MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD ACTIVATED AHEAD OF PLANNED PROTESTS
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has activated the Missouri National Guard.
In a statement on Thursday, Governor Kehoe stated that the activation is in response to immigration enforcement protests planned across the state.
An executive order issued as a part of the activation declared that a State of Emergency exists in Missouri due to civil unrest.
SKELETAL REMAINS FOUND IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Skeletal remains were found Tuesday afternoon in Northeast Arkansas.
According to Greene County Sheriff Brad Snyder, a detective and civilian search party member were searching an area southwest of Lake Ashbaugh at approximately 1:45 pm when they located skeletal remains in a very advanced state of decomposition.
Snyder says that identification will have to be determined by the Arkansas State Crime Lab due to the state of the remains.
MOTORCYCLE CRASH LEAVES ONE INJURED IN BUTLER COUNTY
One man was injured in a crash Monday night outside of Poplar Bluff.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred when a truck failed to yield to a motorcycle on Route B and was hit by the motorcycle.
The driver of the motorcycle, a 23 year old man from the Fisk area, was flown to a St. Louis hospital with serious injuries. No injuries were reported for the driver of the truck.
MINNESOTA WOMAN ARRESTED IN STODDARD COUNTY FOR ALLEGEDLY ABANDONING TODDLER
A Minnesota woman was taken into custody over the weekend in Stoddard County for allegedly abandoning a young child.
According to a probable cause affidavit, an officer responded Saturday morning to a one year old child being abandoned in a motel parking lot.
A subject stated that a woman, later identified as 39 year old Elizabeth Mcarthur, of White Bearlake, Minnesota, told them that she needed to grab a diaper from her vehicle. The subject then noticed Mcarthur get in her vehicle and leave the parking lot, abandoning the child.
DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER OPENS IN POPLAR BLUFF
A Disaster Recovery Center is now available in Poplar Bluff.
The center is located at the MPC World Impact Center Conference Center at 727 Ridge Avenue. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Missourians who sustained damage to their primary residence, personal property, or have emergency needs due to the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and wildfires that occurred March 14 and 15th can visit the center for one-on-one help.
CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE STORMS TODAY
Weather officials are warning of the possibility of severe weather today.
According to a Hazardous Weather Outlook from the National Weather Service, thunderstorms are forecast for today. If enough instability can develop severe storms are possible with damaging winds the main threat along with large hail. Locally heavy rainfall may also cause flash flooding.
Officials say that conditions will be most favorable for severe storms this afternoon into this evening. The entire region is under a slight risk of storms as a part of this system.
POPLAR BLUFF SCHOOL OFFICIALS REMIND PARENTS TO GET THEIR STUDENTS VACCINATED FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR
The Poplar Bluff school year has come to an end, but school officials are preparing for next year.
Parents are reminded to make sure that your children are properly immunized to go to school.
Children attending school must be immunized against tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, hepatitis B, and meningitis.
Parents of incoming 12th graders are also reminded that two doses of the Meningococcal vaccine are required, unless the first dose was administered to a student who was 16 years of age or older, in which case only one dose is required.
Incoming 12th graders must provide documentation verifying they received the vaccine to the school nurse before school starts in the fall. Parents are being urged to make these appointments now and not wait until right before the school year begins.
Incoming 12th graders are also recommended to receive two doses of the HPV vaccine and one dose of the Meningococcal B vaccine.
WOMAN DROWNS IN CURRENT RIVER
A Salem, Missouri woman drowned over the weekend while kayaking on the Current River.
Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that 63 year old Katherine Koehnen was pushed into a downed tree by the water current, kayak overturned, and was swept under a tree.
Officials say the incident occurred Sunday afternoon in Shannon County.
MISSOURI HOT WEATHER LAW IS NOW IN EFFECT
Missouri’s Hot Weather Law is now in effect.
The Missouri Public Service Commission has announced that regulated utility companies are barred from disconnecting service during periods of extreme heat. Under state regulations, shutoffs are prohibited if the National Weather Service forecasts temperatures above 95 degrees or a heat index exceeding 105 degrees between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. within the next 24 hours. The rule is designed to protect residents from health risks associated with excessive heat.
Consumers are still responsible to pay their bills.
Officials say the law was created to protect all residential customers of investor-owned utilities from having their electric or natural gas service disconnected due to non-payment when electricity or natural gas is used as the source of cooling or to operate the only cooling equipment at the residence.
The law is in effect each year from June 1st through September 30th.
ONE DEAD FOLLOWING CRASH IN RIPLEY COUNTY
A Southeast Missouri man has died from injuries he received early Saturday morning in a single vehicle crash in Ripley County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the 22 year old man from Harviell, was driving on US Highway 160, 10 miles east of Doniphan, when his vehicle ran off the roadway, struck a mailbox, two utility poles, and overturned.
