AT LEAST NINE PEOPLE KILLED IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI DURING FRIDAY NIGHT STORMS
Numerous violent tornadoes and high winds caused multiple deaths and extensive damage throughout Southeast Missouri Friday night.
According to officials, at least eight people were killed during the storms Friday night in Wayne County while one death was reported in Butler County.
Initial reports indicate there were up to 19 tornadoes of varying strengths that impacted 25 counties across the state. At least six of the tornadoes were in Southeast Missouri alone.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe was in Poplar Bluff and Piedmont on Saturday to survey the damage.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department has announced that a curfew is in effect from 8 pm to 6 am until further notice. Extensive damage was reported in multiple area communities, including the Piedmont, Greenville, and Wappapello areas.
States of Emergency have been declared in both Missouri and Arkansas where three people died Friday night as well.
TORNADO DOES EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN POPLAR BLUFF
Multiple homes and businesses were destroyed or severely damaged in Poplar Bluff during Friday night’s tornado outbreak.
The National Weather Service in Paducah is in the process of conducting surveys of Tornado damage and says that initial reports say that an EF-3 Tornado with estimated peak winds of 138 miles per hour began in eastern Ripley County before crossing into Butler County and hitting hit western and northern Poplar Bluff.
The tornado caused extensive damage along PP Highway and Shelby Road including to a trailer park, New Covenant Fellowship Church, multiple shopping centers, and the Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center. Superintendent Aaron Cornman says that the Kindergarten Center appears to have sustained a total loss.
The Ridgel Branch of the Poplar Bluff Library also sustained significant damage and will be closed for the foreseeable future. Wind damage was also reported across Poplar Bluff to various homes and businesses.
A temporary shelter was established Friday night at the Black River Coliseum. Multiple disaster relief sites were also set up Sunday including at FCC Behavioral Health and Bluff First Church.
POPLAR BLUFF SCHOOLS TO BE OUT FOR THIS WEEK
With the damage suffered at the Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center, Poplar Bluff Schools will not be in session for this week.
Superintendent Dr. Aaron Cornman tells KWOC News that students will not be in class across the district at least through Friday to give staff and administrators time to assess damage and work on a path forward.
Cornman added that during the closure, the district will actively seek opportunities to support the community. Further information will be provided by Tuesday.
This week the Boys and Girls Club of the Heartland will be providing camp days to registered members at the Middle School campus from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm each day. Breakfast and lunch will also be provided.
NUMEROUS POWER OUTAGES REMAIN IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Electric crews are working hard to restore power throughout Southeast Missouri following the Friday night storms.
According to Ozark Border Electric Cooperative, as of late Sunday, over 900 customers were without electricity in Butler County.
Outages were also reported for over 300 customers in each of Ripley and Carter Counties, along with over 140 in Wayne County.
RAIDERS MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAMS RETURN TO NJCAA CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
The Three Rivers College Men’s basketball team will be returning to the NJCAA Division 1 Basketball tournament for the first time in over a decade.
The Raiders upset the nationally 7th ranked Triton College 84-72 on Saturday in the NJCAA Division 1 Midwest District Championship.
The win earned the Raiders a berth to the NJCAA Men’s Division 1 Basketball Championship tournament. The Raiders were given the 19 seed and will play 14 seed Vincennes University at 8 pm on March 22nd in Hutchinson, Kansas.
The Lady Raiders were defeated by State Fair Community College 73-70 Friday in the NJCAA Region 16 Championship Game.
Even with the loss, the Lady Raiders earned an at-large bid to the NJCAA Women’s Division 1 Championship Tournament. Three Rivers received the six seed which gets them a first round bye.
They will play the winner of the matchup between Hutchinson Community College and South Georgia Tech at 5:45 pm on March 28th in Casper, Wyoming.
DONNETTES EARN TRIP TO STATE SEMIFINALS THIS WEEKEND IN COLUMBIA
The Doniphan Donnetts basketball team will be playing for a spot in the state championship game this weekend.
The Donnettes defeated St. James on Saturday 51-49 in the Class 4 State Quarterfinal in Doniphan.
With the win, the Donnettes now move forward to the State Semifinal in Columbia. Doniphan will take on the MICDS Rams with tip off set for 6 pm on Friday.
CREWS BATTLE FRIDAY WILDFIRE IN RIPLEY COUNTY
Crews worked to contain a wildfire Friday in Northwestern Ripley County.
Ripley County Sheriff Rad Talburt tells KWOC News that the fire was located near Gatewood in the area of J Highway and Highway 160 Friday afternoon.
Talburt says that approximately 40 acres was on fire and at least one building was destroyed.
Multiple agencies responded to help contain the blaze including the US Forestry Service.
Cody Norris with the US Forest Service at Mark Twain National Forest tells KWOC News that firefighters battled a total 21 fires in the Forest on Friday and Saturday due to the high winds and storms.
STATE OFFICIALS URGE MOTORISTS TO DRIVE SOBER
St. Patrick’s Day is today and state officials are urging everyone to celebrate responsibly.
According to authorities, law enforcement officers are teaming up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to spread the message about the dangers of drunk driving.
According to NHTSA officials, from 2018 to 2022, a total of 290 lives were lost in drunk driving crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day period.
Drivers should also keep an eye out for pedestrians who have had too much to drink. Walking while intoxicated can also be deadly, as a lack of attention to your surroundings could put pedestrians at risk of getting hit by a vehicle.
MODOT CREWS TO BE WORKING ALONG ROUTE 62 TODAY IN RISCO
Route 62 will be reduced to one lane today so Missouri Department of Transportation crews can perform edge rut repairs.
The section of roadway involved in the project is located from County Road 535 to Front Street in Risco.
Weather permitting, work will take place today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(Photo Credit: Destruction from a severe storm is seen Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Wayne County, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson))
