THREE RIVERS COLLEGE TO HOST BATTLE OF THE BULLS THIS WEEKEND
Rodeo action will be returning to Poplar Bluff this weekend.
The Three Rivers College Rodeo Team is hosting the 3rd Annual Battle of the Bulls on September 6th at Ray Clinton Park.
The event will begin at 7 pm featuring bull riding and barrel racing.
FAIRDEALING WOMAN KILLED IN SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH
A woman was killed in an early morning crash in Stoddard County.
According to the authorities, the crash occurred shortly after 2 am Thursday morning on US Highway 51, three miles south of Puxico, when a vehicle ran off the roadway and struck an embankment.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as a 44 year old woman from Fairdealing, was pronounced dead at the scene by Stoddard County Coroner Brent Stidham.
MASS CASUALTY TRAINING EVENT SCHEDULED FOR TODAY IN POPLAR BLUFF
A mass casualty training event is scheduled for today in Poplar Bluff.
The event will be held this morning on Kennedy and Baron Road behind Municipal Utilities.
Butler County EMS Communications and Public Relations chief Katy Ormsby tells KWOC News that the training helps emergency responders prepare for a mass casualty emergency such as a natural disaster.
MAN ARRESTED ON WEAPON AND DRUG CHARGES IN WAYNE COUNTY
A man has been taken into custody in Wayne County on weapon and drug charges.
According to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, on August 22nd, deputies responded to a residence in Wappapello regarding a male subject acting erratically and firing a firearm.
At the scene, deputies seized the firearm and found narcotic equipment containing methamphetamine residue on the person of a subject identified as Jared Hull.
R.W. HUNTINGTON POOL TO CLOSE FOR THE SEASON THIS WEEKEND
A popular Poplar Bluff attraction will be closing for the season after this weekend.
Officials with Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation tell KWOC News that time is running out for swimmers to enjoy the R.W. Huntington Pool this season.
The last day the pool will be open is Sunday, August 31st.
MULES FOOTBALL KICKS OFF REGULAR SEASON THIS FRIDAY IN JONESBORO
The Poplar Bluff Mules Football team is looking to get the 2025 football season off to a great start this week against Valley View High School, from Jonesboro, Arkansas.
The Mules will travel to Jonesboro on Friday, with kickoff set for 7 pm. It will be the first game for each team this season. The teams also kicked off the season last year with Valley View picking up a 42-14 win in Poplar Bluff.
The Mules went 4-5 in the regular season last year before falling to Cape Central in the Class 5, District 1 Semi-Finals. Valley View finished the 2024 campaign with a 12-1 record, with their season coming to an end in the Arkansas Class 5A State Semifinals.
NO FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED AFTER BODY FOUND NEAR BLOOMFIELD
Officials in Stoddard County say that no foul play is suspected in connection to a body that was found earlier this week.
According to Stoddard County Chief Deputy Andrew Holden, the Stoddard County Sheriff’s Office and Coroner’s Office responded to the scene of a deceased individual Monday evening near State Highway AB, north of Bloomfield.
The individual has since been identified as 46 year old Michael Curry, of Matthews.
FIVE SCHOOLS SET TO START TODAY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
School opening week in Southeast Missouri will be wrapping up today with at least five more schools welcoming back students.
Naylor, Ripley County R-3, Ripley County R-4, Zalma, and Marquand Zion R-6 are all beginning their school years today.
With most schools having started, motorists are again reminded to be mindful of increased traffic on roadways as well as an increase in student drivers.
DAMAGE REPORTED IN MULTIPLE AREAS FOLLOWING TUESDAY STORMS
Severe thunderstorms crossed Butler County and most of Southeast Missouri on Tuesday, causing multiple reports of damage.
Damage was reported in the Legacy Estates area of Poplar Bluff where fences were blown down, playground equipment was demolished, and some roof shingles were blown off.
There was also a report of a garage door being blown in near Home Depot.
Heavy rains in northern Butler County also caused a flood advisory to be in effect for a period of time Tuesday afternoon due to flooded roads.
MAN DROWNS WHILE SWIMMING OVER THE WEEKEND IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
A man drowned while swimming over the weekend in Southeast Missouri.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 30 year old man from St. Louis was swimming in a private lake near Patton Saturday afternoon when he submerged and did not resurface.
The man’s body was recovered and he was pronounced dead at the scene by Bollinger County Coroner Calvin Troxell.
MANY SOUTHEAST MISSOURI SCHOOLS TO RETURN TO CLASS TODAY
Numerous schools around Southeast Missouri are set to return to classes today.
