POPLAR BLUFF MAN ARRESTED ON WARRANT FOR FAILING TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER

A Poplar Bluff man is in custody for allegedly failing to register as a sex offender.

According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, on Wednesday, 56 year old Alphonso Price was arrested at a residence on Foley Street for a Butler County warrant for failure to register as a sex offender and a probation/parole warrant for a parole violation.

According to the Missouri Sex Offender Registry, Price was convicted of 1st degree child molestation in 1997 and is considered a tier 3 offender with a lifetime registration requirement.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO DEATH OF A CHILD

A Poplar Bluff man has been taken into custody in connection to the death of a small child.

Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs tells KWOC News that on Tuesday, 25 year old Dustin Mason was arrested on a charge of abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death.

Dobbs says that the warrant stems from an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and the Butler County Children’s Division.

POPLAR BLUFF CITY COUNCILMAN RESIGNS

There is now a vacancy on the Poplar Bluff City Council.

During a regular meeting of the city council Monday night, Poplar Bluff Mayor Shane Cornman read a letter from Councilman Robert Duckett announcing Duckett’s resignation from his at-large seat on the Council, effective immediately.

In the letter Duckett said that due to moving outside the city limits and because of family needs he will step down.

MAN ARRESTED ON TWO COUNTS OF RAPE AND FOUR COUNTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

Multiple victims have come forward with reports of sexual abuse which resulted in the arrest of an area man on multiple counts of rape and sexual assault.

Officials with the Paragould Police Department tell KWOC News that 31 year old John Lang, of Paragould, has been taken into custody on two counts of felony rape and four counts of felony sexual assault.

Earlier this month, four victims, all under the age of 17, were interviewed by investigators and disclosed sexual acts that would constitute sexual assault by the definition of the statute. The victims each named Lang as the offender.

MAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO STABBING IN BUTLER COUNTY

A man has been taken into custody following an alleged stabbing in Poplar Bluff.

According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, shortly after 9 am on Friday, officers responded to the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center Emergency Room for a report that an assault victim had been dropped off.

An adult female reported that her husband had punched her in the face and stabbed her in the upper chest with what she believed was a pocket knife.

LATEST DROUGHT MONITOR SHOWS MOST OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI TO BE ABNORMALLY DRY

Even with the summer shower this week, most of Southeast Missouri is still getting close to drought conditions.

According to the National Weather Service, the Drought Monitor released on Thursday shows that most of Southeast Missouri is currently listed as abnormally dry.

New Madrid, Dunklin, and Pemiscot Counties are all in moderate drought.

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON FIRST PHASE OF THE FUTURE I-57 PROJECT IN BUTLER COUNTY

Construction of the first phase of the U.S. Route 67/Future I-57 project in Butler County will soon be continuing with the reconstruction of the existing ramp at the intersection of the Route 160/158 interchange south of Poplar Bluff.

According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, the interchange will be reconfigured with two roundabouts in place of the current loop ramps in the northwest and southeast quadrants.

SUSPECT IN BUTLER COUNTY HOME INVASION ARRESTED IN ARKANSAS

Updating a story we have been following for you, a suspect in a Butler County home invasion has been taken into custody in Arkansas.

Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs tells KWOC News that Jamie Carter, of Poplar Bluff, was taken into custody Tuesday morning in West Memphis, Arkansas.

Carter had been wanted by authorities after she allegedly broke into a victim’s home last week and kept the victim captive for approximately 18 hours. She then reportedly stole the victim’s vehicle, which she was driving when she was arrested in Arkansas.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI ORGANIZATION CHOSEN TO RECEIVE OVER $400,000 GRANT

A Southeast Missouri organization has been chosen to receive over $400,000 in grant money.

The Delta Regional Authority has announced that a total of $11.7 million dollars was awarded to 28 projects in eight states through the Delta Workforce Grant Program.

In Southeast Missouri, the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission has been awarded over $402,000 for the Workforce Ready Project.

BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF ASKING FOR PUBLIC'S HELP IN LOCATING HOME INVASION SUSPECT

Authorities in Butler County are asking for the public’s help in locating a suspect in a home invasion investigation.

Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs tells KWOC News that it is believed that a subject named Jamie Carter, broke into a victims house Thursday night at around 6 pm and kept a victim captive until approximately 12:15 pm on Friday.

Dobbs added that Carter is believed to have also stolen the victim’s vehicle, a White 2012 Ford Escape with a License Plate of LG1NGRG.

MISINFORMATION ABOUT SHOOTING CAUSES STODDARD COUNTY SCHOOLS TO BE PLACED ON LOCKDOWN

Misinformation about a shooting in Southeast Missouri caused an area school to be placed on lockdown.

