Monday, April 27, 2026
POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE WEATHER TODAY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Weather officials are closely watching possibilities of severe weather today in Southeast Missouri.
KWOC News spoke with Keith Cooley, Lead Forecaster from the National Weather Service in Paducah, about what kind of severe weather we may see.
“Ingredients are coming together for numerous severe thunderstorms Monday evening and night with all hazards possible including large hail (up to 2” in diameter), damaging winds (60-70 mph) and tornadoes.
A few strong tornadoes will also be possible.
Friday April 24, 2026
TWO POPLAR BLUFF RESIDENTS CHARGED WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING IN STODDARD COUNTY
Two Poplar Bluff residents are in custody in Stoddard County after multiple drugs were found during a traffic stop this week.
Dexter Chief of Police Hank Trout tells KWOC News that on Tuesday an officer found approximately 69.88 grams of methamphetamine, Oxycontin, Alprazolam, drug paraphernalia including smoking pipes and digital scales, and approximately 2.25 pounds of marijuana.
Thursday, April 23, 2026
EARLY MORNING PURSUIT LEADS TO ARREST OF FAIRDEALING MAN ON ASSAULT WARRANT
An early morning pursuit in Northeast Arkansas has resulted in the arrest of a Southeast Missouri man.
According to Clay County Sheriff Ronnie Cole, at around 3 am on Wednesday, a deputy observed a vehicle driving erratically on County Road 111. The vehicle then ran a stop sign and sped up as the deputy attempted to make a traffic stop.
Cole says that the vehicle reached speeds of around 100 miles per hour.
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
WOMAN COLLIDES WITH DEPUTY’S VEHICLE IN CLAY COUNTY
A woman was taken into custody following a pursuit late Monday night in Clay County.
Clay County Sheriff Ronnie Cole tells KWOC News that at around 11 pm, two deputies were conducting a traffic stop when they saw a vehicle go through a red light at a high rate of speed in Corning.
The deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, but it did not yield.
The vehicle jumped a ditch and later swerved and came into contact with a deputy’s vehicle before going into a ditch.
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
SCHOOL BUS CRASHES INTO A TREE IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Emergency crews responded to the scene of a school bus crash Monday afternoon in Southeast Missouri.
KWOC News has confirmed that a Greenville R-2 school district bus ran off Route PP near Highway 172 in Wayne County and then struck a tree.
Sergeant Clark Parrott with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tells us that there were 16 students and the driver on the bus at the time of the crash. Some of the students were released to their parents at the scene.
Monday, April 20, 2026
SPRING SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS NIGHT SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT AT RODGERS THEATRE
Butler County residents will have the opportunity to learn more about staying safe during severe weather at a special upcoming event in Poplar Bluff.
The Butler County Emergency Management Agency and Missouri Highlands Healthcare will be hosting a Spring Severe Weather Preparedness Night tonight at Rodgers Theatre in Downtown Poplar Bluff. The event will be free and open to the public.
Starting at 5 pm, attendees will get to meet members of the SEMO Safety Network and visit with volunteers from the Poplar Bluff Severe Weather Response Team along with Today Talk KWOC’s Frankie Casteel.
Friday, April 17, 2026
MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES REPORT HAIL FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON STORMS
Numerous communities have reported receiving hail during the storm system that crossed the area on Thursday.
Hail with an estimated diameter of 2.75 inches was reported in Stoddard County around the Advance area.
In Butler County, trained spotters measured one inch hail near Poplar Bluff.
Thunderstorms also caused powerlines to be knocked down near Marble Hill.
Thursday, April 16, 2026
PBHS JUNIOR EARNS TRIP TO WASHINGTON D.C. AFTER WINNING ESSAY CONTEST
An area student will get to experience our nation’s capital after she won an essay contest.
According to school officials, Poplar Bluff High School junior Addison Hutson will join more than 100 high schoolers from across the state for the 63rd annual Missouri Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. in June.
Hutson was awarded the all-expense paid week-long trip as the result of winning an essay contest through Ozark Border Electric Cooperative earlier this month.
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
BB GUN REPORTEDLY BROUGHT ON A POPLAR BLUFF SCHOOL BUS TUESDAY MORNING
A BB gun was reportedly brought onto a school bus Tuesday morning by a student.
Poplar Bluff Superintendent Dr. Aaron Cornman say that Tuesday morning a middle school student reported that while on the bus, a schoolmate stated they had a gun, which could be felt through the backpack.
Once notified, school administration immediately secured the backpack and detained the student.
They then found a BB gun in the backpack.
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
MAN SENTENCED TO 70 YEARS IN PRISON FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL
A man has been sentenced to seven decades in prison in Northeast Arkansas.
According to Sonia Hagood, State Prosecuting Attorney for the 2nd Judicial District, a Greene County jury has found Cortez Borders guilty of ten counts of distributing, possessing, or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.
An investigation in 2023 found that Borders distributed child sexual abuse material and solicited additional images involving minors through social media. He later admitted to possessing such material on his phone.
Monday, April 13, 2026
OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULED FOR TODAY AT RENOVATED BESS ACTIVITY CENTER AT THREE RIVERS COLLEGE
Poplar Bluff residents will have the opportunity to check out the renovations to the Bess Activity Center today.
