TWO SCHOOL FUNDRAISING ISSUES REJECTED BY VOTERS IN BUTLER COUNTY

Voters have rejected two separate issues that would have helped raise funds for schools in Butler County.

In the Poplar Bluff School District, voters rejected a question by an over two to one vote, that would have issued bonds to build or improve school facilities in the district, including expanding the Early Childhood Center.

It was a little closer for Twin Rivers Proposition C.A.R.E, which would have seen the district borrow eight million dollars to build a new Junior High on the Broseley campus and improve the Qulin and Fisk Elementary Schools. That measure was defeated 314-226.

TWO BUTLER COUNTY SCHOOL ISSUES TO BE DECIDED DURING TODAY’S MUNICIPAL ELECTION

Voters from across Southeast Missouri will be going to the ballot box today for municipal elections.

Voters in the Poplar Bluff School District will decide on a bond question for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, renovating, repairing, furnishing and equipping new and existing school facilities in the district, including expanding the Early Childhood Center.

Twin Rivers R-X is asking for the public’s approval to borrow eight million dollars for the purpose of providing funds for the site development, construction, equipping, and furnishing of new classrooms on the High School campus to serve as the new Junior High as well as for improvements and repairs at the Qulin and Fisk elementary schools, among other projects.

MAJOR FLOODING REPORTED THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

The heavy rains from last week caused flooding throughout Southeast Missouri.

Numerous water rescues were reported, including in Carter, Ripley, Butler, and Doniphan counties, among others.

According to the National Weather Service, rainfall estimates for the four day period ranged from 10 to 15 inches in the New Madrid area, six to eight inches in the Poplar Bluff area, and four to six inches in the Piedmont area.

BLACK RIVER IN BUTLER COUNTY TO BE UNDER A FLOOD WARNING THIS WEEKEND

The Black River in Butler County is one of multiple rivers that will be under a flood warning.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, a multi-day heavy rain event is expected to last through Saturday.

As of right now the Black River at Poplar Bluff is forecast to rise to a maximum value of 21.5 feet Saturday evening which is half of a foot above the Major Flood stage.

The Flood warning will be in effect for Black River in Poplar Bluff from late Friday night through Monday morning.

LARGE STORM SYSTEM BRINGS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND LARGE TORNADOES TO THE AREA

A large storm system crossed Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas Wednesday evening and early Wednesday night bringing with it multiple tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.

Tornadoes were reported in the Qulin area in Butler County, near Cardwell in Dunklin County, as well as in the Advance area in Stoddard County.

A confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was spotted by weather spotters in the Bay and Lake City area of Northeast Arkansas.

STORM SYSTEM EXPECTED TO HIT THE AREA TODAY BRINGING WITH IT CHANCES OF SEVERE WEATHER

We are once again looking at possibilities of severe weather beginning today.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, a very active and potentially very dangerous weather pattern will set up today and continue into the weekend.

Officials say that the entire region is at risk of severe thunderstorms today. All severe weather threats will be possible, including large to very large hail, widespread damaging winds, and potentially strong tornadoes.

Numerous rounds of heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to produce multiple inches of rainfall through Saturday night.

HEAVY FLOODING POSSIBLE WITH UPCOMING STORM SYSTEM

Weather officials are preparing for a possible severe weather event this week.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, a very active and potentially very dangerous weather pattern will set up by Wednesday and continue into the weekend.

Officials say that the entire region is under an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms on Wednesday. All severe weather threats will be possible, including large to very large hail, widespread damaging winds, and potentially strong tornadoes.

CLASSES AT POPLAR BLUFF SCHOOLS CANCELLED FOR THIS WEEK

Preparations are underway for Poplar Bluff Kindergarten students to move to the Mark Twain school, however it will still be another week before the move can be done.

Superintendent Aaron Cornman tells KWOC News that the Poplar Bluff school district will not be holding classes this week while staff is working to get everything ready for students.

School will resume on Monday, March 31st.

SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED FOR EF-3 TORNADO THAT KILLED TWO PEOPLE IN WAYNE COUNTY

Survey crews have released their report for a tornado that killed two people in Wayne County last week.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, an EF-3 tornado with peak winds of 165 mph began at around 10:28 pm seven miles south of Van Buren.

The tornado traveled into Wayne County and caused severe damage in the Leeper area where several homes were nearly completely destroyed.

Two people were killed when their camper was thrown into the Black River.

POPLAR BLUFF KINDERGARTEN CENTER TO BE CLOSED FOR REMAINDER OF SCHOOL YEAR, KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS TO BE RELOCATED TO MARK TWAIN SCHOOL

Plans are starting to be formalized regarding how Poplar Bluff schools will move forward after a tornado significantly damaged multiple school buildings.

