SCHOOL READINESS EVENT TO BE HELD TODAY IN BUTLER COUNTY 

A School Readiness event has been scheduled for today in Butler County. 

The event will be held from 9 am to 3 pm at the Black River Coliseum.  

Children registered for the event can receive free age appropriate school supplies, including backpacks, paper, folders, and pencils. Health Screenings will also be completed for attending children.  

Officials say that children must be pre-registered for the event. For more information or to register, call 573-785-4727.

STODDARD COUNTY AUTHORITIES ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE MISSING MAN 

Authorities in Stoddard County are seeking the public’s help in locating a missing man.  

44 year old Hubert Scott Burton Jr. has reportedly been missing since Friday. He was last seen at around 11 am that day in the Advance area.  

Burton may be traveling on a black or charcoal motorcycle with a Missouri registration of BUD YQK. 

Anyone who has information on Burton’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Stoddard County Sheriff’s Office.

MISSOURI PRIMARY ELECTION TO BE HELD TOMORROW 

Residents across the state will be heading to the polls tomorrow for the Missouri Primary Election.  

All Missouri voters will be weighing in on a Right to Work issue which will appear on the ballot under Proposition A. Voters will decide whether to repeal or uphold the policy passed by state lawmakers and signed by then Governor Eric Greitens last year.  

Voters will also be deciding on Republican and Democratic nominees for the United States Senate seat currently held by Democrat Claire McCaskill, who is seeking reelection.  

Republicans in Butler County have competitive nomination races for Division Two Associate Circuit Judge, Prosecuting Attorney, and Treasurer. The Republican nomination for Missouri House District 153 is being contested as well.   

Citizens in Poplar Bluff will also be voting on a Use Tax proposition that asks if the city should impose a local use tax at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate, currently two and one fourth percent, provided that if the local sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be reduced or raised by the same action.

ELECTED OFFICIAL IN STODDARD COUNTY TAKEN INTO CUSTODY, PROSECUTOR SEEKING HER REMOVAL FROM OFFICE 

An elected official in Stoddard County has been taken into custody and the county prosecutor says he is seeking her removal from office.  

Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russell Oliver tells KWOC News that on Monday, the elected board of directors and the elected clerk of Castor Township in Stoddard County presented him with financial documents which indicated misappropriation of funds by the township’s elected Trustee, ex Office Treasurer, Jacqulin Bradshaw. 

Oliver says that Bradshaw has been charged with the class D felony of stealing; alleging that she wrongfully appropriated over $16,000 of township funds. 

During an interview, Bradshaw allegedly admitted to appropriating the funds without authorization. 

A judge has issued a preliminary order enjoining Bradshaw from engaging in any activity or exercising any authority as the elected Trustee, ex Office Treasurer of Castor Township and Oliver has filed a petition seeking her removal from the office.

ARKANSAS MAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO BUTLER COUNTY WRECK 

An Arkansas man has been taken into custody in Butler County following a wreck that closed an area off ramp.  

A wreck caused the closure a Highway 60/67 off ramp in the Poplar Bluff area for a period of time on Tuesday. The ramp has since reopened. 

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 50 year old Ronald Stewart, of Dumas, Arkansas, was arrested Tuesday evening on a felony charge of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident. He was held at the Butler County Jail.

MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST THE OFFSETS IN MADISON COUNTY 

The Missouri Attorney General has filed a lawsuit following the deaths of two people this month.  

Attorney General Josh Hawley tells KWOC News that his office has filed a lawsuit seeking to compel a commercial enterprise in Madison County known as “The Offsets” to remedy deadly conditions at the former quarry. 

The recreational facility has been the site of at least 9 deaths, including two since July 4th this year as well as numerous other serious bodily injuries. 

Hawley says that despite their knowledge of these conditions and the resulting serious injuries, the owners of The Offsets have not posted appropriate warnings, have not taken steps to prevent dangerous activities, have not placed life-saving equipment near the bluffs, and have not retained a lifeguard.

MAN FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES IN CONNECTION TO FATAL BOAT WRECK 

A Dexter man is facing multiple counts of boating while intoxicated in connection to a fatal boat wreck in early June.  

According to Missouri Case Net, 27 year old Braden Bollinger is facing one count of boating while intoxicated – death of another, two counts of boating while intoxicated – serious physical injury, and two counts of boating while intoxicated – physical injury.  

Bollinger was involved in a boat wreck on June 3rd that resulted in the death of a Poplar Bluff teenager and injuries to four others as well as himself.  

Bollinger’s bond was set at $100,000, cash or surety.

TWO ELDERLY BUTLER COUNTY RESIDENTS FOUND DEAD 

Two elderly Butler County residents were found dead Wednesday in what is believed to be a murder/suicide.  

Butler County Coroner Andy Moore tells KWOC News that the two bodies were found Wednesday in the Oglesville area.  

ANDY MOORE: 

Last night at approximately 5:30 p.m. the Butler County Coroner's Office was dispatched to Oglesville in reference to a possible murder-suicide. Upon arrival Deputy Corner Corey Crutchfield and myself pronounced two individuals as deceased at the scene. Both died as a result of gunshot wounds and all indications are the female's life was taken first and the male took his life shortly after the initial incident. The deceased are identified as Elvin and Onedia Johnson, both 84 of Oglesville.   

We will bring you more information on this story as it becomes available.

AUTHORITIES IN PORTAGEVILLE INVESTIGATING ASSAULT 

A Southeast Missouri Police Department is asking local residents for assistance in an assault investigation.  

The Portageville Police Department is investigating an assault that reportedly occurred Monday morning at around 11 am in the area of the 900 block of West State Highway 162.  

Police officials are asking for any resident that has a surveillance camera on their home on St. Anthony or Robin Lane to contact the police department. Officials are also seeking any possible witnesses to this incident. 

If you have any information in connection to the incident, contact the Portageville Police Department at 573-379-5500.

MAN ARRESTED FOLLOWING POPLAR BLUFF SHOOTING PLEADS NOT GUILTY 

A man appeared in court yesterday in connection to the shooting of a Poplar Bluff officer.  

28 year old James Johnson Jr., of Poplar Bluff, was arrested last Thursday after a Poplar Bluff Police Detective and a Task Force Officer with the US Marshals Service were shot while attempting to make an arrest for an active warrant.  

The detective received a non-life threatening wound and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. The Task Force Officer was struck in his body armor, but had no additional injuries. 

According to Missouri Case Net, Johnson is facing charges of assault 1st degree, resisting or interfering with an arrest for a felony, and armed criminal action.   

Johnson’s arraignment was scheduled for yesterday and he pled not guilty.

MAN DROWNS WHILE SWIMMING IN WAPPAPELLO LAKE 

An area man died over the weekend while swimming in Wappapello Lake.  

Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that 59 year old Randall Scott, of Wappapello, became fatigued while swimming on Saturday, went under the water, and never resurfaced.  

A search was conducted and Scott’s body was found on Sunday.