RUNAWAY TEENAGER FROM SOUTHEAST MISSOURI ARRESTED IN TENNESSEE

A runaway teenager from Southeast Missouri has been taken into custody in Tennessee.

According to the Dyersburg Police Department, on December 23rd officers responded to a residence in reference to a suspicious person wearing all black attempting to enter a garage at a home.

When officers arrived, they observed a young male run from the scene. The subject was apprehended following a foot pursuit and was found to be a 14 year old runaway from Sikeston.

POPLAR BLUFF SHOWDOWN TO BEGIN ON WEDNESDAY

We are just one day away from the 35th Annual Poplar Bluff Showdown.

The three day tournament will begin on Wednesday at Poplar Bluff High School.

The first round will see Little Rock Christian take on Haywood at 4 pm, followed by Blytheville vs. Hillcrest at 5:30 pm, Poplar Bluff against Douglass at 7 pm, and the day will finish with Springdale vs. Germantown at 8:30 pm.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY AND WIND CHILL WARNING TO GO INTO EFFECT TODAY

Weather officials are warning of chances of snow and dangerously low wind chills today in Southeast Missouri.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, a Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect through late this evening due to expected snow accumulations across the area. Poplar Bluff could see up to two inches of snow today.

High winds and low temperatures will cause a wind chill warning to go into effect this evening. Officials say that wind chills as low as around 20 degrees below zero are expected.

TEENAGER KILLED IN BUTLER COUNTY CRASH

An area teenager was killed in a wreck Tuesday morning in Butler County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the wreck was located off of Route PP, six miles west of Poplar Bluff.

A 16 year old girl from Ellsinore was driving a vehicle that ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree.

MAN FLOWN FROM THE SCENE OF AN EARLY MONDAY MORNING WRECK NEAR DONIPHAN

A man was flown from the scene of an early Monday morning wreck in Ripley County.

Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that the wreck occurred at around 2:20 am Monday on Highway 160, five miles west of Doniphan.

38 year old Jimmie Cora, of Doniphan, was driving an ATV when the vehicle traveled off the roadway and overturned.

ALMOST ALL TOP SEEDS ADVANCE IN FIRST ROUND OF LADY ROYALS CHRISTMAS CLASSIC

The first round is done at the 25th Annual Lady Royals Christmas Classic basketball tournament.

Top seed Doniphan easily dispatched Hayti in the opening game of the tournament on Saturday 59-18.

Host Twin Rivers was sent to the consolation bracket after their 44-38 loss to Kennett.

Holcomb was the only underdog to pick up a win on Saturday, knocking off six seed Cape Central 75-50 in Overtime.

SUSPECT IN CUSTODY IN CONNECTION TO THE DEATH OF A BABY IN POPLAR BLUFF

Authorities in Poplar Bluff have a suspect in custody in connection to the death of a young child.

Poplar Bluff Police Chief Mike McClain tells KWOC News that at approximately 10 am on Thursday, officers responded to a residence on Kinzer Street regarding a possible infant death.

At the scene, officers learned that a 7-week-old infant had already been transported to an area hospital. Investigators responded to the hospital and were informed that the infant had passed away.

MAN CONVICTED ON STATUTORY SODOMY AND STATUTORY RAPE CHARGES IN STODDARD COUNTY

A man has been convicted to multiple sex related charges in Stoddard County.

Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver tells KWOC news that Billy Stitz was found guilty Tuesday by a Stoddard County jury of 3 counts of Statutory Sodomy in the First Degree and 1 count of Statutory Rape in the First Degree.

FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS SET FOR 35TH ANNUAL POPLAR BLUFF SHOWDOWN

The first round matchups have been set for the 35th Annual Poplar Bluff Showdown.

The three day basketball tournament will start on Wednesday, December 28th at Poplar Bluff High School.

The first round will see Little Rock Christian take on Haywood at 4 pm, followed by Blytheville vs. Hillcrest at 5:30 pm, Poplar Bluff against Douglass at 7 pm, and the day will finish with Springdale vs. Germantown at 8:30 pm.

POPLAR BLUFF POLICE INVESTIGATING WOMAN’S DEATH

Authorities in Poplar Bluff are investigating a recent death.

According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, a woman was recently found deceased in the backyard of a residence on West Victor Street.

The woman has been identified as 51 year old Shonda Martin, of Poplar Bluff.

