SEVERAL PEOPLE RESCUED FROM FLOOD WATERS IN BUTLER COUNTYSeveral people had to be rescued Monday from rising flood waters in Butler County.
People were rescued from flooded vehicles on County Road 540, off Highway W and Highway 158 near Harviell. The Butler County Sheriff’s Department and the Poplar Bluff Fire Department participated in the rescues.
According to the National Weather Service, the Black River at Poplar Bluff was at 19.5 feet at 7 pm Monday night. The flood stage is at 16 feet. Black River is expected to crest sometime this morning. A flood warning is in effect for Black River in Butler County through Wednesday afternoon.
In Wayne County, a flood warning is also in effect for the St. Francis River near Patterson through late Wednesday night. The St. Francis River was at 20.5 feet Monday night at 8 pm and is expected to crest this afternoon near 25 feet. The flood stage is 16 feet.
The river is expected to fall below flood stage Wednesday evening.
TWIN RIVERS SCHOOL BOARD VOTES TO HIRE A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER The Twin Rivers School board voted Monday night to add a School Resource Officer to improve security at the school district.
We spoke with Twin Rivers Superintendent Jeremy Siebert about the decision.
JEREMY SIEBERT:
Adding a school resource officer at Twin Rivers is a huge benefit for our district and our communities. Obviously in today's world security and safety are very important and essential to provide a safe learning environment for our students and our staff. Having an SRO at Twin Rivers will enhance the security and safety of all of our students and our staff. I would like to thank Sheriff Dobbs and the Butler County Sheriff's Department for partnering with us to make this agreement happen. I would also like to thank Billy Watson and Jeff Arnold for their help in getting the ball rolling with the SRO idea. I would like to thank our entire school board and the entire Twin Rivers Community for all their support and helping make TR a safer place to work and learn.
Siebert added that the School Resource Officer will be an employee of the Butler County Sheriff’s Office and the school district will contribute $30,000 annually and will be responsible for the reimbursement of the SRO’s health insurance cost through Butler County’s group insurance.
The appointment of the SRO will be made by the Sheriff. The SRO will be present during the school year and then return to the Sheriff’s Office during the summer months.
ORAN MAN KILLED IN SINGLE VEHICLE WRECK An Oran man has died in connection to a single vehicle wreck Monday night.
Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell us the wreck occurred at around 6:45 pm on US 61 near Morley.
A vehicle, driven by 64 year old Bradley Bollinger, ran off the side of the roadway and struck a fence and a tree. Officials say that Bollinger was killed in the wreck.
WILLIAMSVILLE MAN ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE CHARGES FRIDAY NIGHT Authorities say a Williamsville man was taken into custody Friday night on multiple charges.
According to the Highway Patrol, 54 year old Danny Kelsoe was arrested in Wayne County on charges of possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a firearm, operating a motor vehicle without a license, and two charges of 1st degree child endangerment.
Following the arrest, Kelsoe was held in Wayne County on a 24 hour hold.
MULTIPLE ROADS CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING Multiple roads are closed this morning due to flooding.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, portions of Routes 158, 142, N, and W in Butler County have been closed.
Roads closed in Ripley County include Routes NN, H, and 142.
In Wayne County, crews have closed Routes KK, 49, FF, C, and E.
Motorists can check the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Traveler Information Map to find out if there are any road closures in their area. The map is available at modot.org.
MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED AFTER HITTING TREE IN WAYNE COUNTY A Cape Girardeau man suffered serious injuries Monday evening after his vehicle hit a tree in Wayne County.
According to the authorities, a vehicle driven by 33 year old Dustin McDowell ran off the side of Highway 34, near Silva, and struck a tree.
McDowell was seriously injured in the wreck and taken by ambulance to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.
