NEW SUPERINTENDENT SELECTED FOR TWIN RIVERS SCHOOL DISTRICT
A new superintendent has been selected for the Twin Rivers R-10 School District.
Rob Brown will be taking over for the resigning Ben Johnson starting July 1st.
Brown has spent 22 years in public education, serving the past six as the Principal at Aurora High School in Aurora, Missouri.
He had previously worked in the Twin Rivers School District as a basketball coach from 2006 to 2010.
Brown tells KWOC News that he is honored for the opportunity to be working again in the Twin Rivers School District and looks forward to the challenges that teachers, students and communities will face.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN CONVICTED ON CHARGES OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND STATUTORY SODOMY
A Poplar Bluff man will be sentenced in July following his conviction Thursday on multiple sexual related charges.
Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kacey Proctor tells KWOC News that 48 year old Steven Hardcastle was found guilty by a Butler County jury of the offenses of 1st degree statutory sodomy and two counts of 1st degree sexual abuse.
The case arose from an investigation in May of 2019.
During the trial, the defendant corroborated several facts contained in the victim’s testimony but ultimately denied sexually assaulting her.
Proctor says that the jury deliberated for less than 90 minutes before returning with a guilty verdict on all three counts.
Hardcastle’s sentencing is set for July 12th.
He is facing up to 30 years for the statutory rape charge and up to 15 years on each count of sexual assault.
PEDESTRIAN STRUCK AND KILLED BY A VEHICLE IN NEW MADRID COUNTY
A pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle early Thursday morning in New Madrid County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 22 year old Patricia Tilson was walking on US Highway 61, one mile south of Kewanee, when she was hit by a vehicle shortly before 3:30 am.
Tilson was pronounced dead at the scene by New Madrid County Coroner George DeLisle.
ANOTHER RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET IN POPLAR BLUFF
Another record high temperature has been set in Poplar Bluff.
According to the National Weather Service, Poplar Bluff had a recorded high of 94 degrees on Thursday, breaking the previous record for May 12th of 93 degrees which was set back in 1902.
This is the third record high to be broken this week in Poplar Bluff. New record highs were set on Tuesday and Wednesday as well.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELEASED REGARDING PURSUIT IN STODDARD COUNTY
Updating a story we brought to you yesterday, additional information has been released regarding a pursuit that ended in a crash in Stoddard County.
According to Dexter Police Chief Hank Trout, shortly before 3 pm Wednesday, a patrol officer noticed a vehicle traveling an estimated 80 miles per hour in a residential zone.
The motorist fled from the officer south on Highway 25, leaving the city limits of Dexter. As the vehicle approached Highway D, the driver lost control and the vehicle ran off the roadway, striking a utility pole.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the driver, 21 year old David Stidmon, of Dexter, was ejected from the vehicle and suffered serious injuries. Officials say that Stidmon was transported by air to a Memphis hospital.
Trout says that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
PAVEMENT REPAIRS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY IN STODDARD COUNTY
The North Outer Road in Stoddard County is being reduced so Missouri Department of Transportation crews can perform pavement repairs.
The work zone is located from Harris Street to One Mile Road in Dexter.
Weather permitting, work will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily through Monday, May 16th.
