RIVER RADIO NEWS 083013
HAYTI MAN KILLED IN SINGLE VEHICLE WRECK
A single vehicle wreck in Pemiscot County has claimed the life of a Hayti man.
56 year old John L. Williams was ejected from his vehicle after running off a county road and overturning last night. Williams was pronounced dead at the scene.
A passenger in the vehicle suffered minor injuries. According to the Highway Patrol, Williams was not wearing a safety device.
TEEN ARRESTED IN DEATH OF 11 YEAR OLD GIRL
An arrest has been made in the death of 11 year old Jessica Williams.
17 year old Christopher Sowell, of Gosnell, was arrested Wednesday night and is facing a charge of 1st degree murder.
Sowell reportedly admitted to killing Williams to authorities.
FIVE INJURED IN THREE VEHICLE WRECK
Five people were injured last night in a three vehicle wreck in Ripley County.
According to the Highway Patrol, the wreck occurred when a vehicle driven by 58 year old Thelma Nance of Naylor allegedly crossed the center line of Highway 142 and hit another vehicle head on. A third vehicle then hit Nance’s vehicle in the rear.
Nance and another driver, 27 year old Amber Winters, of Oxly, suffered serious injuries. Three passengers in Winter’s vehicle were injured, as well.
PARENTS WARNED OF SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE IN PARAGOULD AREA
Paragould authorities are warning area parents to be on the lookout for a suspicious vehicle.
On Thursday, Greene County Tech School Resource Officer Tony Harris notified the police department about a gray van with a red stripe that had stopped at a residence on Carriage Hills Drive while the children were waiting to catch the bus.
The children at the residence went into the house when the van pulled into their driveway. One child told school officials that it looked like the man driving was going to get out of the van, but backed up and drove away when the children went into the house.
The child told the school that the van was still in the area when she was on the bus. Paragould police want parents to speak with their children and advise them of what to do if a similar incident occurs. Parents are also advised to watch for any strange activity while their children are outside.
GRANT AWARDED TO POPLAR BLUFF MUNICIPAL LIBRARY
The Poplar Bluff Municipal Library district will be getting some new hardware thanks to a technology grant.
According to Secretary of State Jason Kander, the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library district has been approved for a grant for just under $13,000 to replace eleven outdated laptops in its computer lab.
The grant is funded by the Library Services and Technology act through the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.
WOMEN AWARE CONFERENCE TO BE HELD SEPTEMBER 21ST
The keynote speaker has been announced for this year’s Women Aware conference.
The keynote speaker will be Liz Murray, an inspiration speaker who is known for being accepted into Harvard University despite being homeless in high school.
The 26th annual Women Aware conference will be held on Saturday, September 21st at the Black River Coliseum. There will be 28 breakout session and 70 exhibits during the daylong conference.
For more information, call 573-778-1804 or go online to www.womenawareinc.com. The Registration fee is $40 if you register by September 1st.
LAND DONATED FOR NEW THREE RIVERS ENTRANCE
Three acres have been donated for a new main entrance to Three Rivers College.
The college officially accepted the donation from Dr. Richard Camp Wednesday night at a Board of Trustees meeting.
The land will be used for a road connecting the college’s Poplar Bluff Campus to Shelby Road. The road will be built in partnership with the City of Poplar Bluff with funds from the Poplar Bluff Regional Transportation District.
Construction on the project is expected to begin in December, with completion anticipated by next summer.
LAWSUIT FILED OVER COURT FEES
Officials of several local governments in Missouri have filed a lawsuit over a court fee that goes into a retirement fund for sheriffs.
Missouri lawmakers created the retirement fund and the $3 surcharge in 1983. The lawsuit states that municipal courts were told this summer that they, too, would have to begin levying the surcharge.
The lawsuit asserts that applying the surcharge to municipal courts violates portions of the Missouri Constitution on access to courts and unfunded mandates.
TIPS TO STAY SAFE ON THE WATER THIS WEEKEND
Labor Day weekend has arrived and the Army Corps of Engineers is urging everyone to stay safe on the water.
According to the Corps of Engineers, nearly 90 percent of drownings at Corps managed lakes this year could have been prevented if the victim had been wearing a life jacket.
Life Jackets Loaner Stations are available at Wappapello Lake and Clearwater Lake. The Corps is also recommending people avoid alcohol while on the water.
A list of safety tips is available on our Facebook page.
SPECIAL SESSION WANTED TO DISCUSS TAX CUT VETO
The lead sponsor of a Missouri income tax cut wants Governor Jay Nixon to call a special session so lawmakers can address some of the governor's concerns about the bill.
Republican House member T. J. Berry said Thursday that he wants Nixon to call a special session to run concurrently with the veto session scheduled to start September 11th.
Nixon vetoed 29 bills this year, including Berry's bill cutting income taxes. Republican legislative leaders hope to override the veto.
Berry says a special session would allow lawmakers to pass a new tax cut measure fixing three of the concerns cited by Nixon. Berry says lawmakers could clarify that none of the tax cuts apply retroactively and remove sections imposing state sales taxes on prescription drugs and textbooks.
