August 13, 2014

RIVER RADIO NEWS 081314  

AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING SHOOTING IN CHARLESTON

 

Authorities in Charleston are investigating a shooting.

 

According to the Charleston Department of Public Safety, the shooting was located in the 200 block of Morgan Street.

 

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call 573-683-3737.

 

 

MAN SENTENCED TO JUST OVER A YEAR FOR MAKING THREAT

 

A Winona man has been sentenced to just over a year for making a threat to staff at the Poplar Bluff VA Medical Center.

 

57 year old Markel Abbey was sentenced to 13 months in prison on two felony counts of threat by interstate communication.

 

According to the United States Attorney’s Office, in June of 2013, Abbey placed telephone calls to the Veterans Administration Medical Center and made a threat to physically harm his treating physician and members of the hospital staff.

 

Abbey was then arrested after assaulting a VA employee. Officials searched Abbey’s car after his arrest and found two firearms and over 300 rounds of ammunition.

 

 

RECOUNT TO BE HELD FOR CARTER COUNTY TREASURER RACE

 

A Carter County judge has ordered a recount for the Republican nomination for the county’s treasurer position.

 

According to the Daily American Republic, the recount will be held on August 20th.

 

Only two votes separated Velvet Ricker and Emily Sellinger following the primary on August 5th, with Ricker winning by a vote of 485 to 483.

 

 

POPLAR BLUFF SCHOOL YEAR TO BEGIN TOMORROW

 

Students will be heading back to school tomorrow in Poplar Bluff.

 

The 2014-2015 Poplar Bluff school year is scheduled to begin tomorrow. Parents can find more information about the Poplar Bluff School District online at www.poplarbluffschools.net.

 

With the school year beginning, The Missouri State Highway Patrol is also reminding drivers to be alert and on the lookout for children, especially near school zones, playgrounds, and bicycle paths.

 

Motorists should also remember to be cautious around school buses.

 

 

WORLD SERIES OF SPRINT BOAT RACING TO BE HELD THIS WEEKEND

 

The World Series of Sprint Boat racing will be held this weekend near Poplar Bluff.

 

The event will be held from August 15th through the 17th at Brick’s Water Speedway. Over 30 teams will be at the event, representing four countries.

 

For more information, go online to www.bricksoffroadpark.com.

 

 

PAVEMENT REPAIRS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY IN BUTLER COUNTY

 

Crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation will be in Butler County today and tomorrow for pavement repairs on Route CC.

 

During the repairs, Route CC will be reduced to one lane between Highway 53 and Route U.

 

Work is set to take place today and tomorrow from 7 am to 5 pm.

 

 

MODOT IS PLANNING TO REPLACE BRIDGE IN WAYNE COUNTY

 

The Missouri Department of Transportation has recently announced a plan to replace a bridge in Wayne County.

 

The bridge is located on Route Z, approximately three miles east of Route T. Construction could begin as early as spring 2015. As construction is underway, Route Z will be closed to through traffic in the vicinity of the bridge.

 

Additional information on the project will be available at the Missouri Department of Transportation's Sikeston District office.

 

 

ACLU ASKS ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT TO UPHOLD RULING THAT VOTER ID LAW IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

 

The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas is asking the state's highest court to uphold a judge's ruling that Arkansas' new voter identification law is unconstitutional.

 

Arkansas Secretary of State Mark Martin had appealed the ruling from Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox, who struck down the law in May but put his decision on hold pending an appeal.

 

The case was filed by the ACLU of Arkansas and the Arkansas Public Law Center on behalf of four voters who they said would be harmed by the new requirement. In paperwork submitted Monday with the Arkansas Supreme Court, the groups argued that Fox's ruling should be upheld.

 

Also Monday, Pulaski County Clerk Larry Crane submitted a friend-of-the-court brief in the case, arguing that the law is "overreaching and unnecessary."

 

 

ARKANSAS STATE POLICE TO CRACK DOWN ON DRUNKEN DRIVING

 

Arkansas State Police say they'll step up traffic enforcement on suspected drunken drivers in the weeks ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend.

 

State police say the crackdown will begin Friday and continue through Labor Day on September 1st. Authorities say state and local officers will aggressively target drunken drivers as part of a national campaign called "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over."

 

State police say there were 552 traffic fatalities on Arkansas roads during 2012 - and 26 percent of those involved a driver who was legally drunk.

 

State Police Director Colonel Stan Witt says he hopes motorists will listen to the warning and arrange for a designated driver or another safe ride home.