken into custody on a drug warrant in Stoddard County.
According to the Stoddard County Sheriff’s Department, 23 year old Joshua Whitehead was recently arrested on a warrant for possession of heroin.
Whitehead’s bond was set at $7,500, cash only.
MONEY IS BEING COLLECTED FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE DOWNTOWN POPLAR BLUFF FIRE Area citizens can donate to help the victims of the fire that engulfed a building last week in Downtown Poplar Bluff.
Cash or checks are being accepted for the special fund at First Midwest Bank.
