Tuesday, December 16, 2025

FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS SET FOR 38TH ANNUAL POPLAR BLUFF SHOWDOWN

The first round matchups have been set for the 38th Annual Poplar Bluff Showdown.

The three day tournament will start on Monday, December 29th at Poplar Bluff High School.

The first round will see Memphis Central take on Maumelle at 4 pm, followed by First Assembly Christian vs. Urbana at 5:30 pm, Poplar Bluff hosting Kirby at 7 pm, and the day will finish with Link Academy vs. Jonesboro at 8:30 pm.

Every game of the 38th Annual Poplar Bluff Showdown will be broadcast live on the KWOC Facebook Page and River Radio PB Youtube page.

TWO PEOPLE INJURED IN CRASH SOUTH OF POPLAR BLUFF

Two people were injured in a crash Friday night near Poplar Bluff.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred shortly before 10 pm, half a mile south of Poplar Bluff, when a vehicle ran off the left side of South Westwood Boulevard, overturned, and struck a pole.

A passenger in the vehicle, identified as a 32 year old woman from Poplar Bluff, suffered serious injuries in the crash. The driver, a 32 year old Poplar Bluff man, received minor injuries.

Both were transported to a Poplar Bluff hospital.

MDC PROPOSES REMOVAL OF CWD MANAGEMENT ZONE

The Missouri Department of Conservation has announced possible changes to simplify regulations for hunters and help keep chronic wasting disease infection rates low.

Officials say that Missouri’s CWD Management Zone consists of counties with confirmed cases of CWD and those within 10 miles of a confirmed detection. The size of the Management Zone has increased over time from the original six counties in 2012 to 82 counties in 2025. Growth in the Zone has led to increased regulatory complexity between counties.

According to MDC, eliminating the CWD Management Zone will simplify related regulations to minimize the impacts of CWD on Missouri’s deer herd. This change would allow mandatory CWD sampling to be conducted in selected counties to detect the disease as early as possible where it exists.

Selected counties would be listed in the annual MDC Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet that is available starting in July.

Placing feed and minerals for deer would continue to be prohibited in counties with confirmed cases of CWD and those within 10 miles of a CWD detection.

MDC is inviting the public to comment on these proposed regulation changes through February 14th at mdc.mo.gov.

OVER 7,000 GRAMS OF METH SEIZED THIS YEAR IN DUNKLIN COUNTY

Dunklin County Sheriff Nick Darter is commending the results of SEMO Drug Task Force in fighting illegal drugs in the county.

Darter says that over the past 11 months, an assigned Dunklin County deputy, working alongside fellow Task Force officers, has conducted extensive investigations to combat illegal drug activity and protect public safety.

Darter added that these efforts have led to the disruption of major narcotics operations and the removal of dangerous drugs from the community, including over 7,000 grams of methamphetamine and over 1,000 grams of marijuana being seized.

The operations have also resulted in 12 arrests for federal indictments.

NEW TOOL AVAILABLE IN BUTLER COUNTY TO HELP COMBAT NOTARY FRAUD

A new tool is available in Butler County to help prevent notary fraud.

According to Butler County Recorder Debby Lundstrum, the Notary Fraud Alert program is a free, easy-to-use service that allows notaries to monitor activity under their name and quickly detect signs of misuse.

Once enrolled, notaries can choose to receive daily, weekly, or monthly alerts whenever a document is recorded in Butler County that includes their name as the notary. Each alert includes the document number, type, and parties involved, making it easy to identify suspicious filings at a glance.

Lundstrum says the service is offered at no cost and is part of her office’s ongoing commitment to supporting local notaries while strengthening trust in the public recordkeeping systems.

For more information, contact the Butler County Recorder of Deeds office.

DITCH REPAIR PROJECT SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEK NEAR DEXTER

Route 114 in Stoddard County will be reduced beginning today so Missouri Department of Transportation crews can perform ditch repairs.

The work zone is located from McCormick Street to County Road 725 near Dexter.

Weather permitting, work will take place from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily through Friday.