At least 15 area school districts will hold their first day of school today, including Sacred Heart, Shady Grove State School, Westwood Baptist Academy, Greenville, New Madrid County, and Portageville.
Three Rivers College, Southeast Missouri State University, and Mineral Area College will also be having the first day of classes for the Fall Semester today.
POPLAR BLUFF MULES FOOTBALL SCRIMMAGE SET FOR THIS WEEKEND
The Poplar Bluff Mules football team will be kicking off the fall season this week.
The Maroon/White Scrimmage game will be held Saturday at 7 pm at Poplar Bluff High School. Poplar Bluff Athletics Director Joe Brown tells KWOC News that they will be taking sports drink donations at the door for admission.
Today’s Talk KWOC 93.3 FM and 930 AM will be covering the scrimmage live Saturday beginning at 6:45 pm on the KWOC Facebook and River Radio Youtube pages.
OPEN HOUSE AND ORIENTATIONS IN THE POPLAR BLUFF R-1 SCHOOL DISTRICT TO START TODAY
Parents in Poplar Bluff will have the opportunity to learn more about the schools their children will be attending this fall during a series of open houses scheduled to begin today.
The Poplar Bluff High School Open House is set for today and will be followed by Freshman Orientation on the 15th.
Early Childhood Meet the teacher visits are scheduled for August 15th, 18th, and 19th.
CROWLEY RIDGE SCHOOL IN DEXTER TO PERMANENTLY CLOSE BY THE END OF THE 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR
State officials have made the decision to permanently close a Dexter school.
Crowley Ridge School was one of 12 Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education operated Schools for the Severely Disabled that the state Board of Education has approved to permanently close by next year.
According to a news release, Crowley Ridge will close by the conclusion of the 2025-26 school year.
CRASH INVOLVING ELECTRIC BICYCLE LEAVES ONE DEAD IN NEW MADRID COUNTY
A Marston man was killed in a weekend crash on US Highway 61.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the man was riding on an electric bicycle Sunday afternoon when he failed to yield and pulled into the path of another vehicle.
The man, identified as 65 year old Randy Phillips, was pronounced dead at the scene by New Madrid County Coroner, George Delisle.
ONE NEW MEMBER ELECTED TO OZARK BORDER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Ozark Border Electric Cooperative held its annual meeting on Friday.
Voting was conducted all throughout the week leading up to the meeting to decide who would take the seats on the Ozark Border Board of Directors.
For District 2, Incumbent Judy Lunsford was reelected, defeating two challengers for the seat.
Bill Hager also won his reelection bid in District 3.
OZARK BORDER ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULED FOR TODAY
The annual membership meeting of the Ozark Border Electric Cooperative will be conducted today.
The meeting will be held at 2:30 pm at the Ozark Border Headquarters on South Westwood Boulevard in Poplar Bluff.
Members will be voting for the Board of Directors, with three seats being contested. The first will see incumbent Judy Lunsford taking on Gary Melton and Tod Spradley for the District 2 seat. Incumbent Bill Hager will be facing Derek Boyers for the District 3 seat.
The other race is in District 4, where incumbent Greg Lintz is being challenged by Chad Payne. Each race is for a three year term.
IDENTITY RELEASED OF VICTIM IN FATAL RIPLEY COUNTY INCIDENT
Authorities have released the name of a woman killed in an incident early Monday morning in Ripley County.
Ripley County Coroner Mike Jackson tells KWOC News that 57 year old Tammy Summers, of Naylor, was found dead on Route H, near County Road H-7.
According to Missouri Case Net, 57 year old James Dempsey, of Naylor, has been charged with felony 1st degree involuntary manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident - accident resulting in a death, and operating a vehicle on a highway without valid license.
NAYLOR MAN FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES INCLUDING INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER
A Naylor man is in custody in connection to the death of a subject Monday morning in Ripley County.
According to Missouri Case Net, 57 year old James Dempsey has been charged with felony 1st degree involuntary manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident - accident resulting in a death, and operating a vehicle on a highway without valid license.
According to a Probable Cause Affidavit, shortly after 3 am Monday morning, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper was notified of a deceased person on a bike on Route H, near County Road H-7.
BUTLER COUNTY EMA LOOKING FOR NAMES OF VOLUNTEERS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO HELPED POPLAR BLUFF RECOVER FROM SPRING STORMS
The Butler County EMA Director is looking for the names of people who helped the area recover following the storms that occurred in March.
According to Robbie Myers, they are looking for the name of any group, agency, church, business, or individual that helped the community during the storm recovery.
The list will be shared online, with legislators, and Governor Mike Kehoe.
