ONE IN CUSTODY IN CONNECTION TO A NON FATAL SHOOTING IN DEXTER
A suspect is in custody in connection to a non fatal shooting in the Dexter area.
Dexter Chief of Police Hank Trout tells KWOC News that at around 4:40 am Tuesday morning, a man arrived at an emergency room in Dexter with gunshot wounds.
The victim, identified as 33 year old Erik Schmidt, of Dexter, was then transferred to a Memphis hospital and is listed in stable condition.
An investigation by the Stoddard County Major Case Squad is underway and a suspect has been taken into custody.
The name of the suspect is being withheld until formal charges have been filed.
Officials believe the shooting occurred at a residence on North First Street in Dexter.
We will keep following this story for you and bring you updates as they become available.
11 MORE SCHOOLS STARTING THE YEAR TODAY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Students in at least 11 more Southeast Missouri school districts will be starting their classes today as school opening week continues.
Neelyville will be starting their school year today, as will Doniphan, Advance, Puxico, Charleston, and Bloomfield.
School Opening week will wrap up for the most part on Thursday, as Dexter, Ripley County R-3, and Ripley County R-4 all welcome back students.
TEN DIGIT DIALING COMING TO SOUTHEAST MISSOURI EARLY NEXT YEAR
Phone users in Southeast Missouri will soon have to start using the area code when making local phone calls.
According to the Missouri Public Service Commission, phone numbers with the 235 area code may be assigned to the same area that is currently covered by the 573 area code beginning on March 24, 2024.
Officials say that an overlay plan introduces a new area code within the entire area code, so that multiple area codes are assigned to the same area. An overlay plan does not require any customers to change telephone numbers, but it does require ten-digit dialing on all local calls.
Beginning February 24, 2024, all local calls made within the 573 area code must be placed using 10 digits. On and after that date, calls placed using just 7 digits will not be completed.
The 573 area code serves multiple communities in Eastern and Central Missouri, including Poplar Bluff, Sikeston, Caruthersville, Cape Girardeau, Jefferson City, and Rolla.
BILLY DEPEW APPOINTED TO POPLAR BLUFF CITY COUNCIL
Poplar Bluff City Councilmembers have decided on who will fill the vacant position on the council.
By a vote of 5-1, the Council decided Monday night to appoint Billy Depew to take the seat left vacant by the resignation of Robert Duckett, who stepped down in June due to moving outside the city. The lone no vote was Mayor Shane Cornman.
Depew will complete Duckett’s unexpired term until the next regular municipal election.
Before Depew’s vote, a motion to appoint David Boyer to the seat failed by a split vote of 3-3.
BUS TRACKING APP ROLLS OUT TO PARENTS IN POPLAR BLUFF
Poplar Bluff parents have a new tool to aid with getting their kids on the school bus.
The Poplar Bluff School District has rolled out its new bus tracking app “Here Comes The Bus” which offers families the ability to monitor the arrival and departure of buses in real time with push notifications sent automatically to a smartphone device or via the web.
Students 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.
The district piloted the application in the spring at the Early Childhood and Kindergarten centers with a test group of about 30 parents in order to help troubleshoot.
$50,000 POWERBALL TICKET PURCHASED IN BLOOMFIELD
A Southeast Missouri Powerball player won $50,000 earlier this month.
According to the Missouri Lottery, the winner, whose name was not released, purchased the ticket at a business in Bloomfield of August 7th drawing.
She matched 4 of the five white balls, along with the powerball, to win $50,000.
Lottery officials say that players in Stoddard County won more than 6.3 million dollars total during the 2022 fiscal year.
EROSION WORK COULD CAUSE DELAYS TODAY ON NORTHBOUND INTERSTATE 55
Northbound Interstate 55 in New Madrid County will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction today as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform erosion work.
The section of roadway being reduced is located between mile markers 49 and 52 near New Madrid.
Weather permitting, work will take place today from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
