Wednesday March 3, 2021
MISSOURI STATEWIDE TORNADO DRILL CAUSES CONFUSION AFTER TEXT ALERT GOES OUT
An inadvertent text alert caused confusion during the Missouri Statewide Tornado Drill yesterday.
During the drill, an alert was sent to some people’s phones that said a Tornado Warning was in their area and they should take shelter. The alert did not mention that it was part of a drill.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, there were no active tornado warnings and the Wireless Emergency Alert was unintentionally activated.
The National Weather Service in St. Louis posted on Twitter that new code implemented last week for their software that sends warnings to the Wireless Emergency Alert system mistakenly allowed the test to go out over WEA as an actual warning.
The NWS went on to say that the software was fixed immediately and apologized for any confusion caused.
CAMPBELL BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM ADVANCES TO STATE QUARTERFINAL
The Campbell Boys Basketball team is three wins away from a state championship.
The Camels defeated Alton last night 52 to 50 in the Class 2 state Sectional to advance to the State Quarterfinals. They will take on Valle Catholic on Friday.
The Poplar Bluff boys basketball team will play Jackson for a district championship on Thursday after the Mules defeated Seckman last night 67 to 58.
State sectional play will continue tonight for multiple girls’ teams in Southeast Missouri. In Class 2, Holcomb will travel to Ellington and Oran will take on Viburnum. In Class 3, Woodland will host Twin Rivers in a game you can listen to live on Today’s Talk KWOC 93.3 FM and 930 AM.
VA MEDICAL CENTER BEGINS WEEKLY VACCINATION CLINICS
The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center has begun weekly Covid-19 Vaccination Clinics.
According to officials, large first dose COVID-19 Vaccination clinics will be held by appointment only every Tuesday from 9 am to 3:15 pm at the National Guard armory in Poplar Bluff.
Beginning Wednesday, March 24th, second dose clinics will also be held at the armory. Veterans 65 and up or those who are considered high risk may call 573-686-4151, and push “2” to schedule an appointment.
Officials with the Carter County Health Center have announced that scheduling is now open for a vaccination event to be held on March 9th. You can register by going to MoStopsCovid.com and entering the event code 48796.
PRESCRIBED FIRES TO RESUME THIS WEEK IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Officials are planning to start prescribed burns over the next week in Southeast Missouri.
The burns will be conducted by the Mark Twain National Forest, Poplar Bluff and Eleven Point Ranger Districts.
According to Zone Fuels Technician Mark Howe, smoke can be expected Thursday through Saturday in the Caneridge area, between Route A and Highway 67.
On Sunday and Monday of next week, operations will move to Shannon County, east of Winona and Carter County, north of Fremont.
MISSISSIPPI MAN ARRESTED FOR COCAINE IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Authorities in Southeast Missouri have arrested a Mississippi man on a cocaine charge.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 41 year old Taveras Polk, of New Albany, Mississippi, was taken into custody Monday night on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance – cocaine.
Officials say that Polk also had a felony warrant out of Mississippi for sale of cocaine.
MULTIPLE BLOOD DRIVES SCHEDULED OVER THE NEXT WEEK IN BUTLER COUNTY
Multiple blood drives have been scheduled over the next week in Butler County.
Extreme winter weather last month forced the cancellation of hundreds of Red Cross blood drives in 30 states and caused more than 15,000 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.
The American Red Cross is urging healthy individuals, especially those with type O blood, to give now to ensure blood products are available for patient emergencies when help can’t wait.
A Blood Drive will be held on Thursday from 1:30 to 5:30 pm at Temple Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, on Friday from 8 am to 2 pm at Poplar Bluff High School, and on March 9th from 1 to 6 pm at the Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce.