MULES GOLF TEAM TO PLAY IN NATIONAL TOURNAMENT THIS WEEK
The Poplar Bluff Mules will be participating in a National Tournament this week.
The Class 4 State Champion Mules Golf team is playing in the 2024 High School Golf National Invitational.
The 54-hole event showcases 312 of the best High School golfers in the country.
Poplar Bluff Athletics Director Kent Keith tells KWOC News that the tournament will be held today through Wednesday at the Omni PGA Frisco Resort in Frisco, Texas.
OVER 150 MILLION DOLLARS ALLOCATED FOR HIGHWAY 67 IMPROVEMENTS
Over one hundred million dollars has been allocated to Butler County for improvements to US Highway 67.
On Friday, Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed the Fiscal Year 2025 state operating and capital improvement budget bills.
Poplar Bluff City Manager Matt Winters tells KWOC News that the budget includes approximately 150 million dollars for Butler County to go towards improvements on US Highway 67. 60 million dollars will come from the general revenue fund, while 90 million will come from the state road fund.
Funds could go to upgrading the roadway as a part of the Future Interstate 57 project which would extend Interstate 57 from Sikeston to Little Rock.
TWO KILLED IN HEAD ON COLLISION IN NEW MADRID COUNTY
A head-on collision in New Madrid County claimed the lives of two people.
Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that the crash occurred shortly before 1 am Sunday morning on Highway 61 when a vehicle driven by 32 year old Jasymine Clark, of Malden, crossed the center of the roadway and struck an oncoming vehicle.
Both Clark and the driver of the second vehicle, 43 year old Michael Coaker, of Sikeston, were pronounced dead at the scene.
AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING SHOOTING IN POPLAR BLUFF
An investigation is underway into a shooting over the weekend in Poplar Bluff.
Shortly after 4 pm on Sunday, officers were dispatched to the 400 Block of Highway 53 in reference to shots being fired.
At the scene, officers made contact with a victim who had a gunshot wound to the leg. The victim was then transported to a Poplar Bluff hospital.
Captain Chuck Harris with the Poplar Bluff Police Department tells KWOC News that the investigation is ongoing and further details will be released as they become available.
HIGHWAY PATROL PREPARING FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY TRAFFIC
With the Fourth of July coming up, troopers with the Missouri State Highway Patrol are preparing for an increase in travelers on Missouri’s roadways.
Officials tell KWOC News that the Highway Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. over the July Fourth holiday weekend. All available troopers will be patrolling Missouri’s roadways enforcing Missouri’s traffic laws in addition to being available to assist motorists.
During the 2023 counting period, 15 people were killed and 646 injured in Missouri in 1,505 traffic crashes. Troopers also arrested 125 people for driving while intoxicated.
Troopers will also be working on the state’s waterways to enforce Missouri’s boating laws and provide assistance where needed. Missouri’s boaters are being asked to do their part by remaining alert for other boats and swimmers, and being courteous on the water.
Last year there were 11 boating crashes, which included two injuries and no fatalities during the holiday weekend.
The 2024 counting period for the July Fourth holiday will be from 6 p.m. on Wednesday to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday.
ISLAND REPLACEMENTS TO CAUSE DELAYS ON US ROUTE 60
U.S. Route 60 in Butler and Carter Counties will be reduced through the end of August as contractor crews remove and replace islands at various intersections.
As work is underway, eastbound and westbound Route 60 will be reduced to one lane in each direction in the vicinity of the intersection being worked on.
The islands are located from the intersection of Route 67 near Poplar Bluff to Route M near Van Buren.
Weather permitting, work will take place from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Friday, August 30th.
