POPLAR BLUFF PARKS AND RECREATION TO HOST BACK TO SCHOOL BASH THIS WEEKEND
The Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Department has started preparations for the end of summer event.
The Free Back to School Bash has been scheduled for 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday at Whiteley Park in Poplar Bluff.
There will be music, yard games, food trucks, and fun for the entire family. Registration is open for food trucks as well as for local organizations who want to give away school supplies at the event.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON MULTIPLE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES
A Poplar Bluff man was taken into custody early Thursday morning on multiple child pornography related charges.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 45 year old Michael McDaniel was arrested shortly after midnight on three felony counts of possession of child pornography and one felony count of promoting child pornography.
Following the arrest, McDaniel was held at the Butler County Justice Center.
DATE SET FOR DUCK BLIND DRAWING AT WAPPAPELLO LAKE
A date has been announced for the annual duck blind drawing at Wappapello Lake.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers the drawing and registration will be held at 9:00 a.m. on August 17th, at the Bill Emerson Memorial Visitors Center.
The registration fee is $15 and applicants are asked to use a credit or debit card.
NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING BEGINS FOR UPCOMING PRIMARY ELECTION
Missouri residents can now vote absentee for the upcoming primary election without having a reason to do so.
No excuse absentee voting began today for the Missouri Primary, which is scheduled for August 6th.
An absentee ballot can be requested from your local election authority. According to the Butler County Clerk’s office, a photo ID will be needed if someone wants to vote absentee.
ONE DEAD, ANOTHER INJURED, IN CONNECTION TO CRASH IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
One man is dead in connection to a weekend crash in Southeast Missouri.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 51 year old Alphonso Savage, of Chicago, Illinois, was driving on Interstate 55 Sunday night when his vehicle struck the towed unit of another vehicle.
Savage was transported to a Hayti hospital where he was pronounced dead.
PRESIDENT BIDEN ENDS REELECTION CAMPAIGN, ENDORSES VP HARRIS FOR NOMINATION
President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for reelection.
The decision comes after escalating pressure from Biden’s Democratic allies to step aside following the June 27 debate.
Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take on former president Dondald Trump, and encouraged his party to unite behind her.
PLANS UNDERWAY TO REPLACE TWO BRIDGES IN BUTLER COUNTY
The Missouri Department of Transportation has announced plans to replace two bridges in Southeast Missouri.
According to officials, the bridges are located on Route MM over Harviell Ditch, and on Route 158 over Craven Ditch.
Work to replace the bridges could begin as early as January 2025. The roadway will be closed in the vicinity of the Route MM and Route 158 bridges for approximately 90 days as construction is underway. Completion is anticipated by November 2026.
RECTOR MAN IN CUSTODY ON MULTIPLE COUNTS OF RAPE
A Rector man has been taken into custody on multiple charges, including rape.
According to court documents, on June 13th, officers conducted an interview with an underage victim who had run away from home. The victim disclosed sexual mistreatment by an adult that had happened over multiple years.
A warrant was issued for 31 year old Joseph Gore, on charges of rape, sexual indecency with a child, endangering the welfare of a minor, aggravated assault, and terroristic threatening.
ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING TO BE CONDUCTED TODAY AT DEXTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Do not be frightened if you see an elevated police presence today at Dexter schools.
According to Captain John Moore, the Dexter Police Department will be conducting Mock Active Shooter training this morning at the Dexter Public Schools.
The Dexter Fire Department, Stoddard County Sheriff’s Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Stoddard County EMS, and Dexter Public Schools will be involved in this training.
16TH ANNUAL MULE SKINNER GOLF TOURNAMENT SET FOR AUGUST
The 16th Annual Mule Skinner Golf Tournament is coming up in August.
The four person scramble tournament will be held on Friday, August 2nd at the Westwood Hills Country Club in Poplar Bluff. Lunch will begin at 11:30 am with a shotgun start at 1 pm.
Organizers say the entry fee is $600 per team, which includes a cart and lunch. Hole sponsorships are available for $200 per hole.
HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR EARLY THIS WEEK
A Heat Advisory is in effect for the early part of this week.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, the advisory is for most of Southeast Missouri through Tuesday night.
