Poplar Bluff News

Mercury Drop-off Locations

2012-02-02T18:45:00.001-06:00

The Missouri DNR is sponsoring nearly 50 mercury drop-off locations throughout the state in an effort to rid homes of mercury.

Local drop-off sites are the Cape Girardeau Health Department, the Scott County Health Department and the Perry County Health Department. The Cape Girardeau and Perry County health departments are open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Scott County Health Department is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The roundup will end May 31st. Items should be placed in two zip-top plastic bags and then placed in a crush-proof sealed container, such as a coffee can, plastic tub or plastic beverage bottle.

Redistricting Lawsuit

2012-02-01T17:54:00.001-06:00

A Republican expert on political reapportionment is defending Missouri's newly redrawn U.S. House districts in court.

Thomas Hofeller testified Wednesday in Cole County Circuit Court, where a judge is weighing two lawsuits that challenge the new congressional map. The plaintiffs argue that the eight districts fail to meet a requirement to be geographically compact. Hofeller says if Missouri's new map is rejected for that reason, then a "tremendous number" of congressional and legislative maps throughout the country would also fall short of being compact. The Missouri Supreme Court has set a Friday deadline for the lower court to rule on the challenges.

Cocaine Abuse Mom in Court

2012-02-01T17:51:00.001-06:00

The Cape Girardeau mother whose infant daughter tested positive for cocaine on Jan. 1 waived will be back in court next month.

31-year-old Brooke Whitener, was arrested on New Year's Day when hospital personnel said her 18-month-old daughter tested positive for cocaine after being rushed to Southeast Hospital with seizures and a high fever. A urine test conducted by the Division of Protective Services reportedly found that Whitener's two older daughters, ages 12 and 14, had cocaine in their system as well. Whitener is charged with three counts of child endangerment and faces up to seven years in prison for each count. She will be back in court March 6 for a pretrial hearing

Spence Campaign Ads

2012-01-31T20:05:00.001-06:00

Republican businessman Dave Spence launched the first ads of Missouri's gubernatorial campaign Tuesday.

The minute-long radio ad includes the voices of several people praising Spence's work as a private-sector businessman. The ads mark the first significant campaign expense by Spence, who put $2 million toward his race shortly after announcing last fall that he would seek to challenge Gov. Jay Nixon in the 2012 elections. The only other Republican in the race, former Kansas City attorney Bill Randles, has just a few thousand dollars in his campaign account but has attended Republican events around the state for about a year.

Joplin Tourism Feared

2012-01-31T20:02:00.001-06:00

Eight months after a tornado laid waste to much of this city, Joplin is wrestling with an emotional question: Should the community market its devastated neighborhoods to tourists?

The convention and visitors bureau recently discussed offering guided bus tours and even a smartphone app. But storm victims objected, imagining that their shattered homes could be put on display for legions of curious sightseers. The bureau director says he wants to promote Joplin's recovery. He insists the effort is ``not about busted-up homes or destroyed cars or body parts.'' Signs of revival are slowly emerging from the ruins left by the May 22 twister, which killed 161 people. Debris has been cleared, and Home Depot and other stores have rebuilt. Hundreds of construction permits have been issued, too.

Guilty Plea in Son's Death

2012-01-30T18:59:00.001-06:00

The Cape Girardeau man accused of killing his infant son admitted to fatally striking the child minutes before jury selection was set to begin for his murder trial Monday.

Allen Walker Jr. was charged with second-degree murder and child endangerment stemming from his 7-week-old son's death in August 2010. While the jury pool waited for selection to begin Monday in the Scott County Courthouse, Walker admitted to Judge Benjamin Lewis that he struck his son but did not intend to kill him. Cape Girardeau Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle told the Southeast Missourian the plea was a surprise to everyone. In addition to the plea, Walker waived his right to a presentence investigation and received a 15-year sentence.

Man Pleads Guilty in Nephew's Death

2012-01-30T18:57:00.001-06:00

A Joplin man who was accused of challenging his 11-year-old nephew to a drinking game has pleaded guilty in the boy's alcohol-poisoning death.

Twenty-nine-year-old Dale Phillips had been scheduled for trial next month on charges of second-degree murder and endangering the welfare of a child. Phillips pleaded guilty to those charges Monday. Phillips' nephew, Tyler Fecko, was found dead in July 2009 at his uncle's apartment, where the boy had been staying. Authorities said the boy died after taking part in a drinking game with Phillips and his girlfriend. The girlfriend, Linda Petrait, was sentenced last month to 13 years in prison. She had pleaded guilty last year to second-degree murder and child endangerment.

CG Man on Trial for Murder of Infant

2012-01-29T18:23:00.001-06:00

The Cape Girardeau man accused of murdering his infant son will stand trial Tuesday.

Jury selection for Allen Walker's starts in Benton, Mo. today, and the trial will begin in Jackson on Tuesday. Walker is charged with second-degree murder and child endangerment in connection to the death of 7-week-old son in August 2010. Walker was watching his infant twins Aug. 22, 2010. When the twins' mother, Ashley Locklear, came home that day, she noticed bruises on her son's face and head. After scans and X-ray examinations at a hospital, the infant was airlifted to a hospital in St. Louis. Doctors in Cape Girardeau and St. Louis discovered skull fractures, bruising on the child's face and rib fractures that were already healing at the time of the child's death. The infant died four days later.

Ballot Measure on Payday Loans

2012-01-29T18:19:00.000-06:00

Two Missouri organizations are working together to push ballot measures seeking to cap payday loan interest rates and increase the state minimum wage.

Missourians for Responsible Lending and Give Missourians A Raise kicked off the two initiative petition campaigns Saturday. The group Grass Roots Organizing hosted the joint event at the Boone County Commission Chambers. Each petition drive needs to collect roughly 105,000 valid signatures from six of the state's nine congressional districts to appear on the November ballot. Opponents of capping the payday loan interest rate at 36 percent already have amassed more than $500,000 for their campaign chests. The other initiative seeks to boost the state minimum wage by a dollar to $8.25 an hour.

SUPCO Declines Redistricting Case

2012-01-26T19:23:00.001-06:00

The Missouri Supreme Court on Thursday declined to strike down new state legislative districts, and suggested opponents of new state House districts take up their fight before a trial judge.

Missouri's high court declined the request to block a new map for the 163-member state House but permitted a legal challenge to be filed in circuit court. An attorney representing more than a dozen people who challenged the new House districts said the suit could be filed soon. The Supreme Court this month rejected new districts for the 34-member state Senate and ordered further legal review by a trial court in two separate lawsuits challenging a new U.S. House map that reconfigures the state into eight districts instead of the current nine.

Let Voters Decide committee

2012-01-26T19:21:00.001-06:00

A group pushing to replace Missouri's income tax with a broader sales tax says it's received a million-dollar contribution.

The committee Let Voters Decide said Thursday that businessman Rex Sinquefield has donated more than $1.2 million to its effort. It's the second big donation from Sinquefield, who contributed $1.3 million last fall. Let Voters Decide is working to put the proposal to a statewide vote in November. It also supports similar measures in the state Legislature. The group's president, says abolishing the income tax in favor of a broader sales tax would help improve Missouri's economy. Opponents contend the change would cut state revenue and hurt middle-class and low-income residents.

CG Dress Code Committee Formed

2012-01-25T18:20:00.001-06:00

Cape Girardeau parents and community members are forming a committee to look at the issue of dress in public schools.

The group's leader, Eric Redinger, told the Southeast Missourian they would like to be known as the dress code enforcement committee and would like to see minimum standards for dress created and implemented for the district's students as opposed to a strict dress code or uniform policy. At its first meeting Tuesday night the committee discussed creating a proposal to present to the School Board, which will vote Feb. 27 on a uniform policy proposed by a staff dress code committee.

Teen Cops Plea in Plot

2012-01-24T20:01:00.001-06:00

A northeast Missouri teenager accused of plotting a massacre at his school has pleaded no contest to a reduced charge.

18-year-old Donald Waters Jr. was sentenced Tuesday to three years of probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor attempted assault while on school property. Waters had been scheduled to go on trial Tuesday on a felony charge. Waters was a senior at Winfield High School when he arrested last spring, accused of planning to shoot as many people at the school as possible. Detectives said they found evidence on his computer that he researched how to build and shoot weapons. But no weapons were found at his home, and Waters' attorney said the computer research was part of a school project.

