Wednesday, September 2, 2026
MODOT CREWS PREPARING FOR TRAFFIC SHIFT ON US HIGHWAY 67 IN BUTLER COUNTY
The Missouri Department of Transportation is preparing for new traffic patterns along U.S. Route 67 in Butler County between U.S. 160 and Route MM in the coming weeks.
During the transition, construction crews will shift traffic from the existing U.S. 67 roadway to the newly constructed four-lane facility.
MoDOT Resident Engineer Matt Wilkerson tells KWOC News that tentatively, MoDOT anticipates the transition to occur in mid-September. Wilkerson added that impacts to traffic, though brief, will be significant during that time.
Motorists can expect to see the following work during the continuous, 36-hour operation:
1. Southbound traffic will be transitioned onto the newly constructed southbound lanes just south of the U.S. 160 intersection and then return back to existing U.S. 67 by use of a crossover located between County Road 352 and Route MM.
2. Once southbound traffic is transitioned to the new lanes, existing U.S. 67 within the same limits will be converted to one lane, no passing for northbound travel only.
3. Once the pavement connection from the newly constructed northbound lanes to existing U.S. 67 is complete, then northbound traffic will transition to the new northbound lanes.
4. Once northbound traffic is on the new lanes, existing U.S. 67 from County Road 352 to the end of Hawkeye Lane will then become the East Outer Road. For a short time, the East Outer Road will be closed between the southern end of Hawkeye Lane until construction crews complete a temporary connection of the East Outer Road. The East Outer Road will return to bidirectional traffic conditions except for a small section to be controlled by temporary signals while crews complete the permanent connection of the East Outer Road.
Once this initial traffic transition is complete, northbound and southbound U.S. 67 traffic will remain in a one lane roadway condition along the northern limits of the project as construction crews complete the four-lane connection.
EXTREME HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Dangerously hot conditions are continuing this week in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas.
Officials with the National Weather Service in Paducah tell KWOC News that an extreme heat warning is in effect through 8 pm on Saturday for parts of Southeast Missouri.
Officials say that hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat index values to reach up to 109 degrees, with maximum air temperatures ranging from 95 to 101 degrees daily.
Officials say that heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events.
Remember to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room and out of the sun if possible, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
RIDE FOR A CURE DICE RUN RAISES OVER $16,000 FOR ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL
An area motorcycle run has raised over $16,000 for St. Jude.
Brian Jones tells KWOC News that the 12th Annual Ride for a Cure Dice Run in memory of Larry Maronay raised $16,024 on Saturday, August 28th.
In a post on Facebook, Jones thanked the sponsors and volunteers along with the businesses and individuals who donated items for the event.
POPLAR BLUFF WOMAN FLOWN TO MEMPHIS HOSPITAL AFTER FALLING FROM MOTORCYCLE
A Butler County resident was seriously injured over the weekend after she fell from a motorcycle.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the incident occurred shortly after midnight Sunday morning on Harper Street in Poplar Bluff.
The passenger, identified as a 42 year old Poplar Bluff woman, was flown to a Memphis hospital.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI MAN SENTENCED TO OVER A DECADE IN PRISON FOR BLACKMAILING TEENS
A southeast Missouri man will spend over a decade behind bars for using threats to coerce two juveniles into sending him nude images.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 21 year old Terry Howard, of Marble Hill, pled guilty in May to one count of enticing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct.
Howard admitted to communicating with two teens via Snapchat in December of 2024, when he was 19. Howard claimed to be the father of a boy who the victims knew. He threatened to hurt or kill the boy if the teens did not send him sexually explicit material.
Howard has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for the charge. After his release from prison, Howard will be on supervised release for 20 years and be required to register as a sex offender.
ALSPHALT OVERLAY TO CAUSE DELAYS THIS MONTH NEAR MARSTON
Route ZZ in New Madrid County will be reduced to one lane with a 10-foot width restriction this month as construction crews perform an asphalt overlay.
According to MODOT, Route ZZ will be reduced from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Monday, September 28 between Route F to County Road 363 near Marston.
While construction is underway, flaggers will be present, and traffic will be guided through the work zone by a pilot car.