POLICE ASKING FOR HELP IN LOCATING MAN WANTED FOR ARMED ROBBERY AND BURGLARY

Authorities in a Missouri Bootheel town are asking for the public’s help in finding a wanted man.

According to the Malden Department of Public Safety, they are trying to locate Orlandis Farr, of Malden for charges of robbery and burglary in connection to an incident from earlier this month.

Officials are warning the public to not approach Farr if they do see him. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Malden Department of Public Safety at 573-276-2211.

36TH ANNUAL POPLAR BLUFF SHOWDOWN TIPS OFF TODAY

The 36th Annual Poplar Bluff Showdown will tip off this afternoon at Poplar Bluff High School.

The first round will see McCracken County take on Vilonia at 4 pm, followed by New Madrid County Central vs. Germantown at 5:30 pm, Poplar Bluff against Memphis East at 7 pm, and the day will finish with Christian Brothers vs. Urbana at 8:30 pm.

Poplar Bluff Athletics Director Kent Keith tells KWOC News that tickets are on sale for eight dollars per day.

POCAHONTAS MAYOR KEITH SUTTON PASSES AWAY

The city of Pocahontas is mourning the passing of their mayor.

The city announced on Tuesday that Pocahontas Mayor Keith Sutton passed away on December 24th.

Sutton was in his second term as mayor. He was first elected to the office in 2019.

36TH ANNUAL POPLAR BLUFF SHOWDOWN TIPS OFF THIS WEEK

The 36th Annual Poplar Bluff Showdown will tip off this week.

The three day tournament will start on Thursday at Poplar Bluff High School.

The first round will see McCracken County take on Vilonia at 4 pm, followed by New Madrid County Central vs. Germantown at 5:30 pm, Poplar Bluff against Memphis East at 7 pm, and the day will finish with Christian Brothers vs. Urbana at 8:30 pm.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN SENTENCED TO 35 YEARS FOR MALDEN MURDER

A Poplar Bluff man has been sentenced to over three decades in prison for the shooting death of a man in Malden.

Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Jain tells KWOC News that 35 year old David Anderson was convicted of 2nd degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon in October for the March 2018 shooting death of 46 year old Geoffrey Wright, of Malden.

An eyewitness told police that Anderson approached Wright and after their brief conversation became heated, Anderson shot Wright multiple times. Anderson fled the scene and was arrested in Hayti Heights the following day.

POPLAR BLUFF TEACHER NAMED 2023 MCDONALD’S OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR

A Poplar Bluff teacher has been named a 2023 McDonald’s Outstanding Educator.

According to school officials, Poplar Bluff native Crystal Huddleston, a PBHS business instructor since 2012, was selected earlier this month, as a finalist among 1,750 submissions in a multi-state service area.

Huddleston, who also serves as the Future Business Leaders of America adviser, received a $100 Visa gift card, coffee mug that reads “best teacher ever,” and 25 McDonald's 'Teach it Forward' free menu item vouchers to be distributed to students of her choosing.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN ACCUSED OF TAKING A WOMAN HOSTAGE FOR MULTIPLE DAYS

A Poplar Bluff man is facing multiple charges after being accused of taking a woman hostage.

According to a Probable Cause Affidavit, a Poplar Bluff Police Officer was dispatched to an area business on Saturday in reference to an assault.

At the scene, the victim told the officer that her boyfriend had held her hostage for two days at her home and assaulted her, including hitting her with a sledgehammer.

ALL TOP SEEDS ADVANCE IN FIRST ROUND OF LADY ROYALS CHRISTMAS CLASSIC

The first round is over at the 26th Annual Lady Royals Christmas Classic basketball tournament.

Top seed Doniphan easily dispatched Senath-Hornersville in the opening game of the tournament on Saturday 74-18.

Poplar Bluff, Neelyville, and host Twin Rivers also picked up wins.

Naylor forfeited their first round matchup against East Carter after classes were canceled for most of last week due to illness.

ANOTHER SCHOOL TO MISS CLASSES DUE TO SICKNESS

Sickness is affecting another school in Southeast Missouri.

Doniphan School officials have announced that the Doniphan R-1 School District will be closed on Friday. Classes will resume on Monday, December 18th.

Officials say that student attendance is low, but the faculty has also been hit hard, making it difficult to provide coverage for all classes.

PUXICO MAN ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING HOSPITAL PERSONNEL

A Puxico man is in custody following an alleged assault at an area hospital.

According to a probable cause affidavit, on Monday, Dexter Police officers learned of a combative patient at an area emergency room.

It was reported that the subject, identified as 25 year old Ryan Miller, had been transported to the emergency room for an unrelated assault earlier in the evening.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER CHARGE

A Williamsville man will be sentenced early next year in connection to a 2018 murder case.

According to Missouri Case Net, Drew Atchison has entered a guilty plea to three counts of 1st degree murder and armed criminal action, two counts of child kidnapping, and a single count of 1st degree tampering with a motor vehicle.

The charges stem from the deaths of Harley Million, Samara Kits, and the couple's 18 month old child in January of 2018.

NAYLOR SCHOOLS TO BE OUT FOR THE REST OF THIS WEEK DUE TO ILLNESS

Widespread illness has forced the cancellation of classes for the rest of this week in a Southeast Missouri School District.

Officials with the Naylor R-2 School District say that school will be dismissed from today through Friday of this week. On Monday, teachers sent home AMI work or instructions to access work home with the students who were present.

If your child was absent and did not receive their work or know how to access it, they can follow up with teachers next week to get caught up.

POPLAR BLUFF LINEBACKER NAMED TO THE ALL STATE TEAM

A key member of the Poplar Bluff Mules Football defense has been named to the All-State team.

According to school officials, Linebacker Logan Hite was chosen for the All-State 2nd team.

In addition, 12 members of the Mules Football squad were also selected to the academic all-state team.

RIVER RADIO LIGHTED CHRISTMAS PARADE IS TONIGHT

Christmas lights will be shining bright tonight in Downtown Poplar Bluff.

The 2023 River Radio Lighted Christmas Parade is scheduled to begin at 6 pm with line up starting at 4:30 pm at the Sky High Indoor Park parking lot.

The parade route this year will run from Highway 53 at McDonalds, north along Ditch Road into Downtown Poplar Bluff, then east on Vine Street, before circling back on Main Street. Trophies will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places.

JUVENILE FACING 1ST DEGREE MURDER CHARGE IN CONNECTION TO NORTHEAST ARKANSAS HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION

Updating a story we brought to you earlier this week, a juvenile is in custody in connection to a homicide investigation in Northeast Arkansas.

According to the Paragould Police Department, on November 27th, officers were dispatched to the intersection of Reynolds Road and Country Club Road in reference to a male subject waving down and hitting cars.

Officers located the subject at the intersection and determined that he was possibly under the influence of drugs and/or in need of a mental health evaluation. The subject made multiple statements about his grandfather and officers went to an address given to them to conduct a welfare check.