MISINFORMATION ABOUT SHOOTING CAUSES STODDARD COUNTY SCHOOLS TO BE PLACED ON LOCKDOWN
Misinformation about a shooting in Southeast Missouri caused an area school to be placed on lockdown.
Dexter Chief of Police Hank Trout tells KWOC News that on Thursday the Dexter Police Department received a call regarding an active shooter, but the report did not indicate a specific location.
The Dexter Police Department responded to area schools and placed them on lockdown. Trout says that law enforcement officers with the Dexter Police Department, the Stoddard County Sheriff's Office, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol searched each school to ensure the safety of the students and staff.
Once the schools were searched, the school administrators were given an "all clear" and school resumed.
While investigating the report, detectives learned that the original person who made a statement about an active shooter, was in fact talking about an alert they received regarding a wanted suspect that was involved in a shooting in Bollinger County.
Trout says the information about an active shooter in Dexter was misinformation and that there was never a direct threat to the school or any business in Dexter.
GROUNDBREAKING SET FOR TODAY FOR NEW TECHNICAL CAREER CENTER CULINARY ARTS CENTER
Work will start today for a new facility to help students in Poplar Bluff get into cooking.
Groundbreaking will be held this morning for the new Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center Culinary Arts Center.
The event is scheduled for 10 am at the Technical Career Center.
The facility will have a dining area, kitchen, classroom, dry storage, office space, and restrooms connecting to the existing 1,400-square-foot employee break room on the west end of the TCC campus.
THOUSANDS OF BASKETBALL PLAYERS COMING TO POPLAR BLUFF FOR RIB CITY SHOOTOUT
This summer will see over a thousand youth Basketball players coming to Poplar Bluff for the Rib City Shootout.
The shootout continues today and will see boys and girls basketball clinics at the Black River Coliseum and Three Rivers College throughout the months of June and July.
Organizers say that over 500 teams participated in the event last year.
The City of Poplar Bluff recently put down new basketball floors at the Black River Coliseum in preparation for the event.
A full schedule of events is available at RibCityShootout.com.
SECOND NORTHERN SNAKEHEAD FISH CAPTURED IN MISSOURI
Officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation have confirmed with KWOC News that the second Northern Snakehead fish has been captured in the state.
The fish was captured by an angler May 19th at Duck Creek Conservation Area in Wayne County. The first northern snakehead recorded in Missouri was caught in a borrow ditch within the St. Francis River levees in Dunklin County in 2019.
MDC staff spent two days looking for additional specimens on Duck Creek Conservation Area and Mingo National Wildlife Refuge. This effort found no additional fish, likely indicating they’re in the area, but at low numbers.
Officials say that snakeheads are an invasive species native to Asia. They are aggressive predators, preying on native species and competing for resources.
More information is available at mdc.mo.gov.
ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO BEGIN TODAY ON BALLPARK ROAD IN DONIPHAN
An over three month long road improvement project is scheduled to begin today in Doniphan.
According to Doniphan city officials, crews will begin road improvements for Ballpark Road, near the High School, this morning.
During the project, Ballpark Road will be closed to traffic.
Officials say that the road is planned to re-open by late September.
TODAY IS THE DEADLINE TO PURCHASE TAGS FOR BULKY ITEM PICKUP
Today is the final day for Poplar Bluff residents to purchase tags for this month’s Bulky Item Pickup.
Residents can purchase bulk item tags from the City Collector’s office at City Hall for $20. The tags entitle you to the removal of four bulk items, such as couches or refrigerators. Tires may be collected for a charge of $3 per tire with a limit of four tires.
No construction materials or small items will be picked up and the program is for residential areas only.
Today is the final day to purchase item tags at City Hall to be included in next week’s pick up, which will be conducted on Tuesday, June 13th.
RIPLEY LAKE HOSTING YOUTH FISHING DAY ON SATURDAY
A free event has been scheduled for this weekend to get area kids out fishing.
The Eleven Point Ranger District of the Mark Twain National Forest is hosting a youth fishing day from 8 am to noon on Saturday at Ripley Lake.
Kids ages two to 15 are invited to attend and fishing licenses are not required.
Officials say that door prizes will be provided to the first 50 kids. The Missouri Department of Conservation and the U.S. Forest Service have limited fishing gear to provide, so participants are encouraged to bring their own equipment and bait.
Food and drinks will not be available but kids are encouraged to bring their own. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
More information, including directions to Ripley Lake, is available on the Mark Twain National Forest Facebook page.
