ROCK THE COUNTRY FESTIVAL STOP IN POPLAR BLUFF CANCELLED

A highly anticipated festival in the Poplar Bluff area will not be happening.

Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce President Steve Halter has confirmed to KWOC News that Rock the Country has cancelled the Poplar Bluff stop for the festival that had been scheduled for May 2nd and 3rd at Brick’s Off Road Park.

Halter added that they understand that ticket sales may not have met expectations so far this year, they firmly believe that the addition of Little Rock as a venue played a significant role in slowing momentum, along with changes to the artist lineup.

TWO INJURED, ONE SERIOUSLY, IN CARTER COUNTY CRASH

Two people were injured Wednesday evening in a two vehicle crash near Ellsinore.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 39 year old male from Blodgett was cresting over a hill on US Highway 60 when he struck the rear of a vehicle in front of him. The second vehicle then ran off the roadway.

The man suffered serious injuries in the crash and was taken by ambulance to a Poplar Bluff hospital.

OVER TWO INCHES OF RAIN POSSIBLE BEFORE THE END OF THE WEEK IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

A weather system could bring heavy rain to Southeast Missouri today and tomorrow.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, a low pressure system will cross the area with the steadiest rain occurring today into tonight.

Areas such as Poplar Bluff, Dexter, and Doniphan could see two to four inches of rainfall as a part of this system.

Weather officials say that locally higher amounts are also possible in Southeast Missouri and that flash flooding issues may occur in areas that see over two inches of rain.

ILLNESS FORCES CANCELLATION OF CLASSES AT ANOTHER SOUTHEAST MISSOURI SCHOOL

Illness has struck another Southeast Missouri school.

Campbell R-2 school officials have announced that school will not be in session today or tomorrow. Both days will be utilized as AMI days.

Campbell will also have no extra-curricular activities either day with the exception of FBLA Districts.

This has also forced the postponement of parent-teacher conferences which were originally scheduled for Thursday. Officials say that the conferences will now be held from 3 to 7 pm on Thursday, February 13th.

GATEWOOD MAN CONVICTED OF ASSAULT AND WEAPON CHARGES

A Gatewood man is behind bars following his conviction on multiple charges including assault.

According to Ripley County Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Michel, 41 year old Bryan Grissom was found guilty by a Ripley County jury on Friday of numerous charges, including assault in the first degree, unlawful possession of a firearm, and two counts of armed criminal action.

Grissom was accused of firing a shot at a driver at the intersection of Highway 142 and Highway P in July of 2023.

MISSOURI STATE SENATOR JASON BEAN NAMED POPLAR BLUFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

A Missouri State Senator is being recognized for his efforts in helping the lives of the citizens of Poplar Bluff.

Senator Jason Bean was announced as the 2025 Citizen of the Year during the 87th Annual Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce Banquet Saturday night at the Black River Coliseum.

Bean is a fifth generation Missourian and he currently lives on the same farm where he grew up and learned how to farm in Southeast Missouri.

MISSOURI HIGHLANDS HEALTH CARE TO HOST COMMUNITY GIVE BACK EVENT TODAY

A local business is celebrating 50 years of helping our local area with a community give back event today.

Missouri Highlands Health Care will be set up today at the River Radio parking lot in Poplar Bluff beginning at 10 am to hand out free heaters, socks, hand warmers, hats, gloves, and emergency blankets.

The event will continue through 2 pm or until supplies run out.

DONIPHAN MAN CONVICTED OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR

A Doniphan man is facing up to three decades in prison following his conviction on a sexual exploitation charge.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 52 year old Rayford Evans, of Doniphan, was found guilty Tuesday of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor.

Evans is accused of using his cell phone to record a juvenile who was in a bathroom.

TWO ARRESTED FOLLOWING PURSUIT IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

Two people are facing charges following a pursuit from this past weekend in Northeast Arkansas.

According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, on Saturday, a Deputy attempted to make a traffic stop on US Highway 62 when the vehicle refused to pull over.

The vehicle then turned onto a gravel road and led the deputy on a chase that reached over 60 miles per hour.

The deputy performed a tactical vehicle intervention which caused the suspect vehicle to go into a ditch.

DONALD TRUMP INAUGURATED AS 47TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Donald Trump has begun his second term as President of the United States of America.

President Trump took the oath of office on Monday inside the Capital Rotunda. The event had been moved indoors from the National Mall due to intense cold weather in the Washington D.C. area.

