Thursday August 20, 2026
POPLAR BLUFF WOMAN SENTENCED ON FELONY GUN CHARGES
A southeast Missouri woman has been sentenced to federal prison after being caught with a firearm following a methamphetamine investigation.
Officials with the United States Attorney's Office tell KWOC News that 50 year old Dorothy Neeley, of Poplar Bluff, was sentenced Wednesday to serve 40 months in prison for one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to her plea agreement, the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force and the Butler County Sheriff’s Department searched Neeley’s home on December 3rd, 2025, after she had recently sold a small amount of methamphetamine to someone working with the Task Force.
Neeley was arrested on an unrelated warrant and turned over about five grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force and the Butler County Sheriff’s Department.
GRAND OPENING TODAY FOR ROBERT’S ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND AT MCLANE PARK IN POPLAR BLUFF
A grand opening celebration will be held this afternoon for Robert’s Adventure Playground at McLane Park in Poplar Bluff.
The event is scheduled for 5:30 this afternoon at Robert’s Adventure Playground.
The playground was created as a place where children of all abilities can play, grow, and belong.
Community members are invited to come out and celebrate the opening of the new playground.
Following the celebration, treats will be available, including lemonade, dirty sodas, and rolled ice cream.
OPEN HOUSES TO BE HELD TODAY IN THE TWIN RIVERS SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Twin Rivers School District will be holding multiple open houses today.
According to school officials, the back to school open houses have been scheduled for 5 to 6:30 pm this afternoon at both the Fisk and Qulin campuses.
Families will get to meet their children’s teachers and tour classrooms during the event.
TWO INJURIED FOLLOWING CRASH IN DUNKLIN COUNTY
Two people were injured in a crash Wednesday afternoon in Dunklin County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred shortly before 3 pm when a vehicle travelled off the left side of the road and overturned. The crash happened on Missouri Highway 53 at Holcomb.
The driver and passenger in the vehicle both suffered serious injuries in the crash and were transported to a Poplar Bluff hospital.
SOME PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS TO BEGIN SCHOOL YEAR TODAY
Some private schools in both Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas will begin their school years this morning.
Sacred Heart School in Poplar Bluff, St. Teresa Catholic School in Glennonville, and Crowley's Ridge Academy in Paragould will all hold their first day of classes today.
Many schools in Southeast Missouri will be welcoming kids back beginning next week, with Monday seeing at least 20 schools opening their doors, including Poplar Bluff, Naylor, and Greenville, along with Three Rivers College and Southeast Missouri State University.
FEED AND SEED EVENT SCHEDULED FOR TODAY
New Day Ministry in Poplar Bluff will be hosting a feed and seed event today.
The event is from 3 to 5 pm, and is first come, first serve, with packs limited to one per household.
New Day Ministry is located at 703 Franklin Street in Poplar Bluff. For more information, call 573-718-4578.