MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR STODDARD COUNTY MURDER
A man will spend the rest of his life in prison in connection to a murder in Dexter.
Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russell Oliver tells KWOC News that Joshua Koonce, of Dexter, pled guilty last November for the 2018 stabbing death of Jimmy Casey.
Oliver says that Judge Joe Satterfield sentenced Koonce Thursday to life imprisonment for the count of murder in the second degree and 15 years for the count of armed criminal action, ordering those sentences to be served consecutively.
ONE KILLED IN TWO VEHICLE CRASH NEAR KENNETT
A Hayti man has died from injuries he received in a two vehicle wreck near Kennett.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the wreck occurred Thursday morning when a Subaru Forester rear ended a Buick Enclave on US Highway 412.
After the collision, both vehicles ran off the side of the roadway.
The driver of the Enclave, 73 year old William Howard, of Hayti, was transported to a Pemiscot County hospital where he was pronounced dead. A passenger in the Enclave suffered minor injuries.
No injuries were listed for the driver of the Forester.
POPLAR BLUFF CHURCH CELEBRATES 125TH BIRTHDAY TODAY
A Poplar Bluff church turns 125 years old today.
The Poplar Bluff Zion Lutheran Church on Main Street was founded on February 18th, 1897.
A short dedication service will be held this morning at the church beginning at 11:45 am. After the service, the church bell will be rung 125 times.
There will also be a fellowship hour in celebration of the church and all members and friends are encouraged to attend.
HEAVY RAINFALL RESULTS IN FLOODED ROADWAYS IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Heavy rainfall throughout Thursday resulted in flooded roadways across Southeast Missouri.
According to the National Weather Service, a flood warning was in effect for portions of Southeast Missouri yesterday including Butler, Ripley, Stoddard, and Wayne Counties.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, two people were rescued from a flooded vehicle in Butler County.
The Stoddard County Emergency Management Agency reported numerous roads being flooded Thursday, including Highway T near Mingo and Highway 91 at Highway N.
If you will be out driving this morning, officials are urging you to not drive through flooded roadways.
For road conditions, you can find the Missouri Department of Transportation Traveler’s Information Map at traveler.modot.org.
TWO ARRESTED ON FELONY DRUG CHARGES IN NEW MADRID COUNTY
Two Morehouse residents were recently arrested in New Madrid County on felony drug charges.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 48 year old Lee Horton and 41 year old Christie Burgess were each arrested late Wednesday night on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute for methamphetamine.
They are also each facing a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
CULVERT REPLACEMENT TO CAUSE DELAYS TODAY IN STODDARD COUNTY
Route ZZ in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane today as Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a culvert under the roadway.
The section of roadway to be reduced is located from County Road 659 to County Road 667.
Weather permitting, work will take place today from 8 am to 2:30 pm.