Dexter Chief of Police Hank Trout tells KWOC News that on Thursday the Dexter Police Department received a call regarding an active shooter, but the report did not indicate a specific location.

The Dexter Police Department responded to area schools and placed them on lockdown. Trout says that law enforcement officers with the Dexter Police Department, the Stoddard County Sheriff's Office, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol searched each school to ensure the safety of the students and staff.

AREA UNDER A RISK OF ELEVATED FIRE DANGER THURSDAY AND FRIDAY

Weather officials are warning that Southeast Missouri has an elevated fire danger for Thursday and Friday.

According to the National Weather Service, a very dry airmass will overspread the region, leading to elevated fire weather conditions. Officials say that dewpoints falling into the 30s will be near record low levels for June in this part of the country.

Residents are advised to avoid activities that could cause open flames or sparks. Drivers are also being asked to avoid parking on dry grass and to not throw cigarettes from a vehicle.

THREE RIVERS COLLEGE SOFTBALL PLAYER NAMED ALL AMERICAN

A Three Rivers College softball player has been recognized for her accomplishments on the field this year.

Freshman AJ Agers has been named a NJCAA 2nd Team All American.

Agers finished the season with a 26-4 record on the mound and a 2.10 ERA.

At the plate, Agers just missed batting .400, finishing the season with a .399 batting average along with 13 home runs.

SCHOOL BUS INSPECTION RESULTS RELEASED

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has announced the results of the Driver and Vehicle Safety Division's 2023 annual school bus inspection program.

As a part of the program, buses found to have no defective items are rated as "approved.” Buses having one or more defective items which do not constitute an immediate danger are rated as "defective.” Buses with any defective items which constitute an immediate danger are rated as "out-of-service.”

In Butler County, Poplar Bluff R-1 had 40 of the district’s 49 buses listed as approved. The other nine were rated as defective.

HEAVY WINDS CAUSE DAMAGE IN POPLAR BLUFF AREA

Strong sudden winds caused damage Sunday evening in the Poplar Bluff area.

According to the National Weather Service, a downburst was reported at around 6:30 pm Sunday.

The heavy winds resulted in several sheds being blown over or destroyed near the junction of Business Loop 67 and State Highway 53.

Damage was also reported at an area business.

POPLAR BLUFF PARKS AND RECREATION WELCOMING SUMMER WITH EVENT THIS WEEKEND

An event to mark the beginning of Summer will be held this weekend at Whiteley Park in Poplar Bluff.

Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation is hosting Welcome Summer 2023 from 4 to 7 pm on Saturday, June 3rd.

The event will include a cruise in, live band, food trucks, yard games, a dunk booth, crafts, and more.

For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation office at 573-686-8645.

ALMOST $100,000 OF DAMAGE REPORTED AT AREA HIGHWAY REPAIR SITE

The Butler County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a report of significant property damage.

Sheriff Mark Dobbs tells KWOC News that on May 30th, HR Quadri Contractors reported damage to two of their Caterpillar Haul Trucks and two of their Caterpillar Excavators that were involved in the repairs on Highway 67 South.

The estimated repair costs are over $93,000.

POPLAR BLUFF TEENAGER ARRESTED FOLLOWING PURSUIT

One person was taken into custody following a Memorial Day pursuit in Poplar Bluff.

According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, 19 year old Brett McCoy was arrested shortly before 10 pm Monday night after a short motor vehicle pursuit with a Poplar Bluff Police Officer.

McCoy was booked into the Butler County Jail on charges of felony endangering the welfare of a child, resisting arrest, trespassing, and several traffic offenses.

POPLAR BLUFF’S DARIUS GRAHAM TAKES STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND SETS NEW CLASS 5 RECORD FOR HIGH JUMP

The MSHSAA Class 5 state track meet turned into a record breaking day for one Poplar Bluff Student.

The Mules Darius Graham won the state championship in the High Jump, setting a new class 5 record of 2.09 meters.

Graham also earned all-state designation, as did Poplar Bluff’s Isaiah Nevel, A’tari Amos, and Kennedy Zgaynor.

ALMOST TWO HUNDRED FLAGS ON DISPLAY AT POPLAR BLUFF MUSEUM TO HONOR LOCAL FALLEN SOLDIERS

Almost two hundred American flags are on display at the Poplar Bluff museum to honor our local fallen soldiers.

Kati Ray with the Museum tells KWOC news that the 199 flags represent each person from Butler County killed in action during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam War.

They will be on display on the lawn of the Museum until after Memorial Day.