JUVENILE INJURED DURING FIRE IN POPLAR BLUFF
A juvenile was injured on Tuesday during a residence fire in Poplar Bluff.
According to officials, at around 2:30 pm Tuesday, crews were dispatched to 1503 Grand Avenue for a structure fire.
KWOC News has confirmed that a juvenile was flown to a St. Louis hospital following the fire.
The home had significant damage and the Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office has been notified for the investigation.
AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING SHOOTING IN POPLAR BLUFF
Authorities in Poplar Bluff are investigating a shooting report.
Few details have been released, however Poplar Bluff Police Chief Mike McClane has confirmed that an individual suffered a single gunshot wound to the leg and the injury appears to not be life threatening.
The victim was discovered in the 1600 block of Missouri Avenue and transported to a Poplar Bluff hospital.
McClane says that the investigation is open and ongoing.
POPLAR BLUFF CITY CLERK LORI PHELPS APPOINTED INTERIM CITY MANAGER
A new city manager has been appointed for the City of Poplar Bluff.
According to city officials, on Thursday the city council unanimously appointed City Clerk and Treasurer Lori Phelps to be the interim City Manager, effective September 20th.
Phelps began her career with the City of Poplar Bluff in March of 2008 as a secretary to the City Manager and City Clerk. She was then appointed Deputy City Clerk in May of 2012 and was appointed City Clerk and Treasurer in July of 2022.
WELLS RETAINS PRIMARY WIN FOLLOWING RECOUNT
Larry Wells has secured the Republican nomination for Butler County Western District Commissioner.
Butler County Clerk Donna Hill tells KWOC News that a recount was held Thursday for the race after Wells won the primary earlier this month by only two votes over his nearest challenger, Kenny Barker.
The results stayed exactly the same following the recount with Wells winning with 666 votes cast in his favor.
DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER OPENS IN DONIPHAN
A joint Disaster Recovery Center is now available in Doniphan.
The center is located in the Ripley County Caring Community Partnership building at 209 West Highway Street. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. until further notice.
Homeowners, renters and self-employed business owners in 10 Missouri counties who were impacted by the May 19th through 27th severe storms, tornadoes and flooding can visit any of the three centers in Southeast Missouri for one-on-one help, regardless of where they live. Services at the centers are free.
ARMED STANDOFF ENDS PEACEFULLY AT NORTHEAST ARKANSAS GAS STATION
A confrontation with an armed man ended peacefully Monday at a Northeast Arkansas business.
According to Randolph County Sheriff Kevin Bell, the incident began at around 1:30 am Monday morning. Deputies were called to assist Pocahontas Police with an armed suspect who had allegedly fired one round at a gas station in Pocahontas.
A standoff ensued and officers were eventually able to talk the suspect into surrendering.
AT LEAST 24 MORE SCHOOLS IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI TO BEGIN SCHOOL YEAR TODAY
School opening week in Southeast Missouri continues today with at least 24 more schools welcoming back students.
The school year will begin today for kids in the Twin Rivers, Neelyville, Malden, Sikeston, Holcomb, East Carter, and Clearwater school districts, among others.
At least 11 more schools will start on Wednesday, including Doniphan, Dexter, Advance, and Bloomfield.
DONIPHAN MAN KILLED IN SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH
A Doniphan man has died following a single vehicle crash Saturday afternoon in Ripley County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 35 year old Joseph St. Cin was driving on Route U, south of Doniphan, when his vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway and overturned.
St. Cin, who was reportedly not wearing a safety device, was ejected during the wreck. He was transported to a Poplar Bluff hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
POPLAR BLUFF MULES FOOTBALL SCRIMMAGE SET FOR THIS WEEKEND
The Poplar Bluff Mules football team will be kicking off the fall season this week.
The Maroon vs White Gatorade game will be held Saturday at 7 pm at Poplar Bluff High School. Poplar Bluff Athletics Director Kent Keith tells KWOC News that admission is one bottle of Gatorade or other sports drink.
Today’s Talk KWOC will be covering the scrimmage live Saturday beginning at 6:45 pm on the KWOC Facebook page and the River Radio YouTube channel.
STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE THIS EVENING OVER SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible this evening in Southeast Missouri.
According to a Hazardous Weather Outlook issued by the National Weather Service, a good chance of thunderstorms is forecast for southeast Missouri this evening and overnight.
A few strong to severe storms with mainly a damaging wind threat will be possible, with locally heavy rainfall and lightning also being primary concerns.
In addition to possible severe weather, high temperatures are forecast to reach the mid 90’s and will combine with high humidity to yield peak heat index values from 105 to 110 across a large portion of the region this afternoon.
Remember to take frequent breaks in the shade or air conditioning and drink plenty of water to replenish lost fluids. Also remember to never leave a child or a pet in a hot vehicle, even for a short period of time.
HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE TODAY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
We could see some heavy rain today in Southeast Missouri.
According to a Hazardous Weather Outlook from the National Weather Service, locally moderate to heavy rainfall is expected today, which may lead to isolated flooding of poor drainage and flood-prone areas.
Most of Southeast Missouri is expected to receive one half of an inch to two inches of rainfall. Most of Butler, Carter, Ripley, and Wayne Counties could see up to three inches of rain.
