RIVER RADIO NEWS 081514
IDENTITY RELEASED OF DEAD BODY FOUND IN POPLAR BLUFF
Poplar Bluff Police have released the identity of a body found earlier this week in a wooded area near Maud Street.
According to Captain David Sutton, the body has been identified as Justin R. Allen, of Arlington, Texas.
Allen had apparently been camped in the area for some time, and witnesses had described him as unusually thin; also saying he seemed confused or disoriented.
An autopsy was inconclusive, and the cause of death could not be determined. Captain Sutton says there is no evidence to suggest any criminal activity or third-party involvement in Allen’s death.
POCAHONTAS TO RECEIVE OVER $200,000 FOR DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS
The city of Pocahontas has been awarded over $200,000 for drainage improvements.
The $202,250 Community Block Development Grant was awarded by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Pocahontas was one of eight grants approved for a total of almost $1.4 million.
NO INJURIES REPORTED AFTER TRANSFORMER EXPLODES IN NEW MADRID
There were no injuries reported after a transformer exploded Thursday in New Madrid.
According to KFVS, the transformer exploded at around 9:15 am at Noranda Aluminum. No cause for the explosion was available.
A fire from the explosion was contained.
OVER 580 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN POPLAR BLUFF LIBRARY’S SUMMER READING PROGRAM
Over 580 children participated in the summer reading program this year at the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library.
584 children logged 6,192 reading hours during the program.
This year’s prizes included three bicycles sponsored by First Midwest Bank, two Kindle Fire tablets sponsored by the Friends of the Poplar Bluff Library, nine MP3 players, and coupons for Marble slab.
For children to be eligible for a prize, they had to read at least four hours or complete a science log over the nine week summer program.
DATES SET FOR 2014 BUTLER COUNTY FAIR
The dates have been set for the 2014 Butler County Fair.
The Fair will be held from September 10th through September 12th at the Black River Coliseum in downtown Poplar Bluff. There are multiple events and exhibits planned for the fair this year and admission is free.
You can get a schedule for this year’s fair online at extension.missouri.edu/butler.
TODAY IS FINAL DAY TO REGISTER FOR THREE RIVERS COLLEGE FALL SEMESTER
Today is the final day to register for classes during the upcoming Fall Semester at Three Rivers College.
Students can find out more information online at the Three Rivers College website, trcc.edu.
Classes for the Fall Semester will begin on Monday.
27TH ANNUAL WOMEN AWARE CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN SEPTEMBER
The 27th Annual Women Aware Conference will be held next month at the Black River Coliseum.
The Women Aware Conference will be on Thursday, September 25th. It is designed for those seeking the opportunity to expand their professional and personal growth network with others in the area.
The registration fee is $40 and includes admission to 28 breakout sessions, 70 booths, continental breakfast, lunch and snacks, and a one-year membership to Women Aware. After August 31st, the registration fee goes up to $50.
The keynote speaker this year is Jeanne Robertson.
For more information, call 573-778-1804 or go online to www.womenawareinc.com.
HIGHWAY PATROL TO TEST TROOPER APPLICANTS NEXT MONTH
The Missouri State Highway Patrol will be testing for new troopers next month in Poplar Bluff.
The test date has been scheduled for September 20th.
To be eligible, candidates must possess a minimum of 30 college credits, or two years of federal active duty military service with an honorable discharge, or two years of full-time POST certified experience as a law enforcement officer with arrest authority at the time recruit training begins.
Those who successfully complete testing will be eligible to continue in the selection process for the 101st Recruit Class, scheduled to begin training on July 1st, 2015.
For more information, call 1-800-796-7000 or go online to www.motrooper.com.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROPOSAL COULD BE ON ARKANSAS’S 2016 BALLOT
The Arkansas attorney general's office has approved the wording of an item for the 2016 ballot that would legalize use of medical marijuana.
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said Thursday that the proposal meets state requirements to enable the sponsoring group, Arkansans for Compassionate Care, to begin gathering signatures.
A similar proposal was on the 2012 ballot but was narrowly defeated.
In a letter certifying the ballot wording, McDaniel issued a note of the caution, saying that the "complexity and far-reaching effects of the proposal" could leave it open to a potentially successful court challenge.
Arkansans for Compassionate Care sought a spot on the 2014 general election ballot but couldn't gather the needed 62,507 signatures of registered voters before a July 7 deadline.