Senate Passes Bill on Obamacare

2012-01-24T20:00:00.001-06:00

-- Missouri's Republican-led Senate endorsed legislation Tuesday aimed at preventing the state from implementing part of President Obama's health care overhaul.

The federal health care law gives states until 2014 to either set up their own insurance exchanges, which allow consumers to shop online for health insurance, or have one run by the federal government. The legislation given initial approval Tuesday would block Gov. Jay Nixon from creating an exchange by executive order, instead requiring legislative or voter approval before Missouri could take steps to set up an insurance exchange. Debate focused on a provision that would prevent state departments from receiving or spending any federal money to begin setting up the exchanges unless the legislature votes to create one. Sponsoring Sen. Rob Schaaf said the measure would assure that Missouri lawmakers remain in control of the state's finances.

Woman Shoots Shrink

2012-01-23T19:29:00.001-06:00

A Texas woman accused of killing a Missouri psychiatrist who had an affair with her husband has been arraigned on charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action.

52-year-old Shannon O'Roark Griffin, appeared Monday in Clay County Circuit Court over a video link from the county jail. Authorities say O'Roark Griffin and her husband attended a counseling session Jan. 13 in Great Bend, Kan., where Roscoe Griffin told his wife of the affair with Dr. Irina Puscariu. Police say O'Roark Griffin then drove 250 miles to Puscariu's home in Gladstone, Mo., and shot her. A judge scheduled a preliminary hearing Feb. 24.

Proposal for MO Gov to pick running mate

2012-01-23T19:27:00.001-06:00

Two Republican state senators want candidates for Missouri governor and lieutenant governor to run on joint party tickets.

Sen. John Lamping, of St. Louis County, has proposed an amendment to the state Constitution requiring anyone running for governor to pick a running mate before the party primaries.

A constitutional amendment by Sen. Jason Crowell, of Cape Girardeau, would let candidates for governor name their running mates after the primaries.

Crowell and Lamping outlined their proposals Monday to a Senate committee. Both would take effect beginning with the 2016 elections if they pass the Legislature and win approval on a statewide ballot.

Former Boy Scout Leader Sentenced

2012-01-22T18:54:00.001-06:00

A former mid-Missouri Boy Scout leader suspected of exposing himself to a scout has pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and supplying intoxicants to a minor.

24-year-old John Murphy of Fulton entered the plea last week in Boone County Circuit Court. A judge sentenced him to two years of unsupervised probation and fined him $150.
Murphy initially was arrested on suspicion of second- and third-degree sexual misconduct. Police alleged he twice exposed himself to a 17-year-old in June and supplied alcohol to the teen.
Police said the alleged incidents didn't occur during scout functions. Murphy was a Fulton troop assistant scout master.

Bonnie and Clyde Guns Sold at Auction

2012-01-22T18:51:00.001-06:00

Two guns thought to have been used by bank-robbing fugitives Bonnie and Clyde have snatched $210,000 at a Kansas City auction.

The Joplin Globe reported it took less than 15 minutes of bidding Saturday to sell the pair of rare weapons believed to have been seized from the outlaw couple's Joplin hideout in 1933.
The weapons were owned by the great-grandchildren of a Tulsa, Okla., police detective who was given them by a police officer involved in the raid. The weapons had spent the past 40 years in a Springfield police museum. An unidentified online bidder from the East Coast paid $130,000 for the .45-caliber, fully automatic Thompson submachine gun - better known as a Tommy gun. The same bidder paid $80,000 for the 1897 Winchester 12-gauge shotgun.

Minors Selling Tobacco

2012-01-19T21:20:00.001-06:00

A Missouri senator wants to bar stores from letting clerks younger than 18 sell tobacco products.

Sen. Kiki Curls, a Kansas City Democrat, told a Senate committee that allowing teens under 18 to sell tobacco could make it easier for minors to start smoking or chewing at a young age. She said clerks under 18 also have a difficult time turning down buyers who are under 18, potentially allowing minors to purchase tobacco products.

Under her proposal, stores that allow minors to sell tobacco would be fined as much as $500 per violation.

Retail organizations opposed the measure, saying it could hurt grocery stores and gas stations that employ high school students as clerks.

Govt Spending Amendment

2012-01-19T21:18:00.001-06:00

Increases in state government spending would be limited under a constitutional amendment endorsed Thursday by the Missouri House.

Annual increases would be capped at a growth limit that is the sum of the annual rates of inflation and population change, plus 1.5 percent of the revenue collected by the state in the previous year. Extra revenue would go toward state debts and budget funds. Eventually, money could be returned to taxpayers through a tax cut.

SW MO Animal Abuse

2012-01-17T18:46:00.001-06:00

Dozens of animals were removed Tuesday from a southwest Missouri property.

44 dogs and a cat were taken to the Humane Society's facility in St. Louis . The Humane Society says many of the dogs were living inside a trailer and an outbuilding. Officials say conditions were filthy and many of the animals appeared to be thin, with coats covered with urine and feces. The owner's name was not released. Authorities say the owner originally agreed to surrender the dogs, but changed her mind, forcing the sheriff's department to obtain a warrant. A disposition hearing is scheduled for Jan. 27 in Galena.

Measure to Bar Teacher Tenure

2012-01-17T18:45:00.001-06:00

A proposed state constitutional amendment would bar tenure for Missouri's school teachers.

The proposed initiative petition could appear before voters in November if supporters gather between 147,000 and 160,000 signatures. Under the measure, school districts receiving state funding or local tax revenue could not enter into new contracts with teachers for a term of more than three years. Schools would be barred from receiving public funding if seniority plays any role in determining whether to fire or promote teachers. In addition, every school district would be required to use local performance standards for salary and hiring and firing decisions. Most of the local standards would need to be based upon student performance that is measured with objective criteria.

MO Grocery Prices

2012-01-16T19:36:00.001-06:00

Doesn't happen very often . . . but grocery prices in Missouri rose to more than the national average in the final quarter of 2011.

And the USDA says prices will continue to go up this year. The American Farm Bureau tracks grocery prices in its Market Basket Survey, a review of 16 agriculture products frequently purchased by U.S. households. Missouri generally trends under the national average. But in the fourth quarter of 2011, the price of those 16 items in Missouri rose by $2.69 to $52.01. The national average of those items declined $3.89 to $49.23.

Public Hearing on Quarry Annex in Jackson

2012-01-15T17:21:00.001-06:00

Jackson residents will have the opportunity Tuesday to hear the pros and cons of annexing a quarry into the city to prepare them to vote on the issue Feb. 7.

Owners of a tract of about 240 acres north of Jackson containing Heartland Materials' quarry applied to join the city in October and city officials approved a resolution to annex the area Oct. 17. Mayor Barbara Lohr said in November that bringing more businesses into the city was a priority, and quarry officials cited Jackson's pro-business attitude as a draw.
However, the Southeast Missourian reports a petition against the annexation signed by more than 5 percent of city voters blocked the resolution, forcing the matter to the ballot, and some Jackson residents want the city to share specific details on how the deal will affect them before they weigh in at the polls. The public hearing is at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Jackson City Hall.

Woman Faces Manslaughter Charges

2012-01-15T14:29:00.001-06:00

A Patton, Mo., woman faces a manslaughter charge after an autopsy revealed that one of her home-health patients had ulcers and bedsores with maggots in the wounds when she died.

53-year-old Sherrie Coomer is charged in connection to the death of 80-year-old Patricia Joan Langston. When authorities arrived at Langston's home on Jewel Drive to investigate her Oct. 23 death, foul play was not initially suspected. However, the Southeast Missourian reports that when Coroner John Clifton arrived at the scene, he noticed a strong smell of decomposition and found that she was sitting in a feces-stained diaper. Clifton found several bedsores on the woman's back with maggots, in the wounds. Langston had employed Coomer to stay with her 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Coomer was paid to groom and bathe her, as well as ensure she took her medication and went to doctors' appointments. Coomer will be arraigned Tuesday.

Trooper's Remains Found

2012-01-12T21:25:00.001-06:00

The body of a Missouri highway patrolman who disappeared while watching over flooded areas last summer was found Thursday not far from the original search area.