Weather officials say that any thunderstorms that develop today are expected to remain below severe limits.
TWO SACRED HEART TEACHERS AWARDED AS NATIONAL EDUCATORS OF EXCELLENCE
Two educators at a Poplar Bluff school are being recognized as National Educators of Excellence.
KWOC News spoke with Subrina Berger from Sacred Heart School about the award.
Subrina Berger:
“Miss Casey and I are co-sponsors for the Sacred Heart Catholic School beta team. We have had our beta team active now for 3 years. Miss Casey actually brought it to us, her children are involved in the beta team at their school at St Teresa's in Glennonville and their sponsor Miss Gwen has been a keystone in helping us build up our club and meet the standards that we both have, which are very high.”
“We want to do everything and we want to win as much as we can, but we want the kids to do the work and take us there. In Beta there are four pillars and they are leadership, service, academics, and achievement, and those four pillars are the the reasons that we give so much authority to the children, to the students.”
“We received an email from National Beta and it said congratulations you have achieved excellence as an educator in the state of Missouri and then it wasn't just for the state of Missouri but it was for the entire country and so each state that has a club is eligible and so each Club is eligible through meeting four different requirements.”
“You just sort of go through the year trying to get through it, you know, doing what you need to do to compete at State and then take your winners from state to national competition and then we have leadership summits for our office holders, our president and vice president for the club, and these are all the students doing all of this. When you achieve the four requirements which are earning School of Distinction.”
“The second is becoming a school of Merit and then having some of our students attend the State Convention, the Leadership Summit, or the National Convention, and then our club must provide 50 hours per Club member as a minimum and if you do all of those things you achieve an educator in excellence award and surprisingly we were the only two that did it in the state of Missouri.”
According to a press release, only 121 of over 20,000 sponsors received the honor this year nationwide.
FOUR ELECTED TO OZARK BORDER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Ozark Border Electric Cooperative held its annual meeting on Friday.
Voting was conducted all throughout the week leading up to the meeting to decide who would take the seats on the Ozark Border Board of Directors.
Dennis “Boots” Legrand won the election for District 2, carrying 1,446 votes of the 2,461 votes cast.
FIRE CREWS RESPOND TO STRUCTURE FIRE IN POPLAR BLUFF
Fire crews in Poplar Bluff responded to a structure fire Wednesday night.
According to officials, a Poplar Bluff police officer noticed the fire on Franklin Street and informed dispatch shortly after 10 pm.
Fire crews quickly responded to the location and found a vacant structure fully involved. Crews were on scene for over three hours before the fire was extinguished. The home is being considered a total loss.
ONE DEAD FOLLOWING SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH IN CLAY COUNTY
A Corning man has died following a single vehicle crash in Northeast Arkansas.
According to the Arkansas State Police, 49 year old Shane Potter was driving on Highway 135, in rural Clay County, when his vehicle ran off the roadway and struck a tree.
The crash occurred shortly after 8 pm Tuesday night.
POPLAR BLUFF CITY MANAGER RESIGNS
Poplar Bluff City Manager Matt Winters has turned in his resignation.
The Poplar Bluff City Council accepted the resignation during a city council meeting on Monday, August 5th.
Winters has taken the position of City Administrator for the City of Jackson and will stay on as Poplar Bluff City Manager through September 20.
VOTING UNDERWAY IN MISSOURI’S PRIMARY ELECTION
Polls have opened for the Missouri Primary Election.
Voters will be deciding on nominations and propositions on both the state and local level today.
You can find your voting location online at sos.mo.gov/elections. Polls will close at 7 pm, and anyone in line to vote at that time will still get to cast a ballot.
COMPETITIVE LOCAL RACES IN CARTER COUNTY
Wrapping up our series on competitive local races that will be decided Tuesday during the Missouri Primary, we now turn to Carter County.
There are two races for the Carter County Commission. For the Eastern District Republican nomination, Tom Wilder will take on Paul Dunnegan and Joe Crites. In the Western District, Erik McSpadden will challenge Mike Hoerner for the Republican Nomination.
The race for the county Assessor nomination is between Gary Rector and Dustin Bryant.
POPLAR BLUFF ALUMNUS KAMERON MISNER CALLED UP TO TAMPA BAY RAYS
A Poplar Bluff native has made it to the Major Leagues.
Kameron Misner is being called up to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Misner graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 2016, and was drafted by the Kansas City Royals, but decided to attend the University of Missouri.
MISSOURI GOVERNOR SIGNS CEREMONIAL BUDGET BILL IN POPLAR BLUFF
Missouri Governor Mike Parson was in Poplar Bluff Wednesday for a ceremonial signing of House Bill 4.
Parson signed the bill at Haff Whiskey Saloon in downtown Poplar Bluff, surrounded by state and local leaders, including Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, Missouri State Senators Jason Bean and Lincoln Hough, Former State Senator Doug Libla, Arkansas State Senator Blake Johnson, Missouri State Representative Hardy Billington, Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher, Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce President Steve Halter, Bill Robertson, and others.
House Bill 4 provides for $150 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget to go to improvements to U.S. Highway 67 in Butler County.
