DRIVER KILLED FOLLOWING VEHICLE CRASH IN CARTER COUNTY
A driver was killed in a vehicle crash in Carter County on Tuesday.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a vehicle was traveling down Highway A, east of Ellsinore, before it overcorrected and traveled across the roadway before striking a tree- resulting in the driver being ejected from the vehicle.
The driver, 29 year old Tyler Phelps, was pronounced dead at the scene.
DRIVER KILLED FROM VEHICLE COLLISION IN NEW MADRID COUNTY
A driver was killed from a vehicle collision in New Madrid County on Monday.
Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that two vehicles were traveling eastbound on Highway F, west of Conran, before one vehicle struck the other in the rear.
The driver of the struck vehicle, 84 year old William Piatt, was pronounced dead at the scene.
WAYNE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT SEARCHING FOR MISSING MAN
Officials with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department are searching for a man who has been missing since May.
According to the Department, Wayne County resident 34 year old Patrick Chapman has been missing since May 1st, and was last seen in the Mill Spring area. He is a white, 5’8 male, with blue eyes and brown hair, and weighs around 155 lbs.
The Sheriff’s Department, along with the County fire department, has sent teams and search parties to find him after his car was located, and anyone with information on Chapman or his whereabouts is asked to contact the department by calling 573-224-3219.
MISSOURI GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES FULL OPENING OF STATE
Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced that the state will be fully open again next week.
Governor Parson announced in a press conference on Thursday that on Tuesday, June 16th, Missouri will be fully open for business as it moves forward into phase two of the state’s recovery plan.
Multiple executive orders will stay in place until December 30th, and the governor encouraged residents to continue adhering to social distancing guidelines, including avoiding large crowds, and keeping distance between individuals.
MAN FACING MURDER CHARGE IN RELATION TO DECEMBER DEATH
A man from Van Buren is facing a murder charge in relation to a death case last year.
According to officials with the Van Buren Police Department, 27 year old Dakota Taylor faces a charge on second degree murder, as well as armed criminal action.
These charges stem from an incident in December of 2019, where authorities responded to a call at the home of 58 year old Kathryn Hall, who was found with multiple blunt-force injuries, as well as a non-fatal stab wound.
At the time, Taylor reported that he had been in an altercation with his mother, where she came at him with a knife, before Taylor struck her in the head with a baseball bat.
Taylor is currently being held in custody, and no date has been set for his next court appearance.
TWO AREA RESIDENTS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON DRUG AND FIREARM CHARGES
Two Poplar Bluff residents were arrested on drug and firearm charges in Poplar Bluff on Monday.
According to Captain David Sutton with the Poplar Bluff Police Department, a traffic stop on Relief Street led to the seizure of drugs, firearms, and drug paraphernalia, resulting in the arrests of 62 year old Kendis Scroggins and 27 year old Alexa Ramos.
Scroggins was booked on a Butler County warrant for failure to register as a sex offender, as well as probation violation, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Ramos was arrested on an outstanding warrant for dangerous drugs, unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, as well as unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon, and possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.
They were both transported to the Butler County Jail following their arrests, pending review by the Butler County Prosecuting Attorney.
BUTLER COUNTY COURTHOUSE CLOSES OFFICES AFTER SECOND EMPLOYEE TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
The Butler County Courthouse has temporarily closed its doors after a second employee tested positive for the coronavirus.
Several of the offices will be closed for the next 10 days, during which a professional cleaning service team will be thoroughly cleaning the building in an effort to halt any further spread of the disease.
Including the employee, three additional cases of the virus have been reported in Butler County. The patients have self-quarantined themselves in their homes, and the health department will be monitoring the cases. The department will be working with the CDC to identify and contact anyone who may have come into contact with the patients while they were active.
In Missouri, as of Monday, there are a total of 14,734 cases of the coronavirus in the state, and 819 deaths have been directly linked to the disease.