The renovated Herschel and Arrietta Bess Activity Center on the Three Rivers College Poplar Bluff Campus is holding a public Open House today from 10 a.m. to noon, and from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Guests can tour the facilities, play basketball and pickleball, enjoy a fitness class demonstration, get a bite to eat at the new and improved Rocky’s café, or play Super Smash Bros. in the Esports arena.
Friday, April 10, 2026
TWO THREE RIVERS COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYERS NAMED NJCAA ALL AMERICANS
Two basketball players for Three Rivers College have been named NJCAA All-Americans.
Sophomore Guard Matt Hampton and Freshman Guard Samyah Jordan were each named Second Team All Americans.
Hampton led the Raiders this season with 16.9 points a game, 43 steals, and 163 assists.
Jordan led the Lady Raiders with 13.2 points a game and 107 assists.
Thursday, April 9, 2026
CANDIDATES PLACED ON WRONG WARDS ON FISK BALLOTS
It has been discovered that ballots were misprinted in a Southeast Missouri town for the Tuesday municipal elections.
Butler County Clerk Donna Hillis tells KWOC News that the candidates for the Fisk Ward 1 and Ward 2 Alderperson races were placed in the opposite wards than they were supposed to be.
The Ward 1 candidates, Chris Williams, Janice Hancock, and Kristi Wilkerson were listed under Ward 2. The Ward 2 candidates, Mikayla Hardcastle, Joseph Stievenart, and Mary Dugger were listed under Ward 1.
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
ROBERTSON, HOGG, AND PRICE ELECTED TO POPLAR BLUFF SCHOOL BOARD
There will be some new faces on the Poplar Bluff R-1 Board of Education.
During the municipal elections on Tuesday, Patty Robertson, Jacob Hogg, and Mike Price were all elected to the Poplar Bluff School Board.
Voters in the Neelyville area chose Jack Stull, Jason Winder, and Marco Gavine, for the Neelyville R-4 Board of Education.
The race for the Twin Rivers R-10 school board was won by Amanda Brown, Zach Sentell, and Matt Boyles.
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
SEATS ON POPLAR BLUFF CITY COUNCIL AND MULTIPLE AREA SCHOOL BOARDS TO BE DECIDED TODAY
Voters from across Southeast Missouri will be going to the ballot box today for municipal elections.
Voters will be deciding who represents them in their city governments in multiple communities, including Poplar Bluff, Fisk, Campbell, Malden, and Piedmont.
There are also multiple competitive races for local Mayors, including in Doniphan, Bernie, Greenville, Arbyrd, and New Madrid.
Monday, April 6, 2026
BUTLER AND CARTER COUNTY ELECTION PREVIEW
Continuing our previews of this week’s Municipal Election in Southeast Missouri, we are taking a look at competitive races in Butler and Carter County.
The city of Qulin is posting a bond question asking if the city should issue its combined waterworks and sewerage system revenue bonds in a principal amount of up to Five Million Dollars for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, installing, extending, furnishing, and equipping improvements to the City’s combined waterworks and sewerage system.
In Fisk, voters will choose two of Mikayla Hardcastle, Joseph V Stievenart, and Mary M Dugger for Ward One Alderperson. For Ward Two Alderperson, two will be selected of Chris Williams, Janice Hancock, and Kristi Wilkerson.
Thursday, April 2, 2026
POPLAR BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT AWARDED 1.5 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FOR SAFE ROOM AT EUGENE FIELD
A grant will bring more safety options to residents in Poplar Bluff.
According to Poplar Bluff School Officials, over $1.5 million has been awarded to the School District to construct a tornado safe room at Eugene Field Elementary School.
The Board of Education unanimously decided last month to agree to pay 25 cents on the dollar for a local investment totaling approximately $500K in the matching grant program approved through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
MONDAY NIGHT CRASH NEAR PIEDMONT RESULTS IN ONE DEATH
A Piedmont man has died following a single vehicle crash Monday night.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the 21 year old man was driving on AA Highway in Wayne County when his vehicle ran off the left side of the roadway and overturned. Both the driver and a passenger, who were reportedly not wearing safety devices, were ejected during the crash.
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
FELONY THEFT INVESTIGATION LEADS TO CHARGES FOR DEXTER WOMAN
A Dexter woman is facing multiple charges in connection to a theft investigation in Carter County.
According to the Carter County Sheriff’s Office, Tonya Wethington has been charged with two counts of stealing $25,000 or more and two counts of stealing $750 or more.
Officials say that the investigation began after reports surfaced of discrepancies within a local association’s accounts. Evidence gathered during the multi-week probe established probable cause to believe that over $50,000 had been misappropriated.
Monday, March 30, 2026
1ST DEGREE MURDER CHARGE REQUESTED IN CONNECTION TO POPLAR BLUFF SHOOTING
Updating a story we have been following for you, officials have requested that charges, including 1st degree murder, be issued in connection to a shooting from earlier this month in Poplar Bluff.
According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, shortly before 11 pm on March 6th, officers responded to Davis Street in reference to a 911 call reporting a possibly deceased subject. At the scene, officers found 69 year old Stanley Ray, of Poplar Bluff, deceased from injuries caused by gunshots.
During the investigation, it was determined that officers needed to speak with 51 year old Leon Sokolowski due to his connection to the residence. While processing the scene, officers learned that Butler County Deputies were responding to the scene of a self-inflicted gunshot victim on US Highway 67.