SEATS ON POPLAR BLUFF CITY COUNCIL AND MULTIPLE AREA SCHOOL BOARDS TO BE DECIDED TODAY

Voters from across Southeast Missouri will be going to the ballot box today for municipal elections.

In Poplar Bluff, voters will determine who will represent Ward 5 on the City Council, Robert Louis Smith or Spencer Jones. In Neelyville, John Knowles is taking on Rhonda Burson for the position of Mayor. Qulin voters will decide between Charles Galbraith and Brayden Sentell for the Ward 1 Alderman seat.

Multiple school districts will also be holding Board of Education elections today, including Poplar Bluff, Neelyville and Twin Rivers.

GENE BESS TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE NAISMITH BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME

Former Three Rivers College Basketball Coach, Gene Bess, has been selected to join the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Bess was one of the 12 Class of 2023 inductees announced over the weekend during the 2023 Men’s Final Four, which also included Dirk Nowitzki, Dwayne Wade, and Gregg Popovich.

Bess coached at Three Rivers College for 50 years, from 1971 to 2020. During his time leading the Raiders’ program, Bess was named NJCAA National Coach of the Year twice and amassed 1,300 wins. He is the all-time winningest college basketball coach across all levels.

SEVERE WEATHER, INCLUDING TORNADOS, POSSIBLE TODAY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

Weather officials are bracing for the possibility of severe weather, including tornados, entering our area this afternoon.

River Radio Chief Meteorologist Dan Holiday tells us more about what we can expect today.

“Once again we have a strong upper level storm system coming into the central part of the country. Moisture lifting in from the Gulf of Mexico, the jet stream nearby, we have a cold front coming in as well. Some of the ingredients coming together for the threat of severe weather this afternoon.

TOMORROW MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE 2023 MISSOURI USA GYMNASTICS ADVANCED STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN POPLAR BLUFF

The Missouri USA Gymnastics Championships are beginning tomorrow in Poplar Bluff.

We spoke with Jessica Luse, from Xtreme Gymnastics in Poplar Bluff, who gave us a preview of this weekend’s event.

“We are honored to be able to host this event, it’s State Championships for Missouri Gymnasts in Silver and Gold divisions. This competition you're going to see little ones from age seven all the way up to 17 year olds that are going to be competing.

ABSENTEE VOTING STILL AVAILABLE AHEAD OF NEXT WEEK’S MUNICIPAL ELECTION

The Missouri General Municipal Election Day is less than a week away and if you will be unable to make it to the polls on April 4th, there is still time to vote absentee.

Butler County Clerk Donna Hillis tells KWOC News that absentee voting will be available through 5 pm on Monday, April 3rd. You will not have to provide a reason for voting absentee. The clerk’s office will also be open through noon this Saturday.

WAYNE COUNTY WOMAN DROWNS IN BOLLINGER COUNTY

A Wayne County woman drowned over the weekend near Zalma.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 70 year old Debbie Barks, of Lowndes, was driving on Route H Saturday evening, two miles north of Zalma, when she traveled into a flooded section of the roadway.

Officials say that Barks was unable to get out of the vehicle, and was later pronounced dead by Bollinger County Coroner Calvin Troxell.

SOME AREAS STILL EXPERIENCING FLOODING FROM LAST WEEK’S STORMS

Flood conditions quickly subsided in Poplar Bluff, however other locations have not been as lucky.

According to the National Weather Service, the Black River at Poplar Bluff crested on Saturday at 16.09 feet, just under a tenth of a foot above the minor flood stage line. It has since fallen below the action stage.

The Black River at Pocahontas was recorded at 19.45 feet Sunday night and is forecasted to crest at 22.5 feet on Wednesday, half of a foot above the moderate flood stage line.

As of 7:30 pm Sunday night, the Current River at Doniphan was at 17.6 feet and is expected to fall below the flood stage of 13 feet late this morning.

FLOOD WARNING TO GO INTO EFFECT THIS EVENING, BLACK RIVER AT POPLAR BLUFF FORECAST TO REACH MODERATE FLOOD STAGE

Incoming heavy rains are raising concerns for flooding in Poplar Bluff.

According to the National Weather Service, a flood warning will go into effect this evening due to widespread heavy rainfall.

Officials say that rainfall totals of over three inches with isolated higher amounts will cause significant rises on the Black River.

REGION BRACES FOR POSSIBLE FLOODING TONIGHT AND TOMORROW

The potential for flooding is rising in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas.

We spoke with River Radio Chief Meteorologist Dan Holiday about the oncoming storm system.

