Monday, December 29, 2025
38TH ANNUAL POPLAR BLUFF SHOWDOWN TIPS OFF TODAY
The 38th Annual Poplar Bluff Showdown will tip off this afternoon 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.
DEADLINE APPROACHING TO PAY YOUR PROPERTY TAX
The new year is approaching fast, which means that it is time to pay your personal property tax.
Butler County Collector Emily Parks tells KWOC News that the Collector’s office will be open on weekdays from 8 am to 4 pm through the end of the year.
After hours, residents can also pay at the drop box on the east side of the Butler County Courthouse as well as at the Poplar Bluff Police Station.
You can also pay your property tax online at ButlerCountyMO.com.
Parks says that interest and penalties are added to the amount due at the beginning of each month for anyone who misses the December 31st deadline.
If you are paying by mail, it must be postmarked by December 31 to avoid penalties. Parks says that the best way to ensure that is the case is to take your mail inside your local post office and ask the clerk to hand-stamp your envelope. If you drop it in the mailbox, it does not guarantee that it will be postmarked in time.
BUTLER COUNTY ROAD TO BE CLOSED TODAY FOR CULVERT REPLACEMENT
Route W in Butler County will be closed today so crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation can replace a culvert under the roadway.
The section of roadway being closed is located between County Road 542 and Route O near Poplar Bluff. While work takes place, the road will be open to local traffic only.
Work is scheduled to take place today through 3 p.m.
CHRISTMAS DAY MOTORCYCLE CRASH CLAIMS LIFE OF POPLAR BLUFF MAN
A Poplar Bluff man was killed in a motorcycle crash on Christmas day.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at around 5 pm Thursday evening on Highway T, seven miles east of Poplar Bluff, when a vehicle driven by a 75 year old male pulled into the path of the motorcycle.
Butler County Coroner Jim Akers tells KWOC News that the driver of the motorcycle has been identified as 36 year old Aron Griffin, of Poplar Bluff.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
FRIDAY NIGHT HOMICIDE BELIEVED TO BE LINKED TO OTHER INCIDENTS IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
A homicide from late Friday night in Charleston is believed to be connected to other recent incidents in the area.
Charleston Department of Public Safety Director Robert Hearnes tells KWOC News that they received several calls of gun shots in the area of South Locust and South Green Streets at around 10:30 Friday night.
At the scene, officers found a vehicle that had crashed into a fence. In the vehicle, officers found a deceased male, who was later identified as 21 year old Tristen Mackins, of Mounds, Illinois.
Hearnes says that the initial investigation indicates that the vehicle was eastbound on West Cypress Street, and one or more suspects began shooting at the vehicle as it drove by.
He added that the homicide is believed to be related to a homicide on December 17th and an incident where a house was shot numerous times early Friday morning.
Anyone with information concerning the incidents is asked to contact DPS at 573-683-3737.
MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED IN WEEKEND STODDARD COUNTY CRASH
A man was transported to an area hospital on Saturday following a single vehicle crash in Stoddard County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the 26 year old Jackson man was driving on Missouri Highway 25 when the vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway, overturned, and came to rest in the river.
The driver, who was reportedly not wearing a safety device, was ejected during the crash.
He was transported to a Cape Girardeau hospital with serious injuries.