WORLD RECORD SIZED FISH CAUGHT IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

A new world record brown bullhead has been caught in Southeast Missouri.

Officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation tell KWOC News that Mitchell Dering, of Fairdealing, shot the third state record fish recorded in 2023 – a 4-pound brown bullhead.

Dering shot the fish while bowfishing at Duck Creek Ditch #105 on March 14th. The previous state record brown bullhead was a 2-pound, 7-ounce fish caught in 1994 from Wappapello Lake.

PRELIMINARY SURVEY RELEASED FOR BOLLINGER COUNTY TORNADO

A survey of damage was conducted Wednesday from the tornado that struck the Grassy and Glenallen areas in Bollinger County.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, the tornado had a maximum width of 150 yards and was on the ground from 3:30 to 3:57 am along a 22.3 mile long path.

The tornado has been given a preliminary EF-2 rating due to 130 mile per hour estimated peak winds.

FIVE CONFIRMED DEAD FOLLOWING TORNADO IN BOLLINGER COUNTY

Multiple people have been confirmed dead in connection to an early Wednesday morning Tornado in Bollinger County.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, a damaging tornado was confirmed near Glenallen at around 3:45 am Wednesday morning.

Bollinger County Sheriff Casey Graham has confirmed that there were five fatalities and names are being withheld until family members have been notified.

USE TAX ISSUE DEFEATED IN POPLAR BLUFF

An attempt at getting a use tax enacted in the city of Poplar Bluff has failed.

The proposition was defeated in Tuesday’s election by a 608-423 vote. Use tax questions were also rejected in Portageville and Steele. Morehouse residents approved a local use tax 55-44.

A Sales Tax increase of one percent was approved in Williamsville, 53-10.

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.