Thursday, December 18, 2025

LADY ROYALS CHRISTMAS CLASSIC TO BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON

16 women’s basketball teams will be descending on Broseley beginning today for the Annual Lady Royals Christmas Classic.

The 28th annual tournament starts this afternoon at Twin Rivers High School and is scheduled to run through December 23rd.

There are four first round matchups set for today including Kennett vs. Hayti at 4:30 pm, New Madrid vs. Naylor at 5:45, Portageville vs. Piggott at 7 pm, and Twin Rivers vs. Campbell at 8:15 pm.

Today’s Talk KWOC will be live streaming video coverage of every game from the tournament on the River Radio PB Youtube page and the KWOC Facebook Page.

UNITED GOSPEL RESCUE MISSION TO PROVIDE CHRISTMAS MEALS

Preparations are underway for the United Gospel Rescue Mission’s Christmas Meal.

The Rescue Mission in Poplar Bluff will be providing meals on Thursday, December 25th and is asking for support from the community.

Officials say that they need volunteers to help prepare meals from 9 am to noon in the days leading up to the event. On Christmas Day, the Rescue Mission will also need assistance to prepare, serve, and deliver the meals.

If you would like more information, want to volunteer, or would like to donate a dessert, call 573-785-4683.

AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING HOMICIDE IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

Authorities in Southeast Missouri are investigating a homicide.

According to Charleston Department of Public Safety Director Robert Hearnes, at around 1 am Wednesday morning, reports came in of gun shots in the 300 block of Oliver Street and that someone had been shot.

At the scene, officers found a male with a gunshot wound. The subject, identified as 29 year old Rontavious Clark, of Charleston, was transported from the scene by ambulances, but later died.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to call the Charleston Department of Public Safety at 573-683-3737.

DATES SET FOR NEXT YEAR’S HUNTING SEASONS IN MISSOURI

The Missouri Department of Conservation has set the dates for the 2026 turkey and deer hunting seasons.

The regular spring season for turkeys will be April 20th to May 10th and the fall firearms season will be October 1st to October 31st.

For deer, the November firearms portion will run from November 14th to 24th. The antlerless portions will be held from October 9th to 11th and December 5th to December 13th.

Additional 2026 hunting dates are available online at mdc.mo.gov.

FORMER STATE TROOPER PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGALLY SEARCHING WOMEN’S PHONES TO FIND NUDE PICTURES

A former state trooper will be sentenced in March after admitting to searching women’s cell phones during traffic stops to find nude pictures.

According to the United States Attorney's Office, 40 year old David McKnight has pleaded guilty to nine counts of deprivation of rights under color of law.

He admitted to unlawfully searching and seizing photographs from the cell phones of seven women and unlawfully searching the phones of two more women from September of 2023 to July of 2024, while on duty, in uniform, and traveling in a marked Missouri State Highway Patrol vehicle.

McKnight searched their phones without a warrant or probable cause to find nude images of the victims or their loved ones and then used his own cell phone to take photographs of some of the images he found.

After two victims became suspicious of his actions, they reported him to the MSHP. Forensic analysis revealed that McKnight had searched through their phones going into folders that contained nude photographs of them. Subsequent investigation revealed evidence of the other victims.

His sentencing is scheduled for March 24th.

DRAINAGE WORK SCHEDULED TO BEGIN TODAY IN RISCO AREA

Route 62 in New Madrid County will be reduced through the end of the year as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform drainage work. 

Officials say the work zone is located from County Road 527 to County Road 529 near Risco.

Weather permitting, work will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily through Friday, January 2.