ONE IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING SHOOTING IN RIPLEY COUNTY
A suspect has been taken into custody in connection to a shooting in Ripley County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the shooting occurred Sunday afternoon at a convenience store near Doniphan.
The victim was transported to an area hospital with non life threatening injuries and a suspect in the case was arrested.
MAN FACING TAMPERING CHARGE AFTER ALLEGEDLY INTERRUPTING SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT RADIO FREQUENCY
A local man has been taken into custody for allegedly interrupting an area sheriff’s department’s radio frequency.
Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs tells KWOC News that the radios for the Sheriff’s Department have not been working for several weeks. There was a lot of static coming over the radios which would not allow deputies to communicate with each other.
NESTLE PURINA ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL 83 MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT FOR BLOOMFIELD FACILITY
Missouri governor Mike Parson was in Southeast Missouri earlier this week to make appearances at two area businesses, one of which announced a significant investment into Southeast Missouri.
According to the Governor’s office, Parson toured WW Wood Products in Dudley Tuesday afternoon.
He followed that with at meet and greet at Nestle Purina in Bloomfield.
During the visit, Purina officials announced that the company is investing an additional $83 million at the facility for projects that will enhance technology in packaging and warehousing, for a total commitment of nearly $200 million by 2021.
Parson says the new expansion will directly create about 30 new jobs.
HEAT INDEX VALUES TO REACH AROUND 100 DEGREES TODAY IN PARTS OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Heat index values are expected to reach around 100 degrees today in parts of Southeast Missouri.
According to a Special Weather Statement from the National Weather Service, heat index values around 100 degrees could stretch along and south of a line from Piedmont to Cape Girardeau by 2 pm this afternoon.
WOMAN AIR LIFTED TO ST. LOUIS FOLLOWING SHOOTING IN POPLAR BLUFF, DAUGHTER IN CUSTODY
A woman has been arrested following a shooting in Poplar Bluff.
According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, Ashley N. Warren allegedly shot her mother with a pistol on Monday in the 300 block of Davis Street.
A search was conducted for Warren and officials say she was taken into custody later on Monday.
Warren’s mother, 47 year old Michelle Kilgore, was flown to a St. Louis hospital.
FIRST RESPONDERS BALL TO BE HELD IN MID SEPTEMBER
A date has been set for the 2nd Annual First Responders Ball.
The event will be held on Friday, September 13th at the Poplar Bluff Elks Lodge.
The ball will begin at 6 pm, with a steak dinner following at 7 pm. Tickets are $25 and all proceeds will benefit supporting heroes.
There will also be a silent auction and door prizes.
MISSING THREE YEAR OLD CHILD FOUND DEAD IN POND
Authorities in Mountain Grove, have ended the search for a missing 3-year-old girl.
Missouri State Highway Patrol, Troop G, officials say the toddler was found dead on Wednesday just before 9 a.m.
Vivian was found dead in a pond near a residence on Oakview Lane.
Officials said she walked away from the residence around 5:30 Tuesday night. Mountain Grove is northwest of West Plains and about 2 hours west of Poplar Bluff.
THREE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON FELONY WARRANTS IN BUTLER COUNTY
Authorities in Butler County arrested a Doniphan man over the weekend on a felony drug charge.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 35 year old Brandon Brown was taken into custody Saturday night on a felony charge of possession of methamphetamine as well as a felony warrant out of Clay County.
At around the same time, officers also arrested 45 year old Carl Capper and 36 year old Samatha Boyer, both of Poplar Bluff, on felony warrants out of Butler County.
Following their arrests, all three were transported to the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.
BERNIE MAN ARRESTED ON SODOMY WARRANT
An area man has been taken into custody on a sodomy warrant.
Officials with the Malden Police Department tell KWOC News that on Saturday, officers arrested Bobby Joe Riddell, of Bernie, on a Dunklin County warrant for Statutory Sodomy 2nd.
Riddell’s bond has been set at $150,000, cash only, and he was transferred to the Dunklin County Justice Center.
UNITED STATES SENATOR SPOKE IN POPLAR BLUFF ON THURSDAY
A current United States Senator was in Poplar Bluff on Thursday.
Senator Josh Hawley stopped by the Poplar Bluff Police Department yesterday and spoke about various issues affecting Missouri residents as well as the recent police shooting in Carter County.
AUTOPSY PERFORMED ON WOMAN FOUND IN ST. FRANCIS RIVER
An autopsy was performed Wednesday on a woman who was found dead in the St. Francis River.
According to authorities, the body of 39 year old Crystal Brown-Hart, of Dexter, was discovered after a boater on the St. Francis River reported seeing the wheels of a vehicle sticking out of the water near the Butler and Stoddard County line.
BODY FOUND IN ST. FRANCIS RIVER IDENTIFIED AS MISSING WOMAN
The body of a missing Dexter woman was discovered earlier this week in an area river.