If you are showing symptoms of the virus, such as shortness of breath, fever, or persistent coughing, you are advised to contact your primary healthcare provider before visiting any hospital or emergency room.
FLOOD WATCH PLACED IN EFFECT FOR PORTION OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
A flash flood watch has been put in effect for a portion of Southeast Missouri.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, a flash flood watch will be in effect for multiple areas, including Bollinger, Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Ripley, Stoddard, and Wayne Counties. The watch will be in effect starting this evening, and will continue through Tuesday evening.
Heavy rainfall resulting from the Tropical Storm Cristobal will bring around one or two and a half inches of rainfall to the Ozark Foothills of Southeast Missouri, and flash flooding of small streams and rivers is also possible.
Anyone traversing these areas is advised to watch for flooded roadways, and to exercise caution when driving.
JUVENILE DROWNING VICTIM REPORTED IN BUTLER COUNTY
A drowning victim was reported in Butler County on Thursday.
According to Butler County Coroner Andy Moore, the body was found in the Black River, near Hendrickson Park, after the young swimmer attempted to swim to an island across the river channel, before he began to struggle, and did not resurface after he submerged.
Moore went on to state that out of respect to the privacy of the family, no personal information about the victim, or the circumstances of the situation, will be released.
INVESTIGATION ONGOING FOR SHOOTING IN POPLAR BLUFF
There is an ongoing investigation into a shooting that was reported in Poplar Bluff on Tuesday.
According to officials with the Poplar Bluff Police Department, the shooting occurred on the 1000 block of North 11th Street, where a 55 year old man was shot in the arm while standing on a porch. He was transported to a Poplar Bluff hospital for treatment, before being flown to another hospital.
Several bullet casings were located in the area, and gunfire damage was reported on a nearby vehicle, and several were found on the house the victim was standing under.
No suspect has been identified, and the investigation is currently ongoing. If you have any information on the shooting, you are asked to contact the Police Department by calling 573-785-5776.
VOTING ON USE TAX FOR POPLAR BLUFF FAILING MIGHT LEAD TO LAYOFFS
The recent voting on a use tax for Poplar Bluff on Tuesday failed with 598 for the tax and 654 against.
The tax, if passed, was going to be used on specific out of state online purchases for the same rate they would be taxed if bought from businesses.
City Manager Mark Massingham states that some non-essential functions of the city may be cut due to this, and that it is possible some layoffs will occur.
SEATS ON THE POPLAR BLUFF CITY COUNCIL UP FOR ELECTION
Two seats on the Poplar Bluff City Council, as well as other city posts throughout Butler County, are up for election today.
Robert Duckett, Chester Pumphrey, Steve Davis, Logan Gilham, Jim Chrisman, Peter Tinsley, Chris Taylor, Brent Eason, and Robert Durbin are all running for the Councilman at-large seats on the Poplar Bluff City Council.
Voters in Qulin will also be selecting an alderman today. Cheryl Johnson will be taking on Donna Nagy for the Qulin Ward 1 Alderman position.
Also in Qulin, voters will choose between Douglas Ledbetter and Glen Sedrick for the City of Qulin Mayor.
Voters in Poplar Bluff will be voting on a use tax issue during today’s election.
MISSOURI GOVERNOR DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY
Missouri Governor Mike Parson has declared a state of emergency for the state.
The announcement was made on Saturday night, where Governor Parson signed executive order 20-11, declaring a state of emergency for Missouri due to civil unrest. With the order, the Missouri National Guard, as well as the Missouri State Highway Patrol, have been activated to assist where necessary.
This decision was made due to the recent protests across Missouri, and to ensure the safety of Missouri residents during this time.
MISSOURI GOVERNOR EXTENDS COVID-19 RECOVERY PLAN
Governor Mike Parson has announced that the state’s recovery plan has been extended.
