GRANDFATHER WHO SAVED FAMILY FROM HOUSE FIRE PASSES AWAY
A Poplar Bluff man who saved his family from a house fire last week has died.
64 year old Alex Clinton passed away Friday afternoon at a St. Louis hospital. Clinton was transported to the hospital after saving his wife, daughter, and grandchild from a fire at his residence early Wednesday morning.
A spokesman with the Poplar Bluff Fire Department tells KWOC News, “Mr. Clinton’s heroic actions allowed his three family members to still be with us, our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”
Clinton’s daughter Alexsa White says that her dad loved his wife Christy and his best friend Gail Clinton, along with his five children and three grandchildren.
She added that his heroic acts were to continue even after his death because he signed up to be an organ donor, however due to the severity of his injuries he was unable to donate.
A Facebook fundraiser has been established to benefit the family. A link to the fundraiser has been made available on our website and Facebook pages.
MANY NORTHEAST ARKANSAS SCHOOLS TO RETURN TO CLASS THIS WEEK
Summer is winding down, which means it’s time for students in Northeast Arkansas to return to class.
Many schools in Northeast Arkansas will be holding their first day of classes this week.
The Corning, Greene County Tech, Maynard, Marmaduke, Rector, and Paragould School Districts will all be starting the new school year today.
The Piggott and Pocahontas school districts are both scheduled to start their classes on Wednesday, August 18th.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS FOR 2ND DEGREE MURDER
A Poplar Bluff man is facing almost 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to a murder charge.
Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kacey Proctor tells KWOC News that Ricky Hurt pled guilty last week in the Wayne County Circuit Court to the offense of Murder in the Second Degree.
The charge stems from the disappearance of Edward Goodwin, who went missing in July of 2015. The Butler County Sheriff’s Department began a two and a half year search that spanned nearly all of Southeast Missouri and much of Northeast Arkansas.
Partial remains were eventually located in a pond off of County Road 572 in Butler County,
According to Proctor, Eldrid Smith was identified as a potential suspect due to the fact that he had personal property belonging to Edward Goodwin. Smith was arrested and ultimately charged with Murder in the 1st Degree for acting in concert with Ricky Hurt.
Smith would later tell law enforcement that Hurt shot Goodwin and that Smith’s only involvement was driving Goodwin to the area where he was shot. Smith was offered a 12 year sentence for accessory to Murder in the 2nd Degree and agreed to cooperate in the case against Hurt.
Proctor says that Hurt has been sentenced to 18 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
ONE IN CUSTODY IN CONNECTION TO SHOOTING DEATH IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Authorities in Miner say that a man is facing charges in connection to a shooting death last week.
According to the Miner Police Department, officers discovered a 19 year old gunshot victim early Friday morning. The victim was transported to an area hospital where they were later pronounced dead.
Officials say that 23 year old Robert Miller, of Kentucky, was arrested following an extensive investigation into the incident, which occurred at a local hotel.
Miller is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, unlawful use of a weapon, and armed criminal action. He is being held on a no bond warrant.
The identity of the victim was not released.
TEACHER ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP WITH A STUDENT
A Northeast Arkansas school teacher has been taken into custody on a sexual assault charge.
Clay County Sheriff Terry Miller tells KWOC News that Sarah Beth Isom, of Rector, was arrested on Friday following a five week investigation into her allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with a student.
Isom is facing a charge of sexual assault 1st degree and was held in custody pending a probable cause hearing.
CHILD AIRLIFTED TO ST. LOUIS HOSPITAL FOLLOWING UTV WRECK
An area child has been taken to a regional hospital following a UTV wreck in Southeast Missouri.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the wreck occurred Saturday afternoon when the vehicle ran off the side of a forest service road, near Wappapello, and struck multiple trees.
An 11 year old girl was riding in the vehicle and suffered serious injuries. She was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital.
The driver received moderate injuries and was transported to a Poplar Bluff hospital.
