ONE KILLED IN SINGLE VEHICLE WRECK IN PEMISCOT COUNTY
A Hayti man has died following a single vehicle wreck Thursday afternoon in Pemiscot County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 59 year old Robert K. Lenox, was driving a vehicle on Route J, near Hayti, when he ran off the side of the road and hit a concrete culvert.
Lenox was later pronounced dead at an area hospital.
THREE FACING MURDER CHARGE IN CONNECTION TO PEMISCOT COUNTY MAN’S DEATH
Three men are facing a murder charge for the death of 60 year old Roy Jerrolds.
According to KFVS, 28 year old Gunner Lee Pind and 17 year old Kevin Slayton, both of Portageville, along with 18 year old Cody LeGrand, of Hayward, have each been charged with first degree murder, armed criminal action, first degree burglary, and second degree arson.
On April 10th, Jerrolds was found dead with gunshot wounds inside a burning home in Pemiscot County.
POPLAR BLUFF POLICE WARNING OF POSSIBLE FRAUD
The Poplar Bluff Police Department has put out a fraud alert after receiving reports of a phone scam.
Captain David Sutton, with the Police Department, tells us that they has received reports of a scam in which the suspect called intended victims, told them they had unpaid parking tickets, and asked for payment over the phone.
The suspect addressed the victim by name, and threatened to send Police Officers to arrest the victim if they refused. The suspect also apparently has the ability to make caller ID display a false number.
Captain Sutton says that the Police Department never solicits fine payments by phone, mail, email, or fax. Anyone who receives a call like this is advised to hang up and alert law enforcement.
TWO ARRESTED IN BUTLER COUNTY ON DRUG CHARGE
Two people were arrested Thursday afternoon in Butler County on felony drug related charges.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 37 year old Basil W. Foster, of Ellsinore, and 25 year old Heather D. Jarrell, of Dexter, were each arrested on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute – methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
RIBBON CUTTING TO BE HELD FOR NEW THREE RIVERS CENTER IN KENNETT
Three Rivers College has scheduled a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new location of its center in Kennett.
The ceremony will be held on Thursday, April 24th at 11 am at the new building on Great West Drive. Refreshments will be served at the open house event following the ceremony.
The new facility includes three master classrooms, a dedicated ITV classroom, two full computer labs, and two state-of-the-art science labs in addition to a dedicated nursing classroom and skills lab.
MOBILE OFFICE SCHEDULED FOR THIS MONTH IN ALTON
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt’s staff will host a Mobile Office this month in Oregon County.
The Mobile Office will be held on Tuesday, April 29th from 1 pm to 2 pm at the Oregon County Courthouse in Alton.
Mobile Offices are opportunities for Missourians to discuss their questions or concerns with the federal government one-on-one with members of Senator Blunt’s staff.
RURAL MAINSTREET INDEX UP OVER LAST MONTH
The overall index for an economic survey of bankers in 10 Midwestern and Plains states has risen for a second consecutive month, suggesting more growth in the months ahead.
The Rural Mainstreet Index hit 53.2 in April, compared with 50.1 in March.
The survey indexes range from 0 to 100, with 50 representing growth neutral. A score above 50 suggests growth in the months ahead.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the results indicate that areas highly dependent on agriculture and energy are experiencing slower growth than they were a year ago. But he says recent increases in commodity prices should boost the economy in the months ahead.
Bankers from 10 states, including Missouri and Illinois, were surveyed.
EARLY VOTING BILL APPROVED BY MISSOURI HOUSE
Missouri House members have approved a pair of measures allowing early voting, though some lawmakers contend it would be too limited.
On Thursday, the House approved a constitutional amendment and companion legislation, each by a vote of 126-24. The measures would allow early voting for nine days, with polls to be open from 8 am to 5 pm on weekdays and four hours on Saturday. There would be no early voting on Sunday.
An initiative petition also has been proposed that could appear on this fall's ballot. It would allow early voting for six weeks, including weekends for the final 21 days before an election.
Some Democratic opponents say the House proposal is too limited and called it a distraction from the initiative petition.
MISSOURI LAWMAKERS PASS ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES BILLS
The Missouri House and Senate have each passed bills that would prevent people younger than 18 from purchasing electronic cigarettes.
But the legislation passed on Thursday would also exempt those products from the state's tobacco taxes, which opponents say would allow the nicotine products to be sold with fewer restrictions.
Supporters say taxing the products would prevent the measure from passing the Republican-led Legislature. They argued that failing to pass a bill would mean children could continue buying the e-cigarettes.
E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices used to heat a liquid nicotine solution and create vapor that is inhaled.
The House voted 129 to 19 to send its bill to the Senate, where senators voted 27 to 4 in favor of their version. Both chambers must pass identical legislation by mid-May.