46-year-old Fred Guthrie Jr., hadn't been seen since Aug. 1, when his still-running truck, with a trailer attached, was found northeast of the village of Big Lake in northwest Missouri's Holt County. His remains were found in a brush pile within 200 or 300 yards of the original search site as crews filled a hole in a state highway. After Guthrie's disappearance, troopers repeatedly and unsuccessfully combed farm fields but only managed to find the remains of his canine partner, Reed. The patrol declared Guthrie dead in September, and a funeral and memorial service were held for the father of three last month. Troopers had been assigned to the construction site where Guthrie's remains were found.

Spence Changes Website

2012-01-12T21:19:00.001-06:00

A Missouri gubernatorial candidate has changed a claim on his campaign website that he earned a college degree in economics.

The changes come after Dave Spence acknowledged earlier this week that it may have been misleading to state in his original online biography that he earned an economics degree _ without originally noting that it was in home economics. On Thursday, the Republican's website first was changed to remove any reference to a degree, stating merely that he attended
the University of Missouri-Columbia. Later in the day, the website was changed again to state that he majored in family economics and management and earned a bachelor's of science degree in home economics. Spence is seeking to challenge Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon in this year's elections.

Former Congressman Sentenced

2012-01-11T20:09:00.001-06:00

A former Michigan congressman and U.S. delegate to the United Nations has been sentenced to a year and one day in prison for lobbying for a Missouri-based Islamic charity that had been identified as a global terrorist organization.

60-year-old Mark Siljander, a Republican who served in Congress from 1981-1987, pleaded guilty in July 2010 to obstructing justice and acting as an unregistered foreign agent in connection with his work for the Islamic American Relief Agency, based in Columbia, Mo. In his plea agreement, Siljander acknowledged that he lobbied between March and May 2004 on behalf of the IARA for the organization to be removed from a U.S. Senate Finance Committee list of charities suspected of funding international terrorism. Siljander also acknowledged that he failed to register as an agent of a foreign entity and had lied to FBI agents and prosecutors acting on behalf of a federal grand jury.

MDMC Going Tobacco Free

2012-01-11T20:06:00.001-06:00

Missouri Delta Medical Center is going tobacco free.

Jason Schrumpf, president of Missour Delta says the medical center will adopt a tobacco-free campus beginning Aug. 1st of this year. He says smoking is a health and safety hazard both to tobacco users and nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke. He noted tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. and that Missouri ranks third in adult smoking rates in the nation. Nearly 10,000 Missourians die from tobacco-related illnesses ever year. Annual health costs from tobacco use are estimated at $1.96 billion statewide with the lost productivity estimated at $2.34 billion.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Hiring

2012-01-11T03:23:00.001-06:00

The Missouri State Highway Patrol currently is seeking applications for their 96th recruit class. Qualified individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is March 4.
Candidates must have a Minimum of 60 college credit hours
Two years of federal active duty military service with an honorable discharge OR
Two years of post-certified, full-time law enforcement experience at the time recruit training begins
Testing is offered at nine Missouri locations:
Troop A (Lee's Summit) - March 10
Troop C (Weldon Spring) - March 3
Troop D (Missouri State University-Springfield) - March 3
Troop G (West Plains) - March 3
Troop E (Poplar Bluff) - March 17
Troop H (St. Joseph) - March 17
Troop I (Waynesville) - March 10
Troop B (Macon) - March 3
General Headquarters (Jefferson City) March 23, 24, 26 and 28

BATFE Investigating Fire

2012-01-11T03:22:00.001-06:00

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced Tuesday they are offering a reward leading to an arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the fire at the Kennett Country Club. According to a press release, the ATF is offering a reward for $10,000. This is in addition of the $5,000 offered by the Missouri Office of the State Fire Marshal's Office. The country club was destroyed by an overnight fire on November 14. When investigators were able to inspect inside the remaining structure, they determined the fire was arson. The clubhouse, restaurant, and pro shop were all destroyed in the fire. The damage is estimated at $2 million dollars. The remaining building was demolished the first week of January. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the Missouri Arson Hotline at 1-800-39ARSON (1-800-392-7766).

Arsonist Admits Setting Fire

2012-01-10T21:23:00.001-06:00

A man who told police he was upset by a pay cut has admitted setting fire to a southeast Missouri office complex where he worked.

26-year-old Mark Carleton faces up to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree arson Monday in Cape Girardeau Circuit Court. The fire broke out at the Cape Girardeau complex just before midnight on Nov. 21 and caused more than half a million dollars in damage. Carleton worked for a company that occupied two floors of the complex, and officers found him at the scene with a respirator mask. According to court documents, he told investigators he was angry over a pay cut and started the fire with a cigarette lighter and some paper. The office complex was condemned Nov. 22.

Dress Code Work Session

2012-01-10T21:21:00.001-06:00

The Cape Girardeau school board has planned a special work session to discuss details of a controversial proposal to change the district's current dress code policies.

The session will come two days after the second of two public forums regarding the initial draft of a proposal that would require students to adhere to a stricter dress code policy beginning in next school year. The work session is scheduled for 5 p.m. Jan. 19 in the upstairs meeting room of the central district office. It will be open to the public. The school board would have to approve the proposal before any changes are made to the current dress code policy. The board is scheduled to vote on the proposal during a regularly scheduled school board meeting Feb. 27.

Fire Claims Lives of two PB Boys

2012-01-09T19:56:00.001-06:00

- A Sunday morning fire that claimed the life to two Poplar Bluff boys is believed to be accidental.

16-year-old Kyle Dicken, and 12-year-old Dylan Campbell, were found dead inside the bedroom of their 115 Relief St. home. Butler County Coroner Jim Akers says the boys died of complications from smoke inhalation. Two adults, Rebecca Cox and James Dicken, and a girl were able to escape the home. Officials say there were no working smoke detectors in the home, which was being remodeled after last year's spring flooding. Akers says a child death review panel will be held. He says the panel is held anytime someone under 18 dies.
For those who are unable to afford a smoke detector, Stucker said, the fire department will provide a free one to any household in the city. The detectors may be picked up at the Broadway fire station.

MO Man Arraigned on Murder Charge

2012-01-09T19:51:00.001-06:00

A Missouri man charged with killing a co-worker with a hatchet and attacking another woman with a razor has been arraigned on first-degree murder and other charges.

Quintin O'Dell is a 22-year-old Eagle Scout from Platte City who is accused of hacking to death Alissa Faye Shippert. Shippert was found slain last spring in a state conservation area where she had been fishing. The two worked together at an area convenience store. O'Dell is also charged with slashing open the stomach of a Ferrelview woman he had been drinking with Christmas night. A Platte County circuit court judge entered not guilty pleas Monday on O'Dell's behalf. O'Dell is jailed in Platte County on a $750,000 cash-only bond.

Woman Sentenced for Child Death

2012-01-08T20:54:00.001-06:00

A southwest Missouri woman has been sentenced to 13 years in prison in the alcohol poisoning death of an 11-year-old boy.

29-year-old Linda Petrait chose not to speak at Friday's sentencing hearing. Her family told the court she loved Tyler Fecko. But his mother, Angie Edwards, asked rhetorically, "What was she thinking?" Petrait pleaded guilty in October to second-degree murder and felony child endangerment. Without the plea, she could have faced a much longer sentence. Her 29-year-old boyfriend, Dale Phillips, also was charged in the July 2009 death of Tyler, who was his nephew. Authorities said the two Joplin residents were playing a drinking game with the boy while he was staying at Phillips' apartment. Phillips is set to go to trial Feb. 7.

Sen. McCaskill Tour

2012-01-05T21:30:00.001-06:00

Sen. Claire McCaskill will be touring power plants across Missouri this month as part of what she is billing as her "Hometown Energy Tour."

McCaskill plans stops in the Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia, St. Louis and Cape Girardeau areas. The Democratic senator, who is up for re-election this year, says she also hopes to visit with people who work in or rely on Missouri's energy production businesses. McCaskill says she'll be discussing her support for national energy policies that she says are "practical, accessible, and affordable" and don't penalize states like Missouri that largely rely on coal to generate electricity.

Kids in Shed

2012-01-05T21:28:00.001-06:00

Six residents of eastern Missouri are facing child endangerment charges for allegedly putting three young children in a locked shed.

