POPLAR BLUFF AND BUTLER COUNTY AMONG RECIPIENTS OF BLOCK GRANTS
The City of Poplar Bluff and Butler County will be receiving grant money to help with local projects.
The Missouri Department of Economic Development recently announced that Poplar Bluff will get $500,000 from a community block development grant to make improvements that will enable it to transmit and store storm water safely and efficiently, decreasing the severity of flood-related issues associated with Pike Creek.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN ARRESTED FOR STEALING AND PROPERTY DAMAGE
A Poplar Bluff man was arrested Thursday afternoon for multiple counts of property damage and stealing.
Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs tells KWOC News that Investigator Eddie Holloway received information that a suspect vehicle in numerous agricultural copper thefts had been spotted and was being followed by some area farmers.
The vehicle was then intercepted by Butler County Deputies on County Road 604.
MULES FOOTBALL KICKS OFF REGULAR SEASON TONIGHT AT PARK HILLS
The Poplar Bluff Mules Football team is looking to get the 2022 football season off to a great start tonight.
The Mules will travel to Park Hills Central tonight to take on the Rebels, with kickoff set for 7 pm. It will be the first game for each team this season.
The Mules went 6-3 in the regular season last year before falling to Seckman in the District Semi-Finals. The Park Hills Central Rebels finished the 2021 campaign with a 10-2 record, with their season coming to an end in the Class 3 State Quarterfinals.
SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR MAN IN CONNECTION TO SHOOTING OF PATROL VEHICLE
Authorities in Sikeston are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a wanted subject.
According to the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, a search is underway for 20 year old Dominic Metzger.
Officials say that at 1 am on Saturday, officers with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety were conducting a vehicle stop when they heard gun shots from the area of Westgate and Compress Road. Another officer advised that his patrol vehicle was struck by a bullet.
Dispatchers then received a 911 call from an individual stating that they were shot at by Metzger.
AT LEAST 11 MORE SCHOOLS STARTING SCHOOL YEAR TODAY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Students in at least 11 more Southeast Missouri school districts will be starting their classes today as school opening week continues.
Neelyville will be starting their school year today, as will Bloomfield, Ripley County R-4, Puxico, and Van Buren.
School Opening week will wrap up for the most part on Thursday, as Charleston, Ripley County R-3, and Marquand Zion all welcome back students.
ONE KILLED, THREE INJURED, IN WEEKEND WRECK
One person has died from injuries he received in a weekend wreck in Northeast Arkansas.
According to the Arkansas State Police, 54 year old Edward Workman, of Paragould, was driving on US Highway 49 when his vehicle ran off the side of the road and struck a tree. The vehicle then turned on its side and came to rest partially submerged in water.
POPLAR BLUFF SUPERINTENDENT ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION
The Poplar Bluff R-1 Superintendent will be stepping down.
Dr. Scott Dill tells KWOC News that he submitted his resignation to the School Board Thursday night.
Dill has served as Poplar Bluff superintendent for seven years and says that he is grateful for the opportunities that have been provided to him and he is looking forward to new challenges in the future.
While reflecting on his decades of service in education, Dill added that Poplar Bluff will always be first and foremost on his mind.
The Poplar Bluff R-1 Superintendent will be stepping down.
Dr. Scott Dill tells KWOC News that he submitted his resignation to the School Board Thursday night.
Dill has served as Poplar Bluff superintendent for seven years and says that he is grateful for the opportunities that have been provided to him and he is looking forward to new challenges in the future.
While reflecting on his decades of service in education, Dill added that Poplar Bluff will always be first and foremost on his mind.
Dill’s resignation will go into effect at the end of the current school year.
Poplar Bluff R-1 School Board President John Scott tells KWOC News that he is thankful for the years of service that Dr. Dill provided and we hate to see him go.
Scott added that the search for a new superintendent will begin in the coming months.
POPLAR BLUFF POLICE TO HOST PREVIEW OF NEW DEPARTMENT FACILITY
The new Poplar Bluff Police Department facility is almost finished and members of the public will have a chance to see the facility this weekend.
The PBPD is hosting a preview of the facility from 11 am to 5 pm on Saturday, August 20th.
The facility is located at 911 North Shelby Road.
Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley tells us that local and state leaders will also be in attendance.
REMAINS OF WORLD WAR TWO SAILOR FROM SOUTHEAST MISSOURI HAS BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR
The remains of a sailor from Southeast Missouri who had been killed in World War Two has been accounted for.
According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Navy Fireman 2nd Class Edward E. Casinger, 21, of Senath, Missouri, was killed during World War II when the battleship he was assigned to was attacked at Pearl Harbor.
