RIVER RADIO NEWS 080514
BUTLER COUNTY COLLECTOR BRENDA FOX PASSED AWAY OVER THE WEEKEND
Butler County Collector Brenda Fox passed away over the weekend at the age of 62.
According to the Daily American Republic, Fox died on Sunday and had suffered from pancreatic cancer. Her funeral is scheduled for Wednesday.
Fox served as Butler County Collector for almost 16 years.
POPLAR BLUFF FOOTBALL PLAYER COLLAPES DURING PRACTICE
A Poplar Bluff High School football player is recovering after collapsing yesterday during football practice.
According to an anonymous source, team members had been running plays for about 20 minutes during the first day of practice yesterday, when an unidentified sophomore collapsed. The source says the coach and athletic trainer immediately called for an ambulance and began performing CPR on the student.
Medical personnel were able to stabilize the teen. He is expected to fully recover. No word yet on what caused the collapse.
CAPE POLICE INVESTIGATE DOUBLE HOMICIDE
The Major Case Squad has been activated in Cape Girardeau to investigate a double homicide.
According to a release from the MCS, Cape officers responded to a call Sunday evening, shortly before 9:30 pm, about shots being fired on South Middle Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered two victims, who were taken to a local hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
The victims have been identified as 20 year old Detavian L. Richardson and 28 year old Zatrun R. Twiggs, both of Cape Girardeau.
Investigators believe a white SUV, with multiple occupants, may have been involved in the incident.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 573-335-6621.
TWO ARRESTED AND ONE SOUGHT IN CONNECTION TO ALLEGED POPLAR BLUFF ROBBERY
Two men are in custody and authorities are searching for a third in connection to a reported robbery.
According to Captain David Sutton with the Poplar Bluff Police Department, a 17 year old female reported that she had been riding in a vehicle with three men on Sunday. One of the men, 19 year old Demetri Rodgers, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, asked for her cell phone.
When she refused, Rodgers took it from her and another man, 23 year old Steven Moore, of Poplar Bluff, threatened her with a pistol. Moore and Rodgers then demanded money.
When the third man in the vehicle, 19 year old Terrance Fields, also of Poplar Bluff, pulled into a parking lot, the female fled from the vehicle and asked a bystander to call police.
Rodgers and Fields were later taken into custody on charges of first degree robbery, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon. Rodgers was also booked on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance.
Steven Moore is still at large.
MISSOURI PRIMARY ELECTION IS TODAY
Be sure to get out and vote today as a part of the Missouri Primary election.
There are multiple constitutional amendments on the ballots as well as local bond issues. A special election is also being held today to fill a vacant spot for District 151 of the Missouri House of Representatives after the resignation of State Representative Dennis Fowler.
Polls will be open from 6 am to 7 pm today. You can find your local polling place by going online to the Missouri Secretary of State’s website at sos.mo.gov.
MISSOURI VOTERS TO DECIDE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON FARMING, GUNS, AND PRIVACY
Voters will decide today on Missouri constitutional amendments on farming, guns, and electronic privacy.
If passed, Proposed Constitutional Amendment 1 would guarantee the rights of Missourians to engage in farming and ranching practices, subject to any power given to local government under Article 6 of the Missouri Constitution.
If passed, Proposed Constitutional Amendment 5 would expand the right to keep and bear arms to include ammunition and related accessories for such arms. This amendment also removes the language that states the right to keep and bear arms does not justify the wearing of concealed weapons.
If passed, Proposed Constitutional Amendment 9 would specify that electronic data and communications have the same protections from unreasonable searches and seizures as persons, papers, homes, and effects.
TRANSPORTATION TAX AND LOTTERY TICKET TO SUPPORT VETERANS ON TODAY’S BALLOT
Two constitutional amendments regarding a transportation tax and a new lottery ticket to support veterans will appear on ballots today during the Missouri Primary election.
If passed, Proposed Constitutional Amendment 7 would increase funding for state, county, and municipal street, road, bridge, highway, and public transportation initiatives by increasing the state sales/use tax by three-quarters of one percent for 10 years.
The amendment would also prohibit a change in gasoline taxes and prohibits toll roads or bridges.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment 8 would create a "Veterans Lottery Ticket." Revenues from sales of the tickets would be used for projects and services related to veterans.
NEW NORTHEAST ARKANSAS JAIL EXPECTED TO BE OPERATIONAL THIS MONTH
The project manager of the new Greene County Jail says he expects it to be operational this month.
The Paragould Daily Press reports the new jail is set to house nearly 500 inmates. Project manager Dave Tierney says he expects the county sheriff will receive the jail's keys in a few days. He says while the construction has been behind schedule, they've built the facility under budget.
The jail had its official ribbon cutting ceremony in March.
The facility is about 75,000 square feet. Tierney says each inmate cell in the facility is constructed with thick steel and 500 pound doors.
ARKANSAS REVENUE IS BELOW FORECAST
Arkansas finance officials say sluggish corporate and sales tax collections pushed the state's revenue below forecast and the same month last year as it began the fiscal year.
The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration on Monday said the state's net available revenue totaled $403.1 million, which is $7.1 million below the same month last year and $9.8 million below forecast. Arkansas' fiscal year began July 1.
Corporate income tax collections totaled $18.4 million, which was $8.5 million below July 2013 and $9.7 million below forecast. Sales tax collections totaled $185.5 million, which was $500,000 below July 2013 and below forecast by $7.6 million.
Officials said they were encouraged by individual income taxes being on forecast and an increase in withholding.
