APRIL 8, 2014

   

ELECTION DAY IN MISSOURI Multiple school board seats plus races for the Poplar Bluff City Council are up to voters today during the General Municipal Election.

Voters will decide who will serve on the board of education for Poplar Bluff, Twin Rivers, and Neelyville along with the Board of Trustees for Three Rivers College.

There are multiple city elections today as well as the tax levy issue for the Poplar Bluff School District. REGISTRATION OPEN FOR FALL SEMESTER AT THREE RIVERS COLLEGE Registration has begun for the 2014 fall semester at Three Rivers College.

Those interested in enrolling can browse available courses by clicking “Search for Classes” at trcc.edu. Current students can register online through the myTRCC system, however both current and new students must meet with an advisor prior to registering.

Students can register for classes in the fall through August 15th. The fall semester will begin on August 18th. Students can also register for Maymester, Summer, and Augmester classes. STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EAST PRAIRIE CHARGED WITH DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED A Missouri House member is facing two charges of driving while intoxicated stemming from arrests in the capital city.

Democratic Representative Steve Hodges, of East Prairie, was charged Friday for two separate events, one that occurred last week.

A probable cause statement released by the Cole County prosecutor says Hodges was arrested early Wednesday in Jefferson City. Police said he was taken to the county jail and given breath test that showed a .17 blood alcohol level. He was later released.

Hodges was also charged last week for a February arrest in Jefferson City. SIKESTON MAN FACING CHARGES IN CONNECTION TO ALLEGED THEFT A Sikeston man is in custody in connection to an alleged theft of multiple items from vehicles over the weekend.

According to Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter, 18 year old Chadwick Hopgood was arrested on charges of felony stealing of a firearm and misdemeanor stealing.

Hopgood allegedly stole a firearm, a checkbook, money, and other items from vehicles early Sunday morning. Hopgood reportedly confessed to a deputy during an interview. MOTORCYCLE SKILLS TEST TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED AT POPLAR BLUFF DRIVER EXAMINATION STATION Anyone looking to take the motorcycle skills test in Poplar Bluff is in for a small delay.

According to Captain George E. Ridens with the Highway Patrol, the motorcycle skills portion of the testing process has been temporarily suspended at the Poplar Bluff Driver Examination Station due to another event at the site.

The test will not be available through April 20th. Written examinations along with Class E and Class F skills tests will be offered as normally scheduled. MAN CONVICTED FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT IN ROBBERY OF CAPE GIRARDEAU BUSINESS A Memphis man has been convicted on multiple charges for his role in the 2009 robbery of Jayson Jewelers in Cape Girardeau.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 30 year old Daryl House planned the robbery with three other people and also brought a handgun to be used to commit the robbery. During the robbery, he, and two others, allegedly took jewelry and cash from the store.

House is facing a maximum sentence of life imprisonment on two counts at his sentencing on June 30th. MOBILE OFFICE SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW IN DEXTER Staff members of United States Senator Roy Blunt will stop by Dexter tomorrow for a Mobile Office.

The Mobile Office Program gives Missourians the opportunity to discuss their questions or concerns with the federal government one-on-one with members of Senator Blunt’s staff.

The Mobile Office will be held Wednesday, April 9th, from 11 am to noon at the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission in Dexter. COLLEGE FUNDING INCREASE APPROVED BY SENATE COMMITTEE Missouri's public universities and community colleges could get a 5 percent funding increase under a budget plan embraced by a Senate committee.

The plan approved Monday by the Senate Appropriations Committee would provide a more than $43 million funding increase to higher education institutions.

Goveror Jay Nixon had proposed increases of 5 percent for universities and 4 percent increase for community colleges.

The House had approved a 3 percent increase for higher education institutions. Part of that would have been dependent on state revenues exceeding legislative projections and instead meeting Nixon's more optimistic forecast.

All of the proposals would distribute the increased funding based on whether institutions meet performance criteria.

The House and Senate must settle their budget differences by early May. MISSOURI SENATE APPROVES LIST OF OVER 300 ITEMS TO BE FUNDED THROUGH A BOND PROPOSAL Missouri senators have approved a to-do list of more than 300 items that could be funded through a bonding proposal.

The projects are detailed in a resolution passed Monday by a 26 to 4 vote. The bonding is authorized under a separate bill passed last week by the Senate.

Both measures now go to the House for consideration.

The plan would allot $200 million for a new mental health hospital in Fulton. An additional $400 million of bonds would be split among state facilities and public colleges and universities.

The bonds generally would fund maintenance and repairs that were put off when state revenues dipped during the recession.

State Office of Administration Commissioner Doug Nelson said Monday that some of the maintenance projects now are occurring, even without the bond funds. BRIDGE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULED FOR TODAY IN CARTER COUNTY Westbound Highway 60 in Carter County will be reduced to one lane this week as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform routine bridge maintenance.

Crews will be performing maintenance on the bridge over Current River.

Weather permitting, work will take place today through Thursday from 7 am to 5 pm daily. DUNKLIN COUNTY ROAD CLOSED FOR PIPE REPLACEMENT Crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation will be closing a Dunklin County road to replace a pipe.

Route H in Dunklin County will be closed today, weather permitting, from 8 am to 3 pm. The work zone will be located from Route J to County Road 108.