POPLAR BLUFF POLICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATING SCAMS INVOLVING GREEN DOT CARDSThe Poplar Bluff Police Department is investigating multiple scams involving prepaid Green Dot Cards.
Officials with the Poplar Bluff Police Department tell KWOC News that the scams vary from accusing the targeted victim of having outstanding arrest warrants and unpaid government loans to having uncompleted federal questionnaires.
The one common factor in the scams was the demand that the victim purchase a prepaid Green Dot Card to pay for the alleged violation.
Officials say that prepaid debit cards allow the scammer to circumvent security measures of traditional money transfer services. Any request received that instructs a person to pay an outstanding debt using the cards should be treated as a possible scam until discovered otherwise.
VAN BUREN MAN ARRESTED ON FAILURE TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER WARRANT A Van Buren man has been taken into custody on a felony warrant.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 31 year old Randy Weems was arrested last night in Wayne County on a Carter County felony warrant for failure to register as a sex offender.
Following the arrest, he was held at the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.
STATE OFFICIALS ASKING FOR PUBLIC’S HELP IN POACHING INCIDENT A hawk was recently killed in the Poplar Bluff area, and the Missouri Department of Conservation is asking for the public’s help in identifying the culprit.
According to the Conservation Department, the hawk appeared to have been shot, and its feet had been removed. Officials say that all birds of prey/raptors, including hawks, owls, falcons, and eagles, are federally protected. This includes their feathers, feet, and any other parts.
Anyone with information about the poaching incident is asked to contact the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-800-392-1111. Callers can remain anonymous and are eligible for cash rewards with successful prosecution.
VAN BUREN SCHOOL DISTRICT CLASSES WILL NOT BEGIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER Repairs in the Van Buren School District have caused the beginning of classes to be pushed back to September.
According to a post on the School District’s Facebook page, school will not start until at least September 5th.
The delay was attributed to the process of finalizing bids for the work it will take to get back in the school buildings.
TWO ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO ROBBERY IN SIKESTON Two people have been arrested in connection to a reported armed robbery in Sikeston.
Sergeant Jon Broom with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety tells KWOC News that there was a physical altercation between a suspect and the victim during the robbery at an area business on Monday. The second suspect then pulled a handgun on the victim and ordered him to let go of the first suspect.
An undetermined amount of cash was taken from the victim and no one was injured.
The suspects, identified as 26 year old Byron Patterson and 23 year old Marqueze Parks, both of Sikeston, have been arrested and charged with 1st degree robbery and armed criminal action. Their bonds were set at $100,000, cash only.
TIPS FOR SAFE GRILLING The American Red Cross wants everybody to be safe if they are planning on grilling over the holiday weekend.
The Red Cross has released some tips for staying safe while grilling: first, always supervise a barbecue grill when in use and never grill indoors. You should keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, the deck, tree branches, or anything that could catch fire.
Make sure everyone, including the pets, stays away from the grill and remember to use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to keep the chef safe.
You can find more safety information online at redcross.org.
PARAGOULD RECIEVES GRANT FOR CEMETERY MAUSOLEUM The city of Paragould has received a grant for repairs at an area cemetery.
City officials were in Little Rock yesterday to receive the grant for $9,999.
Officials say that the money will be used to repair the stained glass windows and front door of the mausoleum located in Linwood cemetery.
