DAMAGE REPORTED IN MULTIPLE AREAS FOLLOWING TUESDAY STORMS
Severe thunderstorms crossed Butler County and most of Southeast Missouri on Tuesday, causing multiple reports of damage.
Damage was reported in the Legacy Estates area of Poplar Bluff where fences were blown down, playground equipment was demolished, and some roof shingles were blown off.
There was also a report of a garage door being blown in near Home Depot.
Heavy rains in northern Butler County also caused a flood advisory to be in effect for a period of time Tuesday afternoon due to flooded roads.
In Van Buren, straight line winds destroyed the screen and marquee at 21 Drive-In which will force the cancellation of the rest of the drive in season.
Multiple power outages were also reported throughout Southeast Missouri Tuesday afternoon and evening.
14 MORE SCHOOLS STARTING THE YEAR TODAY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI, INCLUDING POPLAR BLUFF R-1
Students in at least 14 more Southeast Missouri school districts will be starting their classes today as Missouri school opening week continues.
Poplar Bluff R-1 students will be starting their school year today, as will Dexter, Advance, Charleston, and Bernie. In Northeast Arkansas, Arkansas State University will begin its fall semester today.
School opening week will wrap up for the most part on Thursday, as Naylor, Zalma, Ripley County R-3, and Ripley County R-4 all welcome back students.
August 20
Poplar Bluff R-1
Dexter R-11
Bernie R-13
Van Buren R-1
Oran R-3
Sikeston R-6
Bloomfield R-14
Advance R-4
Alton R-4
South Iron County R-1
Scott County R-4
Charleston R-1
Puxico R-8
Arkansas State University
CATHERINE HANAWAY TO BECOME MISSOURI’S FIRST FEMALE ATTORNEY GENERAL
A woman will be serving as Missouri Attorney General for the first time in State history.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe announced on Tuesday that Catherine Hanaway will assume the role on September 8th.
Hanaway currently serves as Partner at Husch Blackwell in St. Louis. Before leading the firm, she served as Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives, the only woman to ever hold this role.
Hanaway also previously served as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Eastern District of Missouri, U.S. Attorney, where she supervised more than 4,000 criminal, affirmative and defensive civil cases and personally tried cases to jury verdicts. She also supervised and assisted in the development of cutting-edge theories of criminal prosecution.
Hanaway is taking over for Andrew Bailey who has been appointed as the Co-Deputy Director of the FBI.
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE HEARTLAND TO RECEIVE $30,000 GRANT
A Poplar Bluff organization will be sharing part of a grant from the Taco Bell Foundation.
The Foundation is awarding $28 million dollars to nearly 500 non profit organizations across the nation, with $250,000 of that money going to seven organizations in Missouri.
Teryl Harrison with the Boys and Girls Club of the Heartland, says that $30,000 will be coming to the Boys and Girls Club in Poplar Bluff, and the funds will go to Workforce Ready Development, which will help pay for TRC Classes for students.
Harrison added that additional grant money remaining will also go to the Pathways to Success program.
This grant was funded by customers who participate in the Taco Bell Foundation’s Round Up program by rounding up their order total to the nearest dollar, with the change going directly back into and supporting community youth.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS SCHOOL EMPLOYEE ARRESTED ON VIDEO VOYEURISM
A school employee in Northeast Arkansas has been taken into custody on a video voyeurism charge.
According to the Paragould Police Department, 24 year old Dakota Hudson, of Paragould, is accused of inappropriately recording children at a local school without their knowledge.
Hudson allegedly made incriminating statements during an interview.
He is being held in the Greene County Jail on two counts of felony video voyeurism.
PAVEMENT REPAIR PROJECT SCHEDULED TO BEGIN TODAY IN STODDARD COUNTY
Route 25 in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane beginning today as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs.
The section of roadway being reduced is located from Route Y to Route AA near Bloomfield.
Weather permitting, work will take place from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. both today and tomorrow.
