FORMER KENNETT DEPUTY CITY CLERK ARRESTED FOR STEALING ALMOST $80,000 FROM THE CITY

A former Kennett deputy City Clerk has been taken into custody after being accused of stealing almost $80,000 from the city.

Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Jain tells KWOC News that 37 year old Leslie Osorio, now of Paragould, Arkansas has been charged with stealing after a fraud investigation by the Missouri State Auditor’s Office.

In 2022, the City requested the Missouri State Auditor’s office conduct a fraud investigation when the City realized that Osorio’s 2021 Form W-2, reported more than $140,000 in wages.

OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE ROAD DIET PLAN CANCELLED FOR PINE STREET IN POPLAR BLUFF

The road diet planned for Business Highway 60 and Pine Street in Poplar Bluff will not be going forward.

According to Poplar Bluff city manager Robert Knodell, after discussions with the Missouri Department of Transportation, the City of Poplar Bluff has agreed to increase the law enforcement presence along Business 60/Pine Street instead of MoDOT reconfiguring the roadway with a road diet.

The original plan would have changed Pine Street from a four lane road to a three lane road including a center turning lane from Route B through 10th street. The plan was later reduced to just being east of the Black River.

MULTIPLE INCHES OF SNOW FALLS ON SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

Area residents are waking up this morning to what some may consider a winter wonderland.

According to the National Weather Service, multiple inches of snow fell late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas.

Officials say that roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, have become slick and hazardous. Travel could be very difficult during your morning commute.

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas are bracing for a major winter weather event this week.

According to the National Weather Service, a winter storm warning with the possibility of some areas seeing over eight inches of snow falling.

Senior Forecaster Derrick Snyder with the National Weather Service tells us more.

HEAVY SNOW POSSIBLE FOR THIS WEEK

A light weekend snowfall is looking like a prelude to a much bigger snow storm this week.

According to a Hazardous Weather Outlook from the National Weather Service in Paducah,

Accumulating snowfall with travel impacts is becoming increasingly likely Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning.

PUXICO AND TWIN RIVERS TO MEET TONIGHT WITH OFC CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE LINE

Tonight is Championship night at the Ozark Foothills Conference Basketball tournament.

Three championship games will be played tonight at the Libla Family Sports Complex on the campus of Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff.

The First game will be the Junior Varsity Final between East Carter and Neelyville at 5 pm.

That game will be followed by the Girls Varsity Championship game featuring Doniphan and Neelyville at 6:30 pm.

THIRD PLACE GAMES SET FOR TODAY AT THE OFC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

After a couple of days off, the Ozark Foothills Conference Basketball tournament will restart today with three third place matchups at Clearwater High School in Piedmont.

The day will start off with the boys junior varsity third place game between Puxico and Twin Rivers at 5 pm.

The second game of the day will be between the Twin Rivers and East Carter girls varsity teams at 6:30 pm.

WESTWOOD BAPTIST ACADEMY TO BE PLAYING FOR STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP THIS WEEK

Two Poplar Bluff basketball teams will be playing for state championships this week.

Westwood Baptist Academy are sending both their boys and girls teams to the Missouri Christian Schools Athletic Association Winter Tournament in Joplin.

The boys team is defending back to back MCSAA State Champions. They will tip off their first game of the tournament at 7:30 pm on Thursday against Lighthouse Preparatory Academy out of Jefferson City.

The girls team will start play at 6 pm on Thursday, taking on Center Place Restoration School from Independence.

MAN IN CUSTODY IN CONNECTION TO STABBING INVESTIGATION

Police in Poplar Bluff have taken a man into custody in connection to a stabbing investigation.

According to Poplar Bluff Police Chief Michael McClain, at approximately 10:39 pm on Sunday, officers responded to Casey’s General Store on East Pine Boulevard for a stabbing.

At the scene, officers contacted a 40-year-old white female who was suffering from multiple stab wounds. The victim told officers that she did not know who attacked her.

MAN FACING ROBBERY CHARGE FOLLOWING INCIDENT AT NAYLOR AREA BANK

Authorities responded to a reported bank robbery on Friday at a bank in the Naylor area.

According to Ripley County Sheriff Rad Talbert deputies responded to People’s Community Bank in Naylor at around 8:45 am Friday for a report of a robbery.

Employees told deputies that they recognized the suspect as a frequent customer.

NEW POPLAR BLUFF CITY MANAGER MEETS WITH PUBLIC

Poplar Bluff residents got a chance to meet their new city manager Thursday night.

City Manager Robert Knodell conducted a meet and greet with area residents at the Black River Coliseum.

Speaking with KWOC News, Knodell spoke about the great people in the Poplar Bluff community and what a great place to live Poplar Bluff is.

POPLAR BLUFF SCHOOL FOUNDATION APPROVES THREE CLASSROOM GRANTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL

Three Poplar Bluff High School classrooms will be getting technological upgrades thanks to a grant from the Poplar Bluff School Foundation.

The Foundation has recently allocated $3,500 for technology upgrades through the nonprofit's innovative educational project program.

Foundation board members unanimously approved to finance rovers, hubs, and graphing calculators for the Math Department; a wall-mounted television and camera setup for family and consumer sciences; and drone kits for computer science.

CREWS RESPOND TO STORAGE TANK FIRE IN CAMPBELL AREA

Crews with the Campbell Volunteer Fire Department and Malden Fire Department responded to the scene of a fuel storage tank fire Monday night.

According to the Campbell Volunteer Fire Department, storage tanks containing over 10,000 gallons of diesel and gasoline were on fire off of H Highway.

Officials reported that there were several ruptures and small explosions visible. Crews were able to contain the fire so firefighters could reach the shut off valve and terminate the fuel to the fire.

POPLAR BLUFF FAMILY INDUCTED INTO MISSOURI SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Three members of a Poplar Bluff family are now a part of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

According to Poplar Bluff Athletics Director Kent Keith, the Godwin Golf Family was inducted into the Hall on Sunday.

Buddy Godwin won more than 100 amateur tournaments and was also an eight-time winner of the Ozark Open. He also won the Missouri Amateur in 1973 and later competed in several PGA Senior Tour events.

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.