KACEY PROCTOR APPOINTED TO BUTLER COUNTY JUDGE POSITION
A Butler County official has been appointed to an area judgeship.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced Friday that Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kacey Proctor will be taking on the role of Presiding Circuit Judge of the 36th Judicial Circuit.
Current Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett will be retiring on November 16th.
Proctor has served as prosecuting attorney in Butler County since 2019 and has previously held the assistant prosecuting attorney position in Ripley County, served as the municipal prosecutor for Poplar Bluff, and was appointed Prosecutor in Carter County in 2016.
Proctor graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 2003, earned an Associates Degree from Three Rivers College in 2005, and later went on to obtain a Juris Doctorate at Saint Louis University School of Law in 2011.
He also serves as a captain in the Missouri Army National Guard.
In 2022, Proctor was named as the Prosecutor of the Year by the Missouri Bar Association.
KWOC News spoke exclusively with Proctor who wanted to let the community know about the respect he had for his predecessor.
I want to thank Judge Pritchett for the job that he did and the example that he set for me. As a young lawyer growing up underneath him I learned most of things that I know about the practice of law from him. I want to congratulate him on his retirement and wish him the best. He's had an amazing career. He's the finest and hardest working judge I've ever been in front of and I hope that he continues to serve as a senior judge going forward. I'm obviously deeply humbled that Governor Parson would have confidence and trust in me, enough to appoint me to serve as a presiding Circuit Judge of 36th Judicial Circuit and I want to thank him for that. I never imagined that I would be a Circuit Judge. I always saw myself trying cases and you know this opportunity opened up and I'm grateful to have the opportunity to serve in this role. You know as the prosecutor I’ve had a wonderful opportunity to work alongside those that serve day in and day out to protect this community and we have some amazing Law Enforcement Officers here. I'm really thankful that I got to work with them to keep this community safe. I do see myself doing this long term.You know this is the type of job that you make a career out of and I look forward to an opportunity to serve the citizens of the 36th Judicial Circuit for the foreseeable future.
BLOOMFIELD STUDENT PLACES 3RD IN NATION FOR FFA EXTEMPORANEOUS PUBLIC SPEAKING
A local FFA student was recognized for his speaking ability during the 96th National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis.
Bloomfield’s Wyatt Hendley placed 3rd in the National FFA Extemporaneous Public Speaking Leadership Development Event.
The event is designed to recognize outstanding FFA members for their ability to prepare and present a factual speech on a specific agricultural issue in a well thought out and logical manner.
Members select one topic from a choice of categories, have thirty minutes to prepare a four to six minute speech, and respond to five minutes of questions following delivery.
DEER SEASON BEGINS ON SATURDAY
Hunters from across Missouri will be heading to the woods this weekend for the beginning of deer season.
Officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation say that the November portion of the firearms deer season runs from November 11th through the 21st and the opening weekend is the most popular two days for most deer hunters in Missouri.
Hunters who harvest a deer from certain counties in the CWD Management Zone during the opening weekend must take their deer to a designated CWD sampling station.
You can find more information about deer season as well as regulations online at mdc.mo.gov.
ONE DEAD FOLLOWING FATAL FIRE IN NEELYVILLE
A fatal structure fire is under investigation in Butler County.
The fire happened at around 9 am Saturday morning at a residence located near the intersection of Hart Street and 2nd Street in Neelyville.
Crews found one person dead inside the residence. Butler County Coroner Jim Akers tells KWOC News the subject has been identified as 64 year old Mickey Hull, of Neelyville.
An investigation is being conducted by the Butler County Fire Department, Butler County Sheriff’s Department, the Butler County Coroner’s Office, and the State Fire Marshal's Office.
Akers says a preliminary investigation indicates the fire was caused by an indoor wooden stove and no foul play is suspected at this time.
PEDESTRIAN STRUCK AND KILLED BY A VEHICLE IN DUNKLIN COUNTY
A pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle Friday night in Dunklin County.
According to the Kennett Police Department, shortly before 10 pm Friday, officers responded to Highway 412 East for a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian.
The pedestrian, identified as 25 year old Kelsey Midkiff, of Kennett, was transported to a Hayti hospital where she was pronounced dead.
INMATE BACK IN CUSTODY AFTER EARLY MORNING ESCAPE
A Northeast Arkansas inmate had a few hours of freedom Friday morning before being back behind bars.
According to Greene County Sheriff Brad Snyder, at around 2:45 am Friday morning, 27 year old Shana Whitaker, of Rector, was being prepared for her return to the Greene County Detention Center after treatment at an area hospital.
While being loaded into the van, Whitaker was able to break free and begin running from the area.
She was located and taken back into custody a few hours later.
According to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office website, Whitaker was being held on charges of theft of property for a firearm and failure to appear.
STODDARD COUNTY ROAD TO BE REDUCED TODAY FOR REPAIRS
Route Z in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane this morning so crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation can perform pavement repairs.
The work zone will be located from County Road 717 to Dayton Street in Bernie.
Weather permitting, work will take place this morning from 8 a.m. to noon.
PAVEMENT REPAIRS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY IN NEW MADRID COUNTY
Route D in New Madrid County will be reduced to one lane today as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs.
The section of roadway being reduced is located from County Road 560 to County Road 556 near Malden.
Weather permitting, work will take place today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Crews will also be reducing Route 153 this afternoon between New Madrid County Road 534 and Route 162 near Risco. That project is scheduled for noon to 4 pm.
