SICKNESS FORCES TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF MULTIPLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Multiple Southeast Missouri school districts will not be having classes for the remainder of this week due to illness.

The Doniphan R-1 School District announced Tuesday that they will be closed December 7th through December 9th.

Officials say that sickness has hit the district hard with several of our students, faculty, and staff absent. The district will sanitize and disinfect all buildings and classrooms before students return next week.

POPLAR BLUFF HOSPITAL TO CONDUCT ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILL

A Poplar Bluff hospital will be conducting an active shooter drill today.

According to officials with the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, the drill is scheduled to begin today at 2 pm.

Officials say that the drill is necessary to practice emergency and crisis response plans.

Area emergency responders will also be participating in the drill.

TWO DEAD, ONE IN CUSTODY, FOLLOWING SHOOTING IN QULIN

A man is in custody following a fatal shooting in Butler County over the weekend.

Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs tells KWOC News that at approximately 1 am early Sunday morning, Butler County deputies responded to a report of two people being shot at a residence on the 100 block of New Hampshire Street in Qulin.

At the scene, deputies found two deceased females who appeared to be victims of gunshot wounds. The names of the victims are not being released at this time.

2022 RIVER RADIO LIGHTED CHRISTMAS PARADE IS TONIGHT

Tonight is the night for the 2022 River Radio Lighted Christmas Parade in downtown Poplar Bluff.

Participants can start lining up at 4:30 pm in the Whiteley Park Parking lot, off of Highway 53. Personal vehicles will not be allowed to park in the parking lot.

The parade will begin at 6 pm, with the route running from Highway 142 at McDonalds through downtown Poplar Bluff before looping back and ending at the Black River Coliseum.

Today’s Talk KWOC 93.3 FM and 930 AM will be playing nonstop Christmas music from 5 to 8 pm tonight.

Trophies will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places. For more information, call 573-785-0881.

ANTLERLESS PORTION OF DEER SEASON TO BEGIN ON SATURDAY

The antlerless portion of deer season is set to begin this weekend.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, the antlerless portion will run from December 3rd to December 11th and only antlerless deer may be harvested.

There are also additional restrictions depending on the county you are in. For example, many counties in Southeast Missouri are closed to firearms hunting during this portion of deer season, such as Butler, Carter, and Wayne Counties.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI MAN SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON ON MURDER CHARGE

A Southeast Missouri man has been sentenced to multiple decades in prison on a murder charge.

According to Arkansas Court Connect, 30 year old Heath Hunsaker, of Bloomfield, pled guilty Monday to a charge of 1st degree murder. The charge stems from the shooting death of 35 year old Matthew Hale in March.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN IN CUSTODY ON STATUTORY RAPE CHARGES

A Poplar Bluff man is in custody on statutory rape and sodomy charges.

34 year old Corvette Christian is facing charges of child molestation – 2nd degree, statutory rape – 1st degree, and four counts of statutory sodomy.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Christian admitted to investigators to inappropriately touching the victim multiple times.

SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS COMING TO THE PALACE OF PRAISE

The dates have been set for a Christmas themed play at a Poplar Bluff church.

The Palace of Praise is presenting the 13th Annual Sounds of Christmas nightly from December 11th through the 14th beginning at 7 pm each night.

DEADLINE APPROACHING TO ENTER INTO THE RIVER RADIO LIGHTED CHRISTMAS PARADE

Time is running out to get your float entered into the 2022 River Radio Lighted Christmas Parade.

The parade is scheduled for 6 pm on Friday, December 2nd. Entry forms are available on our Facebook page and website. The deadline for entries is November 25th.

The parade route this year will run from Highway 142 at McDonalds through downtown Poplar Bluff before looping back and ending at the Black River Coliseum.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES INTO HUNTER’S DEATH IN CARTER COUNTY

Authorities are asking for the public’s assistance in the investigation of a hunter’s death in Southeast Missouri.

