POPLAR BLUFF MAN FACING MULTIPLE STATUTORY SODOMY CHARGES

Authorities in Butler County have arrested an area man on multiple statutory sodomy charges.

According to Missouri Case Net, a warrant was served last week for 49 year old Kenneth Vass, of Poplar Bluff, on three charges of felony second degree statutory sodomy.

No bond was set in the case and Vass remains in custody at the Butler County Detention Center.

POPLAR BLUFF POLICE CHIEF ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

The Poplar Bluff Police Chief will be stepping down in September.

On Tuesday, Chief of Police Danny Whiteley announced his retirement, ending a term of over 22 years as the head of the Poplar Bluff Police Department.

Whiteley says that he owes his success to the staff of men and women Law Enforcement Professionals of the Poplar Bluff Police Department.

ARKANSAS MAN ARRESTED ON SEXUAL MISCONDUCT CHARGE IN POPLAR BLUFF

An Arkansas man has been taken into custody on multiple sexual misconduct charges.

Officials with the Poplar Bluff Police Department tell KWOC News that 47 year old Joel Griffith, of Salem, Arkansas, was arrested Saturday morning in connection to multiple reports that he was acting inappropriately in a public setting.

Griffith was booked on three charges of 1st degree sexual misconduct and lodged in the Butler County Jail.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN CONVICTED ON DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGE

A Poplar Bluff man is facing a possibility of over six decades in prison following his conviction on multiple charges.

Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kacey Proctor tells KWOC News that 34 year old Kenny Jackson has been convicted on felony charges of trafficking a controlled substance in the first degree, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

A search warrant was executed by the SEMO Drug Task Force at a Poplar Bluff residence in March of 2016.

ONE DEAD FOLLOWING TWO VEHICLE CRASH IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

One person has died in connection to a two vehicle crash in Northeast Arkansas.

Officials with the Paragould Police Department tell KWOC News that shortly before 9 am Thursday morning a pickup truck and a tractor-trailer were involved in a crash on the Highway 412 Bypass, east of the Highway 358 intersection.

Preliminary details indicate that the pickup truck was passing another vehicle in a no passing zone when it met the tractor-trailer.

MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN CONNECTION TO DEATH AT DUNKLIN COUNTY NURSING HOME

A man is in custody in connection to an alleged homicide at a Southeast Missouri nursing home.

Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Jain tells KWOC News that 57 year old Shedrick White has been charged with murder in the first degree for the death of Marvin Hale.

White is accused of strangling Hale at the Senath South Health Care Center nursing home.

DANGEROUSLY HOT CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

Dangerously hot temperatures are expected to continue in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas.

According to the National Weather Service, daily heat index values of up to 111 degrees are possible today and tomorrow in multiple Southeast Missouri counties, including Butler, Stoddard, Carter, Ripley, and Wayne.

On Tuesday, the Heat Index was recorded at 114 degrees in Poplar Bluff.

Officials say that the extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities.

HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR THIS WEEK

Portions of Southeast Missouri will be under a Heat Advisory for much of this week.

According to the National Weather Service, daily heat index values of up to 110 degrees are expected for many counties through Thursday, including Butler, Stoddard, Carter, Ripley, and Wayne.

There are also chances for isolated thunderstorms each day that could provide some limited relief from the heat.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI LANDMARK TO BE CONSIDERED FOR NOMINATION TO NATIONAL REGISTER

A Southeast Missouri landmark is one of nine locations across the state that will be considered for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Missouri Advisory Council on Historic Preservation will consider the Carter County Courthouse in Van Buren for the nomination during its meeting on Friday, July 15th.

The council is made up of a group of historians, architects, archaeologists, and citizens with an interest in historic preservation.

PURSUIT REACHES OVER 100 MILES PER HOUR IN STODDARD COUNTY

A vehicle pursuit this week in Stoddard County reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour.

According to authorities, on Sunday a Dexter Police officer entered into a pursuit with a vehicle who failed to yield for a traffic stop on Business Highway 60.

The pursuit continued on to several different roads, before finally coming to a stop on Highway 51. During the pursuit, the suspect’s vehicle reached 101 miles per hour and almost struck multiple vehicles head on.

BASEBALL PLAYER FROM SOUTHEAST MISSOURI JOINS THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

A baseball player from Southeast Missouri has joined the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cardinals called up 29 year old pitcher James Naile from the Memphis Redbirds ahead of last night’s game against the Miami Marlins.

Naile is a graduate of Charleston High School who played baseball in college for the University of Alabama – Birmingham.

MULTIPLE REPORTS OF DAMAGE IN CONNECTION TO SUNDAY STORM

A line of severe storms struck parts of Southeast Missouri Sunday morning leading to isolated damage.

According to officials with the National Weather Service, five to 10 trees were reported down across roads in western Wayne County.

In Butler County, power lines fell down on a house in the Wappapello area.

MAN ARRESTED ON MURDER CHARGE IN CONNECTION TO DEATH OF HIS SISTER

A man has been taken into custody in the Missouri Bootheel on a murder charge.

Pemiscot County Sheriff Tommy Greenwell tells KWOC News that shortly before 7 pm Wednesday night, Pemiscot County 911 received a call of a shooting at a residence on County Highway 415.

At the scene, officers found 38 year old Lorinda Branch, who had been fatally shot.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO BE PROVIDED FOR FREE THIS YEAR IN THE POPLAR BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT

Parents of Poplar Bluff students will have some relief this year when it is time for their children to return to school.

The Poplar Bluff R-1 School District has announced that school supplies will be provided for free for the 2022/2023 academic year.

HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT TODAY FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

High heat index values will create dangerous conditions for today.

According to the National Weather Service, portions of Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas will be under a heat advisory beginning this morning and continuing through this evening.

Heat index values of up to 106 degrees are expected for today.

MAN IN CUSTODY AFTER ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTING AND KIDNAPPING A WOMAN IN BUTLER COUNTY

A teenager who allegedly assaulted and kidnapped a woman is in custody.

Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs tells KWOC News that at around noon on June 20th, 18 year old Keaton Rexroad allegedly assaulted and kidnapped Lexi Ellis by force from a Butler County residence.

Dobbs says that Ellis was found safe Monday afternoon and Rexroad has been taken into custody.

TWIN RIVERS SCHOOL DISTRICT APPROVES FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK STARTING THIS AUGUST

Some students in Butler County will have a significant change to their school week starting this year.

Twin Rivers R-10 School Board President Keith Parker tells KWOC News that the school board has approved a four day school week starting in August. Students will attend classes Tuesday through Friday.

Parker says school day times are still being finalized and they are hoping the official calendar will be released this week.

KANSAS MAN KILLED IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI MOTORCYCLE WRECK

A Kansas man was killed in a motorcycle wreck Thursday afternoon in Southeast Missouri.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 71 year old Michael Beckham, of Winchester, Kansas, was driving on US Highway 60, near Fremont, when his motorcycle ran off the side of the road and overturned.

Beckham was pronounced dead at the scene by Carter County Coroner Joe Chapman.

MAN IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING BANK ROBBERY IN POPLAR BLUFF

A man is in custody following an alleged bank robbery in Poplar Bluff.

Chief Danny Whiteley with the Poplar Bluff Police Department tells KWOC News that at approximately 9:50 am on Wednesday, officers with the PBPD responded to Southern Bank on North Westwood Boulevard in reference to a bank robbery that had just occurred.