TWO PEOPLE SENTENCED IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI MURDER INVESTIGATION
Two people will be spending decades behind bars in connection to the murder of an Illinois woman in Southeast Missouri.
According to Bollinger County Sheriff Casey Graham, in October of 2021, the Bollinger County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a missing person, identified as 21 year old Brianna Roberts, of Illinois.
An investigation into the disappearance led to the arrests of Eric Nanney and Kaitlyn Morgan.
POPLAR BLUFF SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES PURCHASE OF WEAPONS DETECTION SYSTEM AND CELL PHONE POUCHES FOR STUDENTS
The Poplar Bluff R-1 Board of Education held an open session Tuesday night.
During the session, the board approved the purchase of Weapons Detection Systems for the High School, Junior High, and Mark Twain campuses. The cost of the eleven devices and training would be $210,580.70. Six of the devices will be placed at PBHS, three at the Junior High, and two at Mark Twain.
APPLICATIONS DISCUSSED FOR POPLAR BLUFF CITY MANAGER POSITION
The Poplar Bluff City Council discussed the vacant City Manager position Monday night.
The Council met in a closed session to discuss the applications received for the open position.
After the discussion a unanimous vote was passed to continue the closed session on December 3rd.
Interim City Manager Lori Phelps tells KWOC News that over 10 applications have been received for the position.
OVER 68 THOUSAND DEER HARVESTED DURING OPENING WEEKEND OF FIREARM DEER SEASON
Hunters across Missouri took to the woods over the weekend for the opening of the November potion of firearms deer season.
According to preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation, hunters harvested 68,312 deer during opening weekend. Of the deer harvested, 42,283 were antlered bucks, 5,105 were button bucks, and 20,924 were does.
Last year, hunters checked 90,253 deer during opening weekend.
ONE DEAD FOLLOWING CRASH IN BUTLER COUNTY
One person has died following a crash early Saturday morning in Butler County.
Butler County Coroner Jim Akers tells KWOC News that the multi vehicle accident occurred on US Highway 60, two miles west of Fisk.
The deceased has been identified as 37 year old Nathaniel Smith, of Scott City.
A crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol says that crash occurred when a vehicle struck the rear of another vehicle. Smith, a passenger in the first vehicle was ejected, and then struck by a freightliner. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the second vehicle suffered minor injuries and was transported to a Poplar Bluff hospital. No injuries were listed for the driver of the freightliner.
DEER SEASON BEGINS ON SATURDAY
Hunters from across Missouri will be heading to the woods this weekend for the beginning of deer season.
Officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation say that the November portion of the firearms deer season runs from November 16th through the 26th and the opening weekend is the most popular two days for most deer hunters in Missouri.
Hunters who harvest a deer from certain counties in the CWD Management Zone during the opening weekend must take their deer to a designated CWD sampling station.
You can find more information about deer season as well as regulations online at mdc.mo.gov.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI MAN FACING OVER FOURTEEN YEARS IN PRISON ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGE
An area man has been sentenced on a child pornography charge.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 40 year old Justin Wade Welker, of Bollinger County, pled guilty in August to one count of child pornography. Welker was sentenced Tuesday to 179 months in federal prison.
The investigation began after officials were alerted that Welker was uploading images and videos of child pornography to his phone.
Officials say that after serving his 179-month sentence, Welker will be placed on supervised release for a period of 20 years. Welker will also be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
MOTORISTS WARNED TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR DEER
With temperatures starting to drop, Missouri motorists are being advised to watch for deer.
Officials say that deer are more active and create hazards for Missouri motorists at this time of year.
The majority of deer strike crashes occur in November each year, with most happening in the 6 to 7 am and 6 to 9 pm timeframes.
Last year, drivers in Missouri experienced 3,591 traffic crashes where deer-vehicle strikes occurred. In these crashes, there were four fatalities and 420 people were injured.
Drivers are reminded that an attempt to avoid striking a deer could result in a more serious crash involving oncoming traffic. As soon as you see a deer, the best course of action is to reduce your speed gradually while watching other traffic around you.
If you do strike a deer, move your vehicle to a safe location and call 9-1-1 or *55 on a cell phone and report it.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS EVENT TO BE HELD IN POPLAR BLUFF
A disaster preparedness event has been scheduled for today in Poplar Bluff.
The Butler County Emergency Management Agency and University of Missouri Extension will be hosting the event from 2 to 3:30 pm at the Main Branch of the Poplar Bluff Library.
