POPLAR BLUFF SCHOOL EVACUATED DUE TO SUSPICIOUS ODOR
A Poplar Bluff school was evacuated yesterday morning due to a suspicious odor.
Poplar Bluff School Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill tells KWOC News that students from the Poplar Bluff Junior High School were all taken to the football field after the odor was discovered, shortly after 9 am.
Dill says that the procedure was done out of an abundance of caution for the welfare of the students.
The Poplar Bluff Fire Department, EMS, and a gas company were on scene at the Junior High.
Nothing suspicious was found during an investigation and students returned to class later in the day.
WOMAN FLOWN TO ST. LOUIS HOSPITAL FOLLOWING WRECK NEAR VAN BUREN
An Ellsinore woman was flown to an area hospital early Wednesday morning following a single vehicle wreck in Carter County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 36 year old Brandy Foley was driving on Missouri Highway 21, near Van Buren, when her vehicle ran off the side of the road and struck a ditch, embankment, and a tree.
Foley suffered serious injuries in the wreck and was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN SENTENCED ON CARJACKING CHARGE
A Poplar Bluff man could potentially spend almost 20 years behind bars for carjacking.
The United States Attorney’s Office tells KWOC News that 33 year old Carlos Wallace has been sentenced to 228 months in federal prison for the offenses of carjacking, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
The charge stems from an incident in December of 2019 where Wallace entered a vehicle at a stoplight and ordered the victim to drive. Wallace directed the victim down several city streets and onto a gravel road where Wallace then told him to exit the vehicle.
When the victim refused to exit, Wallace pointed a firearm and shot him in the leg. After the victim exited the vehicle, Wallace entered the driver seat and drove off.
Wallace was arrested almost two weeks later following a pursuit with Poplar Bluff police officers.
TWO ARRESTED FOR THREATS AT A NORTHEAST ARKANSAS HIGH SCHOOL
Two people have been arrested for alleged threats at Greene County Tech High School in Northeast Arkansas.
According to Greene County Sheriff Steve Franks, on February 14th the Greene County Sheriff’s Department was notified of two threatening messages that were sent from a phone app.
Deputies responded immediately to the school and an investigation was started.
Franks says that two arrests have been made, 18 year old Kenneth Moss and a 16 year old juvenile whose name was not released.
Both were charged with the class C Felony of threatening to commit an act of mass violence on school property. The first court appearance will be this morning.
INDEPENDENT HORROR FILM TO SHOOT IN POPLAR BLUFF
An independent horror film will be shot next month in Butler County.
The feature length zombie film, titled Herd, is seeking local people to be background actors in Poplar Bluff, where the film will begin production during the first week of April.
Producers say that some of the background characters needed include militia, farmers, hunters, college students, and zombies.
A casting call will be held at 7 pm on Wednesday, March 23rd at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff.
Filming begins on April 2nd and concludes on April 28th. Producers say that the background actors will work for one to two days during that time.
The film is being produced by Framework Productions, out of New York City.
US 60 IN STODDARD COUNTY TO BE REDUCED TODAY
U.S. 60 in Stoddard County will be reduced today as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform shoulder repairs.
The section of roadway to be reduced is located from One Mile Road to Route 25 in Dexter.
Work will take place today from 8 am to 2:30 pm.
