DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER OPENS IN DONIPHAN
A joint Disaster Recovery Center is now available in Doniphan.
The center is located in the Ripley County Caring Community Partnership building at 209 West Highway Street. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. until further notice.
Homeowners, renters and self-employed business owners in 10 Missouri counties who were impacted by the May 19th through 27th severe storms, tornadoes and flooding can visit any of the three centers in Southeast Missouri for one-on-one help, regardless of where they live. Services at the centers are free.
The 10 counties are: Butler, Carter, New Madrid, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, Barry, Howell, and Texas.
DRCs are a one-stop shop for disaster survivors who have applied with FEMA and need to present additional documentation or just have questions about the status of their cases.
Survivors are encouraged to apply with FEMA before visiting a DRC to get the process going as quickly as possible. For those who need help to apply, DRC staff can assist survivors on the spot. For those who are blind or low-vision, or Deaf or hard-of-hearing, assistive devices are available at the centers as well.
More information is available at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
MAN RECEIVES MULTIPLE DECADE SENTENCE IN CONNECTION TO BUTLER COUNTY MURDER
A man will be spending multiple decades behind bars in connection to a fatal 2018 shooting in Butler County.
James Odell Johnson pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and one count of conspiracy to possess and discharge a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
He admitted shooting a man in Poplar Bluff at the behest of Shanesha “Nikki” Burns in connection with a heroin distribution conspiracy. The victim’s body was discovered on May 20, 2018.
Johnson lured the victim to the home with drugs supplied by Burns and James Michael Cohen, and then invited the victim to a rural area to go shooting. When the victims’ gun jammed, Johnson shot him with his own 9mm handgun. Johnson was later arrested with murder weapon.
On Tuesday, Johnson was sentenced to 20 years in prison, which will run consecutive to a 10-year term that he received for a 2018 case in which he shot a Poplar Bluff police detective in the arm.
ALL MEMBERS OF MARBLE HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE RESIGNED
The Bollinger County Sheriff’s Department is working with officials in Marble Hill following the announced departures of the city’s police officers.
Bollinger County Sheriff Casey Graham tells KWOC News that on Monday, his office was informed that all members of the Marble Hill Police Department submitted their resignations to the Marble Hill City Council, effective this Friday.
Sheriff Graham says that his office is in communication with city officials to address the situation and he is confident that they can negotiate a resolution to ensure that law enforcement services will continue to be provided to the city.
No information was provided on what prompted the resignations.
KWOC News has reached out to Marble Hill City Officials but have not received a response.
We will continue to follow this story for you and bring you updates as they become available.
FOUR SCHOOLS SET TO START TODAY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
School opening week in Southeast Missouri will be wrapping up today with at least four more schools welcoming back students.
Naylor, Puxico, Ripley County R-3, and Ripley County R-4 are all beginning their school years today.
With most schools having started, motorists are again reminded to be mindful of increased traffic on roadways as well as an increase in student drivers.
TRAIN STRIKES BACKHOE IN HAYTI, ONE DEAD
A Caruthersville man has died after a vehicle he was driving was struck by a train Tuesday afternoon.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 37 year old Thomas Jackson was driving a backhoe on Gettings Lane, in Hayti, at around 3:30 pm when he failed to yield to the train and was hit.
Jackson was pronounced dead at the scene by Pemiscot County Coroner Brian Irions.
KRISTEN SPAIN TAKES OVER AS PRINCIPAL OF EUGENE FIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Continuing our series on new administrators in the Poplar Bluff School system, today we look at Eugene Field Elementary.
According to school officials, Kristen Spain was named the Eugene Field Teacher of the Year April, after receiving nominations by her building twice prior. She is now succeeding Jennifer Taylor as principal for the school beginning this school year.
A Van Buren native, Spain’s career with the Poplar Bluff School District began in 2008 as a second grade teacher at Oak Grove, fresh out of college, having earned her bachelor’s in elementary education from Central Methodist University in Fayette that year.
Spain served as an interventionist for the past two years, before which she was employed as a third grade teacher, following a year as a district-wide virtual instructor for first graders, after spending the previous five teaching the grade span.
Going forward, she says she wants to "instill in teachers that we all have gifts, you just have to find what your talent is."
TWO SERIOUSLY INJURED IN SIKESTON FIRE
Two people were seriously injured in an early morning fire.
According to Sergeant Tyler Rowe with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, early Wednesday morning officers responded to the 300 block of Kramer Street for a structure fire.
Officers were able to force an exterior door open and could hear someone calling for help from inside the residence. Fire Division Personnel arrived on scene and immediately began searching for the occupants.
Two victims were located and successfully rescued from inside the residence. The two individuals sustained serious injuries and are currently in stable condition at area hospitals.
Rowe says that the cause of the fire is currently under investigation with the assistance of the State Fire Marshal's Office.
