Monday, March 30, 2026
1ST DEGREE MURDER CHARGE REQUESTED IN CONNECTION TO POPLAR BLUFF SHOOTING
Updating a story we have been following for you, officials have requested that charges, including 1st degree murder, be issued in connection to a shooting from earlier this month in Poplar Bluff.
According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, shortly before 11 pm on March 6th, officers responded to Davis Street in reference to a 911 call reporting a possibly deceased subject. At the scene, officers found 69 year old Stanley Ray, of Poplar Bluff, deceased from injuries caused by gunshots.
During the investigation, it was determined that officers needed to speak with 51 year old Leon Sokolowski due to his connection to the residence. While processing the scene, officers learned that Butler County Deputies were responding to the scene of a self-inflicted gunshot victim on US Highway 67.
Officials say that Sokolowski had shot himself in the head while being a passenger in a moving vehicle. Sokolowski survived the gunshot wound and was transported to a St. Louis hospital. The Missouri State Crime Lab has been able to confirm that the weapon used on Ray was the same weapon Sokolowski used to attempt suicide.
A probable cause affidavit has been forwarded to the Butler County Prosecuting Attorneys Office requesting charges for murder 1st degree, armed criminal action, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
MURDER CHARGE FILED AGAINST DONIPHAN MAN IN CONNECTION TO DEATH OF MAN WHO HAD BEEN MISSING SINCE 2019
A man has been charged with murder in connection to a missing man whose remains were found last year.
The remains of 53 year old Jerry Hale were found in November on private property in rural Ripley County. Hale had been missing since August of 2019.
According to Missouri Case Net, Thomas Skaggs, of Doniphan, has been charged with murder 1st degree, abandonment of a corpse, and two counts of armed criminal action, among other charges.
He is scheduled to appear in a Ripley County Courtroom Monday morning.
LADY RAIDERS ELIMINATED IN SECOND ROUND OF NJCAA TOURNAMENT
The Three Rivers College Lady Raiders have been eliminated from the NJCAA Division 1 Women’s Basketball Tournament.
After a tight back and forth battle, the 12 seed Lady Raiders were defeated by the five seed Clarendon Bulldogs 61-57 Friday in the second round of the Tournament in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Da’Naya Ross led the Lady Raiders with 16 points, followed by Samyah Jordan with 15 points and Amelia Corsaniti with 13 points.
The Lady Raiders finished the season with a 27-6 record, which also included a Region 16 championship. TRC has made the NJCAA Tournament for six straight years under head coach Alex Wiggs.
STORM SPOTTER TRAINING COURSE IN POPLAR BLUFF SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT
You have the opportunity to learn more about different weather risks and how to report them at a class scheduled for tonight in Poplar Bluff.
The National Weather Service will be hosting a Skywarn Storm Spotter Training Basic Spotter Course at 6 pm at Three Rivers College.
The class will last for approximately two and a half hours and all course material is free.
Registration is required. For more information, visit weather.gov/pah/spottertraining.
BUSINESS 67 IN POPLAR BLUFF TO BE REDUCED FOR TWO MONTHS BEGINNING TODAY
The Missouri Department of Transportation has announced an almost two month long road project that is scheduled to begin today in Poplar Bluff.
According to MoDOT, Business 67 in Butler County will be reduced to one lane with a 13-foot width restriction as construction crews perform overnight pavement repairs, milling and paving asphalt.
The work zone will be located from Route M to West Pine Street in Poplar Bluff.
Weather permitting, work will take place overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. nightly through Friday, May 29.
BRIDGE MAINTENANCE TO CAUSE DELAYS TODAY ON INTERSTATE 55
Southbound Interstate 55 in New Madrid County will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction today as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform bridge maintenance.
The work zone is located from mile marker 62.4 to mile marker 62.8.
Weather permitting, work will take place today through 3 p.m.