IDENTITY RELEASED OF MAN FOUND DEAD IN BLACK RIVER
Officials have released the identity of the body that was found on Black River over the weekend.
Butler County Coroner Jim Akers tells KWOC News that officials used dental records and X-Rays in order to identify the subject as 67 year old Kenneth White, of Poplar Bluff.
The cause of death has been determined to be drowning.
AUTOPSY COMPLETED ON BODY FOUND IN BLACK RIVER
Updating a story we brought to you earlier this week, an autopsy has been completed on a body found this past weekend in Butler County.
The body was found Saturday afternoon at around 4 pm near the Ashcroft and Wilson Street intersection in Poplar Bluff.
Butler County Coroner Jim Akers tells KWOC News that the autopsy allowed officials to conduct dental x-rays and acquire DNA.
MISSOURI PRIMARY ELECTION TO BE HELD ONE WEEK FROM TODAY
We are just one week out from voters heading to the polls in Missouri.
The Missouri Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, August 2nd.
One of the big races will be for the United States Senate Seat currently held by Roy Blunt, who announced last year that he will not run for reelection. There are competitive races in both the Republican and Democratic parties to fill the seat.
BODY FOUND IN POPLAR BLUFF, INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY
Authorities are asking for assistance in identifying a body that was located this past weekend in Poplar Bluff.
Butler County Coroner Jim Akers tells KWOC News, that on Saturday afternoon, at around 4 pm, three kayakers located a body in Black River near the Ashcroft and Wilson Street intersection.
Akers says the body had been in the water for at least two or three days prior to being found. The body is described as an adult white male, estimated at 30-50 years of age, balding with several days of beard growth, muscular build, wearing a black shirt, black jeans over swimming trunks, and black sports shoes.
MISSOURI GOVERNOR SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER TO ACCELERATE DROUGHT RESPONSE ACTIONS
Missouri’s Governor has signed an executive order to accelerate the state’s response to the ongoing drought conditions, especially in the southern part of the state.
Governor Mike Parson issued Executive Order 22-04 calling upon the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to activate the Drought Assessment Committee and the associated drought impact teams.
PEDESTRIAN STRUCK BY A MOTORCYCLE NEAR POPLAR BLUFF
A pedestrian was struck by a motorcycle earlier this week in Butler County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the motorcycle struck the pedestrian shortly before 10:30 pm Tuesday night. Both riders of the motorcycle were ejected after the collision.
All three people involved suffered serious injuries. The pedestrian was flown to a St. Louis hospital while the two people on the motorcycle were both transported to a Poplar Bluff hospital.
Officials say the incident occurred on Highway M, two miles west of Poplar Bluff.
HEAT WAVE RETURNS TO SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Another heat wave is settling over Southeast Missouri.
According to the National Weather Service, a heat advisory is scheduled to begin at 11 am this morning and continue through 7 pm this evening.
Temperatures are expected to get into the triple digits in many areas with heat index values getting up to around 110 degrees this afternoon.
Remember to take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening hours.
SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE NOW LIVE IN MISSOURI
Individuals in Missouri who are needing mental health support now have a new way to reach help.
The newly designated 9-8-8, three-digit number, will route individuals to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, where compassionate, accessible care and support are available 24/7 for anyone experiencing a mental health, suicide, or substance use crisis.
According to Missouri Governor Mike Parson, there are seven crisis centers in Missouri responsible for answering 988 contacts for the state.
Missouri’s 988 centers are expected to answer the projected 253,000 contacts, including calls, texts, and chats, in the first year of the 988 implementation.
Crisis specialists will also have the ability to dispatch mobile crisis response teams for additional crisis response wherever the crisis is occurring in the community and based on the needs of the person.
VAN BUREN MAN CONVICTED OF THE SHOOTING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
A Van Buren man has been convicted of the shooting of two law enforcement officers in 2019.
James Cummings, of Van Buren, was convicted Friday on four counts of assault 1st degree and armed criminal action stemming from the shooting of a Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper and a Carter County Deputy in August of 2019.
The officers had been attempting to serve an eviction notice at a residence when they were struck by gunfire coming from inside the residence.
ONE DEAD FOLLOWING WRECK NEAR POPLAR BLUFF
A Williamsville man has died following a wreck Wednesday evening near Poplar Bluff.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 21 year old Johnathon Thurman was driving a motorcycle on Highway O in Butler County when his vehicle ran off the left side of the road and overturned.
Thurman, who was wearing a safety device, was ejected during the wreck.
He was flown to a St. Louis hospital where he was pronounced dead early Thursday morning.
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.
