OFC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TO BEGIN TODAY

The Ozark Foothills Conference basketball tournament is scheduled to begin this afternoon.

The tournament, featuring seven area schools, was originally scheduled to begin on Saturday at Twin Rivers High School in Broseley, however last week’s winter weather forced the start to be pushed back to today.

There are three games on the docket for today, starting with a boys JV game between Clearwater and Greenville at 5 pm, followed by a boys varsity game between the same two schools at 6:30 pm. The final game of today will be a girls matchup between Greenville and Neelyville at 8 pm.

WINTER STORM RESULTED IN SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS AND SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES

This week’s winter weather left behind treacherous road conditions and scattered power outages.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, troopers in Southeast Missouri worked over 30 crashes on Wednesday alone and assisted over 40 stranded motorists.

One of the crashes was of a commercial vehicle that blocked Eastbound US Highway 60 near Morehouse for over an hour.

WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI, SOME AREAS UNDER ICE STORM WARNING

Winter weather is projected to continue to cross Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas today.

Freezing rain and sleet dropped on the area late Wednesday and throughout the night resulting in slippery road conditions this morning.

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for much of Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas, including Butler, Stoddard, and Wayne Counties. Weather officials say that total snow and sleet accumulations of one to five inches is possible.

WINTER STORM WARNING TO GO INTO EFFECT AT NOON

A Winter Storm warning will go into effect for Southeast Missouri at noon today.

Officials with the National Weather Service in Paducah say that heavy mixed precipitation is possible. Total snow and sleet accumulations of 2 to 5 inches, along with ice accumulations of one tenth of an inch are possible with some locations seeing higher amounts.

With this storm power outages and tree damage are possible due to the ice. Officials say that travel could be nearly impossible and should be avoided until absolutely necessary.

WINTER STORM WATCH TO GO INTO EFFECT WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

An incoming storm system is bringing with it increased chances of winter weather.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the area that will be in effect from Wednesday afternoon through late Thursday night. Officials say that heavy mixed precipitation is possible.

Total snow and sleet accumulations of 1 to 4 inches, and ice accumulations of two tenths to four tenths of an inch are possible with this system.

POPLAR BLUFF BUSINESSMAN CHOSEN AS 2021 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

A Poplar Bluff businessman and car dealership owner has been chosen as the 2021 Citizen of the Year.

Larry Hillis received the award Saturday during the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet at the Black River Coliseum.

During the banquet, the Chamber also gave the 2021 Ambassador of the Year Award to Morgan McIntosh, of Downtown Poplar Bluff, Incorporated.

GRAND JURY DECLINES TO FILE CHARGES IN DEXTER DEATH INVESTIGATION

A grand jury has declined to press charges in a Dexter death investigation.

Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russell Oliver tells KWOC News that the grand jury unanimously returned a no true bill in the death of Christopher Reed on November 29th.

Oliver says that he fully supports the decision and thanked the grand jury for their service.

OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING IN MADISON COUNTY

One person is dead following an officer involved shooting in Southeast Missouri.

Sergeant Clark Parrott with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tells KWOC News that shortly after 5 pm on Tuesday, a trooper responded to an emergency call of a sexual assault in progress in rural Madison County. The caller said that the suspect was armed with a knife.

Upon arrival, the trooper contacted the suspect and a physical altercation ensued. During the altercation, the trooper fired a single shot which hit the suspect.

ONE INJURED IN MOTORCYCLE WRECK NEAR GATEWOOD

An Arkansas man has been flown to an area hospital following a motorcycle wreck in Ripley County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 51 year old Edwards Foster, of Williford, Arkansas, was driving a motorcycle on Highway 142, near Gatewood, when his vehicle ran off the side of the road and overturned.

Foster suffered serious injuries in the wreck and was flown to a Jonesboro hospital.

THREE RIVERS COLLEGE LADY RAIDERS BASKETBALL TEAM RANKED NUMBER 1 IN THE COUNTRY

The Three Rivers College women’s basketball team is the new top team in the country.