The announcement was made during a press conference on Thursday, where Parson stated that Phase 1 of Missouri’s COVID-19 recovery plan will be extended throughout June 15th.
The phase was planned to end on May 31st, however the governor, along with state officials, decided to extend the plan so that communities and businesses will have more time for Phase two.
Phase one includes opening public and private supply chains to expand reserves of PPE, monitoring hospital and health care system capacity, improving the ability to predict potential outbreaks, and expanding testing capacity and volume in Missouri.
Governor Parson also stated that further decisions will be made on June 15th, depending on how the situation progresses.
NEW POSITIVE CASE OF COVID-19 REPORTED IN BUTLER COUNTY
Butler County has reported another confirmed case of the coronavirus.
According to the Butler County Health Department, the patient has been quarantined, and the department will be working to alert anyone who may have come into contact with the patient while they were active. The total cases in the County now stand at 30, and 26 of these have recovered.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced that as of Wednesday, there have been a total of 12,492 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in the state, and 696 deaths have been directly linked to the disease.
If you are showing any symptoms of the virus, such as shortness of breath, fever, or persistent coughing, you are advised to contact your primary healthcare provider before visiting any emergency or hospital room.
FIFTH PATIENT OF DEXTER NURSING HOME THAT TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 HAS DIED
Another resident of the Crowley Ridge Nursing Home, who tested positive for the coronavirus, has died.
Officials from Stoddard County tell KWOC News that though the patient previously tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, the cause of death is undetermined at this time. No personal information about the resident will be released.
As of Tuesday, there have been 74 cases of the virus in the County, and of them, 42 are active, and 28 have recovered.
ONE DEAD, MULTIPLE INJURED FROM VEHICLE COLLISION IN DUNKLIN COUNTY
A vehicle collision in Dunklin County on Saturday has resulted in one dead, and multiple injured.
Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that the collision was on US 412, at the East city limits of Kennett, where a vehicle ran off the roadway and over-corrected, causing it to steer into the path of- and get struck by- another oncoming vehicle.
A juvenile occupant and the driver of the oncoming vehicle received minor injuries, and another occupant was moderately injured. The driver of the first vehicle suffered serious injuries, and an occupant of the same vehicle was killed as a result of the crash.
All passengers of the oncoming vehicle were transported to a hospital in Pemiscot County, and the driver of the first vehicle was flown to a hospital in Memphis for treatment.
BUTLER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT OFFERING FREE RAPID COVID-19 TESTING
The Butler County Health Department is offering free COVID-19 rapid testing.
The Department states that there is no criteria to be eligible for testing, however you must make an appointment before you can be tested. There is a limited number of tests available due to the amount received from the state, and will be given on a first come, first serve basis.
The tests will be given at 1619 North Main Street in Poplar Bluff. To schedule an appointment, call 573-785-8478.
LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS URGE RESIDENTS TO KEEP COVID-19 SAFETY MEASURES IN MIND
Though no new cases of the COVID-19 virus have been reported, local health authorities are urging residents to keep safety in mind.
Medical staff in Poplar Bluff are asking residents to continue to practice proper social distancing and cleaning guidelines during the ongoing coronavirus spread, in order to halt any further spread of the virus.
As of Wednesday, there have been a total of 11,080 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Missouri, and 616 deaths have been directly linked to the disease.
If you are showing symptoms of the disease, such as shortness of breath, fever, and persistent coughing, you are advised to contact your primary healthcare provider before visiting any hospital or emergency room.
A 2nd resident of the Crowley Ridge Nursing Home in Dexter, who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, has died.
According to Stoddard County officials, though the patient had tested positive for the coronavirus last week, the cause of death is currently undetermined. Additionally, of the 27 total patients from the nursing home who tested positive for the virus, five of them are currently hospitalized.
At this time, no personal information about the resident will be released.
As of 4 pm Tuesday, Stoddard County has 65 total cases of COVID-19, of those cases 36 are active.