Hot temperatures and high humidity will cause heat index values to rise to approximately 100 to 110 degrees.
NEW ANNUAL REGISTRATION PROCESS ANNOUNCED FOR POPLAR BLUFF SCHOOLS
It is now easier for parents in Poplar Bluff to complete their children’s annual registration for Poplar Bluff Schools.
School officials have announced that most of the back-to-school verification paperwork can now be completed online through the new Campus Parent Portal.
All existing Poplar Bluff School District families must complete the Annual Verification process each year to ensure that school records are up to date.
POPLAR BLUFF BUS DRIVER NAMED MOAPT DRIVER OF THE YEAR
A Poplar Bluff school bus driver has been named the Missouri Association for Pupil Transportation Driver of the Year.
Jason Davis was recently given the award during the MOAPT 59th Annual Conference and Trade Show.
Davis has been a bus driver since 2017 and is also a certified trainer and bus inspector, on top of running daily routes for the High School and Kindergarten Center.
RESIDENTS URGED TO BE CAUTIOUS OF SUSPICIOUS EMAILS FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL SOURCES
Area residents are being urged to be cautious about suspicious emails from what appears to be local government officials.
Lieutenant Josh Stewart with the Poplar Bluff Police Department tells KWOC News that the emails started going out this week saying that they contain statements from Butler County or the City of Poplar Bluff or similar nomenclature.
If you receive an email like this and are not expecting it, do not open any attachments or click on any links in the email. It could contain malware or other malicious software that could affect your computer.
REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM BERYL CAUSING FLOODING CHANCES IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
The remnants of Tropical System Beryl are crossing Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas today, increasing the risk of flooding throughout the area.
According to the National Weather Service, tropical downpours will lead to multiple inches of rain possibly falling across the area this week, with totals potentially getting up to as high as six inches in parts of Wayne, Carter, Ripley, and Butler Counties.
The storm system is also bringing with it chances of severe thunderstorms, heavy winds, and possible tornadoes this afternoon and evening.
ANNUAL DEXTER GRILLE IT UP SET FOR THIS WEEKEND
Multiple attractions are scheduled for the 8th Annual Dexter Grille It Up this weekend.
The two day event will begin at 5 pm on July 12th and at 8 am on July 13th at East Park in Dexter.
There will be a car show, mud volleyball tournament, cornhole tournament, and cook off contest, along with numerous vendors and live music, among other attractions.
For more information, visit the Dexter Parks and Recreation Facebook page.
HEAT INDICES EXPECTED TO GET WELL ABOVE 100 DEGREES TODAY
Hot weather will be covering the area today and area residents are encouraged to take precautions.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, heat index values are expected to reach 105 to 110 degrees today, depending on the timing of possible thunderstorms. A heat advisory or excessive heat warning will also be in effect today for some areas.
Most of Southeast Missouri has a slight risk of severe weather, including isolated to scattered thunderstorms today into tonight.
RIVER RADIO BLOOD DRIVE SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEK
Reservations are now being accepted for the next River Radio Blood Drive in Poplar Bluff.
The Blood Drive has been scheduled for noon to 5 pm on Friday, July 5th, at Larry Hillis Dodge on North Westwood Boulevard.
Anyone wanting to donate can call 1-800 Red Cross or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter the code CARDS to schedule an appointment.
MULES GOLF TEAM TO PLAY IN NATIONAL TOURNAMENT THIS WEEK
The Poplar Bluff Mules will be participating in a National Tournament this week.
The Class 4 State Champion Mules Golf team is playing in the 2024 High School Golf National Invitational.
The 54-hole event showcases 312 of the best High School golfers in the country.
Poplar Bluff Athletics Director Kent Keith tells KWOC News that the tournament will be held today through Wednesday at the Omni PGA Frisco Resort in Frisco, Texas.
LONGTIME RIVER RADIO GENERAL MANAGER JOHN RICE RETIRES
Friday will be the final day at work for a fixture in the Poplar Bluff community.
River Radio General Manager John Rice is retiring after over 30 years with the company. Rice started as a marketing consultant in 1991, before being promoted to sales manager and eventually General Manager.
Rice has helped entertain and inform Poplar Bluff and the surrounding communities through good times, bad times, natural disasters and more, he has been here for it all.
