OFC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT TO BE BROADCAST ON KWOC FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE PAGES

The Ozark Foothills Conference softball tournament is scheduled to begin today.

The tournament, featuring seven area schools, will begin today on the campus of Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff.

Today’s lineup will include 3 seed Twin Rivers battling 6 seed Puxico at 1:30 pm, followed by 4 seed Doniphan taking on 5 seed East Carter at 3:30 pm, and finishing with a matchup between 2 seed Clearwater and 7 seed Naylor at 5:30 pm.

POPLAR BLUFF SCHOOL DISTRICT AWARDED GRANT FOR SCHOOL BASED THERAPIST

The Poplar Bluff School District school-based therapist will be able to get additional certification thanks to a grant.

According to school officials, the District has been awarded an $8,000 competitive grant to certify its school-based therapist in play therapy, a research-developed intervention designed for young students.

A total of a dozen schools and organizations in rural communities throughout central and southern Missouri recently received a quarter-million dollars through the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, in partnership with the Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN TO APPEAR IN COURT TODAY ON CHILD MOLESTATION CHARGES

A Poplar Bluff man is scheduled to appear in court today following his arrest on child molestation charges.

According to a probable cause affidavit, 42 year old Joshua Hensley is accused of having inappropriate contact with a victim who was less than fourteen years of age.

Hensley has been charged with three counts of 1st degree child molestation and a warrant was served for his arrest on Tuesday.

DONIPHAN MAN SENTENCED TO OVER TWO DECADES IN PRISON FOR RECORDING UNDERAGE VICTIM IN BATHROOM

A Doniphan man will spend over two decades in prison for recording an underage victim who was in the bathroom.

52 year old Rayford Evans was convicted of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor after a one-day bench trial in January.

Evidence and testimony showed that Evans used his cell phone to record the victim by holding it up to a window above the bathroom door while the victim was bathing and using the bathroom.

ONE DEAD FOLLOWING CRASH IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

An Arkansas man has died from injuries he received Sunday night in a single vehicle crash in Southeast Missouri.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the 34 year old man from Blytheville, was driving on Route DD in Pemiscot County when his vehicle ran off the roadway and struck a utility pole.

The man, who was not wearing a safety device, was ejected during the crash and pronounced dead at the scene by the Pemiscot County Coroner.

SPRING TURKEY SEASON BEGINS TODAY IN MISSOURI

The regular spring turkey season is underway in Missouri.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, Turkey Season will run through May 11th.

Conservation officials say that two male turkeys or turkeys with visible beards may be taken during the season. Hunters are allowed to take only one turkey during the first week and if you do not take one during the first week, then you may take two turkeys during the second and third week.

CHANCES OF SEVERE WEATHER INCLUDING HEAVY RAIN FOR THIS WEEKEND

Another round of possible severe weather will be entering the area beginning tonight.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, an active weather pattern will return to the area today through Sunday, bringing with it a daily risk of severe thunderstorms.

Large hail and damaging winds will threaten the area all weekend, with Sunday also seeing the risk of tornados increase.

RIPLEY AND BUTLER COUNTY TORNADO ON MARCH 14TH PART OF LONGER TRACT THAT SPANNED OVER 117 MILES

Weather officials say that one of the tornadoes that struck Ripley and Butler Counties on March 14th was the tail end of an EF-4 tornado that stretched over 117 miles.

According to the National Weather Service, the tornado started in western Stone County, Arkansas, before crossing through Izard, Sharp, Randolph, and Ripley Counties, finally ending in western Butler County. It injured four people in total and caused widespread damage to homes and trees.

FIRE DESTROYS BUILDING NEAR DOWNTOWN POPLAR BLUFF

An abandoned commercial building was destroyed by a fire early Tuesday morning in Poplar Bluff.

The fire was located at a building on Bartlett Street between South B Street and South Riverview drive.

Poplar Bluff Fire Chief Mike Moffitt tells KWOC News that crews responded at around 3 am and the fire was advanced when the crews arrived on scene.

A cause for the fire is undetermined and no injuries have been reported.

MID CONTINENT STEEL AND WIRE DONATES SUPPLIES AND FUNDS TO HELP AREA TORNADO VICTIMS

A Poplar Bluff area business is donating supplies and funds to help victims of the recent tornados and severe weather.

Dave Creg with Mid Continent Steel and Wire tells KWOC News that the company is donating two truckloads of supplies, including 360 rolls of various fencing items and 1600 boxes of nails.

Creg added that Mid Continent Steel and Wire employees also contributed to a go fund me account which the company matched, resulting in $10,750 going to tornado victims.

