ARMED STANDOFF ENDS PEACEFULLY AT NORTHEAST ARKANSAS GAS STATION
A confrontation with an armed man ended peacefully Monday at a Northeast Arkansas business.
According to Randolph County Sheriff Kevin Bell, the incident began at around 1:30 am Monday morning. Deputies were called to assist Pocahontas Police with an armed suspect who had allegedly fired one round at a gas station in Pocahontas.
A standoff ensued and officers were eventually able to talk the suspect into surrendering.
The suspect, identified as 42 year old Jared Forward, of Newton, Texas, was arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance, aggravated assault upon a certified law enforcement officer or an employee of a correctional facility, and discharging a firearm in city limits.
Forward was held in the Randolph County jail on no bond.
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 Missouri school opening week continues.
Doniphan will be starting their school year today, as will Dexter, Advance, Charleston, and Bloomfield.
School opening week will wrap up for the most part on Thursday, as Naylor, Puxico, Ripley County R-3, and Ripley County R-4 all welcome back students.
MAN FLOWN TO MEMPHIS HOSPITAL AFTER STRIKING A BRIDGE NEAR POPLAR BLUFF
A man was transported to a regional hospital after he ran into a bridge Monday evening.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 55 year old David Kirk, of Harviell, was driving on Highway 158 when his vehicle failed to yield to another vehicle, ran off the side of the roadway, and struck a bridge.
Kirk’s vehicle then landed in a ditch.
Kirk was flown to a Memphis hospital with serious injuries. No injuries were listed for the driver of the second vehicle.
SHELLY RIDENS TAKES OVER LEADERSHIP OF O’NEAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Poplar Bluff native Shelly Ridens is using her over two decades of experience to lead O’Neal Elementary School.
Ridens, who spent the past three years as assistant principal at the Middle School, was hired by the Board of Education in January to succeed Dr. Amy Dill as principal of O’Neal.
Before joining the administrative ranks, Ridens served as a reading interventionist at the Middle School for three years, following five years as a fifth grade teacher. Her career in Poplar Bluff began in 2007 at the former 5th & 6th Grade Center. After a couple of years, she transferred to Oak Grove Elementary to teach fourth grade.
At O’Neal, Ridens said she plans to set expectations and common language through the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program so she can focus on curriculum, a subject she has taught on the side at Three Rivers through the community college’s articulation agreement with Hannibal-LaGrange University.
For the past two years, Ridens has served as the district’s St. Jude Math-A-Thon coordinator, a fundraising effort that began at O’Neal in 1989. Last school year, the district raised over $38,000 for the children’s research hospital, bringing the district’s grand total to nearly $1.25 million.
PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULED TO DISCUSS UPGRADING ROUTE 67 IN BUTLER COUNTY
The Missouri Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing to discuss phases 3 and 4 of the multi-phase project to upgrade U.S Route 67 in Butler County.
Proposed plans for constructing a roundabout at Routes C and V and Route 160 will also be shared.
The hearing will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10th, at the Neelyville Schools cafeteria.
Phase 3 of the U.S. 67 project includes future access at Neelyville and upgrading an approximately five-mile section of U.S. 67 to four lanes from County Road 352 to near County Road 272.
Phase 4 includes upgrading the last three-mile section of U.S. 67 to reach the Missouri/Arkansas state line. Right of way and easements will be acquired for this project.
During the meeting, construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Routes C and V and Route 160 in Butler County will be discussed. This intersection is located west of the Route 160/158 interchange south of Poplar Bluff.
The public hearing will be open house style, and visitors can stop-by anytime between 4 and 7 p.m. to discuss the details of the proposals with the project team.
BRIDGE REPAIRS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY ON INTERSTATE 55
Southbound Interstate 55 in New Madrid County will be reduced to one lane today as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform bridge repairs.
The work zone is located between mile markers 63.2 and 62.4.
Weather permitting, work will take place today from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