The swearing-in was last moved indoors in 1985, when President Ronald Reagan began his second term.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STUDENT ELECTED MISSOURI JUNIOR BETA PRESIDENT

Last week was a big one for many Junior High and elementary students in Southeast Missouri.

Many students competed in a variety of categories at the Missouri Junior and Elementary Beta convention in Branson.

One student who stood out was 7th Grader Brooklyn Bader, from St. Teresa Catholic School in Glennonville, who was elected the Missouri Junior Beta President.

WIND CHILL VALUES EXPECTED TO DROP TO CLOSE TO ZERO EARLY NEXT WEEK

Arctic air will push dangerously cold temperatures to our region next week.

According to the National Weather Service, a wave of very cold Arctic air will impact the region beginning Sunday.

Wind chill values will be in the single digits to teens in Poplar Bluff, in addition to getting close to zero early Monday morning.

ALMOST 700 JOBS TO BE LOST WITH CLOSURE OF NORTHEAST ARKANSAS PLANT

Almost 700 people will be impacted with the closure of a Northeast Arkansas plant.

Allison Hestand with the Paragould Chamber of Commerce has confirmed to KWOC News that they received notice Tuesday that the Tenneco Plant in Paragould would be closing and that 687 individuals would ultimately be affected.

Hestand says that a Greene County Employers Job Fair has been scheduled for 1 to 4 pm on March 11th at the Paragould Community Center to assist in job relocation efforts for these employees.

MAN DUE IN COURT IN CONNECTION TO ALLEGED STABBING

A Harviell man is scheduled to be in court on Thursday in connection to a stabbing incident from over the weekend.

According to Missouri Case Net, 38 year old Joshua Scowden has been charged with assault 1st degree, domestic assault 1st degree, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Scowden is accused of stabbing a victim several times following a verbal confrontation on Saturday. The victim was flown to an area hospital for treatment of the injuries.

TRAIN STRIKES CAR IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS, ONE PERSON DEAD

One man is dead after a train struck a vehicle Sunday afternoon in Northeast Arkansas.

According to the Arkansas State Police, 82 year old David Smith, of Paragould, was driving on Greene County Road 434 when he failed to yield to an oncoming train and was struck on the passenger side of his vehicle.

Officials say that Smith was killed in the collision, which occurred near the county road’s intersection with US Highway 49.

KENNETT MAN SCHEDULED TO APPEAR IN COURT THIS WEEK ON CHILD MOLESTATION CHARGES

An area man is scheduled to appear in court this week on multiple child molestation charges.

According to authorities, 41 year old Ryan Cuff, of Kennett, was arrested earlier this month on several charges, including two counts of child molestation - 1st degree, along with single counts of statutory sodomy and furnishing pornographic material to a minor.

Cuff was arrested by the Dunklin County Sheriff’s Department and held on a $150,000 cash only bond.

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING

A winter storm warning will continue for most of our listening area through this evening.

According to the National Weather Service, at least an inch or two of snow has fallen over a majority of Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas this morning.

SNOW LIKELY TO START LATE TONIGHT, REGION COULD SEE UP TO FIVE INCHES

An early January snowfall is expected to blanket the region late tonight.

According to the National Weather Service, accumulating snowfall is likely across the entire region with impacts to travel expected. Snowfall totals could range from one to five inches, with higher totals expected in our southern regions.

The snow is forecast to start sometime between midnight and 6 am tomorrow morning. A winter storm warning will be in effect for most of the region beginning at midnight tonight.

ROAD DIET PLAN IN POPLAR BLUFF CHANGED TO ONLY BE EAST OF THE BLACK RIVER

A proposed change to a major road in Poplar Bluff has been scaled back.

KWOC News spoke with MoDOT Southeast District Project Manager Curt Woolsey who told us that the proposed “Road Diet” for Business 60/Pine Street will now only include the area east of the Black River.

The original plan would have reconfigured Business 60 in Poplar Bluff from an undivided 4 lane to a 3 lane with one eastbound lane, a center turn lane and one westbound lane from 10th Street to Route B.

WARMING CENTERS OPEN IN BUTLER COUNTY TO PROVIDE SHELTER FROM THE COLD

An arctic chill is crossing our area this week dropping temperatures below freezing and wind chills into the single digits.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, an extended period of sub-freezing conditions is expected through at least Thursday. The most impactful conditions are expected Tuesday night, when wind chill values will be in the single digits for many in our listening area.

In Butler County, the Bread Shed will be acting as an overnight warming center from 7 pm to 7 am this week when the temperatures get below 20 degrees.