“We have a rather interesting weather set up that’s going to come into play later on tonight through much of Friday and then may linger into Friday night and Saturday as well.

A frontal boundary is going to be stalling out nearby. We have moisture overriding that frontal boundary from the south and also a series of disturbances that will enhance the development of showers and thunderstorms. What we don't know is exactly where that boundary will stall.

STORM SYSTEM TO BRING CHANCES OF HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING LATER THIS WEEK

A storm system could bring heavy rain to Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas later this week.

According to the National Weather Service, there is the potential for heavy rainfall and flooding from late Thursday afternoon through Friday evening.

Widespread two to three inch rainfall totals are possible, with locally higher amounts in areas that are affected by thunderstorms.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN STRUCK BY MULTIPLE VEHICLES WHILE LYING ON HIGHWAY 142

A man was struck by multiple vehicles last week while he was reportedly lying on a Butler County roadway.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the incident occurred at around 8:30 pm Friday night, one mile south of Poplar Bluff.

Officials say that 55 year old Gary McCabe, of Poplar Bluff was struck by two vehicles while he was lying on Highway 142.

ROAD WORK SCHEDULED TO BEGIN TODAY ON MAUD STREET IN POPLAR BLUFF

A major Poplar Bluff road will be closed for road work beginning today.

Poplar Bluff Street Superintendent Jerry Lawson tells KWOC News that Maud Street will be closed so crews can replace an old storm culvert.

The closure will be located between 12th Street and Ida Street.

DETAILS RELEASED ABOUT FATAL CRASH NEAR PORTAGEVILLE

Officials have released details concerning a fatal single vehicle crash that occurred earlier this week near Portageville.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 22 year old Lilybeth Babb, of Portageville, was driving on Missouri Highway 162 in New Madrid County when her vehicle ran off the side of the roadway, struck a guardrail, and overturned.

The crash occurred at approximately 8 pm Tuesday night.

VEHICLE CRASHES INTO NEELYVILLE SCHOOL BUS, ONE INJURED

A teenager was injured after a vehicle he was driving crashed into a school bus Tuesday morning in Butler County.

Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that an 18 year old driver from Wappapello was traveling on US Highway 67, two miles north of Neelyville, when he struck the rear of the stopped school bus.

The driver of the vehicle suffered serious injuries and was flown to a Memphis hospital.

PUXICO MAN KILLED IN SINGLE VEHICLE WRECK

A Puxico man was killed in a single vehicle wreck Tuesday morning.

Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that 23 year old Dillon McGee was driving a motorcycle on Highway 51, in Stoddard County, when his vehicle ran off the right side of the road, struck an embankment, and then struck a tree.

McGee was pronounced dead at the scene.

SUSPECTED DRUG DEALER ARRESTED FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION IN MISSOURI BOOTHEEL

A suspected drug dealer has been arrested in the Missouri Bootheel.

According to the Kennett Police Department, over the past few weeks the KPD Street Crimes Unit has been conducting a narcotics investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine.

During the investigation officers identified the suspected dealer as Dwayne Gibbs, of Kennett.

AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING JUVENILE HOMICIDE IN STODDARD COUNTY

The homicide of a juvenile is under investigation in Stoddard County.

Officials with the Dexter Police Department tell KWOC News that the Stoddard County Major Case responded to the 300 Block of Alice Street at approximately 6:15 am Saturday.

At the scene, officers found a deceased juvenile with a gunshot wound inside the residence.

Few details have been released, but officials have confirmed that a juvenile suspect was taken into custody.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS THIS WEEKEND

It is once again time for your clocks to spring forward.

Daylight Saving Time will begin at 2 am Sunday morning. Remember to set your clocks forward one hour before you go to bed Saturday night.

KWOC News spoke with Poplar Bluff Fire Chief Mike Moffitt who wants to remind everyone to change the batteries in their smoke detectors this weekend.

ONE IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING SHOOTING IN MISSOURI BOOTHEEL

A Kennett man is in custody following a shooting at an area business.

According to the Kennett Police Department, a person was shot Wednesday in the parking lot of the Kennett Wal-Mart.

According to Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Jain, witness reports indicate that 33 year old Jaheim Feltus saw his ex-girlfriend in a vehicle with the victim, then retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot the victim.

TODAY IS THE FINAL DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE FOR THE UPCOMING MUNICIPAL ELECTION

The Missouri General Municipal Election Day is less than a month away and you are running out of time to make sure you are registered to vote.

Butler County Clerk Donna Hillis tells KWOC News that today is the last day to register to vote for the April 4th election.

Citizens in Poplar Bluff and Butler County will both be voting on tax issues during the municipal election.