DEXTER ARSONIST FAILS IN ATTEMPT TO GET PRISON SENTENCE THROWN OUT
A Dexter arsonist’s attempt to get his prison sentence thrown out has failed.
Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russell Oliver tells KWOC News that the 120 year sentence imposed against Edward Lusk was upheld by the court after a lengthy legal battle on the Defendant’s post-conviction appeal.
Lusk was charged in August of 2016 with 25 felony counts following multiple business burglaries over the summer of 2016 in the city of Dexter. At least one of the businesses was also set on fire. Lusk was sentenced in August of 2017 to 120 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Oliver says that this week a judgement was entered upholding and affirming the conviction and sentence. Lusk has now fully exhausted his state appeals.
Oliver tells us “Our office worked very hard to obtain and defend this sentence. We are certainly very pleased that this sentence has been upheld so that Mr. Lusk will never be a free man again.”
FOOTBALL JAMBOREE TONIGHT IN DEXTER
We are a week away from the official start of the high school football season in Southeast Missouri which means it is time for the annual jamboree.
The Poplar Bluff Mules will be travelling east this year for the Dexter Jamboree. They will be joined by the Fredericktown Blackcats and the Caruthersville Tigers.
The kick off is scheduled for 6 pm tonight and every Poplar Bluff snap will be carried live on Today’s Talk KWOC 93.3 FM and 930 AM as well as on the KWOC Facebook page starting at 5:45 pm.
MISSOURI GOVERNOR BUDGETS FOUR HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FOR HIGH SPEED INTERNET
Missouri Governor Mike Parson says he wants to use $400 million in federal funding to boost access to high-speed internet.
Parson unveiled his plan Thursday at the Missouri State Fair. He wants to use federal American Rescue Plan relief funding to build the state's broadband infrastructure. His plan still needs approval from the Legislature, who will return to work at the Capitol in January.
The governor's office says more than 147,000 Missouri households don't have access to high-speed internet. That equals about 400,000 residents, mostly in rural areas.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON FELONY METH CHARGE
Authorities in Butler County have arrested an area man on a felony drug charge.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 57 year old Joel West, of Poplar Bluff, was taken into custody Thursday morning on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine.
West is also facing additional charges of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to register a motor vehicle.
MULTIPLE AREA ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING IN WELLNESS EVENT THIS WEEKEND IN POPLAR BLUFF
Area residents are being invited to take a walk in the park this weekend in Poplar Bluff.
The event, hosted by the Butler County Wellness Council, will be held from 9 am to noon on Saturday at Hendrickson Park.
There will be multiple activities including free 45 minute fitness classes, a free 30 minute kids class, a children’s playground parachute, walking trail tours, nutrition demonstrations, and more.
For more information, contact the Community Resource Center at 573-776-7830.
IMPAIRED DRIVING ENFORCEMENT CAMPAIGN TO BEGIN TODAY
Law enforcement agencies are starting a new campaign today to keep impaired drivers off the roadways.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, from today through Labor Day, law enforcement agencies across Missouri will participate in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over impaired driving campaign.
Officials say that highway fatalities continue to be on the rise with a focus on four risky behaviors: not wearing a seat belt, cellphone use while driving, excessive speeds, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
In 2020, there were 217 people killed and 713 people seriously injured in Missouri crashes resulting from impaired driving. During the 2020 Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, law enforcement officers in Missouri made 213 DWI arrests, 45 DUI drug arrests, and 12 arrests for minors in possession.
