ONE KILLED IN WAYNE COUNTY WRECK
A Piedmont man died Wednesday following a wreck in Wayne County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 82 year old Willis White was driving on Missouri Highway 49 Wednesday afternoon, when he crossed the centerline and was struck by a vehicle.
White was taken to a Poplar Bluff hospital, where he later died. The driver of the second vehicle suffered moderate injuries and was transported to an area hospital.
FIERY WRECK RESULTS IN ONE DEATH IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Two 18-wheelers were involved in a fatal wreck Wednesday in Northeast Arkansas.
Clay County Sheriff Terry Miller tells KWOC News that shortly after noon on Wednesday, Clay County 911 received calls of an accident on Highway 135 and Highway 90.
According to the Arkansas State Police, one of the vehicles ran a stop sign and hit the second in the passenger side. The second vehicle then ran off the highway and struck a power pole. Both vehicles caught on fire.
The driver of the first vehicle, 36 year old Aaron Barks, of Jackson, was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Paul Hoggard.
The driver of the second vehicle was injured and taken to a Paragould hospital.
SUPPLIES BEING COLLECTED FOR FLOOD CLEAN UP
Supplies are being collected for flood clean up in Poplar Bluff.
According to AmeriCorps director Becky Winters, a collection and distribution center has been set up in the old Doctors Hospital on West Pine Street in Poplar Bluff.
The center will be open for collections this week from 9 am to 6 pm daily. They will be open for distribution of cleaning supplies on Friday and Saturday during the same hours.
On Friday there will be an additional collection point located in the parking lot of the Poplar Bluff Holiday Inn. A truck will be parked there to receive cleaning goods from noon to 5:30 pm.
The truck will take cleaning supplies on Saturday to the Southern Bank facility in Van Buren for distribution of supplies to anyone affected by the flood. The supplies will be available beginning at 9:30 am. Southern Bank will have food available for lunch also.
Supplies being collected include bleach, mops, buckets, kitchen gloves, dawn dishwashing liquid, box fans, paper towels, and toilet paper.
Carter County authorities say that donations of cleaning supplies, hygiene items, and bottled water are also being accepted at the Assembly of God in Van Buren.
FLOOD RELIEF CENTER SET UP AT DONIPHAN FAIRGROUNDS
A disaster relief center is up and running in Ripley County.
The center has been set up at the Doniphan Fairgrounds and is distributing food, water, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies from 8 am to 8 pm daily.
Officials say they will also be establishing mobile distribution points in the more remote areas. If you need any assistance for cleaning or labor crews, you can contact West Point Church at 573-996-2350.
Ripley County residents in need of emergency housing can contact His Place at 573-707-3278.
In Butler County, Pastor Kirk with the Rescue Mission is asking for food item donations that will be used to cook meals for flood victims and volunteers. Some of the items they need include milk, flower, canned vegetables, rice, and bacon. Items can be dropped off at 400 South Broadway in Poplar Bluff.
ANOTHER LEVEE BREACH DISCOVERED IN POPLAR BLUFF
A Poplar Bluff police officer discovered another levee breach Wednesday morning.
According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, on Wednesday morning, police officials learned that the high water level in the Hampton Court area was hindering the normal operation of a sewage lift station, leaving residents without sewer service
Lieutenant Josh Stewart discovered a breach in a levee on County Road 605 near County Road 607 that was causing water to flow back into the city and preventing the activation of the lift station.
Members of the Poplar Bluff Police, Fire, and Street Departments decided to sandbag the breach in an attempt to correct the sewer issue.
With the assistance the Butler County Highway Department, they were successful in closing the breach. Shortly after, the water receded and allowed employees to place the pumps back in service.
CITY OF PIEDMONT UNDER BOIL WATER ORDER
Piedmont officials say the city is under a boil water order.
According to the Piedmont Fire Department, they will be available from 8 am to 8 pm for residents to get water. The water is available to anyone that is in need of drinking water.
The Fire Department is asking residents to conserve water and only get what is needed. The fire station is located at 117 West Fire Street in Piedmont.
