Law enforcement increased for Tough Mudder event

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- With an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 people expected to converge on Poplar Bluff, Mo., this weekend for the Tough Mudder event, law enforcement personnel will have an increased presence in the area.

Brick's Off Road Park, located off of County Road 484, will be the site of Tough Mudder, a 10- to 12-mile obstacle course featuring 25 obstacles designed by British Special Forces to reportedly test "all around strength, stamina, mental grit and camaraderie."

Rounds kick off around 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, with several thousand expected to participate in the obstacle course. Additional spectators are expected.

On Saturday, County Road 484 will be made one-way, leading into and out of Brick's Off Road Park from Highway F, according to Butler County Cpl. Randal Huddleston, who described the road as being horseshoe shaped.

"We are going to have five officers that are committed to traffic control for the event; they (Tough Mudder) have contracted our office from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday for the traffic control," Huddleston said.

The deputies, he said, will be working traffic control Saturday "for sure" and possibly Sunday, Huddleston said. "They weren't sure how many applicants for Sunday" were going to be participating.

The decision about traffic control, including whether County Road 484 also will be one-way on Sunday, he said, will be made Friday afternoon.

"We also will have two officers working the DWI grants that will also be in that area to assist with any traffic issues we may have," Huddleston said.

In addition to working the driving-while-intoxicated grants, Huddleston said, officers will be working the department's HMV (hazardous-moving vehicle) grant.

"We're going to rely on the local zones; they are going to provide added patrols in the immediate area of the numbered and lettered highways there," said Missouri State Highway Patrol Lt. Mike Pulliam.

The Highway Patrol is "committed to handling situations as they come up, but we are aren't anticipating problems," said Trooper Clark Parrott, Troop E's public information officer.

With as many as 12,000 people coming to Poplar Bluff for the Tough Mudder competition, "we are excited for the businesses and participants," said Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley.

"We want them to have a fun and safe event; therefore, we will step up patrols and have a zero tolerance on drinking and driving, as we always do," Whiteley said.

In anticipation of the crowd, Huddleston said, sheriff's department personnel have been working with Missouri Department of Transportation and Butler County Highway Department officials to get the "proper signs up to alert traffic."

Butler County Lt. Brian Evans cautions motorists to be aware of the U.S. 160 and Highway F intersection.

"I'm afraid there will be a lot of slow-moving traffic coming in and out of that intersection," which sits atop a hill for eastbound U.S. 160 traffic, Evans said.

"We urge everyone to drive safely and use common sense when trying to enter that area," Huddleston said.