58 year old Philip Carnell, of Sikeston, was first reported missing on November 13th. His body was found on November 16th near where he was hunting in Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

National Park Service law enforcement rangers are asking that anyone who was camping or hunting during the opening weekend of deer season in the area of Cave Spring on the lower section of the Current River in Carter County, to contact the park's law enforcement specialist, Chuck Lochart, at 573-351-9642.

POPLAR BLUFF AND NEELYVILLE CHOSEN TO RECEIVE PART OF $410 MILLION DOLLARS IN COMMUNITY WATER INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS

Numerous Southeast Missouri communities, including Poplar Bluff and Neelyville have been approved for water infrastructure grants.

Governor Mike Parson announced Friday that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources is awarding $410 million to help Missouri communities improve drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure as well as lead service line inventories.

DEADLINE APPROACHING TO ENTER INTO THE RIVER RADIO LIGHTED CHRISTMAS PARADE

Parade lights will be shining bright in Downtown Poplar Bluff this December for the 2022 River Radio Lighted Christmas Parade.

Entries are now being accepted for the parade, which is scheduled for 6 pm on Friday, December 2nd. Entry forms are available on our Facebook page and website. The deadline for entries is November 25th.

MISSING HUNTER FOUND DEAD IN CARTER COUNTY

Authorities in Carter County say that a missing hunter has been found dead.

According to officials, the body of 58 year old Phillip Carnell, of Sikeston, was found on Wednesday near the area where he had been hunting.

Carnell was deer hunting in Ozark National Scenic Riverways, near Cave Spring in Carter County.

SENATH MAN KILLED IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS CRASH

One person is dead following a crash Monday in Northeast Arkansas.

According to the Arkansas State Police, 21 year old Shawn Abentroth, of Senath, was driving in Greene County when he failed to yield at a stop sign and crossed into the path of another vehicle.

Abentroth’s vehicle was struck and then overturned into a parking lot.

OVER 93 THOUSAND DEER HARVESTED DURING OPENING WEEKEND OF FIREARM DEER SEASON

Hunters across Missouri took to the woods over the weekend for the opening of the November potion of firearms deer season.

According to preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation, hunters harvested 93,355 deer during the opening weekend. Of the deer harvested, 55,267 were antlered bucks, 7,250 were button bucks, and 30,838 were does.

MULES FOOTBALL ELIMINATED IN DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

A fantastic football season in Poplar Bluff has come to a close.

The Mules came up short in the quest for a district championship, falling to Cape Central Friday night 22-16 in the Class 5, District 1 Championship game.

The season started out rough for the Mules, losing their first four games in a row before turning it around to win their next four.

POPLAR BLUFF AND CAPE CENTRAL TO BATTLE FOR DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP

The Poplar Bluff Mules will play tonight for a district championship.

The four seed Mules are going on the road to take on the three seed Cape Central in the Class 5, District 1 Finals.

Should the Mules win their first district championship since 2000, they will advance to the State Quarterfinal and face the winner of the District 2 final between Eureka and MICDS.

POPLAR BLUFF POLICE LOOKING FOR MISSING MAN

Officials in Poplar Bluff are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing man.

Captain David Sutton with the PBPD tells KWOC News that on October 31st, 28 year old Devonta Ivory Green, of Poplar Bluff, was reported missing by a family member.

ERIC SCHMITT ELECTED TO UNITED STATES SENATE

The successor to United States Senator Roy Blunt has been chosen.

Republican Eric Schmitt defeated Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine Tuesday during Missouri’s election. Schmitt will take over Blunt’s position, after the Senator announced earlier this year that he will not seek reelection.

Missouri voters also chose Republican Scott Fitzpatrick to be the new State Auditor. Current Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway announced last year that she was not going to run for the seat again.

TODAY IS ELECTION DAY

A number of races and propositions will be voted on today by citizens in Missouri and Arkansas.

Voters across Missouri will be voting on the United States Senate race between Republican Eric Schmitt and Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine. Both vying to fill the seat of Roy Blunt, who announced earlier this year that he will not seek reelection.