Crawford County deputies responding to a home in a rural area Tuesday night found six adults inside, including a woman who had been hit on the head. Deputies heard children yelling and Sheriff Randy Martin says the children were found in a locked shed on the property. The children were ages 1, 2 and 4. Martin says the shed had been turned into a makeshift room with two beds, but the temperatures was 45 degrees. The children were placed with other relatives. The injured woman was treated at a hospital, then was arrested.

New Butler County Website

2012-01-05T03:25:00.001-06:00

People all over the world can now find all that Butler County and the greater Poplar Bluff area has to offer thanks to the Tourism Committee at the Chamber of Commerce, along with the help of Poole Advertising and the Missouri Division of Tourism. In 2010 the Chamber started focusing efforts to promote the area as a destination spot for visitors. In July of 2010 the Butler County Commission officially passed a resolution designating the Chamber as the Designated Marketing Organization (DMO). “The Chamber has always served as the local Center for Visitors, however this designation made us official in the eyes of the Missouri Division of Tourism. Our building is such a nice facility in a great
central location and offers tons of information”, said Steve Halter, President of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. The new website can be viewed at http://visitbutlercountymo.com/.

Malco Theaters Opening

2012-01-04T18:28:00.001-06:00

Sikeston residents can keep going to the movies in their hometown. . .

Malco Theatres has reached an agreement with Central Realty in St. Louis, owners of the shopping center on East Malone Avenue where the Malco Trio is located. The theater's future in Sikeston had been in doubt after it was shut down by the city in early October due to numerous code violations. The closure came on the heels of the city council's decision to reject a proposed one-cent Community Improvement District tax to help renovate the building and parking area. The tax was strongly opposed by other businesses within the proposed district. Theater executive vice president James Tashie says the building is now up to code and they're working with the landlord to make some additional improvements.

Bonnie and Clyde Auction

2012-01-04T18:26:00.001-06:00

Later this month in Missouri, two rare pieces of American history go on the auction block.

Two guns once owned by outlaws Bonnie and Clyde will go on the auction block. The guns were taken from the notorious couple in a police raid in 1933 in Joplin. Auctioneer Robert Mayo, owner of the auction house where the guns will be sold, says he hopes to get a lot of bucks for something that goes bang:

The weapons are owned by the great-grandchildren of a Tulsa, Okla., police detective who was given them by a police officer involved in the April 1933 raid.

MO Business Wish List

2012-01-03T21:18:00.001-06:00

-- Missouri business groups are listing changes in workers' compensation, employment law and civil lawsuits as their top priorities in the legislative session that starts today (Wednesday.)

Representatives of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Missouri Merchants and Manufacturers Association and other groups outlined their priorities at a news conference Tuesday. Proposals backed by the business groups include legislation making it harder to sue for job discrimination and overruling some court decisions on workers' compensation. They're also supporting proposals to curtail what they call frivolous lawsuits. The business groups contend the measures would boost economic development in Missouri without costing state government any money.

ACLU Library Suit

2012-01-03T21:16:00.001-06:00

The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit Tuesday against a small Missouri town's public library, claiming it unconstitutionally blocks access to websites related to Wicca and other minority religions.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in St. Louis on behalf of Anaka Hunter, a resident of Salem, a largely Christian community of about 5,000 residents in the Missouri Ozarks. It claims that Hunter was trying to do research at the Salem Public Library but filtering software blocked access to many sites about religions such as Wicca, an earth-based religion. Hunter was also unable to access sites about Native American Religions. The suit said some religions were labeled "occult" or even "criminal." Library director Glenda Wofford said it isn't the library's intent to prohibit reasonable use of the Internet for research and other legitimate purposes. She said she would have unblocked websites but Hunter refused to specify which sites she wanted to access, citing privacy rights.

Trail of Tears Hike

2011-12-28T20:21:00.001-06:00

Nine Missouri state parks, along with others across the nation, will kick off the new year with First Day Hikes on Sunday.

One of these free, guided hikes will take place in Trail of Tears State Park near Jackson. Those wishing to participate should meet at the park's visitor center at 1 p.m. The hike will be approximately two miles along the park's southern boundary. To register, call 573-290-5268 and leave a message. For more information on the First Day Hikes and Missouri state parks visit mostateparks.com. For information on the First Day Hikes across the nation, visit americasstateparks.org.

New Radar Units

2011-12-27T21:07:00.001-06:00

The Perry County Sheriff's Department and Scott City Police Department are two of eight Southeast Missouri law enforcement agencies to receive a new radar unit from the Southeast Coalition for Roadway Safety.

Perry County's unit is valued at $2,700 and will replace the department's 10-year-old unit. Sheriff Jason Kelly says the County includes parts of Interstate 55, U.S. Highway 61 and Missouri Highway 51, all which have higher volumes of traffic and higher rates of speed. Other agencies receiving radar units are police departments in Houston, Piedmont, , Thayer, West Plains and Willow Springs

The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety is group representing engineering, enforcement, education and emergency medical services. It was created in 2004 to reduce traffic fatalities and disabling injuries on Missouri's roads.

Illegal Immigrant Charged

2011-12-27T21:05:00.001-06:00

A Cape Girardeau fast food restaurant employee faces a felony charge after police discovered the employees may be illegal immigrants.

After getting several complaints that Chik-Fil-A on Gordonville Road, had illegal immigrants working there, Cape Girardeau police investigated and found that Enrique Diaz-Rey had illegally forged documents to work there. Four other employees may also be charged. Diaz-Rey faces up to seven years in prison if he's not deported. He will be arraigned Dec. 29. Chik-Fil-A owner Brian House declined to comment on the investigation.

Car Dragged by Train

2011-12-26T17:59:00.001-06:00

An Illinois man is lucky to be alive after a freak accident. . .

A train dragged a car 200 yards from a railway crossing in Perry County on Monday morning. The Burlington Northern locomotive train was traveling north near Highway 51 when the driver of a Dodge Intrepid traveling north on the road at McBride's Crossing disregarded the gates and lights and struck the side of an empty train car. Three cars were derailed, and the car was a total loss. The driver of the Intrepid, Antonio Hernandez-Oxlaj of Percy, Illinois, was uninjured.

Adjutant General welcomes last troops from Iraq

2011-12-23T09:19:00.001-06:00

The last Missouri National Guard members have returned to the state as part of the U.S. military’s withdrawal from Iraq.

Major General Stephen Danner says the 23 members of the 139th Airlift Wing of the Air National Guard are home just in time to be with their families for Christmas. Those soldiers were providing security at Bagdad International Airport.

The 139th is based in St. Joseph.
Danner says for a military man or woman, being home for the holidays is tremendous. “When you’re out in the field you’ve got your buddies with you that you celebrate the holidays with, but we all know that no matter how good our friends are, our families are our blood. You always want to be home with your family and especially with your kids. That’s something you just can’t replace and you can’t live over again.”
Had it not been for this withdrawal, the General says it is unclear how long the Guard might have had a presence in Iraq.

Teen Scheduled for Trial

2011-12-22T20:57:00.001-06:00

The murder trial of a mid-Missouri teen accused of killing a young neighbor girl has been scheduled for Jan. 30 in the federal courthouse in Jefferson City.

In an order signed Thursday, Cole County Circuit Judge Pat Joyce says attorneys have indicated the trial of 17-year-old Alyssa Bustamante could take two weeks. Joyce says the federal courthouse is a better venue because other cases in the Cole County courthouse would need to be rescheduled during the murder trial. Bustamante was 15 when she was charged with stabbing and strangling 9-year-old Elizabeth Olten in October 2009. The girls were neighbors in St. Martins, just west of Jefferson City.

Selling Alcohol to Minors

2011-12-22T20:55:00.001-06:00

Six Cape Giradeau clerks have been cited for selling alcohol to minors...

Roughly one-fifth of the Cape Girardeau gas stations and other businesses canvassed during a routine alcohol compliance check Sunday had employees receive summonses for supplying alcohol to minors. The Cape Girardeau Police Department sent people under 21 into 33 area businesses to try to purchase alcohol. Police say six of the attempts proved successful as they were able to buy alcohol at businesses scattered throughout the city. Every Cape Girardeau gas station was checked that night, along with select bars and other businesses.

Wal-Mart Recalls Infant Formula

2011-12-21T21:25:00.001-06:00

Wal-Mart has pulled a batch of powdered infant formula from its stores nationwide after a newborn Missouri boy died after being given the formula.

