RIVER RADIO NEWS 042814
SEVERE STORMS MOVE THROUGH SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
Severe storms moved through the area Sunday and overnight, which included tornado warnings.
Multiple tornado warnings were issued overnight for Northeast Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel.
Flash flooding was also reported with roads underwater across Southeast Missouri. Water rescues were reported in Butler County.
Wind Damage was reported at a Cape Girardeau County RV Park. At least 7 RV’s were damaged, and one of them rolled approximately 25 yards. A pole barn next to the RV Park was also destroyed.
For information on road conditions in Southeast Missouri, go online to the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Traveler’s Information Map at traveler.modot.org.
WOMAN RAN OVER BY VEHICLE AND KILLED IN CRAIGHEAD COUNTY
Craighead County sheriff's deputies are investigating the death of a Monette woman who was found apparently run over by a vehicle near her home.
The Jonesboro Sun reports the body of 43 year old Sandra Ramsey Platz was found Thursday night.
Deputies said they're trying to determine whether Platz was intentionally killed or if her death was accidental.
BODY DISCOVERED IN MISSISSIPPI RIVER
A body found in the Mississippi River in northeast Arkansas is believed to be that of one of two men who vanished earlier this month after a barge sank.
The Blytheville Courier News reported Friday that a body was spotted in the Mississippi River three miles north of Barfield, which is near a terminal where the vessel carrying steel coil sank about two weeks ago.
The body has been sent to the state's crime lab for final identification, but investigator Robb Rounsavall says it's one of the two victims - Juan Nieves and Nicolas Perez - since a wallet was found on the body.
The body's identity hasn't been released, because next of kin hasn't been contacted and a confirmation hasn't been made through an autopsy or coroner's report.
POPLAR BLUFF WOMAN ARRESTED ON METH CHARGE
A Poplar Bluff woman is facing a felony meth charge following her arrest on Friday.
According to the authorities, 31 year old Etha M. Link was taken into custody Friday night on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.
Link is also facing charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of under 35 grams of marijuana.
MAN ARRESTED IN BUTLER COUNTY ON FELONY DRUG CHARGE
Authorities arrested a Poplar Bluff man Sunday afternoon on a felony drug charge.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 54 year old Randall G. McAbee was taken into custody on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. McAbee is also charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
THREE ARRESTED IN STODDARD COUNTY ON METH CHARGE
Three men were taken into custody over the weekend in Stoddard County on a meth charge.
According to the Highway Patrol, 36 year old Buddy L. Lacey and 31 year old Robert A. Greenup, both of Poplar Bluff, along with 29 year old Robert L. Clark, of Puxico, are each facing felony charges of possession of methamphetamine and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.
The men were arrested shortly before 11 pm Saturday.
DONIPHAN MAN ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES IN BUTLER COUNTY
A Doniphan man is facing multiple charges of possession of a controlled substance in connection with his arrest Friday afternoon in Butler County.
According to the Highway Patrol, 31 year old Kelly J. Kellas is facing felony charges of possession of a controlled substance for hydrocodone, oxycodone, and methamphetamine. Kellas was also charged with felony possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor tampering with evidence.
NEBRASKA MAN WANTED IN ORGEGON COUNTY IN CUSTODY
A Nebraska man who stole a police vehicle last week has been captured in Oregon County.
Authorities say 26 year old Jeffery Wegener was taken into custody early Friday morning.
Officers had been looking for Wegener since he allegedly stole a squad truck outside an Oregon County convenience store and drove it into the Eleven Point River.
It was thought that Wegener had left Oregon County and was possibly in Ripley County, however, he was spotted and later arrested in the woods about 10 miles east of Alton on Highway 160.
FIVE SERIOUSLY INJURED IN SINGLE VEHICLE WRECK NEAR EAST PRAIRIE
Five people were seriously injured in a wreck Saturday evening near East Prairie.
According to the Highway Patrol, the wreck occurred when a vehicle driven by 45 year old Adle G. Clark, of East Prairie, ran off of Missouri Highway 102 and struck a tree.
Clark suffered serious injuries as did four children in the vehicle, ages 3 to 6. Only one of the children was reportedly wearing a safety device according to the Highway Patrol crash report.
COMMON CORE TO BE DISCUSSED BY MISSOURI LAWMAKERS
Some lawmakers hope to make Missouri the second state to drop new education benchmarks and write its own student performance standards.
Legislation scheduled for debate on the Senate floor would form a panel to develop goals to replace the Common Core State Standards. The bill previously passed the House.
Under the bill, workgroups composed of parents and educators would recommend standards for English, math, science and history to the State Board of Education in 2015. Those standards would then be implemented by the 2016-2017 academic year.
Earlier this year, Indiana became the first state to dump Common Core after initially adopting the standards. More than 40 other states have also adopted the benchmarks for reading, writing and math.
