COMPETITIVE LOCAL RACES IN CARTER COUNTY

Wrapping up our series on competitive local races that will be decided Tuesday during the Missouri Primary, we now turn to Carter County.

There are two races for the Carter County Commission. For the Eastern District Republican nomination, Tom Wilder will take on Paul Dunnegan and Joe Crites. In the Western District, Erik McSpadden will challenge Mike Hoerner for the Republican Nomination.

The race for the county Assessor nomination is between Gary Rector and Dustin Bryant.

POPLAR BLUFF ALUMNUS KAMERON MISNER CALLED UP TO TAMPA BAY RAYS

A Poplar Bluff native has made it to the Major Leagues.

Kameron Misner is being called up to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Misner graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 2016, and was drafted by the Kansas City Royals, but decided to attend the University of Missouri.

MISSOURI GOVERNOR SIGNS CEREMONIAL BUDGET BILL IN POPLAR BLUFF

Missouri Governor Mike Parson was in Poplar Bluff Wednesday for a ceremonial signing of House Bill 4.

Parson signed the bill at Haff Whiskey Saloon in downtown Poplar Bluff, surrounded by state and local leaders, including Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, Missouri State Senators Jason Bean and Lincoln Hough, Former State Senator Doug Libla, Arkansas State Senator Blake Johnson, Missouri State Representative Hardy Billington, Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher, Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce President Steve Halter, Bill Robertson, and others.

House Bill 4 provides for $150 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget to go to improvements to U.S. Highway 67 in Butler County.

MISSOURI GOVERNOR TO BE IN POPLAR BLUFF TODAY FOR CEREMONIAL SIGNING OF BUDGET BILL

Missouri Governor Mike Parson will be in Poplar Bluff today.

Parson will be appearing this afternoon at Haff Whiskey Saloon in downtown Poplar Bluff for a ceremonial signing of House Bill 4, which provided for $150 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget for improvements to U.S. Highway 67 in Butler County.

The ceremonial signing is scheduled to begin at 4 pm.

COMPETITIVE LOCAL RACES IN BUTLER COUNTY

Continuing our series on competitive local races that will be decided during the primary election next week, we now turn to Butler County.

There are only two competitive local races to be decided by Republican voters in Butler County, that being the battles for the Eastern and Western District County Commissioner nominations.

The Eastern District race will see Dan St. Lawrence, Wes Gilmore, Ralph Stucker, Rowdy Boyer, and Andy Clark all face off.

POPLAR BLUFF PARKS AND RECREATION TO HOST BACK TO SCHOOL BASH THIS WEEKEND

The Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Department has started preparations for the end of summer event.

The Free Back to School Bash has been scheduled for 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday at Whiteley Park in Poplar Bluff.

There will be music, yard games, food trucks, and fun for the entire family. Registration is open for food trucks as well as for local organizations who want to give away school supplies at the event.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON MULTIPLE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

A Poplar Bluff man was taken into custody early Thursday morning on multiple child pornography related charges.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 45 year old Michael McDaniel was arrested shortly after midnight on three felony counts of possession of child pornography and one felony count of promoting child pornography.

Following the arrest, McDaniel was held at the Butler County Justice Center.

DATE SET FOR DUCK BLIND DRAWING AT WAPPAPELLO LAKE

A date has been announced for the annual duck blind drawing at Wappapello Lake.

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers the drawing and registration will be held at 9:00 a.m. on August 17th, at the Bill Emerson Memorial Visitors Center.

The registration fee is $15 and applicants are asked to use a credit or debit card.

NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING BEGINS FOR UPCOMING PRIMARY ELECTION

Missouri residents can now vote absentee for the upcoming primary election without having a reason to do so.

No excuse absentee voting began today for the Missouri Primary, which is scheduled for August 6th.

An absentee ballot can be requested from your local election authority. According to the Butler County Clerk’s office, a photo ID will be needed if someone wants to vote absentee.

ONE DEAD, ANOTHER INJURED, IN CONNECTION TO CRASH IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

One man is dead in connection to a weekend crash in Southeast Missouri.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 51 year old Alphonso Savage, of Chicago, Illinois, was driving on Interstate 55 Sunday night when his vehicle struck the towed unit of another vehicle.

Savage was transported to a Hayti hospital where he was pronounced dead.

