RIVER RADIO NEWS 101714
FARMINGTON WOMAN KILLED IN COLLISION WITH TREE
A Farmington woman is dead and a young child has serious injuries from a wreck Thursday in St. Francois County.
According to the Highway Patrol, 28 year old Jennifer Roberts was pronounced dead after the car she was driving ran off the side of a road and overturned into a tree.
A one year old child in the vehicle suffered serious injuries.
SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH CLAIMS LIFE OF BOSS MAN
A single vehicle crash in Iron County has claimed the life of a Boss man.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 61 year old Steve E. Jimmerson was fatally injured at around 8:30 yesterday morning, when he lost control of his vehicle, running of the right side of the road, overcorrecting, running off the left side of the road, and hitting a stand of trees.
The crash happened on Highway 49, two miles south of Viburnum.
Jimmerson was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a safety device at the time of the accident.
MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS FOLLOWING RAPE CONVICTION
A Northeast Arkansas man was sentenced Thursday in Mississippi County.
According to prosecuting attorney Scott Ellington, 29 year old Freddy Sharp III, of Gosnell, was convicted of the rape of an 11 year old girl.
Following the conviction, a circuit judge sentenced Sharp to 25 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
YEAR AND A HALF LONG INVESTIGATION LEADS TO ARRESTS OF 12 IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
A more than year long investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in Arkansas has led to the arrests of 12 people.
Authorities say officers with the Jonesboro Police Department and SWAT unit, Craighead County Sheriff’s Department, Arkansas State Police, and Second Judicial District Drug Task Force assisted members of the Drug Enforcement Administration and US Marshals with making the arrests earlier this week.
Approximately 96 pounds of meth, with a street value of around $1.9 million, was seized as a result of the investigation.
SHERIFF’S DEPUTY CHARGED WITH FELONY STEALING
The Madison County Sheriff says a sheriff's deputy has been fired and charged with stealing $40,000 from a woman while off duty.
Sheriff Robert Spain says 31 year old Eric Smith was arrested Wednesday and charged with felony stealing on Thursday. He says Smith is no longer employed by the department.
The woman tells authorities Smith was at her home on September 28th following up on a previous call when he took the cash from her bedroom safe. Sprain says they found nearly $27,000 in cash at Smith's home and that he admitted to stealing the money.
VETERANS’ INFORMATION FAIR TO BE HELD AT POPLAR BLUFF VA
The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff will host a “Veterans Information Fair” on Tuesday, October 28 from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon in Room 45 on the ground floor of the main building.
Information on enrolling for VA health care, filing claims for service-connected conditions, employment opportunities for Veterans, education benefits, training and the appeals process will be available to Veterans who attend.
Experts will also be on hand to discuss beneficiary travel mileage reimbursement, disability benefits and emergency care. The event is sponsored by the facility’s Equal Employment Opportunity Committee.
Event organizer, Byran Carter says staff from the medical center’s Business Office, Mental Health Department, Women Veterans Program, Human Resources and Vocational Rehabilitation offices as well as the VFW Veterans Service Officer will be available to answer questions.
Individuals seeking further information may contact Carter at 573-778-4749.
MOBILE OFFICE SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK IN EAST PRAIRIE
Staff members of United States Senator Roy Blunt will be in East Prairie next week to conduct a mobile office.
The meeting will be held from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm on October 23rd at the East Prairie City Hall.
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.
INTERSTATE REPAIRS SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEKEND IN CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY
Motorists should be prepared for possible delays this weekend on Interstate 55 in Cape Girardeau County.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, Northbound Interstate 55 will be reduced to one lane for pavement repairs.
The work zone will be located at the 96 mile marker underneath the Route K overpass. Work is scheduled to take place from 6 pm to 8 am daily through Sunday.
SURVEY SUGGESTS UPCOMING ECONOMIC GROWTH
A new survey suggests slower economic growth ahead in rural areas of 10 states in the Plains and the West.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said Thursday falling grain prices and weak global growth are weighing down the economy in rural areas.
The overall economic index for the region fell to 43.4 in October from September's already negative 48.2. The index has been steadily falling since June 2013 when it hit 60.5.
The survey indexes range from 0 to 100. Any score below 50 suggests decline in the months ahead.
Bankers from rural areas of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.