WAPPAPELLO LAKE DISCHARGE DROPPED TO 16,000 CFS
Wappapello Lake officials say that the discharge at the lake has dropped to 16,000 cubic feet per second.
The lake stage was at 396.7 feet this morning.
Andrew Jefferson with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tells KWOC News that with predicted rainfall of 2 and a half to 4 inches, the lake would rise again to around 399 feet.
Jefferson says that the Corps of Engineers is allowing people to view the flooding by driving to the business center. Flood viewers can also go to Little Brushy Church at the corner of RA and T Highways where they can be shuttled to Redmond Creek Landing between 9 am to 4 pm today.
According to the National Weather Service, Clearwater Lake crested at slightly over 568 feet yesterday and was down to 567.74 feet this morning.
RIVER LEVELS UPDATE
River levels are projected to rise again in some places due to today’s rainfall.
According to the National Weather Service, Black River in Poplar Bluff was at 16.41 feet this morning and is forecast to rise to 19 feet tomorrow morning. In Pocahontas, the river was at 26.34 feet this morning and in Corning it was at 15.83 feet.
For Current River, both Van Buren and Doniphan were both the flood stage this morning. The Current River in Doniphan is forecast to rise back above the flood stage to 14.5 feet late Friday night or early Saturday morning.
For St. Francis River in Patterson, the river was at 25.37 feet this morning and is forecast to rise to 29.5 feet late Friday night or early Saturday morning. In Fisk, the river has crested at 26.13 feet and had dropped to 25.45 feet this morning.
In St. Francis, Arkansas the river was at 25.02 feet this morning and is forecast to rise to around 25.5 feet today.
SHELTERS STILL AVAILABLE IN BOTH SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Shelters have been set up in both Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas to aid residents affected by flooding.
A shelter has been set up at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff and is accepting residents from Butler, Carter, Ripley, and Wayne Counties. SEMO Red Cross says that shelters have also been set up at the West Plains First Baptist Church, the Van Buren Youth and Community Center, and Marquand Zion High School.
In Northeast Arkansas, the Red Cross has set shelters up at the Corning Community Center and the Walnut Ridge Community Center, and Pocahontas Community Center.
Authorities in Lawrence County, Arkansas are urging for residents in the Portia, Clover Bend, and Coffman areas to evacuate.
ROAD CLOSURES CONTINUE THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Many roads are still flooded in Southeast Missouri.
Officials with the Missouri Department of Transportation say that motorists are urged to stop and turn around if they discover a roadway has high water.
A list of flooded roads is available on our website and the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Traveler’s Information map at modot.org. However, these lists might not be 100 percent accurate, so motorists are urged to use caution while on the roadways.
A map of flooded roads in Northeast Arkansas is available online at IDriveArkansas.com. Butler County: • Route 142-Route B in Ripley County to Route HH near Vastus in Butler County and from Route HH north to Route 158 • Route N-CRD 243 to CRD 232 • Route 53-from Route UU to Route 51 • Route HH-from Route H to CRD 329 • Route H-from Route HH to near the end of state maintenance Carter County: • Route Y Dunklin County: • Route UU-from Route NN to CRD 711/end of state maintenance • Route DD-west of Route53; from CRD 213 to CRD 203. New Madrid County: • Route 162-from CRD 439 to stateline • Route P-at St. John’s Diversion Channel from Route BB to CRD 727 Ripley County: • Route 142-from Route B in Ripley County to Route HH near Vastus in Butler County (and in Butler County from Route HH north to Route 158) • Route AA • Route H • Route W Stoddard County: • Route T-from CRD 404 in Stoddard County to the Wayne/Butler County Line • Eastbound Route 60 Ramp at Route 51 (Fisk/Puxico) Wayne County: • Route 143-Route 34 in Wayne County to Route 49 in Iron County • Route FF-CRD 378 to CRD 380 • Route KK-south of CRD 456 • Business 67-from Route D to US 67; near Greenville, Mo. • Route 49-from Mill Spring, Mo. to CRD 440 • Route HH-from Route RA in Reynolds County to Tacketts Pocket near Piedmont in Wayne County • Route D-at East Fork Lost Creek • Route T-from CRD 404 in Stoddard County to the Wayne/Butler County line