The undefeated Lady Raiders are unanimously ranked number 1 in the NJCAA Division 1 Rankings that were published on Monday. This is the first time that TRC has reached the top spot in the NJCAA Rankings.

The Lady Raiders have won 18 straight games to start the season, with their most recent win coming last night against St. Louis Community College.

ONE DEAD FOLLOWING SINGLE VEHICLE WRECK IN WAYNE COUNTY

A Patterson man is dead following a single vehicle wreck over the weekend.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 25 year old Grant Bell was driving on Highway 34, near Piedmont, when his vehicle ran off the side of the road and struck a tree.

Bell, who was reportedly not wearing a safety device, was ejected during the wreck and later pronounced dead at the scene by Wayne County Coroner Mike Allen.

TWIN RIVERS R-10 SUPERINTENDENT TO RESIGN AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR

A search is underway for a new superintendent for the Twin Rivers R-10 School District.

Twin Rivers School Board President Jeff Arnold tells KWOC News that Dr. Ben Johnson informed the school board Thursday evening that he will be resigning at the end of the school year.

Johnson has served as Twin Rivers Superintendent since July 2020. He is reportedly resigning to seek other opportunities.

MOTORISTS ASKED TO WATCH FOR SLICK ROADS

The area received winter weather yesterday which has resulted in possible slick roads for this morning.

Southeast Missouri received sleet, snow, and freezing rain over the course of Wednesday evening.

With temperatures falling into the teens overnight, there is the possibility of ice on area roads as you start your morning commute.

FREEZING RAIN AND SNOW EXPECTED TONIGHT

A sharp temperature drop tonight is expected to bring with it chances of freezing rain and snow.

According to the National Weather Service our area has chances of receiving freezing rain starting this afternoon.

The rain and freezing rain is expected to transition to sleet and snow through the evening before gradually ending.

WAYNE COUNTY HOUSE FIRE RESULTS IN ONE DEATH

A fire early Monday morning in Wayne County has resulted in one death.

42 year old Melissa Dellinger died following a fire at a home near Wappapello.

Two other people who were in the house at the time were able to escape. Authorities are investigating a possible cause for the fire.

MAN IN CUSTODY FOR 1ST DEGREE MURDER IN SHANNON COUNTY

A man has surrendered to authorities in connection to a death investigation in Shannon County.

According to the Shannon County Sheriff’s Office, on the evening of January 13th, a report was made of a male who was found deceased in a yard.

At the scene, deputies found the body of 48 year old David Alley, of Eminence. An investigation led to authorities discovering a potential person of interest in the case.

WEEKEND WINTER STORM EXPECTED TO BEGIN TONIGHT

A winter storm system will be moving into our area beginning tonight.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, a wintry mix of rain and snow Friday night should transition to mainly snow Saturday, with the chance of snow continuing Saturday night into Sunday.

Weather officials say that there is still a fair amount of uncertainty with respect to snow accumulations across the region as a result of this system.

BUTLER COUNTY SCHOOL TO MISS CLASSES FOR THE REST OF THIS WEEK DUE TO ILLNESS

A Butler County school will be closed for the rest of this week.

School officials say that the Twin Rivers R-10 School District will be closed today and tomorrow due to a large amount of staff and students being absent this week because of illness.

Meal service will be provided from 11 am to noon today and tomorrow at each campus. Families can pick up a sack meal which contains breakfast, lunch and dinner.

CONVICTION VACATED IN 2013 WAYNE COUNTY SHOOTING DEATH

The Missouri Supreme Court has vacated the 2018 manslaughter and armed criminal action convictions for a southeast Missouri man and sent the case back to circuit court.

Samuel Whitaker was convicted in the 2013 shooting death of his stepson-in-law, Carl Streeval, in Wayne County.

Whitaker was sentenced to 10 years in prison for manslaughter and 13 years for armed criminal action.