GATEWOOD MAN CONVICTED OF ASSAULT AND WEAPON CHARGES

A Gatewood man is behind bars following his conviction on multiple charges including assault.

According to Ripley County Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Michel, 41 year old Bryan Grissom was found guilty by a Ripley County jury on Friday of numerous charges, including assault in the first degree, unlawful possession of a firearm, and two counts of armed criminal action.

Grissom was accused of firing a shot at a driver at the intersection of Highway 142 and Highway P in July of 2023.

MISSOURI STATE SENATOR JASON BEAN NAMED POPLAR BLUFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

A Missouri State Senator is being recognized for his efforts in helping the lives of the citizens of Poplar Bluff.

Senator Jason Bean was announced as the 2025 Citizen of the Year during the 87th Annual Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce Banquet Saturday night at the Black River Coliseum.

Bean is a fifth generation Missourian and he currently lives on the same farm where he grew up and learned how to farm in Southeast Missouri.

MISSOURI HIGHLANDS HEALTH CARE TO HOST COMMUNITY GIVE BACK EVENT TODAY

A local business is celebrating 50 years of helping our local area with a community give back event today.

Missouri Highlands Health Care will be set up today at the River Radio parking lot in Poplar Bluff beginning at 10 am to hand out free heaters, socks, hand warmers, hats, gloves, and emergency blankets.

The event will continue through 2 pm or until supplies run out.

DONIPHAN MAN CONVICTED OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR

A Doniphan man is facing up to three decades in prison following his conviction on a sexual exploitation charge.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 52 year old Rayford Evans, of Doniphan, was found guilty Tuesday of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor.

Evans is accused of using his cell phone to record a juvenile who was in a bathroom.

TWO ARRESTED FOLLOWING PURSUIT IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

Two people are facing charges following a pursuit from this past weekend in Northeast Arkansas.

According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, on Saturday, a Deputy attempted to make a traffic stop on US Highway 62 when the vehicle refused to pull over.

The vehicle then turned onto a gravel road and led the deputy on a chase that reached over 60 miles per hour.

The deputy performed a tactical vehicle intervention which caused the suspect vehicle to go into a ditch.

DONALD TRUMP INAUGURATED AS 47TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Donald Trump has begun his second term as President of the United States of America.

President Trump took the oath of office on Monday inside the Capital Rotunda. The event had been moved indoors from the National Mall due to intense cold weather in the Washington D.C. area.

The swearing-in was last moved indoors in 1985, when President Ronald Reagan began his second term.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STUDENT ELECTED MISSOURI JUNIOR BETA PRESIDENT

Last week was a big one for many Junior High and elementary students in Southeast Missouri.

Many students competed in a variety of categories at the Missouri Junior and Elementary Beta convention in Branson.

One student who stood out was 7th Grader Brooklyn Bader, from St. Teresa Catholic School in Glennonville, who was elected the Missouri Junior Beta President.

WIND CHILL VALUES EXPECTED TO DROP TO CLOSE TO ZERO EARLY NEXT WEEK

Arctic air will push dangerously cold temperatures to our region next week.

According to the National Weather Service, a wave of very cold Arctic air will impact the region beginning Sunday.

Wind chill values will be in the single digits to teens in Poplar Bluff, in addition to getting close to zero early Monday morning.

ALMOST 700 JOBS TO BE LOST WITH CLOSURE OF NORTHEAST ARKANSAS PLANT

Almost 700 people will be impacted with the closure of a Northeast Arkansas plant.

Allison Hestand with the Paragould Chamber of Commerce has confirmed to KWOC News that they received notice Tuesday that the Tenneco Plant in Paragould would be closing and that 687 individuals would ultimately be affected.

Hestand says that a Greene County Employers Job Fair has been scheduled for 1 to 4 pm on March 11th at the Paragould Community Center to assist in job relocation efforts for these employees.

MAN DUE IN COURT IN CONNECTION TO ALLEGED STABBING

A Harviell man is scheduled to be in court on Thursday in connection to a stabbing incident from over the weekend.

According to Missouri Case Net, 38 year old Joshua Scowden has been charged with assault 1st degree, domestic assault 1st degree, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Scowden is accused of stabbing a victim several times following a verbal confrontation on Saturday. The victim was flown to an area hospital for treatment of the injuries.

TRAIN STRIKES CAR IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS, ONE PERSON DEAD

One man is dead after a train struck a vehicle Sunday afternoon in Northeast Arkansas.