FORMER RIPLEY COUNTY CHIEF DEPUTY ARRESTED FOR STEALING FIREARMS

A former Ripley County law enforcement office has been taken into custody and charged with multiple counts of stealing.

On April 3rd, the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Crime Control investigative unit was requested to investigate the alleged possession of stolen property by a former Ripley County Sheriff’s Office employee.

QULIN MAN SENTENCED ON MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES

A Qulin man will be spending two decades behind bars for his part in a fatal motorcycle crash from 2023.

According to Missouri Case Net, Travis Vincent, of Qulin, pleaded guilty in February to two counts of 1st degree involuntary manslaughter as well as single counts of driving while intoxicated resulting in the death of two or more people and operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner involving an accident.

EF-1 TORNADO TRAVELLED NEAR QUILIN ON APRIL 2ND, DAMAGING OVER A DOZEN HOMES

Tornado surveys continue to come in from the storm system that crossed the area earlier this month.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, an EF-1 tornado touched down near the Arkansas border in far southern Butler County on April 2nd and then tracked northeast passing a few miles southeast of Qulin.

TWO SCHOOL FUNDRAISING ISSUES REJECTED BY VOTERS IN BUTLER COUNTY

Voters have rejected two separate issues that would have helped raise funds for schools in Butler County.

In the Poplar Bluff School District, voters rejected a question by an over two to one vote, that would have issued bonds to build or improve school facilities in the district, including expanding the Early Childhood Center.

It was a little closer for Twin Rivers Proposition C.A.R.E, which would have seen the district borrow eight million dollars to build a new Junior High on the Broseley campus and improve the Qulin and Fisk Elementary Schools. That measure was defeated 314-226.

TWO BUTLER COUNTY SCHOOL ISSUES TO BE DECIDED DURING TODAY’S MUNICIPAL ELECTION

Voters from across Southeast Missouri will be going to the ballot box today for municipal elections.

Voters in the Poplar Bluff School District will decide on a bond question for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, renovating, repairing, furnishing and equipping new and existing school facilities in the district, including expanding the Early Childhood Center.

Twin Rivers R-X is asking for the public’s approval to borrow eight million dollars for the purpose of providing funds for the site development, construction, equipping, and furnishing of new classrooms on the High School campus to serve as the new Junior High as well as for improvements and repairs at the Qulin and Fisk elementary schools, among other projects.

MAJOR FLOODING REPORTED THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

The heavy rains from last week caused flooding throughout Southeast Missouri.

Numerous water rescues were reported, including in Carter, Ripley, Butler, and Doniphan counties, among others.

According to the National Weather Service, rainfall estimates for the four day period ranged from 10 to 15 inches in the New Madrid area, six to eight inches in the Poplar Bluff area, and four to six inches in the Piedmont area.

BLACK RIVER IN BUTLER COUNTY TO BE UNDER A FLOOD WARNING THIS WEEKEND

The Black River in Butler County is one of multiple rivers that will be under a flood warning.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, a multi-day heavy rain event is expected to last through Saturday.

As of right now the Black River at Poplar Bluff is forecast to rise to a maximum value of 21.5 feet Saturday evening which is half of a foot above the Major Flood stage.

The Flood warning will be in effect for Black River in Poplar Bluff from late Friday night through Monday morning.

LARGE STORM SYSTEM BRINGS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND LARGE TORNADOES TO THE AREA

A large storm system crossed Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas Wednesday evening and early Wednesday night bringing with it multiple tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.

Tornadoes were reported in the Qulin area in Butler County, near Cardwell in Dunklin County, as well as in the Advance area in Stoddard County.

A confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was spotted by weather spotters in the Bay and Lake City area of Northeast Arkansas.

STORM SYSTEM EXPECTED TO HIT THE AREA TODAY BRINGING WITH IT CHANCES OF SEVERE WEATHER

We are once again looking at possibilities of severe weather beginning today.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, a very active and potentially very dangerous weather pattern will set up today and continue into the weekend.

Officials say that the entire region is at risk of severe thunderstorms today. All severe weather threats will be possible, including large to very large hail, widespread damaging winds, and potentially strong tornadoes.

Numerous rounds of heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to produce multiple inches of rainfall through Saturday night.

HEAVY FLOODING POSSIBLE WITH UPCOMING STORM SYSTEM

Weather officials are preparing for a possible severe weather event this week.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, a very active and potentially very dangerous weather pattern will set up by Wednesday and continue into the weekend.

Officials say that the entire region is under an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms on Wednesday. All severe weather threats will be possible, including large to very large hail, widespread damaging winds, and potentially strong tornadoes.