NORTHEAST ARKANSAS MAN DIES IN BOATING INCIDENT

A Northeast Arkansas man has died in connection to a boating incident this week.

Greene County Sheriff Brad Snyder tells KWOC News that shortly before 1:30 pm on Wednesday, Paragould Emergency Services received a 911 call regarding a male in distress after he had launched his boat from the boat ramp at Lake Frierson.

Snyder says that it appears that the boat began floating away after it was launched. In an effort to retrieve the boat, 60 year old Bryan Slayton, of rural Greene County, began swimming out to it.

DONIPHAN CHURCH CATCHES FIRE WEDNESDAY MORNING

Crews worked the scene of a fire Wednesday morning at a Doniphan area church.

Authorities were alerted of a fire at the United Methodist Church shortly after 4 am.

Officials say that no one was injured in the fire, however the building is being considered a total loss.

NATIONWIDE FISHING TOURNAMENT TO INCLUDE STOP IN POPLAR BLUFF

A nationwide fishing tournament will include a stop in Poplar Bluff this summer.

The Kayak Adventure Series will be held in the Poplar Bluff area on July 12th and 13th. The event, dubbed “Ozarkana” is a catch, measure, photo, and release fishing tournament, which will be the third stop of six this year.

According to a release, the series aims to highlight the diverse styles of anglers and the versatility of the kayak. The winners may pocket over $10,000 as a part of the competition.

FORMER NATIONAL CHAMPION WITH THREE RIVERS COLLEGE RETURNS HOME TO COACH THE RAIDERS

A member of the 1979 Three Rivers College National Championship team is coming home to be the new coach of the Raiders.

TRC announced Monday that alumnus Robert Kirby has been hired as the new head coach of the Men’s Basketball team. Kirby is the fourth head coach in Three Rivers history. He follows Bob Cradic, Gene Bess, and Brian Bess.

OFC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT TO BEGIN TODAY

The Ozark Foothills Conference softball tournament is scheduled to begin today.

The tournament, featuring seven area schools, will start today with three games at Doniphan High School.

Today’s action will start with East Carter taking on Clearwater at noon, followed by Naylor vs. Neelyville at 2 pm. The final game of the quarterfinals will be a matchup between Greenville and Twin Rivers at 4 pm.

MULTIPLE SOUTHEAST MISSOURI COMMUNITIES TO RECEIVE GRANT MONEY TO EXPAND 911 SERVICES

Grant funding will go to help expand 911 services in multiple Southeast Missouri communities.

The Missouri 911 Service Board recently approved nearly $16.6 million in grant funding for 911 improvement projects across the state.

These new grants will bring six counties in the Mark Twain Region with only a basic level of 911 services to Next Generation 911 and Text-to-911 services. The six counties are Bollinger, Carter, Ripley, Shannon, Oregon, Wayne County.

VEHICLE CRASHES INTO POPLAR BLUFF BUSINESS

One person was transported to an area hospital after a vehicle crashed into a Poplar Bluff business Wednesday morning.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred on Business 67 when a vehicle driven by 63 year old Tammy Webb, of Doniphan, struck the rear of a freightliner before crashing into Sunset Pool and Spa.

Webb suffered serious injuries in the crash and was transported to a Poplar Bluff hospital.

CORNMAN RE-ELECTED AS MAYOR OF POPLAR BLUFF

Shane Cornman will be retaining his spot as Mayor of Poplar Bluff.

Cornman was reelected as Mayor by the Poplar Bluff City Council Monday night for the 2024-2025 term.

The Council also chose Councilwoman Lisa Parson to serve as Mayor Pro Tem.

POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER FORECAST FOR TODAY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas are under a higher risk for severe storms today.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, showers and thunderstorms are forecast to move across the region this afternoon and tonight.

BLACK BEAR STRUCK AND KILLED BY A VEHICLE NEAR CARTER AND SHANNON COUNTY LINE

A black bear was struck and killed by a vehicle Friday in Southeast Missouri.

According to Carter County Conservation Agent Avery Crisp, the bear was struck on US Highway 60 near the Carter and Shannon County line.

The vehicle suffered minor damage, and neither of the occupants were injured.

DEXTER K9 DEATH INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

An investigation into the death of a K9 officer in Stoddard County is ongoing.

According to Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Sawyer Smith, his office is broadening and continuing the criminal investigation regarding alleged animal abuse and neglect of Dexter PD K9 Apollo and K9 Knox.

