Tuesday, September 10, 2024
FIRE CLAIMS THE LIFE OF A JUVENILE IN POPLAR BLUFF
A juvenile was found dead while firefighters were battling a fire Sunday evening in Poplar Bluff.
Chief Mike Moffitt with the Poplar Bluff Fire Department tells KWOC News that his department was notified of a structure fire shortly after 10 pm on Sunday.
While firefighters were working to extinguish the fire, one fatality was discovered in the residence.
Butler County Coroner Jim Akers says that the fire resulted in the death of a 12 year old female juvenile.
The juvenile’s name has not been released.
Moffitt added that the fire appears to be accidental and the Butler County Coroner’s Office and the State Fire Marshal's Office are investigating.
MAJOR CASE SQUAD ACTIVATED TO INVESTIGATE BODY FOUND IN BUTLER COUNTY
An investigation is ongoing into a body found over the weekend in Butler County.
Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs tells KWOC News, the Major Case Squad has been activated to investigate the body located Saturday evening off of County Road 611.
Dobbs says the case is being investigated as a homicide.
Agencies involved in the investigation include the Butler County Sheriff’s Department, the Butler County Coroner’s Office, Poplar Bluff Police Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
POPLAR BLUFF POLICE INVESTIGATING MULTIPLE VEHICLE THEFTS FROM SUNDAY NIGHT/MONDAY MORNING
Investigations are ongoing into multiple vehicle thefts in the Poplar Bluff area.
Captain Charles Harris with the Poplar Bluff Police Department tells KWOC News that officers are investigating several vehicle thefts that occurred overnight Sunday night/Monday Morning.
Harris says that some of the vehicles have been recovered along with potential video evidence to aid in the investigations.
Harris added that community members should try to speak to their neighbors and assist each other in spotting criminal activities in your neighborhoods and reporting any suspicious activity to the police department.
Everyone is also encouraged to lock their vehicles and remove any keys or valuables.
THREE MEN FACING OVER A DOZEN CHARGES IN CONNECTION TO ILLEGAL KILLING OF AN ELK
Three men are facing 15 charges in connection to the investigation of a dead elk in Southeast Missouri.
According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, in November 2023, a mature bull elk was found shot dead and left to rot near Klepzig Mill in Shannon County.
The elk was found by a 14 year old deer hunter during the opening week of firearms season.
Over the nine months of the poaching investigation, conservation agents from MDC’s Ozark, Central, St. Louis, and Southeast regions interviewed numerous deer hunters in the area along with other people passing through the area for information related to the investigation.
Officials say the investigation recently ended with three men from the Bonne Terre area being charged for multiple violations of the Wildlife Code of Missouri.
The Operation Game Thief hotline allows Missourians to report possible poaching by calling 800-392-1111. Callers may remain anonymous and may be considered for a reward.
WOMAN AIRLIFTED FROM SCENE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
A woman was flown from the scene of a domestic violence incident last week in Northeast Arkansas.
Greene County Sheriff Brad Snyder tells KWOC News that at approximately 11 pm Thursday night, authorities responded to a call of a woman screaming for help and multiple gunshots on County Road 753.
At the scene, a woman was found lying on the ground with head trauma. The alleged male assailant was lying nearby. The suspect had allegedly been actively attacking the female when a neighbor in the area intervened and stopped the attack.
Snyder says the gun shots had come from the Good Samaritan shooting into the air in an effort to draw attention to the incident so that someone could contact the authorities.
The female victim was flown to a Memphis hospital for treatment.
32 year old Tyler O’Neal, of Paragould, was taken into custody for felony domestic battery 2nd degree.
He is being held in the Greene County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond.
PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULED FOR TODAY TO DISCUSS UPGRADING ROUTE 67 IN BUTLER COUNTY
The Missouri Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing today 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. 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.