The man, who was not wearing a safety device, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Ripley County Coroner.
FEMA HOUSING INSPECTORS CONTACTING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WHO APPLIED FOR ASSISTANCE FOLLOWING MID MARCH STORMS
FEMA damage inspectors will be in contact with Southeast Missouri residents who were affected by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and wildfires that occurred on March 14th and 15th.
Those who sustained disaster-related damage in 18 counties, including Butler, Carter, Ripley, and Wayne, may be eligible for assistance by registering with FEMA.
Following registration, FEMA usually schedules an inspection within 7 to 10 days. Housing inspections are triggered when someone registers with FEMA for disaster assistance and indicates their residence was damaged and/or they lost personal property because of the disaster, and their losses or needs are not covered by insurance.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STUDENT ELIMINATED IN THIRD ROUND OF SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE
A southeast Missouri student tied for 100th place at the Scipps National Spelling Bee.
14 year old Scott Tingle from Senath-Hornersville Middle School was eliminated in the third round of the competition.
In the preliminaries on Tuesday, Tingle correctly spelled the word “Katana” in round One. Tingle advanced past round two after correctly answering the question “What does it mean to Trounce?”
FORMER NEW MADRID COUNTY SHERIFF BUD COOPER PASSES AWAY
The former Sheriff of New Madrid County has passed away.
New Madrid County Sheriff Joey Higgerson has announced that W.T. Bud Cooper passed away over the weekend.
Cooper served as Sheriff from August of 2020 until his retirement last June.
In addition to his work as Sheriff, Cooper was also a retired Master Sergeant for the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATION APPROVED FOR THE STATE OF MISSOURI
The federal government has approved a federal disaster declaration for numerous Missouri counties that were affected by a storm system that swept over the area earlier this year.
According to Congressman Jason Smith, President Trump has authorized the declaration that was requested by Governor Mike Kehoe to assist in cleaning up after the storms that impacted Missouri on March 14th and 15th, as well as from March 30th through April 8th.
The first storm system resulted in multiple deaths, including one in Poplar Bluff, as well as heavy property damage across Southeast Missouri.
CEREMONY FOR FALLEN SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN TO BE HELD AT VETERANS MEMORIAL WALL
A special program will be held on Memorial Day in Poplar Bluff.
According to Larry Kimbrow, the 2025 Memorial Day Ceremony is scheduled for 11 am on Monday at the Butler County Veterans Memorial Wall in front of the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff.
The event is free and open to the public. The ceremony will pay tribute to the nation's servicemen and women who have fallen in service to their country.
MAN FLOWN TO ST. LOUIS HOSPITAL AFTER HITTING DEER ON BUTLER COUNTY ROADWAY
A man was flown to a regional hospital Wednesday morning after hitting an animal in Butler County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the 61 year old man, from Poplar Bluff, was driving on Highway O in northern Butler County when he struck a deer on the roadway.
The man suffered moderate injuries in the crash and was flown to a St. Louis hospital.
DANNY WHITELEY RETURNS AS POPLAR BLUFF POLICE CHIEF
A familiar face will be taking the reins at the Poplar Bluff Police Department.
Poplar Bluff City Manager Robert Knodell has confirmed with KWOC News that Danny Whiteley will be rejoining the department as the new Poplar Bluff Police Chief.
Whiteley retired from the position in 2022 ending an over two decade tenure at the seat. His successor, Mike McClain, announced his own retirement in March.
Knodell says that the search took longer than initially expected because of the tornado. Knodell added that acting Chief JR Keirsey did an amazing job leading the Department through challenging times, and will remain a key leader in the PBPD command staff.
SEVERE WEATHER CHANCES CONTINUE TODAY ACROSS SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Chances of severe weather will continue today throughout Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, the region will be under a slight to enhanced risk of severe storms through this evening.
Chances of severe weather will be greater for the more eastern portion of our listening area.
STORM SYSTEM WHICH INCLUDED EF-3 TORNADO CAUSES TWO DEATHS IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Two people died Friday evening in Southeast Missouri during a storm system that crossed the area bringing with it winds of over 150 miles per hour.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, a preliminary survey found that an EF-3 tornado tracked along a 16 mile path in eastern Stoddard and Scott Counties.
The tornado had peak winds of 152 miles per hour.
CHANCES OF SEVERE WEATHER RETURN TO THE AREA TODAY
We are once again looking at chances of severe weather today in Southeast Missouri.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, a risk for severe thunderstorms exists this afternoon into this evening.
Supercells with a large hail and tornado risk may then form into a large complex of storms with a significant damaging wind threat.