There will be door prizes provided by the Butler County EMA.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN KILLED IN MOTORCYCLE CRASH
A Poplar Bluff man was killed in a motorcycle crash last week.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at around 8:30 pm Thursday night on Highway 142, one mile south of Poplar Bluff when a motorcycle ran off the side of the roadway, struck a ditch, and overturned.
Butler County Coroner Jim Akers tells KWOC News that the driver of the vehicle has been identified as 20 year old Chase Mock, of Poplar Bluff.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN KILLED IN CRASH INVOLVING TRACTOR NEAR QULIN
A Poplar Bluff man was killed in a crash involving farming equipment Thursday morning near Qulin.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred when a vehicle struck the tractor from behind, crossed the center of Highway 53, and struck another vehicle.
The driver of the last vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.
Butler County Coroner Jim Akers tells KWOC News that the deceased has been identified as 64 year old David Jones of Poplar Bluff.
DONIPHAN R-1 CLASSES CANCELED FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW
School officials in the Doniphan R-1 School District have decided to cancel school for today and tomorrow due to the flooding in the area.
In a post on Facebook, officials said they hope this will help families and the community recover/clean up from any damages caused by this flood.
According to NOAA, the Current River in Doniphan is expected to crest below the major flood stage midday today.
STUCKER AND DARNELL WIN RACES IN BUTLER COUNTY
Ralph Stucker and Jeff Darnell were the winners of the contested races Tuesday in Butler County.
For County Commissioner of the Eastern District of Butler County, Ralph Stucker defeated Van Rhodes 8,873-2,388.
In the race for Butler County Public Administrator, Jeff Darnell beat Amy Kopf 13,222-4,027.
In Carter County, voters approved a question that will exempt senior citizens, aged 62 and older, from increases in the property tax liability due on their primary residence.
TODAY IS ELECTION DAY
A number of races and propositions will be voted on today by citizens in Missouri and Arkansas.
In addition to the race for the White House, voters across Missouri will also be voting on a United States Senate race along with multiple spots in the state government, including Governor.
Voters in Missouri will also be voting on five constitutional amendments and a statewide proposition.
HARRIS AND TRUMP ENTER FINAL DAY OF CAMPAIGN
We are on the final day of the campaign for the White House.
Tomorrow will see voters decide between former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris on who should become President of the United States of America.
In Missouri, the race for the United States Senate will see Josh Hawley facing off against challenger Lucas Kunce.
MISSOURI CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 7 WOULD PROHIBIT RANKED CHOICE VOTING
Continuing our look at constitutional amendments that will be decided in Missouri during the general election, we turn to the effort to ban ranked choice voting in the state.
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 7 would prohibit the ranking of candidates by limiting voters to a single vote per candidate or issue; require the plurality winner of a political party primary to be the single candidate at a general election; and make the Constitution consistent with state law by only allowing citizens of the United States to vote.
MISSOURI STATE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS UP FOR GRABS DURING NEXT WEEKS ELECTION
Voters in Southeast Missouri will be deciding who will be representing them in the Missouri Congress next week.
The race for State Senator of Missouri’s 25th District is down to Jason Bean and Chuck Banks.
There are four competitive races in Southeast Missouri for the Missouri State House of Representatives. For the 144th District, Tony Harbison will face Andrew Eye. The 150th District will see Cameron Bunting Parker take on Kay Collier.
PEDESTRIAN STRUCK AND KILLED BY A VEHICLE NEAR POPLAR BLUFF
A pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle Tuesday morning in Butler County.
According to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the incident occurred at around 6 am on Highway B, just west of Highway AA.
A vehicle ran off the left side of the roadway and struck 27 year old Topanga Thompson, also of Poplar Bluff. The vehicle then struck a tree.
MISSOURI CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 3 WOULD REMOVE THE STATE’S BAN ON ABORTIONS
Continuing our look at constitutional amendments that will be decided in Missouri during the general election, we turn to abortion.
Missouri Constitutional Amendment 3 would establish a constitutional right to make decisions about reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives, with any governmental interference of that right presumed invalid.
The amendment also removes Missouri's ban on abortion; allows regulation of reproductive health care to improve or maintain the health of the patient; and requires the government not to discriminate, in government programs, funding, and other activities, against persons providing or obtaining reproductive health care.
MISSOURI CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2 WOULD ALLOW SPORTS BETTING IN THE STATE
Beginning our look at constitutional amendments that will be decided in Missouri during the general election, we start with online sports betting.
Missouri Constitutional Amendment Number 2 asks Missourians if they want to amend the constitution to permit licensed sports wagering regulated by the Missouri Gaming Commission and restrict sports betting to individuals physically located in the state and over the age of 21.
The amendment also includes a 10 percent wagering tax on revenues received to be appropriated for educational institutions in Missouri.
