WITH SNOWFALL MOSTLY DONE, AREA PREPARES FOR EXTENDED COLD TEMPERATURES
Snowy weather on Sunday will give way to colder temperatures this week.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, most of Southeast Missouri saw snow accumulation of one to two inches Sunday afternoon and evening, with higher amounts reported in Northeast Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel.
Now that the snow is mostly done, very cold temperatures will engulf the area and continue through the early part of this week.
Wind chill temperatures today and tomorrow morning will range from near zero to negative 15. Tomorrow morning will be cooler than this morning.
Warming centers have been set up throughout Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas to help keep area citizens out of the cold.
A list of warming centers is available on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website at health.mo.gov.
MAN SHOT DURING ALLEGED BURGLARY ATTEMPT IN BUTLER COUNTY
A man was shot during an alleged burglary attempt early Saturday morning in Butler County.
Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs tells KWOC News that at around 3 am Saturday morning, deputies responded to a residence on Strawberry Lane in Qulin in reference to someone being shot.
At the scene, deputies were told that an intruder had tried to break into the residence and the homeowner had shot the suspect five times.
The suspect, identified as 37 year old Darren Vennerman, of Chanute, Kansas, was flown to a Memphis hospital for treatment.
Formal charges of first degree burglary are being sought for Vennerman, who is on parole out of Kansas for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.
Dobbs added that the homeowner has not been charged as they acted under Missouri’s self-defense laws.
MAJOR CASE SQUAD INVESTIGATING HOMICIDE IN RIPLEY COUNTY
The Ripley County Major Case Squad is currently investigating after two bodies were found over the weekend.
Officials with the Doniphan Police Department tell KWOC News that a couple was found dead inside their rural Ripley County home on Saturday.
The victims have been identified as Eric and Kathryn Pudivitir. No other information has been released at this time.
Officers from the Doniphan Police Department, Ripley County Sheriff’s Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol are all involved in the investigation.
Anyone who has information in connection to the case is asked to contact one of those three agencies.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI RESIDENTS URGED TO USE CAUTION IF DRIVING DURING WINTER WEATHER
Southeast Missouri residents are being advised to use caution if they are getting out on the roadways during winter weather.
According to the National Weather Service, over an inch of snow blanketed much of Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas yesterday.
If you must travel while snow is covering the roadways, make sure to have a full tank of gas, extra blankets and gloves, as well as provisions like water and snacks in the event of an emergency. Keep your cellphone charged, but do not use it while driving.
While driving, remember to buckle up, give yourself plenty of extra time to get to your destination, and remember to give snowplows room to work. Don’t tailgate or attempt to pass them. In the event of a crash, stay buckled inside your vehicle until help arrives.
You can find road conditions online by using MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map at traveler.modot.org, or through MoDOT’s free smartphone app, available for iPhone and Android phones.
INVESTIGATION STARTED AFTER GROUP ATTEMPTS CHILD PREDATOR STING OPERATION ON AREA SCHOOL PROPERTY
An investigation is underway after an organization attempted to conduct a child predator sting operation on an area school property.
According to Bernie R-13 Superintendent Brad Botsch, on Saturday night an organization called "Bikers Against Predators" conducted an operation on Bernie school property where an over 50 year old Dexter man came down to allegedly meet a 13 year old girl.
Botsch says that neither the school district nor Bernie Police Department had knowledge that the operation was going to take place.
The Bernie Police Department was called by the organization to report property damage to a guide wire that the man ran into with his truck when he abruptly left after they confronted him. They also then notified the Bernie officer on duty about the video regarding the child solicitation.
Botsch added that no Bernie student was involved and there was no victim as the organization apparently uses a decoy of some kind in their operation.
The Bernie and Dexter Police Departments are working with the Bernie School District to investigate the situation.
DUNKLIN COUNTY LOTTERY PLAYERS CELEBRATE TWO MILLION DOLLAR WIN
A simple scratchers ticket purchased in Southeast Missouri has turned a couple into millionaires.
According to the Missouri Lottery, a man purchased a Super Cash Bonanza scratchers ticket at a store in Malden and quickly realized it contained a top prize.
The man immediately called his wife and told her “I don’t want you to wreck your car, but I think I won $2 million.”
Luckily, she was sitting at her desk at the time, so it wasn’t a problem – though she did admit that she was shocked.
In Fiscal Year 2023, players in Dunklin County won more than $8.4 million in Missouri Lottery prizes and more than $702,000 in Lottery proceeds went to education programs in the county.