Superintendent Aaron Cornman says that the Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center will be closed for the remainder of the school year. Engineers have deemed it safe to continue to use the Early Childhood Center. The O’Neal Elementary FEMA Safe Room also sustained roof damage, but adjustments are being made to allow students to stay there during the repairs.

When school resumes, all Kindergarten Center students will be relocated to the Mark Twain School campus on North Main Street.

MISSOURI GOVERNOR BEGINS PROCESS OF OBTAINING FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR TORNADO VICTIMS

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has announced that the state has requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency participate in joint preliminary damage assessments for Individual Assistance in numerous counties throughout the state.

A total of 25 counties were a part of the request, including Butler, Carter, Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Stoddard, and Wayne County, following the severe storms and deadly tornadoes that devastated Missouri this past weekend. Officials say this request begins the process of obtaining federal disaster assistance.

EF-3 TORNADO DESTROYS SEVERAL HOMES IN CARTER COUNTY

A tornado in western and northern Carter County caused significant damage Friday night.

According to a damage survey from the National Weather Service, the EF-3 tornado destroyed several homes in the area of Fremont and also picked up a steel trailer and lofted it several hundred yards.

The tornado had peak winds of 165 miles per hour and a path width of 500 yards, uprooting or snapping hundreds of trees.

AT LEAST NINE PEOPLE KILLED IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI DURING FRIDAY NIGHT STORMS

Numerous violent tornadoes and high winds caused multiple deaths and extensive damage throughout Southeast Missouri Friday night.

According to officials, at least eight people were killed during the storms Friday night in Wayne County while one death was reported in Butler County.

Initial reports indicate there were up to 19 tornadoes of varying strengths that impacted 25 counties across the state. At least six of the tornadoes were in Southeast Missouri alone.

DAMAGING WIND AND TORNADOES POSSIBLE WITH TODAY'S STORM SYSTEM

A line of storms crossing the area tonight is bringing with it the possibility of severe weather.

Justin Gibbs, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service in Paducah, says that we could see damaging winds and tornados as a part of this system.

SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBLE WITH UPCOMING STORM SYSTEM

A line of storms crossing the area on Friday is bringing with it the possibility of severe weather.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, there is the potential for a line of severe storms to produce damaging winds and tornadoes as it moves across the area late Friday afternoon into early Saturday morning.

Officials say that winds could gust up to 40 miles per hour ahead of the storms.

PUXICO INDIANS PLAY TODAY IN CLASS 2 STATE BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

The Puxico Indians will be playing tonight with a trip to the state finals on the line.

The Indians will tip off against the Canton Tigers at 6 pm tonight in the Class 2 boys state basketball semifinals.

The game is being played at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

MAN FLOWN TO ST. LOUIS HOSPITAL FOLLOWING CRASH NEAR POPLAR BLUFF

An area man was flown from the scene of a crash over the weekend near Poplar Bluff.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 70 year old man was driving on Highway 142, four miles south of Poplar Bluff, when his vehicle ran off the side of the roadway and struck a tree.

The crash occurred at around 1 pm Saturday afternoon.

SOME DONIPHAN RESIDENTS WILL BE WITHOUT WATER TODAY DUE TO WATER MAIN REPAIRS

Some residents in Doniphan will be without water today due to repairs.

According to the City of Doniphan, the Water Department will be conducting water main repairs on Pine Street starting at 8:15 a.m.

Due to the repairs, residents on North Sycamore Street and Pine Street from Vine to Sycamore will be without water for a short period of time.

TWO SOUTHEAST MISSOURI BASKETBALL TEAMS TO PLAY FOR SPOTS IN STATE SEMIFINALS THIS WEEKEND

Two Southeast Missouri basketball teams will take to the court this weekend with dreams of making it to the state final four.

The Puxico Indians will travel to South Iron tonight to take on the Panthers in the Class 2 boys state quarterfinal. The game will begin at 6 pm and will be broadcast live over the radio on Today’s Talk KWOC and Shuffle 92.9. The game will also be on both stations' Facebook pages and the River Radio Youtube page.

PIEDMONT MAN CHARGED WITH THREE COUNTS OF POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

A Piedmont man has been charged with multiple counts of possession of child pornography.

Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that in February, a Special Victims Unit investigator identified a device, associated with the internet account of 22 year old Tanner Stevens, which had uploaded child pornography.

Investigators contacted Stevens at his residence where a video depicting child pornography was located on an electronic device.