CHILD TAKEN TO AREA HOSPITAL FOLLOWING HIT AND RUN IN POPLAR BLUFF

A Poplar Bluff child was taken to an area emergency room Tuesday morning following a reported hit and run incident.

According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, a juvenile was on the way to a bus stop on West Harper Street at approximately 8 am when the child was struck by a suspected red SUV. The SUV then left the scene.

The child was transported to a Poplar Bluff hospital and later flown to a St. Louis hospital. The severity of the child’s injuries has not been released.

FORMER POPLAR BLUFF PASTOR AND BUSINESSMAN ARRESTED ON RAPE AND SODOMY CHARGES

A former Poplar Bluff area pastor and businessman has been arrested in a rape cold case.

A warrant was issued on Friday for 55 year old James Paul Hoyt, of Poplar Bluff, on charges of forcible rape and two counts of forcible sodomy.

According to Detective Shonna Grobe with the Poplar Bluff Police Department, the charges stem from numerous incidents that allegedly occurred between the Summer of 2001 and Fall of 2002.

MAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO STABBING IN STODDARD COUNTY

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

According to Captain Cory Mills with the Dexter Police Department, shortly after 4 am on Saturday, officers responded to a stabbing in the 300 Block of West Business Highway 60. The victim was stabbed multiple times and treated for non life threatening injuries.

An investigation into the incident led to the arrest of a 32 year old white male, who was taken into custody a short time later at the crime scene. He was held at the Dexter Police Department.

GREENVILLE WINS OFC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Greenville is celebrating another Ozark Foothills Conference championship.

The defending champion Bears defeated Twin Rivers Thursday afternoon 10-0 to win the 2023 OFC Baseball tournament at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff.

Greenville jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning on their way to knocking out the top seed in the tournament.

GREENVILLE AND TWIN RIVERS TO PLAY TODAY FOR OFC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

The 2023 Ozark Foothills Conference Baseball Tournament will come to an end today.

Number two seed Greenville will be facing top seed Twin Rivers today at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff for the OFC Championship. First pitch is scheduled for 2 pm.

The Third Place game will see Naylor take on East Carter, beginning at noon.

STUDENT FOUND WITH HANDGUN ON POPLAR BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS

A Poplar Bluff High School student was found with a handgun on Tuesday.

Poplar Bluff R-1 Superintendent Dr. Aaron Cornman tells KWOC News that Tuesday morning a student made faculty aware of another student carrying a handgun.

Faculty worked swiftly to find the student and secure the handgun, which had two rounds in the magazine and none in the chamber.

AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING ARMED ROBBERY IN FAIRDEALING

An investigation is underway following an armed robbery in Ripley County.

A video was released Monday showing a white male entering the Dollar General in Fairdealing and pulling a handgun on a cashier.

The suspect then fled the store with a bag full of items, including $306 in cash.

QUARTERFINALS OF OFC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT SET FOR TODAY IN POPLAR BLUFF

The Ozark Foothills Conference baseball tournament is scheduled to begin today.

Three Rivers College, in Poplar Bluff, will be hosting this year’s tournament, featuring six area schools.

The quarter-finals will be held today, starting off with East Carter vs. Clearwater at noon, followed by Naylor vs. Neelyville at 2 pm.

TWIN RIVERS STUDENT TO PERFORM AT ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL IN LONDON, ENGLAND

A Southeast Missouri violin player will be crossing the Atlantic Ocean next year to play in London, England.

Twin Rivers High School Student Daisey Loyd, of Broseley, has played violin since she was seven years old. Last month she auditioned and was accepted into the Honors Orchestra to play in the Honors Performance Series in the Royal Festival Hall on July 28th, 2024.

The orchestra is made up of high school musicians from across the world.

BUTLER COUNTY COMMISSION ANNOUNCES FOUR NEW MEMBERS FOR THE NEELYVILLE SCHOOL BOARD

The Butler County Commission has announced four new members for the Neelyville R-4 School Board.

Butler County Presiding Commissioner Vince Lampe tells KWOC News that Les Thomas, John French, Gene Russom, and Jack Stull were chosen by the commission to fill the vacant seats.