No government recall had been ordered for the 12.5-ounce cans of Enfamil Newborn powder with the lot number ZP1J7G. Manufacturer Mead Johnson Nutrition said its records showed the lot tested negative for the bacterium before it was shipped. But a Wal-Mart spokeswoman said the company decided to pull the lot out of caution while health officials investigate Sunday's death of 10-day-old Avery Cornett. The product could go back on shelves depending on the outcome of the investigation, but customers who bought the cans have the option of returning them for a refund or exchange.

Man Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping

2011-12-21T21:22:00.001-06:00

A Utah man will spend 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty Wednesday to kidnapping his ex-girlfriend and driving her dead body to Missouri in a 50-gallon plastic bin.

The plea agreement also includes the condition that Michael Doyel plead guilty to a pending first-degree murder charge in Utah's state court. Doyel faces a life prison sentence in that case. In court papers, Doyel said that between April 16 and 21, 2008, he kidnapped 50-year-old Deborah Jones because she had ended their romantic relationship and he wanted her back. The papers say Doyel bound Jones' hand and feet with nylon cords, stuffed her body inside a plastic bin then covered her with clothes, towels and a plastic tarp. Doyel also said he used deodorant sticks to mask the odor of Jones' decomposing body and drove her car to Branson, Missouri. Doyel was arrested at a motel in Branson after police spotted the car.

Bankrupt Airplane Manufacturer

2011-12-20T18:17:00.001-06:00

Commander Premier Aircraft Corp. has dropped its legal challenge to the October eviction from a city-owned hangar at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

The bankrupted airplane manufacturer on Monday voluntarily dismissed its appeal to the eviction. The Southeast Missourian reports the courts officially dismissed the appeal later that day. The case is still in front of the federal bankruptcy courts, with a hearing scheduled for Jan. 17 in Tyler, Texas. City officials want the company's bankruptcy status to be changed from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7 to recoup the more than $800,000 that court documents show the company owes city coffers from unpaid lease payments.

Waller Father Dies

2011-12-20T18:15:00.001-06:00

Relatives of Jacque Waller say they remain hopeful that the case of the missing Missouri woman will be resolved despite the death of a potential witness.

Waller is a Cape Girardeau mother of triplets who has been missing since June 1. Her estranged husband, Clay Waller, has not been charged but allegedly confessed to his father that he killed Jacque Waller by breaking her neck during a fight. But Clay Waller's father, James Waller, died Tuesday. He had been bedridden with an assortment of illnesses and prosecutors had sought to depose him and preserve his testimony in case he died. A judge denied the request because no charges had been filed against Clay Waller. Waller has maintaned his innocense since his wife's disappearance, emphatically denying in a Southeast Missourian interview that he did anything to harm her.

Farmers using Solar Power

2011-12-19T21:22:00.001-06:00

A handful of farmers in southeast Missouri have been using solar power to offset their energy costs and generate power utility companies can buy.

Four farmers in the Gordonville area are using portable trailers equipped with solar panels to power irrigation systems previously operated by gasoline pumps. Mark Nussbaum, an engineer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture office in Jackson, said about 50 local farmers also attended a solar power seminar there last week presented by the University of Missouri Extension. He said when a farmer's solar panels aren't powering an irrigation system, for example, they're hooked into Ameren Missouri's power grid producing energy that Ameren buys. Nussbaum also said the cost of solar panels has dropped, making it more economical for farmers.

Renewable Energy Ballot Initiative

2011-12-19T21:20:00.001-06:00

A newly proposed Missouri ballot initiative seeks to increase the amount electricity coming from renewable energy sources while giving new power to the state's official consumer advocate to make sure the standards are implemented.

The measure would enhance a renewable energy mandate enacted by Missouri voters in 2008. If it garners enough petition signatures, it would appear on the 2012 ballot. But the initiative already is sparking some controversy. State Rep. Jay Barnes has asked Secretary of State Robin Carnahan to recuse her office from its duty of writing a summary for the initiative because Carnahan's younger brother is an investor in wind energy production. A Carnahan spokesman said the request would be reviewed but dismissed concerns of an apparent conflict of interest.

Nixon Budget Proposal to Universities

2011-12-18T21:34:00.001-06:00

Gov. Jay Nixon wants five of Missouri's largest universities to consider tapping their reserves to help plug a hole in next year's state budget.

Nixon's proposal would call for the universities to provide the state $106 million from their reserves. The governor's budget director Linda Luebbering told the Southeast Missourian that the state would pay that money back to those specific universities in their operating budgets for the 2013 fiscal year. Over the next several years, the state then would replenish the university reserves with money diverted from the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority. The net effect of the money transfers is that the universities would shoulder the burden of the state budget cuts in the short-term but would be made whole in the long run. Luebbering described the money shifting as only an idea, not a definite plan. Nixon, a Democrat, is expected to outline his official budget proposal to lawmakers next month.

Lack of Water

2011-12-18T21:28:00.001-06:00

Missouri cropland is so dry from last summer's extreme heat and lack of rainfall that University of Missouri researchers said the state would need 13 feet of snow this winter to make up for it.

Randy Miles, a soil scientist at the university told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that snow may create some hazardous driving conditions, it's still more valuable in the long term.
Missouri corn farmers lost about 24 million bushels of yield last summer, and soybean producers lost about 20 million bushels. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture designated 101 Missouri counties as natural disaster areas, with one estimate putting the loss to the state's grain farmers at nearly $350 million. Missouri is the nation's third-largest producer of hay, but the summer conditions scorched pasture and forage lands, causing a shortage of the now-precious commodity. Some farmers are worried that producers won't have enough to feed their animals by mid-winter.

More Porn Charges for Dexter Man

2011-12-15T20:21:00.001-06:00

A Dexter man previously charged with one count of chld porn posession, now faces additional charges.

Arlie Lewis now faces 63 counts of posessing child porn as well as a drug charge. Stoddard county prosecutor Russ Oliver says after another investigation, 900 more images were recovered through a forensic computer investigation. He says most of the images were of toddlers and children less than six or seven years old engaged is sex acts with adults or posing nude in a sexually explicit manner. Lewis' bond has been amended to $250,000 cash only . With the additional charges, Oliver says Lewis faces a maximum sentence of up to 472 years in prison.

SEMO Board Approves Bonds for Expansion

2011-12-15T20:13:00.001-06:00

The Board of Regents of Southeast Missouri State University have approved $29 million in bonds to build a new residence hall, among other projects.

The 262-bed residence hall will be built on an existing parking lot north of the Seabaugh Polytechnic Building by fall 2013. The Southeast Missourian reports it will be the third expansion of student housing in 10 years. According to the university, the cost of the project is estimated at $30.9 million. Proceeds from the bonds will cover $27 million . Other funding will come from the use of released debt service reserve funds from previous bonds, reserves from changing operations of the university's power plant, maintenance and repair general fees and excess revenue from incidental fees caused by higher numbers of students enrolled.

Probation Changes Recommended

2011-12-14T21:31:00.001-06:00

A special task force is recommending changes to how Missouri handles people who are on parole or probation.

The recommendations presented Wednesday to an interim House committee include allowing people on probation or parole to have their supervision reduced by 30 days for every 30 days they comply with their requirements. The task force also recommended allowing probation and parole officers to order brief jail stays for those who violate their rules. Supporters estimate the recommendations could save several million dollars and reduce the prison population by up to 677 inmates after several years. Supreme Court Judge William Ray Price, who served on the task force, told lawmakers that the goal is to reform behavior while also controlling costs.

Public Defender Caseloads

2011-12-13T19:42:00.001-06:00

The Missouri Supreme Court considered Tuesday whether the state's public defenders can decline to represent additional poor defendants when their caseloads grow too high.

The state's public defender system has set maximum caseload standards for its offices. When limits are exceeded for three consecutive months, the public defender director can opt to certify that an office has limited availability for cases. Officials then are supposed to work with prosecutors and judges to reduce demand for public defenders and temporarily refuse cases for that office if an agreement is not reached. Public defenders contend requiring lawyers to juggle too many cases means they cannot competently represent their clients, creating ethical issues for the attorney and constitutional problems for defendants' rights to legal representation.

New UM President

2011-12-12T21:02:00.001-06:00

The University of Missouri plans to introduce the four-campus system's new president on Tuesday.