PRESIDENT BIDEN ENDS REELECTION CAMPAIGN, ENDORSES VP HARRIS FOR NOMINATION

President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for reelection.

The decision comes after escalating pressure from Biden’s Democratic allies to step aside following the June 27 debate.

Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take on former president Dondald Trump, and encouraged his party to unite behind her.

PLANS UNDERWAY TO REPLACE TWO BRIDGES IN BUTLER COUNTY

The Missouri Department of Transportation has announced plans to replace two bridges in Southeast Missouri.

According to officials, the bridges are located on Route MM over Harviell Ditch, and on Route 158 over Craven Ditch.

Work to replace the bridges could begin as early as January 2025. The roadway will be closed in the vicinity of the Route MM and Route 158 bridges for approximately 90 days as construction is underway. Completion is anticipated by November 2026.

RECTOR MAN IN CUSTODY ON MULTIPLE COUNTS OF RAPE

A Rector man has been taken into custody on multiple charges, including rape.

According to court documents, on June 13th, officers conducted an interview with an underage victim who had run away from home. The victim disclosed sexual mistreatment by an adult that had happened over multiple years.

A warrant was issued for 31 year old Joseph Gore, on charges of rape, sexual indecency with a child, endangering the welfare of a minor, aggravated assault, and terroristic threatening.

ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING TO BE CONDUCTED TODAY AT DEXTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Do not be frightened if you see an elevated police presence today at Dexter schools.

According to Captain John Moore, the Dexter Police Department will be conducting Mock Active Shooter training this morning at the Dexter Public Schools.

The Dexter Fire Department, Stoddard County Sheriff’s Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Stoddard County EMS, and Dexter Public Schools will be involved in this training.

16TH ANNUAL MULE SKINNER GOLF TOURNAMENT SET FOR AUGUST

The 16th Annual Mule Skinner Golf Tournament is coming up in August.

The four person scramble tournament will be held on Friday, August 2nd at the Westwood Hills Country Club in Poplar Bluff. Lunch will begin at 11:30 am with a shotgun start at 1 pm.

Organizers say the entry fee is $600 per team, which includes a cart and lunch. Hole sponsorships are available for $200 per hole.

HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR EARLY THIS WEEK

A Heat Advisory is in effect for the early part of this week.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, the advisory is for most of Southeast Missouri through Tuesday night.

Hot temperatures and high humidity will cause heat index values to rise to approximately 100 to 110 degrees.

NEW ANNUAL REGISTRATION PROCESS ANNOUNCED FOR POPLAR BLUFF SCHOOLS

It is now easier for parents in Poplar Bluff to complete their children’s annual registration for Poplar Bluff Schools.

School officials have announced that most of the back-to-school verification paperwork can now be completed online through the new Campus Parent Portal.

All existing Poplar Bluff School District families must complete the Annual Verification process each year to ensure that school records are up to date.

POPLAR BLUFF BUS DRIVER NAMED MOAPT DRIVER OF THE YEAR

A Poplar Bluff school bus driver has been named the Missouri Association for Pupil Transportation Driver of the Year.

Jason Davis was recently given the award during the MOAPT 59th Annual Conference and Trade Show.

Davis has been a bus driver since 2017 and is also a certified trainer and bus inspector, on top of running daily routes for the High School and Kindergarten Center.

RESIDENTS URGED TO BE CAUTIOUS OF SUSPICIOUS EMAILS FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL SOURCES

Area residents are being urged to be cautious about suspicious emails from what appears to be local government officials.

Lieutenant Josh Stewart with the Poplar Bluff Police Department tells KWOC News that the emails started going out this week saying that they contain statements from Butler County or the City of Poplar Bluff or similar nomenclature.

If you receive an email like this and are not expecting it, do not open any attachments or click on any links in the email. It could contain malware or other malicious software that could affect your computer.

REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM BERYL CAUSING FLOODING CHANCES IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

The remnants of Tropical System Beryl are crossing Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas today, increasing the risk of flooding throughout the area.

According to the National Weather Service, tropical downpours will lead to multiple inches of rain possibly falling across the area this week, with totals potentially getting up to as high as six inches in parts of Wayne, Carter, Ripley, and Butler Counties.

The storm system is also bringing with it chances of severe thunderstorms, heavy winds, and possible tornadoes this afternoon and evening.