HEAVY WINDS CAUSE DAMAGE IN THE POPLAR BLUFF AREA
Severe Thunderstorms crossed our listening area on Wednesday bringing hail and heavy winds.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, Supercells developed over southeast Missouri and produced damaging winds approaching 70 mph in Poplar Bluff along with large hail up to at least ping pong ball size near Scott City.
A plane was damaged after getting blown over at the Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport and a large fireworks tent also appeared to be blown over in Poplar Bluff.
In Butler County, several telephone poles, power lines, and tree limbs were also knocked down.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI MAN SENTENCED TO OVER 10 YEARS IN PRISON ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGE
A Southeast Missouri man is facing over 10 years in prison for possessing child pornography.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 48 year old Joel Williams, of Bertrand, pled guilty last March to one count of possessing child pornography.
Last August, law enforcement officials discovered Williams was using a social-networking website to obtain images and videos consisting of child pornography.
He was sentenced Wednesday to serve 12 years in federal prison.
After serving his sentence, Williams will be placed on supervised release for the rest of his life. He was already required to register as a sex offender because of a prior conviction for second-degree statutory sodomy.
TWO SERIOUSLY INJURED IN SINGLE VEHICLE WRECK IN CARTER COUNTY
Two men were injured Wednesday afternoon in a single vehicle wreck in Carter County.
Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that the wreck occurred on Eastbound US Highway 60 near Freemont when a freightliner tractor ran off the side of the road and overturned.
The driver and a passenger were both seriously injured in the wreck. They were each transported to a West Plains hospital.
NAYLOR MAN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON MULTIPLE WEAPON AND DRUG CHARGES
Authorities in Ripley County have arrested an area man on multiple felony charges.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 54 year old Carter Day, of Naylor, was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon on felony charges of unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine, and driving while revoked.
Day is also facing charges of possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
Following the arrest, Day was held at the Ripley County Jail.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN FACING MULTIPLE DRUG RELATED CHARGES
A Poplar Bluff man was taken into custody last night on multiple drug related charges.
Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that 41 year old Jeremy Rankin was arrested shortly before 8 pm on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance for methamphetamine, oxycodone, and alprazolam.
Rankin is also facing charges of driving while intoxicated - drugs and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was held in the Butler County Jail following the arrest.
MAN FLOWN TO AREA HOSPITAL FOLLOWING WRECK IN NEW MADRID COUNTY
A Texas man was flown to an area hospital Wednesday after being involved in a single vehicle wreck in New Madrid County.
According to authorities, the 20 year old male was driving a vehicle on Interstate 55 when he ran off the side of the roadway, struck a ditch, and overturned.
The driver suffered serious injuries in the wreck and was flown to a Cape Girardeau hospital. A passenger in the vehicle received minor injuries.
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN THIS WEEK ON ROAD NEAR VAN BUREN
Maintenance will cause the temporary closure of a road in the Van Buren area.
According to Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the Tram Road south of Van Buren, also known as NPS Road 123, will be temporarily closed to thru traffic while the road undergoes maintenance beginning this week.
Officials say the temporary closure is expected to last approximately two weeks, and will be conducted on weekdays from 7 am to 5 pm.
The maintenance will include trimming trees and brushing the road edges. Heavy equipment will also be used to repair the unpaved road surface, which has become uneven and littered with potholes following the flood of 2017.