Curators chairman Warren Erdman will disclose the university system's 23rd president at a 10 a.m. news conference at the Reynolds Alumni Center. The new leader replaces Gary Forsee, who stepped down in January to care for his wife as she battles cancer. Interim president Steve Owens did not want the job permanently and plans to resume his duties as general counsel. Curators whittled an initial list of 100 candidates to a group of four finalists. No candidate names have been released in the confidential search.

Joplin Schools Demolition

2011-12-11T20:32:00.001-06:00

Demolition has begun on one of several Joplin schools destroyed by the May 22 tornado, bringing a chapter of the city's history to a close.

Work started Friday at Irving Elementary School, constructed in 1927, which will be rebuilt on land where St. John's Regional Medical Center sat before the deadly storm destroyed it.
Demolition of Joplin High School and Franklin Technology Center is scheduled to begin in upcoming weeks. The start dates will depend on items being salvaged from the sites, and their historical importance. Other buildings to be demolished are the Old South Middle School, Emerson Elementary, and the former East Middle School. The Joplin School District has been around since 1872, one year before the city of Joplin was officially incorporated.

Man Charged with Killing Boy

2011-12-08T20:27:00.001-06:00

A southwest Missouri man charged with killing a 4-year-old boy sent cell phone pictures of the boy's body.

Twenty-two-year-old Terry Joe Volner was charged Thursday with first-degree murder in the death of Dusty Guenther. The boy's body was found Wednesday in a lagoon next to the home where his family lived in Wright County. KY3-TV reports that a probable cause statement says Volner called his mother Wednesday and said he killed the boy's mother, her boyfriend, and her four kids. Volner then sent a cell phone picture of the boy with his throat cut. However, no one else was injured. Volner is being held in the Wright County jail on $1 million bond.

Gambling Exclusion List

2011-12-07T21:14:00.001-06:00

Thousands of people who have voluntarily banned themselves from Missouri casinos will get a second chance at playing the slots.

The Missouri Gaming Commission voted Wednesday to relax rules for the state's casino exclusion list, which imposes a lifetime casino ban on problem gamblers who voluntarily sign up for it. Starting next spring, the new rules will allow people to remove themselves from the list after they have been on it for at least five years. The Gaming Commission says there are 16,148 people on the exclusion list. Of those, 11,427 will be eligible to remove themselves beginning March 31.

Disaster Response Study

2011-12-07T21:10:00.001-06:00

A Missouri House committee studying disaster response recommends making it easier for health care providers from other states to help.

The study also supports offering a property tax break and establishing low-interest loans to offset property damage. The panel suggests allowing doctors, nurses and other medical providers licensed in other states to assist in disaster zones. Other recommendations include a property tax break for businesses that are damaged during a disaster, and offering interest-free loans to help offset insurance deductibles or help those without insurance for damaged property. A House committee voted 9-2 on Wednesday to approve the recommendations. This year Missouri was hit by a spate of natural disasters, including tornadoes, flooding and a severe blizzard.

Joplin Autism Donation

2011-12-06T19:22:00.001-06:00

A Joplin couple has donated $3 million to help rebuild an autism center that was destroyed by the May 22 tornado.

The donation from Bill and Virginia Leffen will fund reconstruction of the Ozark Center for Autism. The center has been operating out of temporary locations since reopening a week after the tornado. The donation will allow the autism center to offer all of its services in a single location, including its diagnostic center, preschool, and kindergarten through 12th-grade classrooms. Planning for the center has begun but a completion date has not been determined. Bill Leffen is a former chairman of Commerce Bank of Joplin.

CG Dress Code Survey

2011-12-06T19:20:00.001-06:00

Parents and teachers apparently disagree about the effectiveness of uniforms on student morale and concentration, according to a recent survey.

Parents and faculty were asked to complete online surveys concerning a possible dress code in the Cape Girardeau School District. Respondents for both surveys were asked to answer questions about their perceptions of students' experiences related to discipline, distraction, peer pressure and bullying. The Southeast Missourian reports twenty-five percent of parents said their child had been distracted by what other students were wearing to school, while 70 percent of faculty responded they have witnessed students being distracted by student dress.Twenty-two percent of parents answered that their child had felt anxiety as a result of peer pressure to wear certain clothing, while 44 percent of faculty answered that they have witnessed the same student anxiety. A proposal to amend the dress codes will be presented to the school board at it's work session December 19th.

Army Corps Flood Prediction

2011-12-05T21:31:00.001-06:00

-- Recent heavy rain and forecasts for more wet weather in southeast Missouri have raised the possibility of more flooding along a Mississippi River floodway that was inundated earlier this year.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Monday that based on forecasts for unseasonably high river levels, there is a "significant risk" of more flooding along the Birds Point Floodway in the near future. The corps also said weather patterns that include heavy rains in the region are expected through mid-December and that higher than usual levels of precipitation are also forecast through spring. In May, the corps blew three holes in the Birds Point levee to relieve pressure at the height of the Mississippi River flooding that was threatening nearby Cairo, Ill. About 130,000 acres of farmland were damaged, along with dozens of homes. The corps also said the recent rain has hampered its efforts to restore the levee, which was 62.5 feet high before the explosion.

Accreditation Legislation Proposed

2011-12-05T21:28:00.001-06:00

Missouri lawmakers will again push legislation aimed at preventing an exodus of Kansas City and St. Louis students from their failing schools and overwhelming neighboring districts.

The Supreme Court ruled last year that students living in unaccredited districts are owed free transfers and that accredited schools must take the students. The courts continue to work out the details. The accredited districts fear uncontrolled transfers would overwhelm their schools, while advocates say all students deserve a quality education. A measure aimed at addressing the issue was filed in the Senate last Thursday, the first day lawmakers could begin submitting legislation for the 2012 session. Legislation has been pushed in the past, but the issue has become more pressing now that Kansas City will lose its accreditation Jan. 1.

Auction of CG Federal Building

2011-12-04T21:22:00.001-06:00

A second government attempt to auction off a federal building in southeast Missouri still hasn't received a single bid a month later.

The first auction this summer for the nearly 48,000-square-foot building in Cape Girardeau drew top bids of $615,000 and $625,000, but all three bidders backed out - including two who forfeited $25,000 deposits. General Services Administration spokeswoman Angela Brees said auctions usually start out slowly and then pick up after a close date is announced. She said GSA intends to announce that date within the next three to six weeks, depending on bid activity. Also, the holiday season is not usually a time for a deluge of bids on any government-owned property the GSA wants to get off the government's hands. The asking price for the federal building, constructed in 1967, is $750,000. Brees said the agency has given some tours and fielded a number of calls from prospective bidders.

Man Admits Starting Fires

2011-12-01T20:17:00.001-06:00

A southwest Missouri man admitted that he set fires to trucks at truck stops in six states.

Federal prosecutors say 41-year-old Steven Oakley Price of Licking admitted Thursday that he set fire to tractor-trailer rigs in Missouri, Georgia, Indiana, West Virginia, Iowa and Illinois between August 2009 and June 2010. Fortunately no one was injured. Price, a truck driver, inserted fuel-soaked materials in or near the wheel wells of tractor-trailer trucks, most of which were occupied when the fires started. Price's employer, Tennant Truck Lines of Orion, Ill., used a GPS to help law enforcement track Price. He was arrested after a fire in June 2010 in Valley Grove, W. Va. Under a plea agreement, Price will be sentenced to eight years in federal prison without parole.

MOSIRA Lawsuit

2011-12-01T18:49:00.001-06:00

Opponents of a newly created fund that would offer state incentives to science or technology companies filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to halt its creation.

Lawmakers approved the Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act, known as MOSIRA, earlier this year. It would offer incentives to companies that conduct research or make products in a variety of high-tech fields, including agricultural biotechnology, homeland security, information technology and pharmaceuticals. However, the legislation includes a clause that states it cannot take effect until lawmakers pass a separate measure dealing with state tax incentives for businesses. The separate bill did not pass during the recently ended special session, butGov. Jay Nixon has said his administration will take steps to implement the law anyway. In a lawsuit filed Thursday , the Missouri Roundtable for Life and Missouri Right to Life said the new fund should be declared void because of the contingency clause. The groups are among critics who contend the law does not contain sufficient protection to bar state funds from going to human embryonic stem cell research.

Spence Contributes to Own Campaign

2011-11-30T21:08:00.001-06:00

Republican businessman Dave Spence has contributed $2 million to his own campaign for Missouri governor.