PBHS REPEATS AS STATE CHEERLEADING CHAMPIONS

Poplar Bluff cheerleaders are celebrating back to back state championships.

The Poplar Bluff High School Competitive Cheerleading team won the 2022 Missouri Cheerleading Coaches Association Class 4 Small Squad State Championship over the weekend.

Poplar Bluff’s Lanie Robertson, Emma Hicks, Miles Coleman, Kenzie Cassie, Audrie Caudel, and Kelsey Kramer were selected as All-State.

FATAL SHOOTING UNDER INVESTIGATION IN BUTLER COUNTY

Officials are investigating an officer involved fatal shooting involving three people in Butler County.

The incident occurred midday Thursday at a location on AA Highway near the intersection of B Highway. Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs says that deputies responded to the residence following a report of numerous shots being fired.

At the scene, deputies were confronted by an armed subject. The deputies engaged the subject, killing him. Two additional deceased subjects were located inside the residence. The subjects were victims of apparent gunshots.

FOUR POPLAR BLUFF STUDENTS CHOSEN FOR ALL-STATE CHOIR

Four Poplar Bluff students will be traveling to Osage Beach next month to perform with the Missouri All-State Choir.

School officials tell KWOC News that Emma Tinsley will perform in the alto section; while Gabriel Burke and Bralin Duckett will perform with the tenors. Dawson Vaughan will serve as first alternate bass. Alyssa Roy received an honorable mention.

The students auditioned during the All-District Concert held last month at Cape Central High School.

SICKNESS FORCES TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF MULTIPLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Multiple Southeast Missouri school districts will not be having classes for the remainder of this week due to illness.

The Doniphan R-1 School District announced Tuesday that they will be closed December 7th through December 9th.

Officials say that sickness has hit the district hard with several of our students, faculty, and staff absent. The district will sanitize and disinfect all buildings and classrooms before students return next week.

POPLAR BLUFF HOSPITAL TO CONDUCT ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILL

A Poplar Bluff hospital will be conducting an active shooter drill today.

According to officials with the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, the drill is scheduled to begin today at 2 pm.

Officials say that the drill is necessary to practice emergency and crisis response plans.

Area emergency responders will also be participating in the drill.

TWO DEAD, ONE IN CUSTODY, FOLLOWING SHOOTING IN QULIN

A man is in custody following a fatal shooting in Butler County over the weekend.

Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs tells KWOC News that at approximately 1 am early Sunday morning, Butler County deputies responded to a report of two people being shot at a residence on the 100 block of New Hampshire Street in Qulin.

At the scene, deputies found two deceased females who appeared to be victims of gunshot wounds. The names of the victims are not being released at this time.

2022 RIVER RADIO LIGHTED CHRISTMAS PARADE IS TONIGHT

Tonight is the night for the 2022 River Radio Lighted Christmas Parade in downtown Poplar Bluff.

Participants can start lining up at 4:30 pm in the Whiteley Park Parking lot, off of Highway 53. Personal vehicles will not be allowed to park in the parking lot.

The parade will begin at 6 pm, with the route running from Highway 142 at McDonalds through downtown Poplar Bluff before looping back and ending at the Black River Coliseum.

Today’s Talk KWOC 93.3 FM and 930 AM will be playing nonstop Christmas music from 5 to 8 pm tonight.

Trophies will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places. For more information, call 573-785-0881.

ANTLERLESS PORTION OF DEER SEASON TO BEGIN ON SATURDAY

The antlerless portion of deer season is set to begin this weekend.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, the antlerless portion will run from December 3rd to December 11th and only antlerless deer may be harvested.

There are also additional restrictions depending on the county you are in. For example, many counties in Southeast Missouri are closed to firearms hunting during this portion of deer season, such as Butler, Carter, and Wayne Counties.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI MAN SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON ON MURDER CHARGE

A Southeast Missouri man has been sentenced to multiple decades in prison on a murder charge.

According to Arkansas Court Connect, 30 year old Heath Hunsaker, of Bloomfield, pled guilty Monday to a charge of 1st degree murder. The charge stems from the shooting death of 35 year old Matthew Hale in March.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN IN CUSTODY ON STATUTORY RAPE CHARGES

A Poplar Bluff man is in custody on statutory rape and sodomy charges.

34 year old Corvette Christian is facing charges of child molestation – 2nd degree, statutory rape – 1st degree, and four counts of statutory sodomy.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Christian admitted to investigators to inappropriately touching the victim multiple times.