Monday, January 26, 2026
WINTER STORM SYSTEM DROPS MULTIPLE INCHES OF SNOW AND OTHER WINTER WEATHER IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Snow and sleet blanketed Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas over the weekend.
According to the National Weather Service, most of our listening area saw multiple inches of snowfall from Friday night through Sunday afternoon.
The southern part of our listening area also reported sleet and slight freezing rain as well.
The weather caused power outages as well as slippery roadways throughout the region.
DANGEROUSLY COLD TEMPERATURES TO CONTINUE THROUGH THIS WEEK
Even though the winter storm has passed through the area, temperatures are expected to remain below freezing for most of this week.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, overnight lows are forecast to remain in the mid to low single digits throughout the next few days in Poplar Bluff.
Wind chill values will also get close to zero or into the negatives overnight most days this week as well.
With temperatures that low, area organizations are opening their doors to serve as warming centers.
In Butler County, the Bread Shed will be acting as an overnight warming center from 7 pm to 7 am when the temperatures get below 20 degrees.
The Butler County Health Department and Poplar Bluff Library will serve as warming centers during the daytime hours when those locations are open.
The United Gospel Rescue Mission in Poplar Bluff is also open at night for men who need a place to stay during the cold weather.
To find warming centers in your area, go to Health.Mo.Gov/warmingcenters.
PEDESTRIAN DIES AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A VEHICLE SOUTH OF POPLAR BLUFF
A Portageville man has died after being struck by a vehicle early Monday morning in Butler County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the incident occurred shortly after midnight when a vehicle began backing up and struck a 57 year old man who was outside of his vehicle.
The crash was located on Highway 53, three miles south of Poplar Bluff.
The man was transported to a Poplar Bluff hospital where he was pronounced dead later Monday morning.
POPLAR BLUFF’S DR. VALERIE IVY NAMED MISSOURI HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR
A Poplar Bluff school principal has been recognized as a Missouri Principal of the Year.
Poplar Bluff High School’s Dr. Valerie Ivy was named the 2026 Dr. Jim L. King High School Principal of the Year.
The award was announced by officials of the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals at PB Connect, an internal professional development workshop Ivy helped found.
As part of her nomination submission, Ivy is credited by colleagues, a parent representative, and a student for helping expand course offerings, promoting inclusivity, maintaining high visibility, involving stakeholders in key decision-making, and enhancing school safety both physically and emotionally.
Ivy is in her ninth year serving as an administrator at her alma mater, first as assistant principal, and then head principal beginning in 2022, the year she earned her doctorate in education leadership from William Woods University in Fulton. Her tenure at Poplar Bluff Schools started in 2004, teaching at the former 5th and 6th Grade Center before she accepted a promotion a decade later to serve district-wide as instructional technology facilitator.
Upon being formally recognized during the MoASSP conference in March, Ivy will be honored in Washington, D.C., among 50 top principals across the country – only one of whom will go on to be named the national high school Principal of the Year.
MOTORISTS URGED TO USE CAUTION WITH MANY ROADS STILL COVERED IN SNOW
Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas residents are being advised to use caution if they have to drive today.
Many roads in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas remain covered from the winter storms that crossed the area over the weekend.
If you must travel, make sure to have a full tank of gas, extra blankets and gloves, as well as provisions like water and snacks in the event of an emergency. Keep your cellphone charged, but do not use it while driving.
While driving, remember to buckle up, give yourself plenty of extra time to get to your destination, and remember to give snowplows room to work. Don’t tailgate or attempt to pass them. In the event of a crash, stay buckled inside your vehicle until help arrives.
You can find road conditions online by using MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map at traveler.modot.org, or through MoDOT’s free smartphone app, available for iPhone and Android phones. In Arkansas, you can find road conditions at IDriveArkansas.com.
ALMOST 100 EMPLOYEES TO BE AFFECTED BY TEMPORARY FURLOUGH AT KENNETT MANUFACTURING BUSINESS
Almost 100 employees will be affected by a temporary furlough at a manufacturing business in Southeast Missouri.
According to a WARN Act notification, Greenbrier has announced that they will be executing temporary furloughs at its Kennett location beginning on or about March 24th.
94 employees will be affected and the company said that this action is due to current production requirements and business conditions beyond their control.
The furlough is expected to last less than six months and affected employees may be furloughed in phases on or after March 24th.