SUSPECT IN CUSTODY IN CONNECTION TO THE DEATH OF A BABY IN POPLAR BLUFF
Authorities in Poplar Bluff have a suspect in custody in connection to the death of a young child.
Poplar Bluff Police Chief Mike McClain tells KWOC News that at approximately 10 am on Thursday, officers responded to a residence on Kinzer Street regarding a possible infant death.
At the scene, officers learned that a 7-week-old infant had already been transported to an area hospital. Investigators responded to the hospital and were informed that the infant had passed away.
McClain says that it was determined that the child had suffered severe head trauma, indicative of abuse.
An investigation led to the arrest of the child’s mother, 28 year old Alisha Ivy, of Poplar Bluff.
Ivy was lodged in the Butler County Justice Center on a charge of 2nd degree murder pending review of the case by the Butler County Prosecutor. An autopsy has been scheduled for Monday, December 19th.
The investigation is ongoing by the Poplar Bluff Police Department and the Butler County Coroner’s Office.
MAN ACCUSED OF STARTING FIRES IN MARK TWAIN NATIONAL FOREST AND ASSAULTING FOREST SERVICE EMPLOYEE
An Iron County man appeared in court this week on accusations that he started fires in the Mark Twain National Forest and assaulted a law enforcement officer.
Officials with the United States Attorney’s Office tell KWOC News that 36 year old Lucas Henson pled not guilty on Wednesday to the charges of assaulting a law enforcement officer, arson and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The indictment says Henson assaulted a U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer on October 23rd in Wayne County. On the same date, the indictment says he damaged United States property with fire and possessed a firearm as a convicted felon.
Henson is currently facing charges including robbery, stealing a motor vehicle and resisting arrest in New Madrid Circuit Court related to the same incident.
Charging documents in that case say he set three fires in Butler and Wayne counties that damaged seven to eight acres of National Forest land and pointed a crossbow at the Forest Service officer.
LADY ROYALS CHRISTMAS CLASSIC TO BEGIN ON SATURDAY
16 women’s basketball teams will be descending on Broseley starting tomorrow for the 25th Annual Lady Royals Christmas Classic.
The tournament is scheduled to run from December 17th through the 21st at Twin Rivers High School and will feature numerous area schools.
There are eight first round matchups set for Saturday including top seed Doniphan taking on Hayti to start the tournament at 9 am, Neelyville facing Naylor at 10:30 am, and host Twin Rivers battling Kennett at 7:30 pm.
Today’s Talk KWOC will be live streaming video coverage of every game from the tournament on the KWOC Facebook Page and the River Radio PB Youtube page.
POPLAR BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA CLUB TO PERFORM BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
The Poplar Bluff High School Drama Club will be performing a classic Disney story next month.
The Drama Club is presenting Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” at 7 p.m. on January 13th, 14th, 20th, and 21st in the Kay Porter Theater on Victory Lane.
There is also a 2 pm matinee performance scheduled for January 15th.
Officials say that tickets cost $5 and will be available at the door.
RALPH INNES APPOINTED AS POPLAR BLUFF MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE
A new Poplar Bluff municipal court judge will be sworn in next week.
The Poplar Bluff City Council held a special closed meeting on Thursday where they appointed Ralph Innes as the new Municipal Court Judge for the city.
Innes will take over for Judge W. Dean Million, who has held the role since 2003.
Innes will be sworn in at the regular City Council meeting that is scheduled for December 19th. His term will begin on January 1st.
ARKANSAS STATE POLICE TO PARTICIPATE IN DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER CAMPAIGN
State officials in Arkansas are reminding everyone to not drink and drive while celebrating the holidays.
The Arkansas State Police has announced that they will be participating in a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement period starting today and continuing through January 1st.
To reduce the chances of future drunk driving crashes, Arkansas law enforcement officers are working together with the National Highway Safety Administration to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal but also a matter of life and death.
On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2016 to 2020, and one person was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 45 minutes in 2020.
