ONE IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING SHOOTING IN MISSOURI BOOTHEEL

A Kennett man is in custody following a shooting at an area business.

According to the Kennett Police Department, a person was shot Wednesday in the parking lot of the Kennett Wal-Mart.

According to Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Jain, witness reports indicate that 33 year old Jaheim Feltus saw his ex-girlfriend in a vehicle with the victim, then retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot the victim.

The victim was air-lifted to a St. Louis hospital for treatment.

A Trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol saw a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle Feltus was driving and attempted to conduct a stop. Feltus fled from the Trooper and eventually crashed into a stop sign; he then fled on foot into a residence where he was arrested.

Feltus is being held in the Dunklin County Jail on charges of assault in the first degree, armed criminal action, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, domestic assault in the second degree, and two counts of resisting arrest. His bond was set at $375,000, cash only.

NEW APP THAT WILL TRACK SCHOOL BUSES TO BE TESTED AT SOME POPLAR BLUFF SCHOOLS

Poplar Bluff parents could soon have a new tool to aid with getting your kids on the school bus.

The Poplar Bluff School District is piloting its new bus tracking app “Here Comes The Bus” at the Early Childhood and Kindergarten centers with plans to roll out the parent access tool district-wide for the 2023/24 school year.

Under the pilot, parents and guardians of bus riders will soon receive letters in the mail providing instructions for downloading the app or visiting the website.

Students will scan their district-issued ID when entering and exiting the bus, and drivers will have access to a touchscreen with a name-based ridership module for the lower grade levels. The geofence can be set between 750 feet and two miles eliminating wait times at bus stops, and real-time alerts will automatically be sent to caregivers when students have arrived at school.

Individuals may only sign up for push notifications if they are on the student’s emergency contact list.

Poplar Bluff R-1 Transportation Department Director Jon McKinney says that the app is a better way to communicate with parents so they have a sense of security knowing their son or daughter is on the bus and when they get to school.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR METH AND GUN CHARGES

A Poplar Bluff man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on gun and firearm charges.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 31 year old Jaleel Gipson pled guilty to charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

During a vehicle search in June of 2022, a trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, located 233 grams of methamphetamine, 126 grams of marijuana, and two 9 millimeter semi-automatic pistols in the vehicle Gipson was traveling in.

Gipson further admitted that the firearms, fully loaded with ammunition, were for the protection of the narcotics that he intended to distribute to others.

After serving the 10 years sentence in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Gipson will be placed on supervised release for a period of four years.

GREENVILLE MAN FOUND IN POSSESSION OF BRASS KNUCKLES AND METHAMPHETAMINE IN BUTLER COUNTY

A Greenville man has been taken into custody after being found in possession of drugs and a weapon in Butler County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 36 year old Joseph Coble was taken into custody earlier this week on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance - methamphetamines and unlawful use of a weapon.

Coble is also facing a charge of unlawful possession of brass knuckles.

Following the arrest he was transported to the Butler County Jail.

BRANSON WOMAN TO SERVE ALMOST A DECADE IN PRISON FOR DISTRIBUTING METH TO PIEDMONT AREA

A Branson woman is set to serve almost a decade in prison in connection to plans to distribute meth in Southeast Missouri.

The United States Attorney's Office has announced that April Rulo was sentenced this week to serve 8 years in federal prison for the

offense of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

At a guilty plea hearing last year, Rulo admitted that she was in possession of 95 grams of methamphetamine that she had picked up from her supplier in Springfield and was delivering to Piedmont for distribution to others.

A Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force Officer made contact with Rulo in June of last year, and she consented to a search of the vehicle she was traveling in. Officers located four baggies of methamphetamine packaged for distribution, marijuana, and Hydrocodone pills.

BRIDGE REPAIRS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY IN DUNKLIN COUNTY

Route 53 in Dunklin County will be reduced to one lane today as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform bridge repairs.

The section of roadway is located between County Road 322 and County Road 332 near Holcomb.

Weather permitting, work will take place today from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.