Stoddard County, Missouri - Stoddard County Route E will be Reduced for Tree Trimming
 
Route E in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane as contractor crews trim trees along the roadway.

This section of roadway is located from Route FF to Route 25.

Weather permitting, work will take place Thursday, Feb. 4 through Thursday, Feb. 11 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

The work zone will be marked with signs.  Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area.

For additional information, contact MoDOT’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/southeast.

Scott City, Missouri - The Scott County Sheriff's Department is asking for the public's help finding a missing Scott City man.

Sheriff Rick Walter says 23-year-old Zackary Johnston went missing Tuesday, January 19th sometime in the afternoon.

Walter says that Johnston's vehicle has been sitting on the side of AB Road across from Country Road 303 since about 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Johnston is described as a white male, 6 feet tall and  weighing 150 pounds.

Search and Rescue crews are searching for Zachary Johnston on foot and by helicopter.

Doniphan, Missouri - An Endangered Person Advisory has been issued by the Ripley County Sheriff's Department for a missing 19-year-old woman.

Deputies state that Topanga S. Thompson, 19, was last seen around 2 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 11 at Rural Route 2 Box 7641, County Road K-1 in Doniphan, Mo.

She is 5'4", 166 pounds with brown hair, blonde highlights and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a Carhartt jacket, black hooded sweatshirt and black sweatpants.

Deputies say Thompson reportedly suffers from depression and may be suicidal.

They say she left her home on foot and without personal belongings. They are unsure where she was going. They say she left after posting vague, concerning statements on her social media account.

Anyone who has seen Thompson, or has any information, is asked to call 911 or your local law enforcement agency. You may also call the Doniphan Police Department - Ripley County Sheriff's Department at 573-996-5555.

2015 ends with highest fatalities in five years - 

63 percent of fatalities were unbuckled

As of Dec. 31, 853 lives were reported lost in 2015 Missouri traffic crashes. Sixty-three percent of the drivers and passengers killed were not wearing seat belts.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the leading causes of fatal crashes continue to be speeding, driver inattention and impaired driving. A couple of new trends have emerged for 2015 including increases in improper lane use and substance-impaired driving. Those crash trends are showing a 100 percent increase in expressway intersection fatalities and an 82 percent increase in overturning vehicle fatalities when compared to 2014.

"Fifty percent of those not belted were also ejected from the vehicle," said Colonel Bret Johnson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. "Seat belt use is the single most effective way to save lives and reduce injuries resulting from traffic crashes, so make sure everyone is properly restrained on every trip.

"Combined efforts in engineering, law enforcement, education, and emergency medical services aid in the reduction of roadway fatalities," says MoDOT Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger. "With lower gas prices in 2015, we are seeing an increase in the amount of overall travel on Missouri's roads. Drivers need to take a proactive role by wearing their seat belt and focusing on their driving,"

Southeast, Missouri - The Missouri Department of Transportation has closed routes in Southeast Missouri due to the recent flooding. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution and plan alternate routes. Routes that are closed include: Updated Sunday, January 3, 2016 Butler County Route 142- from Route 67 to Route W (Ripley County) Route HH – from CR 202 to CR 214 Route N – from CR 243 to CR 232 Cape Girardeau County OFF-RAMP - I-55 NB to Hwy74 - mile marker 93 OFF-Ramp I-55 SB to MO 74 South Kingshighway in Cape – from Route 74 to Diversion Channel Route 177 – from Cape Rock to CR 640 Route 177 – from Route J to CR 610 over Indian Creek Route 177 – from CR 627 to CR 649 (Closed except for LOCAL/FOOT traffic) Route 25 – from Route 74 to Blomeyer Route 74 – from Route 25 to Diversion Channel Route A – over Hubble Creek Route AB – over Ramsey Creek to SEMO Port (Scott County) Carter County Route M – over Mill Creek Dunklin County Route ZZ – from CR 721 to end of state maintenance  Iron County Route F – from CR 164 to CR 165 (Crane Pond Creek) Madison County Route V – from Route F to CR 243 New Madrid County Route 162 – from CR 439 to end of state maintenance Route P – CR 727 to Route BB Route WW – from Route P to end of maintenance Route V – from CR 702 to CR 708 Mississippi County Route 60/62 – Closed in Cairo Route 77 – from Route A to the Dorena Ferry Route 80 – from Levee Rd to end of state maintenance Ozark County Route 95 – over Bryant Creek Pemiscot Route 164 – from Levee Road to CR 553 Perry County Route 51 – Chester bridge to Illinois Route A – from CR 460 to end of state maintenance Route C – from CR 352 to CR 354 Route E – from CR 322 to CR 354 Route H – from Route 51 to Route 61 (Ste. Gen County) Route M – from CR 924 to Route H Reynolds County Route CC – From CR 464 to Wayne County line  Ripley County Route 142- from Route W to Route 67 (Butler County) Route H – from CR H-8 to Route KK Route H – from Route KK to CR H-9 Route W – from 142 to the Arkansas State Line Scott County Route AB – over Ramsey Creek to SEMO Port Route E – from CR 342 to Washington Street (Commerce) Ste. Genevieve County Route 61 – from Route M to Route H Route J – from Buehler Road to Route 61 Route U – from Route 61 to end of state maintenance (St. Mary)                     Route V – from Route 61 to Sugar Bottom Road Route M – from Route J to Eisenbeis Bottom Road Wayne County                                                               Route FF – from CR 380 to Route 67   For more information, please contact MoDOT's Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636)