Wednesday, January 21, 2026
SNOW AND BITTER COLD POSSIBLE THIS WEEKEND
Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas are bracing for possibly our first major winter weather event of the year this weekend.
According to a hazardous weather outlook from the National Weather Service in Paducah, a winter storm is becoming more likely Friday night through Sunday.
Officials say that confidence is high in this being a snow event rather than mixed precipitation and at least minor winter weather impacts are very likely.
Also this weekend, overnight lows are expected to be in the single digits both Saturday and Sunday, with wind chill values getting below zero in Poplar Bluff.
FATAL CRASH REPORTED IN CARTER COUNTY
One person has died following a car crash Tuesday in Carter County.
Carter County Coroner Joe Chapman tells KWOC News that the crash occurred Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of Highways B and K, east of Grandin.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a vehicle failed to yield at a stop sign and struck another vehicle.
The driver of the first vehicle, identified as a 39 year old Ellsinore man, was ejected during the wreck and pronounced dead at the scene.
No injuries were listed for the occupants of the second vehicle.
BUTLER COUNTY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL
A Butler County man is facing at least a decade in prison after being found in possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 59 year old Leslie Clark pleaded guilty Monday to one count of possession of child pornography.
A Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children had alerted investigators that Clark had uploaded the offending material via an app. When confronted by a probation officer, Clark handed over his phone, which contained video clips of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
In 2017, Clark pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release.
Clark is scheduled to be sentenced on April 20th. The new charge carries a penalty of at least 10 years in prison, due to his prior conviction, with a maximum of 20 years.
THREE DEAD FOLLOWING HOUSE FIRE IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Multiple people have died following a residential fire in Southeast Missouri
According to the Shannon County Sheriff’s Department, the fire occurred at approximately 6:30 am Monday morning at a home in Eminence.
Officials say that three people were killed in the fire. Their identities are not being released at this time.
A cause for the fire is inconclusive at this time and an investigation is being conducted by the Missouri State Fire Marshall’s office.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN FLOWN TO MEMPHIS HOSPITAL AFTER CRASH
A Poplar Bluff man was transported to a regional hospital earlier this week following a crash in New Madrid County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 21 year old man was driving on Interstate 55 early Monday morning when his vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a stationary vehicle.
The driver suffered serious injuries and was flown to a Memphis hospital.
The New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department is also reporting that a deputy was parked behind a disabled vehicle early Monday morning when the deputy’s vehicle was struck by a vehicle.
The deputy received minor injuries and was treated at an area hospital.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol has confirmed that these two reports were for the same crash.
MISSOURI DEER HARVEST NUMBERS UP IN 2025
Deer harvest numbers were up last year in Missouri.
According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri's 2025-2026 deer-hunting season ended January 15th with a preliminary total deer harvest for the season of 301,954.
Of the deer harvested, 145,222 were antlered bucks, 25,129 were button bucks, and 131,603 were does.
State officials say that the harvest total was slightly above the five-year average and the sixth time the harvest total has exceeded 300,000 deer.
Hunters harvested 275,656 deer during the 2024-2025 deer season.