Online records for the Missouri Ethics Commission show Spence gave the money to his campaign Wednesday. Records also show that Spence received a $100,000 donation Tuesday from St. Louis businessman William Koman and $25,000 from Daniel Creston, an executive at Alpha Packaging. Spence, who is president and CEO of Alpha Packaging in St. Louis, had pledged to put some of his own money into the campaign when he announced his candidacy two weeks ago. Spence is hoping to challenge Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon in the 2012 elections.

Child Molester Changes Plea

2011-11-29T20:08:00.001-06:00

The Cape Girardeau man accused of molesting a teenager for three years withdrew his not-guilty plea and pleaded guilty to second-degree statutory sodomy Monday.

47-year-old Kenneth Higgins was charged with sporadically molesting a girl from the time she was 12 until she turned 15. He faced first-degree child molestation and second-degree statutory sodomy charges before he withdrew his not-guilty plea and pleaded guilty to sodomy at a pretrial conference Monday. In return for his guilty plea, the state dropped the molestation charge.
In a September 2010 hearing, the victim testified that Higgins often napped with her, and that her mother didn't disapprove. The victim said she reported the sexual abuse to authorities after her fiancee's mother encouraged her to attend counseling at the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence. Higgins will undergo a sentencing assessment report before being sentenced Jan. 23. He faces up to 15 years in prison.

Mamtek Snafu

2011-11-29T20:05:00.001-06:00

Missouri economic development officials were made aware of concerns about a Chinese artificial sweetener manufacturer several months before they announced they had awarded the company millions of dollars of incentives to build a factory in Moberly.

The emails raising the red flags were publicly released Tuesday by a Missouri House committee investigating whether government officials and private financial advisers failed to thoroughly research Mamtek U.S. before committing state and local incentives to the company. Construction halted this fall on the partially built Mamtek factory after the company's financing fell apart and it failed to make a payment on $39 million in bonds issued by Moberly to finance the building. The state had pledged an additional $17 million in incentives, but those weren't paid because the project collapsed before the state aid was triggered. The Missouri attorney general's office and the federal Securities and Exchange Commission are now investigating the Mamtek deal.

UM Trash to become Compost

2011-11-28T21:11:00.001-06:00

The tons of food scraps and other trash thrown away at University of Missouri dining halls will soon help grow the vegetables the students eat.

Bradford Research Center has unveiled a 2,400-square-foot device called an aerated static pile. It will turn leftovers, napkins and other trash into compost. The compost will help grown vegetables at the research center, which will be used at dining halls. Bradford Superintendent Tim Reinbott expects all nine dining halls to participate next semester. Microorganisms break down the food scraps along with horse bedding. One of the device's five stalls will hold a week's worth of waste and should break down in four to five weeks.

Ag Expo

2011-11-28T21:09:00.001-06:00

Ag Expo will celebrate its 26th anniversary in January at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff.

The expo, which is one of the largest agriculture trade shows in the region, is sponsored by Butler County University of Missouri Extension Council and the Ag Club of Three Rivers College. There will be 118 booths available. The Expo will also feature outdoor exhibits. The event will take place from 1 to 8 p.m. Jan. 20, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 21, Admission is free to the public

Student in Egypt

2011-11-27T20:17:00.001-06:00

An American student arrested during protests in Cairo says he feared for his life after he was taken into custody by four or five people in plain clothes.

Nineteen-year-old Derrik Sweeney tells The Associated Press in a Sunday interview via Skype that the evening started peacefully in Tahrir Square, where protesters have been gathering for more than a week. He says he and others later wandered through the streets to the Interior Ministry but fled when shots were fired. Sweeney says four or five ``plain clothes Egyptians'' then offered to lead the students to safety. He says they followed but found themselves taken into custody, beaten and threatened with guns.

Sweeney and the other two students flew back to the U.S. on Saturday after a court ordered them released

Venison for Share the Harvest

2011-11-27T20:16:00.001-06:00

Food pantries in Missouri can expect the arrival soon of what has become a season offering - venison.

The annual Share the Harvest program gives Missouri hunters an opportunity to donate deer to be processed and sent to more than 300 Missouri food banks. Last year, about 5,700 hunters took deer to food banks, providing more than 300,000 pounds of venison. The meat produced by the deer hunting season that runs from November to December is ground up to make it more versatile for cooking and easier to transport, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation, which sponsors Share the Harvest.

Parker Running for Congress

2011-11-22T18:30:00.001-06:00

A rancher from Raymondville, Mo., has announced he will again be a candidate for Congress in Missouri's 8th Congressional District.

Bob Parker is hoping to unseat U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, a Cape Girardeau Republican, who has held the seat for the last 15 years. Parker, who ran against Emerson in the 2010 race, noted that he received 35 percent of the vote in the primary race, four times more votes than any other challenger for this seat in the past. Parker officially made the announcement in September at the meeting of the Texas County Republican Party. His website says that he was virtually unknown in many parts of the district before his campaign two years ago, but he says that's changing.

Disgrunted Employee Charged WIth Starting Fire

2011-11-22T18:28:00.001-06:00

A disgruntled employee allegedly used a lighter and paper to start a fire Monday night that badly damaged a Cape Girardeau office building.

26-year-old Mark Carleton worked for RGIS Inventory Specialists in one of the building's offices at 1707 N. Mount Auburn Road and allegedly told an emergency service responder and a police officer at the scene that he set the fire. Police say he used paper and a lighter because he was upset with a recent pay cut. The company occupies two offices in the building.
Fire Marshal Brian Schaffer said two witnesses saw Carleton walking inside and around the building. The first fire crew on the scene also saw him coming out of the building. Police say Carleton was carrying a respirator mask. Schaffer said Carleton then went to an ambulance to be checked out and told workers he started the fire because the company he worked for had cut his pay by a few dollars per hour. Carleton was taken to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.

Joplin Tornado six months ago

2011-11-21T21:36:00.001-06:00

Six months ago today (Tuesday), a tornado tore through the heart of Joplin, Missouri.

Today, the damage is still obvious, but there's also been progress... Joplin resident Tammy Cady and her family are rebuilding their home which was destroyed in the May 22 tornado.

Ten families in Joplin will get to cook Thanksgiving dinner in brand-new homes. Over the weekend, Tulsa's Habitat for Humanity handed over the keys to new houses in a neighborhood that bore the brunt of the damage.

Services for Baby Killed Last Week

2011-11-20T17:21:00.001-06:00

- Services are this morning for a 13-month-old suburban St. Louis boy who authorities say was fatally beaten by his mother.

A St. Louis County judge on Thursday entered a not guilty plea on behalf of 20-year-old Shelby Dasher of Affton, a day after she was charged with second-degree murder in the death of son Tyler. Dasher on Tuesday reported the boy missing from his crib, but the boy's body was found a few hours later in a field near the family's home. Prosecutors say Dasher confessed to striking the boy out of frustration over his crying. Tyler's services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Mark Catholic Church in Affton.

Greyhound Driver Abandons Passengers

2011-11-20T17:18:00.001-06:00

A Greyhound bus driver abandoned the passengers in southeast Missouri, about 100 miles from their destination.

The bus was headed from Memphis to St. Louis on Interstate 55 Friday when the driver ordered a passenger off the bus near Sikeston. The driver then pulled over in Cape Girardeau, left and waited for someone to pick her up. Passengers called 911, and when police arrived they ordered the driver back on the bus. The driver complied but drove to nearby Charleston, and then left again. The passengers called Greyhound, which sent a driver several hours later. The passengers arrived in St. Louis on Saturday, nearly 12 hours late. Greyhound apologized and said the driver will be disciplined. Passengers with proof of travel are to receive refunds.

Robbery Thursday in Kennett

2011-11-18T03:04:00.001-06:00

Authorities in Dunklin County are searching for three people involved in an armed robbery. According to the Dunklin County Sheriff's Office, a 21 year-old-man said he had been robbed at around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday. The man told deputies he got a ride from two black men and a white woman in a green Chevy Malibu. He was suppose to be headed to Beaton Street in Kennett. However, officers say the man was taken to County Road 434, just east of Kennett. According to Sheriff Bob Holder, one of the black men grabbed the victim by the throat and put a gun to his head. Cash, a cell phone, a ball cap and a MP3 player was taken from the victim.