Last week, criminal charges were filed against Derrick Durall, who had been the K9 handler for the Dexter Police Department since December 2020. Durall faces two counts of felony animal abuse and two counts of misdemeanor animal neglect.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY RELATED CHARGES

A Poplar Bluff man was recently taken into custody on multiple child pornography related felony charges.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 46 year old Joshua McKnight was arrested Tuesday afternoon on a charge of promoting child pornography and three counts of possession of child pornography.

11 MONTH OLD CHILD FOUND DEAD FOLLOWING FIRE IN MALDEN

A young child was found dead following a fire Monday in Dunklin County.

Malden Department of Public Safety Chief Jeff Mitchell tells KWOC News that shortly after 4 pm Monday, DPS was dispatched to a structure fire on North Decatur Street.

While firefighters were working to extinguish the fire, one fatality was discovered in the residence.

THOUSANDS OF ECLIPSE VIEWERS FLOCK TO POPLAR BLUFF

Residents from across the United States as well as around the world descended on Poplar Bluff Monday to view the eclipse.

A total solar eclipse was observed in Poplar Bluff beginning at 1:56 pm. It was the first total solar eclipse in the country since 2017.

Poplar Bluff City Manager Matt Winters tells KWOC News that there were visitors in Poplar Bluff from more than 35 states and more than half a dozen foreign countries.

POPLAR BLUFF GETS READY FOR SOLAR ECLIPSE

After over a year of preparation, the eclipse is almost here.

A solar eclipse will begin in the Poplar Bluff area today at 12:39 pm, with the sun being completely covered by the moon from 1:56 to 2 pm. The eclipse will come to an end at 3:15 pm.

If you are planning to watch the eclipse, remember to wear appropriate glasses. Ensure that the solar eclipse viewing glasses you have are authentic and properly rated.

The main viewing station in Poplar Bluff will be at the Poplar Bluff High School Football Stadium. The gates will open at 9 am and entry is $5.

NUMEROUS LOCATIONS SET UP TO ALLOW FOR VIEWING OF THE ECLIPSE

Numerous locations have been set up in the Poplar Bluff area to allow for easy viewing of the Solar Eclipse today.

In addition to the main viewing location at the Poplar Bluff High School Football Field, visitors can also see the eclipse at Ray Clinton Park, the Poplar Bluff Airport, Wiseman Park, Three Rivers College, the Black River Coliseum Parking Lot, Wappapello Lake Visitors Center, Mansion Mall, and Valley Plaza.

ONE DEAD IN CONNECTION TO SOUTHEAST MISSOURI CRASH

One person has died from injuries he received in a crash earlier this week.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred Wednesday afternoon when a vehicle driven by 40 year old Heder Gonzalez, of Senath, pulled into the path of another vehicle on US Highway 412 in Dunklin County.

Gonzalez suffered serious injuries in the crash, while the driver of the second vehicle received minor injuries. Both were transported to a Paragould hospital.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO TWO CHARGES IN CONNECTION TO JANUARY 6TH CAPITOL BREACH

A Southeast Missouri man will be sentenced later this year for his actions during the breach of the United States Capitol on January 6th, 2021.

43 year old Nicholas L. Kennedy, of Sikeston, pleaded guilty on Wednesday in the District of Columbia to two felony offenses of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder and tampering with records, documents, or other objects.

MARIJUANA TAX PASSES IN POPLAR BLUFF AND BOYER IS ELECTED TO CITY COUNCIL

Poplar Bluff voters have chosen to approve a new tax for marijuana sales in the city.

On Tuesday, voters approved a new city-wide sales tax of three percent for retail sales of adult-use marijuana in the city by a vote of 339-138. Similar proposals were also approved in Kennett, Senath, and Piedmont, as well as Dunklin and New Madrid Counties.

In the race to fill the Ward 2 seat on the Poplar Bluff City Council, David Boyer received over 71 percent of the vote to claim victory.

Unofficial Election Results for the 2024 General Municipal Election.

SEAT ON POPLAR BLUFF CITY COUNCIL AND MULTIPLE AREA SCHOOL BOARDS TO BE DECIDED TODAY

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

In Poplar Bluff, voters will determine who will represent Ward Two on the City Council, David Boyer, Mack Campbell, or Marty Paskel.

Voters in numerous communities will also be voting on marijuana taxes today, including Poplar Bluff, Kennett, and Piedmont.

Multiple school districts will also be holding Board of Education elections today, including Poplar Bluff, Neelyville and Twin Rivers.