HIGHWAY PATROL ENCOURAGES DRIVERS AND BOATERS TO HAVE A SAFE HOLIDAY WEEKEND
Memorial Day weekend is almost upon us and the Missouri State Highway Patrol wants the public to make safety a priority.
Colonel Eric Olson, superintendent of the Highway Patrol, tells KWOC News that every available trooper will be on the road enforcing traffic laws and assisting motorists during the long holiday weekend.
The Patrol will also assign troopers to speed saturations, DWI saturations, or hazardous motor vehicle operations in areas where they will have the greatest impact on highway safety. These scheduled operations will occur during peak travel times on today and on Monday.
Over the 2018 Memorial Day holiday weekend, 16 people died and 514 were injured in over 1,100 traffic crashes.
Motorists or boaters in need of assistance or who want to report a crime can use the Highway Patrol's Emergency Assistance number at 1-800-525-5555 or *55 on a cellular phone.
TWO ARRESTED IN BUTLER COUNTY FOR METHAMPHETAMINE
Two men have been taken into custody in Butler County for methamphetamine.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 50 year old Douglas Freeman, of Poplar Bluff, and 33 year old Michael Shannon, of Naylor, were each arrested Thursday morning on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine.
Shannon is also facing marijuana and drug paraphernalia charges.
Following their arrests, both men were held at the Butler County Jail.
ANOTHER CAMPGROUND CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER
High water levels have forced the closure of another campground in Southeast Missouri.
According to the US Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake, the lake level is over 376 feet and officials say the lake is predicted to crest at less than 377.5 feet on Saturday.
This has required the closure of the Greenville Campground and Day Use Area to ensure the safety of customers. Camping reservations through June 9th will be canceled.
High water has also caused the closure of Peoples Creek Recreation Area and Lower Campground, Snow Creek Campground, Redman, Rockwood, and Peoples Beaches, as well as several boat ramps.
For more information, contact the Management Office at (573) 222-8562.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN ARRESTED ON FELONY DRUG CHARGE IN RIPLEY COUNTY
Authorities in Ripley County have arrested an area man on a drug related felony charge.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 35 year old Michael Vickery, of Poplar Bluff, was taken into custody on a felony charge of delivery of a controlled substance – methamphetamine.
Vickery was arrested shortly before 4 am Thursday morning.
US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO HOST MUSIC IN THE PARK THIS WEEKEND
The US Army Corps of Engineers at Wappapello Lake is hosting a free and family friendly music event this weekend.
Music in the Park will be held from 3 to 7:30 pm Saturday at the Redman Creek Recreation Area.
According to the Corps of Engineers, there will be local bands performing as well as food and drink vendors.
DEXTER POLICE RESPOND TO FACEBOOK POST CONCERNING ALLEGED DOOR TO DOOR SALESMAN
Authorities in Dexter have responded to a Facebook post that is circulating.
Police officials say that the post is claiming that a man is going door to door, posing as a sales person, and trying to gain entry to people’s homes.
Officials say that the Dexter Police Department does not have any reports of this or of an incident involving a sales person going door to door.
Residents are asked to be vigilant and if someone does come to your door, don’t allow them inside. If you feel uncomfortable, call Dexter Police.
Currently the city of Dexter does not have anyone with a license going door to door to sell items.
NEW INVASIVE FISH FOUND IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
A species of invasive fish has been found in Southeast Missouri.
Fisheries management biologists with the Missouri Department of Conservation have confirmed that an angler caught a Northern snakehead from a borrow ditch within the St. Francis River levees in Dunklin County last month.
The Northern snakehead is native to eastern China and southeastern Russia. It was commonly imported to the United States before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prohibited its importation and interstate transportation in 2002.
The Northern Snakehead was brought for private fish farming in Monroe County, Arkansas in 2000, before the ban was in place, and escaped from there into Arkansas waterways.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission most recently collected a Northern snakehead from the St. Francis River drainage near Lake City, Arkansas in May of 2018.
MDC sampling efforts in the area where the angler caught this fish yielded no additional snakeheads, which means this species may not be well established in Missouri yet.
The MDC is encouraging anglers to not release a Northern snakehead alive if they catch one. Anglers are asked to report any sightings of the invasive fish to MDC’s Southeast Regional Office at (573)290-5858.