Clay Waller hearing

2011-11-17T18:59:00.001-06:00

A hearing today(Friday) will determine whether testimony from Clay Waller's father will be preserved, and as SD reports, Waller will be there despite wanting no part in the hearing.

Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle filed a motion Tuesday that requests Waller's presence at the hearing. A judge will decide whether Waller's father's testimony, which alleges Clay Waller confessed to murdering his wife Jacque Waller will be preserved. Clay Waller is in federal custody at the Pemiscot County Jail after pleading guilty to Internet threatening charges Oct. 3. Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court Judge William Syler granted Swingle's request Tuesday. In his petition, Swingle wrote that Waller's presence is necessary because he is a primary suspect in the case. Jacque Waller has been missing since June 1, and in the application Swingle called Clay Waller the primary suspect in her disappearance.

Deer Committee to Convene

2011-11-17T18:57:00.001-06:00

A citizen committee charged with studying and making a recommendation on whether urban deer hunting will be allowed in Cape Girardeau is expected to be in place by the end of the month.

The Cape Girardeau City Council asked Meyer last month to form an ad hoc committee to more closely study the idea of allowing regimented deer hunting in the city limits to reduce the number of deer. The Southeast Missourian reports that some residents have complained that the deer's swelling numbers are ruining landscapes and leading to more motor vehicle accidents. Others, however, say they enjoy the rustic image of deer in a city setting and worry about the safety of such a program. Meyer says those are all factors that the committee of six to eight members will have to weigh. Anyone interested in serving on the committee to contact the city manager's office no later than Nov. 28.

Letters from Army Corps Decried

2011-11-16T19:54:00.001-06:00

Legislation in the U.S. Senate seeks to avoid a repeat of what happened in June, when farmers in Missouri and Iowa received letters from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers offering to buy their land just as the Missouri River rose.

Days before some of the letters were mailed, the corps began releasing massive amounts of water into the river from storage reservoirs upstream. The corps has said the timing of the letters was a coincidence and a mistake. The corps has been acquiring land to rebuild wildlife habitats. Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri has introduced legislation that would prohibit the corps from sending such letters during a flood event. Missouri's other senator, Republican Roy Blunt, signed on as a co-sponsor. McCaskill described the letters as "unbelievably inappropriate and rude."

Woman Charged with Killing Child

2011-11-16T19:52:00.001-06:00

A Missouri woman is charged with an unthinkable crime.

Prosecutors charged a 20-year-old suburban St. Louis woman on Wednesday with murdering her 13-month old son, saying she admitted she beat the boy because he was crying and "wouldn't lay down, wouldn't go back to sleep." Shelby Dasher is charged with second-degree murder in the death of her son, Tyler, whose body was found discarded near a cemetery about a mile from home on Tuesday, hours after she reported him missing. Dasher was arrested early Wednesday and was being held on $500,000 cash bond.

Kennett Country Club Destroyed by Fire

2011-11-16T01:32:00.001-06:00

The Kennett County Club is in ruins following a fire Monday night. According to the Kennett Fire Department, at 10:28 p.m., 9-1-1 dispatchers received calls from travelers passing the club reporting flames. Firefighters were met by heavy flames and smoke when they arrived. Mutual aid was called in from the Hayti and Senath fire departments, which brought tanker trucks, as well as the Caruthersville Fire Department, which manned the local fire stations so Kennett crews could work the scene.

Four tankers were used to extinguish the fire because no fire hydrants were in the vicinity. Fire officials said they are not sure of the value of the loss; however, they estimate that it is more than $1 million.

Williams to Speak at Church

2011-11-15T21:12:00.001-06:00

A Former NFL player will speak at Sikeston church Friday. . .

Former Pro Bowl defensive back Aeneas Williams will be a guest speaker at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Sikeston as part of the church's Heartland Leadership Lab. After a career with the Arizona Cardinals and the St. Louis Rams, Williams became the founding pastor of The Spirit Church in St. Louis. Williams has been pastoring there for the last four years with his wife, Tracy, and their four children. Williams said on average he speaks at 40 engagements a year.

Spence Announces for Governor

2011-11-15T21:10:00.001-06:00

A St. Louis businessman says he'll run for Missouri governor.

The announcement Tuesday by 53-year-old Dave Spence sets up a likely Republican primary for the right to challenge Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon in next year's elections. Spence becomes the first prominent Republican to officially enter the governor's race. But Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder also is expected to announce his gubernatorial candidacy soon. They would meet in an August primary.
Spence is the president and CEO of Alpha Packaging, which makes plastic bottles for pharmaceuticals, vitamins and personal care products, among other things

Crash South of Popla Bluff Kills Jonesboro Woman

2011-11-15T03:11:00.001-06:00

Highway patrol troopers say a Jonesboro woman died yesterday in a crash south of Poplar Bluff. It happened about 6:25 last night on US 67 six miles south of Poplar Bluff, according to an online report. 34-year old Daun Silico was driving a northbound 2003 Ford and crossed the center line, crashing head-on into a southbound 2007 GMC driven by a Chicago, Illinois man. Silico was taken by ambulance to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, where she died shortly before 8pm. The man in the GMC was not hurt, according to the crash report.

MO Deer Kill

2011-11-14T20:57:00.001-06:00

The number of deer killed was down during the opening weekend of Missouri's annual fall firearms season.

The Department of Conservation said Monday that hunters reported killing 89,728 deer this past weekend - down 8.3 percent from opening weekend in 2010. Part of the decline may be attributable to warm weather and high winds. But department scientist Jason Sumners says the decline also reflects a long-term trend stemming from the fact that there are fewer deer in some areas. Statewide, the opening weekend deer kill averaged 118,000 from 2001 through 2005. It averaged 95,400 from 2006 through 2010.

West Nile Virus in Butler County

2011-11-13T20:02:00.001-06:00

- Health officials say mosquitoes in the Poplar Bluff area have tested positive for the West Nile virus.

Butler County Health Department officials told The Daily American that the mosquitoes that tested positive were found in mid-October in a trap set as part of a surveillance program. The health department conducts the testing annually. The county did not find West Nile-positive mosquitoes in 2010, but officials say it's not unusual for Butler County to have at least one vial returned positive during the year. Most people infected with West Nile virus do not experience any symptoms. About 20 percent of infected people have symptoms such as fever, headache, tiredness and body aches. In rare instances the virus can cause meningitis or encephalitis.

Crop Harvest a Bit Late

2011-11-13T16:09:00.001-06:00

THanks to late planting and fall rains, this year's fall harvest is winding down behind schedule.

During the past month, Southeast Missouri counties have had more than two inches of rain -- some, including New Madrid and Pemiscot counties, nearly three and a half inches -- keeping farmers out of the fields. Jake Fisher is former director of the University of Missouri Department of Agriculture's Delta Research Center in Portageville. He tells the Southeast Missourian crops have been about two weeks behind schedule throughout the year. He says the one crop that's been the exception to this year's late harvest is corn. By the last week of October, all of Southeast Missouri's corn was harvested. And while some farmers may have lower yields, he says prices have remained good, which will help those with smaller crops continue to make a profit.

Winter Weather Awareness Day in Missouri is November 16

2011-11-13T15:20:00.001-06:00

Winter Weather Awareness Day in Missouri is November 16 and is a reminder to be prepared for snow, ice and cold

Blizzard and severe winter storm of Jan. 31 - Feb. 1, 2011 brought record or near-record snowfall to more than 50 Missouri counties and closed I-70 and significant portion of I-44

In preparation, the National Weather Service, the Missouri Department of Health and
Senior Services, the State Emergency Management Agency and Missouri’s local emergency managers are joining forces to promote Nov. 16 as Winter Weather Awareness Day in Missouri.
State Emergency Management Agency Director Paul D. Parmenter says recommended preparations include creating a winter car kit for the trunk of your car, making sure fireplaces and generators function properly, exercising caution when shoveling snow or pushing a car out of snow banks and avoiding unnecessary travel when driving conditions are poor. He says it is also important for people to keep up to date on weather forecasts and to understand key National Weather Service terms:

Winter Storm Watch indicates that severe winter weather may affect your area within
12-48 hours.
Winter Storm Warning indicates severe winter weather is in the area or expected
immediately and can be life threatening.
Ice Storm Warnings are issued for ice accumulations of a quarter-inch or more.