Monday, March 23, 2026

ANNUAL EARTHQUAKE SUMMIT TO BE HELD TUESDAY IN BUTLER COUNTY

Earthquake experts will be meeting this week in Poplar Bluff.

The 2026 Annual Missouri Earthquake Summit will be held from 8 am to 4:30 pm on Tuesday at the Black River Coliseum.

During the summit, experts from across the country lead sessions focused on best practices in earthquake planning and response, transportation strategies, hospital and health services response, communication techniques, utility impacts, available resources for schools and local officials, and more.

For more information, visit the Missouri State Emergency Management Website at SEMA.dps.mo.gov.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS MAN DIES FOLLOWING DOMESTIC ABUSE INCIDENT

Updating a story we have been following for you, an elderly Knobel man has died after allegedly being assaulted by his son.

According to Clay County Sheriff Ronnie Cole, on Friday, they were informed that 91 year old Joe E. Dodd had passed away. Dodd had been hospitalized since Sunday, March 15 from injuries he suffered in a domestic abuse incident at his residence.

The victim had told medical personnel and deputies that his son, 71 year old Joe Ray Dodd, beat him up.

Deputies took Joe Ray Dodd into custody and transported him to the Clay County Detention Center, where he was booked on a charge of domestic battery 1st Degree. Sheriff Cole says that the Sheriff’s Department is conferring with the Prosecutor’s Office to amend the charges from domestic battery to first degree murder.

Joe Ray Dodd is being held on a $500,000 bond.

RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES REPORTED OVER THE WEEKEND IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

Less than a week after we had freezing temperatures in Southeast Missouri, we had a quick taste of summer.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, temperatures reached 95 degrees on Saturday in Van Buren. Officials say this data is considered preliminary, but if verified it would break the record for the warmest March temperature on record in the NWS Paducah 58 county forecast area.

In Poplar Bluff, temperatures reached 86 degrees, shattering the previous record high for March 21st in the city of 80 degrees, which was set in 1894 and 1918.

MISSOURI HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ENCOURAGED TO ENTER 2026 CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION

Entries are being accepted for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition.

Congressman Jason Smith’s office says that a panel of judges will review the submissions and select the top entries to be recognized as part of this year’s competition. From those entries, the overall winner will be chosen and will have their artwork displayed for one year in the United States Capitol.

The winning student will also receive two airline tickets to Washington, D.C. The top ten pieces will be formally recognized for their outstanding creativity and artistic achievement.

The Congressional Art Competition is open to any high school student in Missouri’s 8th Congressional District, including students enrolled in public, private, or home school. The deadline to submit artwork digitally is April 7. For submissions or additional information, students may contact Congressman Smith’s office.

LONG TERM ROAD PROJECT UNDERWAY IN STODDARD COUNTY

Route BB in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane with a 10-foot width restriction through early November as construction crews perform barrier wall modifications and overlay the roadway. 

According to MoDOT, the section of Route BB being reduced is located from Route C near Advance to Route M near Aquilla.

Officials say that work will begin with improvements to the bridge barriers. During this work, a temporary traffic light will guide motorists through the work zone. As the overlay is completed, a flagger will stop traffic until the pilot car is ready to lead vehicles through the work zone.

Work is scheduled to be completed by Sunday, November 1st. While work is underway, drivers should anticipate short, intermittent lane reductions.

ROAD PROJECT SCHEDULED FOR TODAY IN GIDEON

Route 162 in New Madrid County will be reduced to one lane early this week so Missouri Department of Transportation crews can perform shoulder work.  

The work zone will be located from Route B to Route 153 in Gideon.  

Weather permitting, work will take place from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. both today and tomorrow.