Four former members of the Neelyville School Board announced their resignations during a school board meeting on September 21st.

NATIONWIDE EMERGENCY ALERT TEST SCHEDULED FOR TODAY

A National Emergency Alert test will be conducted this afternoon.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a one minute test alert will be sent to cell phones, radio, and television today at 1:20 pm.

Officials say that the test is done to ensure that alert systems are effective to warn the public about emergencies.

WATER LEAK PROMPTS BOIL WATER ORDER IN NEELYVILLE

A Butler County community is under a boil water order today.

According to officials with the city of Neelyville, a water leak Monday morning caused the city to lose all water pressure.

Crews worked all day Monday to get the leak repaired and restore water service to area residents. The lack of water did force the cancellation of classes for Neelyville schools on Monday.

LINEUP ANNOUNCED FOR 2023 POPLAR BLUFF SHOWDOWN

The eight teams who will be playing in the 2023 Poplar Bluff Showdown have been released.

Poplar Bluff Athletics Director Kent Keith tells KWOC News that the field will include teams from five different states.

Poplar Bluff will be joined by New Madrid County Central and Christian Brothers from Missouri, Vilonia from Arkansas, McCracken County from Kentucky, and Urbana from Illinois along with Memphis East and Germantown from Tennessee.

FALL FIREARMS TURKEY SEASON TO BEGIN THIS WEEKEND IN MISSOURI

The fall firearms turkey season will begin this weekend in Missouri.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, the season will run from October 1st through October 31st. The hours for hunting will be from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset each day.

Hunters may take two turkeys of either sex during the season and there are restrictions on the type of firearms that may be used.

MULES CAFE TO OPEN TODAY FOR NEW SCHOOL YEAR

Poplar Bluff students will be making lunch for customers beginning today.

The Mules Café, located in the R-1 Administrative Building on North Westwood Boulevard, is open to the public from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday and Friday each week, unless school is out.

This year will be a little different as the culinary arts class is anticipating a midyear move from the Administrative Building to the Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center campus in the state-of-the-art Culinary Arts Center, which is about midway through construction.

THREE SOUTHEAST MISSOURI LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO RECEIVE MISSOURI MEDAL OF VALOR THIS WEEK

Three Southeast Missouri law enforcement officers will be honored with Missouri Public Safety medals during a ceremony this week.

State Troopers Adam Shipley and Joshua Schuenemeyer, along with Captain Barry Morgan, of the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office, will be awarded with the Medal of Valor for exceptional courage and heroism in an attempt to protect or save human life.

POPLAR BLUFF POLICE INVESTIGATING CONFRONTATION THAT INCLUDED GUNSHOTS BEING FIRED

Authorities in Poplar Bluff are investigating a confrontation from over the weekend that included shots being fired.

According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, shortly after 2 pm on Sunday, officers responded to a report of shots fired in the 1100 block of West Maud Street.

At the scene officers found spent shell casings in the roadway.

Officials say that surveillance video from a nearby residence captured a red passenger car stopping and two male subjects on foot approaching the car.

WOMAN SHOT WITH A FLARE GUN IN POPLAR BLUFF, ONE IN CUSTODY

A subject is in custody after a woman was reportedly shot with a flare gun in Poplar Bluff.

According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, at around 8:30 pm Thursday night, officers responded to the 800 block of West Maud Street following a report of the incident.

The victim was transported to a Poplar Bluff hospital and then flown to a St. Louis hospital for treatment.

HOMECOMING IS TONIGHT FOR POPLAR BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL

Homecoming is tonight in Poplar Bluff.

The Mules will welcome the Sikeston Bulldogs for the annual homecoming football game at Poplar Bluff High School, with kickoff scheduled for 7 pm.

Before the game, the homecoming court will be presented and the homecoming queen will be crowned.

MOUNTAIN LION SPOTTED IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

A mountain lion was spotted last week in Southeast Missouri.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, they were notified on September 12th that an adult elk had been killed in Shannon County.

Members of MDC’s Large Carnivore Response Team traveled to the area and confirmed that a mountain lion caused the death through careful inspection of the scene.