Tuesday, May 5, 2026
STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Another round of severe weather will be possible today in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas.
According to a hazardous weather outlook from the National Weather Service, showers and thunderstorms are forecast for today and tomorrow.
Officials say that a few strong to severe storms will be possible this afternoon and evening.
HANNAH HARPER ADVANCES TO GRAND FINAL OF AMERICAN IDOL
Hannah Harper has reached the Grand Final of American Idol.
Harper performed among the season’s Top 5 on Monday night, singing “Fever” by Peggy Lee in the first round. Harper was then joined by Idol alumni Kellie Pickler for a duet of Martina McBride’s “Broken Wing.”
At the end of the show, Harper was announced to be among the top three for this season, and will compete next week to become the next American Idol.
ONE FLOWN FROM THE SCENE OF A CRASH NEAR DEXTER, TWO OTHERS ALSO INJURED
One person was flown from the scene of a crash Sunday night near Dexter.
Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that the wreck occurred shortly after 8 pm on Stoddard County Road 413 when one vehicle crossed over the center of the roadway and struck another vehicle head on.
The driver of the second vehicle, identified as a 28 year old woman from Bloomfield, was flown to a Memphis hospital with serious injuries.
The driver of the first vehicle had moderate injuries, while a passenger in the second vehicle had minor injuries. They were each transported to area hospitals.
POPLAR BLUFF LIBRARY TO HOST FIREFIGHTER APPRECIATION DAY ON TUESDAY
The Poplar Bluff Fire Department will be celebrated during a story time event for National Firefighter Appreciation Day.
The event is scheduled for 10:30 am and 5:30 pm on Tuesday at the Poplar Bluff Library’s main branch.
Attendees will get a goodie bag, have an opportunity to make a thank you card for firefighters, and see a fire truck up close. There will also be a story time with local heroes.
POPLAR BLUFF TCC STUDENT WINS SKILLSUSA MISSOURI CONTEST
A Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center student has won a statewide contest and will now be featured at a national conference.
The first-place T-shirt design of computer graphic arts design student Amelia Hampton was chosen by membership to be worn for the Leadership and Skills Conference held last week at the State Technical College of Missouri in Linn.
Hampton created her winning design for the secondary brand design category to highlight the outdoors Missouri has to offer. The graphics were limited to four colors, plus the shirt itself.
Amelia's original work, which uses the water texture and color to incorporate the year, will also be featured on the high school trading pin at the national conference in June in Atlanta.
Also qualifying for SkillsUSA Nationals are Nicholas Batrano and Cody Grobe, who earned gold in robotics and automation technology, and Abby Alexander, earning gold in esthetics.
Avery Bohrer won a silver medal in cosmetology technology information, along with a bronze in nail care. Also winning bronze medals were Mason Magill in automotive refinishing technology, Andrew Mahurin in culinary arts, and Kaden McCain in screen printing technology.
POPLAR BLUFF JROTC ACADEMIC TEAM QUALIFIES FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
A Poplar Bluff academic team has qualified to participate in a national championship.
According to School Officials, the Poplar Bluff High School JROTC Battalion has qualified for the 2026 Leadership and Academic Bowl Championship for the first time in the 29-year history of the program.
The academic team—comprised of Ayema Ahsan, Levi Ferguson, Jackson Kennedy and Hattie Scobey, with Victoria Pennell serving as alternate—will compete alongside approximately 100 high schools in June at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.