The December 7th, 1941 attack on the USS Oklahoma resulted in the deaths of 429 crewmen, including Casinger.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN IN CUSTODY ON FLEEING AND STEALING CHARGES
A Poplar Bluff man is in custody in Stoddard County on multiple charges.
According to the Stoddard County Sheriff’s Department, 46 year old Jeffery Gilbreath was arrested Monday on charges of receiving stolen property, stealing - $750 or more, and resisting arrest, detention, or stop by fleeing.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Gilbreath led authorities on a chase from Stoddard County to Butler County with speeds reaching over 100 miles per hour.
OVER $280,000 RAISED DURING ST. JUDE VIP BANQUET
Hundreds of people packed the Black River Coliseum Friday night to raise money for the kids at St. Jude.
Miranda Fickert with Poplar Bluff Heroes tells us that over $280,000 was raised for St. Jude Children’s Research hospital during the 7th Annual St. Jude VIP Banquet.
Fickert says that this is the highest amount that they have ever raised.
PROJECT TO REPLACE BRIDGE OVER BLACK RIVER IN POPLAR BLUFF SET TO BEGIN TODAY
A project to replace the westbound Business 60 and Pine Street Bridge over the Black River and Union Pacific railroad in Poplar Bluff will begin today.
Officials with the Missouri Department of Transportation tell KWOC News that construction will begin this morning.
During construction, westbound traffic will be shifted to a head-to-head configuration on the eastbound bridge. The head-to-head configuration will allow one lane of traffic in each direction.
POPLAR BLUFF MULES FOOTBALL SCRIMMAGE SET FOR TONIGHT
The Poplar Bluff Mules football team will be kicking off the fall season tonight.
The Maroon/White Scrimmage game will be held tonight at 7 pm at Fred M. Morrow Stadium. Poplar Bluff Athletics Director Kent Keith tells KWOC News that admission is free, but they will be taking donations to help pay for post game meals after road games.
SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR MAN WANTED IN CONNECTION TO SIKESTON MURDER
Authorities in Sikeston are asking for the public’s help in locating a man who is wanted in connection to a July murder.
Officials with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety tell KWOC News that they are searching for Demarcus Philip Turner, of Charleston, in connection to the murder of Sh’Tyana Ingram.
The murder occurred in the early morning hours of July 3rd in Sikeston.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS MAN KILLED IN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING
One man is dead in connection to an officer involved shooting in Northeast Arkansas.
Officials with the Arkansas State Police tell KWOC News that Lawrence County sheriff’s deputies and Arkansas State Troopers responded to a call at 3:45 PM of a man firing a gun indiscriminately in an area neighborhood.
After arriving at the scene, a sheriff’s deputy and two state troopers observed 40 year old William Chad Newman, of Portia, standing inside a shop building with a handgun and rifle.
JOINT OPERATION RESULTS IN 45 ARRESTS IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
A joint operation last week resulted in 45 arrests in Northeast Arkansas.
According to Chad Henson, Commander of the Second Judicial Drug Task Force, the arrests were made on August 5th in Paragould.
Of the 45 arrests, there were 18 felony drug arrests and 27 misdemeanor arrests. Two of the arrests included a felon-in-possession-of-firearm arrest and one included a warrant arrest for rape.
DATES ANNOUNCED FOR OPEN HOUSES IN THE POPLAR BLUFF R-1 SCHOOL DISTRICT
Parents in Poplar Bluff will have the opportunity to learn more about the schools their children will be attending this fall during a series of open houses scheduled for next week.
Open houses will be held for the Kindergarten along with 7th and 8th grades on Tuesday, August 16th.
The 5th and 6th grade Open Houses will also be on the 16th at the Middle School.
CREWS EVACUATE OVER 20 PEOPLE FROM FLOOD WATERS
Crews in Madison County evacuated over 20 people from floodwaters in the Fredericktown area.
According to the Fredericktown Fire Department, they began handling a high number of calls beginning at roughly 3 am Thursday morning related to the strong thunderstorms and flash flooding.
Officials say that crews consisting of the City of Fredericktown Street Department, members of the fire department, and several volunteers evacuated 21 people from the flood waters.
ONE DEAD, ANOTHER IN CUSTODY, IN CONNECTION TO FATAL MOTORCYCLE WRECK
One person has been taken into custody in connection to a fatal motorcycle wreck.
Officials with the Malden Department of Public Safety tell KWOC News that authorities are investigating a vehicle versus motorcycle crash that occurred on July 31st near State Highway J and Palo Verde Street.
The operator of the motorcycle, identified only as a 36 year old male from Bernie, was transported to a Poplar Bluff hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