According to authorities, a boater on the St. Francis River reported seeing the wheels of a vehicle sticking out of the water Monday night near the Butler and Stoddard County line.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN TO BE SENTENCED IN NOVEMBER ON AMMUNITION CHARGE
A Poplar Bluff man will be sentenced in November after pleading guilty to an ammunition charge.
Officials with the United States Attorney’s Office tell KWOC News that 40 year old Shawn Del Daggett has pled guilty to one felony count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.
MAN CHARGED IN CONNECTION TO SHOOTING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN CARTER COUNTY
Two law enforcement officers were shot during an incident last week in Carter County.
Sergeant Clark Parrott with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tells KWOC News that officers were attempting to serve an eviction notice on Friday at a residence near Van Buren.
A male suspect began firing from inside the residence and both a Missouri state trooper and a Carter County deputy were struck by gunfire.
BRIGGS AND STRATTON CONSOLIDATION TO BRING JOBS TO POPLAR BLUFF
Additional jobs will be soon coming to a Poplar Bluff manufacturing facility.
Briggs and Stratton Corporation announced plans on Thursday to consolidate production of its small vertical-shaft engines into its Poplar Bluff facility.
The consolidation will result in the closure of the company's facility in Murray, Kentucky by the fall of 2020.
According to a press release from the company, impacted employees will have the opportunity to relocate to another facility while the Poplar Bluff plant will be hiring to accommodate the increased production being added.
According to the office of Missouri Governor Mike Parson, the expansion is expected to create 130 new jobs over the next 12 months with an average salary of over $36,000, plus additional hiring in 2021.
SCHOOL YEAR TO BEGIN TODAY IN POPLAR BLUFF AND OTHER AREA COMMUNITIES
Today will be a busy day across Southeast Missouri as children will be returning to classes in numerous schools.
Area school districts that will be beginning the School Year today include Poplar Bluff R-1, Twin Rivers R-10, Ripley County R-3, Doniphan R-1, Clearwater R-1, Advance R-4, Bernie R-13, Bloomfield R-14, Richland R-1, Campbell R-2, Holcomb R-3, Kennett, Malden R-1, Senath-Hornersville, and Southland C-9.
MAN ARRESTED IN CARTER COUNTY ON FLEEING AND TAMPERING CHARGES
Authorities in Carter County have arrested a Southeast Missouri man on multiple felony charges.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 35 year old John King, of Hayti, was taken into custody Monday night on felony charges of resisting arrest by fleeing, tampering with a motor vehicle – 1st degree, and driving while revoked.
King was also arrested on other charges including false impersonation and speeding - 26 miles per hour over the limit among others.
Following the arrest, he was transported to the Butler County Jail.
HIGH HEAT INDEX VALUES TO CONTINUE ACROSS SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Weather officials are warning that we could see another day of high heat index values in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas.
The National Weather Service in Memphis, Tennessee, has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for parts of Northeast Arkansas as well as Dunklin and Pemiscot counties in Southeast Missouri through 8 pm this evening.
Officials say that heat index readings of between 110 and 116 degrees are expected for today.
HEAT INDEX VALUES TO REACH NEAR OR OVER 110 DEGREES ACROSS SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Weather officials are warning of high heat index values today across Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas.
The National Weather Service in Memphis, Tennessee, has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for most of Northeast Arkansas as well as Dunklin and Pemiscot counties in Southeast Missouri for 10 am this morning to 8 pm on Tuesday.
Officials say that heat index readings of greater than 110 degrees are expected this afternoon and evening as well as on Tuesday afternoon and evening. Some locations could see readings around 115 degrees.
For most of the rest of Southeast Missouri, the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory that will be in effect from 11 am this morning to 8 pm this evening.
Weather officials say that they expect heat index values to reach 105 degrees and peak near 110 degrees this afternoon and into the early evening hours.
Cooling centers have been established in Poplar Bluff at the Butler County Health Department, and Poplar Bluff Public Library. Cooling Centers are also available at the Fisk Community Library and the Qulin Senior Center. A tool to find cooling centers for Missouri residents is available at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website.
MAN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN CONNECTION TO FATAL SHOOTING IN BUTLER COUNTY
Updating a story we brought to you yesterday, an area man was taken into custody in connection to a fatal shooting in Butler County.
Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs tells KWOC News that the shooting occurred Wednesday evening on County Road 476.
According to Butler County Coroner Andy Moore, the deceased has been identified as 36 year old Katrina Suiter, of Poplar Bluff.
Reports indicate the victim was shot in the face, and the suspect, identified as 46 year old Michael Choate, of Poplar Bluff, stated the victim was waving a gun when it went off.
Moore says that due to the ongoing investigation, he cannot give out specific details, however the results of the autopsy contradicts the suspect’s account of events. Once the investigation is over, more details will be released.
Choate was taken into custody and lodged in the Butler County Justice Center. He was later released; however Sheriff Dobbs says Choate is still a suspect in the investigation.
