Monday, October 19, 2026

MARLEY SPAIN ELECTED 2026 HOMECOMING QUEEN FOR POPLAR BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL

Marley Spain has been elected as the new Poplar Bluff Homecoming Queen.

Spain was announced as the 2026 Poplar Bluff Homecoming Queen Friday night before the Mules football team took the field to challenge the Festus Tigers.

She was escorted by Alex Bercide.

Retiring Poplar Bluff Homecoming Queen Wren Cotrell was at the ceremony to pass the crown on to her successor.

The four other members of the 2026 Poplar Bluff Homecoming Court were Carly Cisne who was escorted by Colt Clifford, Ireland Byrne who was escorted by Karson Dicken, Bailey Henson who was escorted by Ace Jones, and Kyleigh Edmundson who was escorted by Xzavir Jones.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN DEAD AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A TRAIN

A man is dead after being struck by a train over the weekend in Poplar Bluff.

Butler County Coroner Jim Akers tells KWOC News that 53 year old Eric Gowen, of Poplar Bluff, was struck near the railroad crossing bridge in the area of Riverview and Bartlett Streets at around 11 am on Saturday.

An investigation into the incident is underway and being conducted by the Butler County Coroner’s Office, Poplar Bluff Police Department, Poplar Bluff Fire Department and Union Pacific Railroad.

Akers added that this is the third incident this year involving a train and a pedestrian. He is reminding the public to stay off railroad tracks and not to trespass on railroad property.

MAN SHOT AND KILLED BY DEPUTY FOLLOWING DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE IN BUTLER COUNTY

An investigation is underway after a man was shot and killed by a Butler County Sheriff's Deputy Sunday afternoon in western Butler County.

Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs tells KWOC News that deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in the Stringtown area shortly after 3 pm Sunday afternoon.

According to Sheriff Dobbs, the first responding deputy was confronted by a male subject armed with a rifle.

The deputy opened fire after the man allegedly refused to stop pointing the weapon at him. The man was struck by gunfire and died as a result of his injuries.

Sheriff Dobbs has requested assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control to conduct an independent investigation into the shooting.

ENTRIES NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR RIVER RADIO LIGHTED CHRISTMAS PARADE

Parade lights will be shining bright in Downtown Poplar Bluff this December for the 2026 River Radio Lighted Christmas Parade.

Entries are now being accepted for the parade, which is scheduled for 6 pm on Friday, December 4th. A link to the entry form is available on our Facebook page.

The parade route this year will run from Highway 142 at McDonalds through downtown Poplar Bluff before looping back and ending at the Black River Coliseum.

For more information, call 573-785-0881.

MISSING PERSON FOUND DEAD IN WAYNE COUNTY

A missing person was found dead Friday in Wayne County.

According to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, crews were conducting a missing person investigation on Friday in a wooded area near Des Arc when the subject was found deceased.

The identity of the subject has not been released and Wayne County Sheriff Kyle Shearrer says that no foul play is suspected at this time.

EARLY VOTING BEGINS TODAY IN ARKANSAS

Early voting will begin today for the upcoming general election in parts of our listening area.

According to the Clay County Clerk’s office, early voting in Arkansas starts today.

You can find more information by contacting your local election authority.

No excuse absentee voting begins tomorrow for Missouri.

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR THE POPLAR BLUFF ADULT WOMEN AND COED VOLLEYBALL

Registration is now open for adult women’s and coed volleyball in Poplar Bluff.

According to the Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Department, registration will be available through October 25th and the registration cost is $300 per team.

Officials say that league play is scheduled to begin in November.

To register, visit pbparks.recdesk.com.

DAVINE CONOVER ANNOUNCED AS RECIPIENT OF THREE RIVERS COLLEGE ALUMNI STAR AWARD

The recipient of the Three Rivers College Alumni Star Award has been announced.

Davine Conover has been named this year’s Three Rivers College Alumni Star. She will be honored at a reception from 4 to 6 p.m. on November 2nd at the Westwood Center in Poplar Bluff. The Alumni Star award presentation will be at 5 p.m.

The Alumni Star Award was created to showcase those who got their start at TRC. Recipients are chosen based on their civic and professional involvement, and their lasting connection to TRC.

Conover collaborated with fellow community volunteers and local leaders on projects including the development of the Downtown Dog Park and the coordination of Poplar Bluff Cruise-In Nights.

Working with local high schools, she also helped bring Reality Fairs to students, teaching financial literacy and demonstrating the importance of budgeting and making informed financial decisions.

She is also an active member of Memorial Baptist Church, where she serves through its women’s and children’s ministries along with volunteering at several local non-profits.

PARAGOULD MAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL INVESTIGATION

Authorities in Northeast Arkansas have arrested an area man in connection to an investigation into child sexual abuse material.

According to a felony affidavit, last month the Paragould Police Department received a CyberTipline Report from the Arkansas State Police containing information about an account sharing a video containing child sexual abuse material.

The email address, username, and IP address returned to the potential defendant, 35 year old Jeremy Harlan, of Paragould.

According to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Harlan was booked into the Greene County Jail Thursday on multiple charges, including distributing, possessing, or viewing of matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.

He was held on a $500,000 bond.

FOUR NEW STATE TROOPERS WILL REPORT TO SOUTHEAST MISSOURI NEXT MONTH

Four new State Troopers have been assigned to Southeast Missouri.

Colonel Michael Turner, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, tells KWOC News that a total of 33 troopers graduated from the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy on Friday, October 16th.

Four of the graduates are coming to Southeast Missouri.

Trooper Ryan Brown, of Poplar Bluff, has been assigned to New Madrid and Pemiscot counties.

Trooper Tyler Davis, of Kaufman, Texas, will be coming to Butler and Ripley Counties.

Trooper Tristan Malone, of Kennett, will report to Cape Girardeau and Bollinger county.

Trooper Seth Davidson, Grovespring, has been assigned to Carter and Reynolds Counties.

In addition, Troopers Gabriel L’Heureux and Evan Tooke, both of Piedmont, were assigned to other parts of the state.

The new troopers will report to duty on November 2nd.