According to the Arkansas State Police, 82 year old David Smith, of Paragould, was driving on Greene County Road 434 when he failed to yield to an oncoming train and was struck on the passenger side of his vehicle.

Officials say that Smith was killed in the collision, which occurred near the county road’s intersection with US Highway 49.

KENNETT MAN SCHEDULED TO APPEAR IN COURT THIS WEEK ON CHILD MOLESTATION CHARGES

An area man is scheduled to appear in court this week on multiple child molestation charges.

According to authorities, 41 year old Ryan Cuff, of Kennett, was arrested earlier this month on several charges, including two counts of child molestation - 1st degree, along with single counts of statutory sodomy and furnishing pornographic material to a minor.

Cuff was arrested by the Dunklin County Sheriff’s Department and held on a $150,000 cash only bond.

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING

A winter storm warning will continue for most of our listening area through this evening.

According to the National Weather Service, at least an inch or two of snow has fallen over a majority of Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas this morning.

SNOW LIKELY TO START LATE TONIGHT, REGION COULD SEE UP TO FIVE INCHES

An early January snowfall is expected to blanket the region late tonight.

According to the National Weather Service, accumulating snowfall is likely across the entire region with impacts to travel expected. Snowfall totals could range from one to five inches, with higher totals expected in our southern regions.

The snow is forecast to start sometime between midnight and 6 am tomorrow morning. A winter storm warning will be in effect for most of the region beginning at midnight tonight.

ROAD DIET PLAN IN POPLAR BLUFF CHANGED TO ONLY BE EAST OF THE BLACK RIVER

A proposed change to a major road in Poplar Bluff has been scaled back.

KWOC News spoke with MoDOT Southeast District Project Manager Curt Woolsey who told us that the proposed “Road Diet” for Business 60/Pine Street will now only include the area east of the Black River.

The original plan would have reconfigured Business 60 in Poplar Bluff from an undivided 4 lane to a 3 lane with one eastbound lane, a center turn lane and one westbound lane from 10th Street to Route B.

WARMING CENTERS OPEN IN BUTLER COUNTY TO PROVIDE SHELTER FROM THE COLD

An arctic chill is crossing our area this week dropping temperatures below freezing and wind chills into the single digits.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, an extended period of sub-freezing conditions is expected through at least Thursday. The most impactful conditions are expected Tuesday night, when wind chill values will be in the single digits for many in our listening area.

In Butler County, the Bread Shed will be acting as an overnight warming center from 7 pm to 7 am this week when the temperatures get below 20 degrees.

MOTORISTS ASKED TO WATCH OUT FOR ICY AND SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS THIS MORNING

A winter storm crossed the region yesterday and motorists, especially in our northern areas, are asked to be extra careful on the roads this morning.

Snow and icy conditions will be possible on many area roadways.

Motorists should consider delaying travel if possible. If you do have to get on the road this morning, slow down and give yourself plenty of extra time to reach your destination.

FIRST WINTER STORM OF 2025 POSSIBLE THIS WEEKEND

Southeast Missouri is bracing for our first look at winter weather this year during the upcoming weekend.

According to the National Weather Service, a winter storm with mixed precipitation types is likely late Saturday night into early Monday morning.

Senior Forecaster Keith Cooley with the National Weather Service tells us more.

“The wintry mix will include freezing rain, sleet, and snow, while some locations may end up seeing most of the precipitation fall as rain. The best chance of that happening will be closer to the Tennessee border in western Kentucky and the Arkansas border in Southeast Missouri.

BUTLER COUNTY SCRATCHERS PLAYER WINS $50,000

A scratchers player in Poplar Bluff won a grand prize of a ticket, although she didn’t initially realize it.

According to the Missouri Lottery, the woman purchased a “Crossword Plus” scratchers ticket at a business on Highway 53 and after scratching it, she returned to the store to have the clerk scan it.

The clerk returned the ticket to her and said that they couldn’t cash it. That’s when the woman said she realized that she had won $50,000.

Officials with the Missouri Lottery say that players in Butler County won more than 8.1 million dollars in prizes during the 2024 fiscal year.

OFFICIALS ENCOURAGING MOTORISTS TO BE SAFE WHILE CELEBRATING THE NEW YEAR

The New Year is almost here and officials are reminding everyone who is planning to get out and celebrate tonight to drive safely.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, during the 2024 New Year’s counting period, nine people were killed and 293 were injured in 821 traffic crashes in Missouri.

If you are driving to a New Year’s gathering, remember to buckle up and obey all traffic laws. If your plans include alcohol, remember to designate a sober driver or take a ride service to get home safely.