RIVER RADIO NEWS 112614
TWO POPLAR BLUFF MEN CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER
Two Poplar Bluff men are facing a murder charge in connection to the death of Salvador Ruiz Ramirez.
According to the Daily American Republic, 29 year old Curtis Walker and 24 year old Bryce Davis have been charged with second degree murder and armed criminal action.
Ramirez was found dead on October 22nd submerged in the Black River. An autopsy showed he had died from a gunshot wound.
AUTOPSY SHOWS NO SIGNS OF FOUL PLAY ON BODY FOUND IN CARTER COUNTY
No signs of foul play were found during the autopsy of a woman’s body which was found over the weekend in Southeast Missouri.
The partially decomposed body of the woman was found on Sunday by a hunter in Carter County. The identity of the woman has not been made available.
SIKESTON MAN ARRESTED ON DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGES
A Sikeston area man has been arrested on a warrant for drug trafficking.
According to Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter, 25 year old Matthew Dwight Simms was taken into custody Monday on charges of felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Walter says the arrest stems from an October suspicious vehicle investigation, in which officers found multiple packets containing 35 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana and paraphernalia in an abandoned vehicle. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that Simms was driving the vehicle when it was abandoned.
Sheriff Walter says his department received a call early Monday morning informing them that Simms could be found at a rural home. Officers arrested Simms at the location. A search of Simms’ backpack yielded an additional 17 grams of meth, as well as additional paraphernalia.
GUILTY PLEA ENTERED IN ASSAULT CASE
A Jackson man will be sentenced in February on assault charges.
48 year old Lawrence Guthrie entered a guilty plea Monday to three counts of assault on a law enforcement officer. Guthrie reportedly shot at officers during an incident in 2012.
Guthrie is scheduled to be sentenced on February 17th, 2015.
MOBILE OFFICE SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK IN GREENVILLE
Staff members of United States Senator Roy Blunt will be in Greenville next week to conduct a mobile office.
The event will be held from 3 pm to 4 pm on Tuesday, December 2nd at the Wayne County Courthouse. 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.
THREE RIVERS COLLEGE MUSIC DEPARTMENT TO PRESENT CONCERT FEATURING WORKS OF STAR WARS AND JURASSIC PARK COMPOSER
The Three Rivers College Music Department will be holding a free concert next week featuring many famous songs from movies.
The concert will feature the works of famed composer John Williams, including music from Star Wars, Jurassic Park, the Harry Potter films, Schindler’s List, and more.
The Three Rivers Collegiate Choir and the Three Rivers Symphonic Band will perform during the concert at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center. The concert will begin at 7 pm on Tuesday, December 2nd.
HIGHWAY PATROL REMINDS MOTORISTS TO DRIVE SAFE OVER THE HOLIDAY
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is reminding motorists to drive safely over the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Colonel Ron Replogle says all available officers will be assigned to Missouri’s roadways to enforce traffic laws, especially those related to drunk driving, speeding, and seat belt/child restraint use.
Troopers will also be placed at 20 mile intervals along interstate highways throughout the state as well as on U.S. Highways 60 and 61 for today and Sunday.
Last year 11 people were killed and another 455 were injured in 1,195 traffic crashes over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
If you have an emergency, the Highway Patrol’s Emergency Assistance number is 1-800-525-5555, or (star)*55 on a cellular phone. Motorists should use this emergency assistance number to report traffic crashes, crimes being committed, or other emergencies on Missouri’s highways.
REPRESENTATIVE WANTS SCHOOL TESTS TO BE MADE IN MISSOURI
A lawmaker is drafting legislation to require Missouri universities create statewide tests for school children.
State Representative David Wood on Tuesday said creating new tests in the state will help prevent teachers from instructing children based on Common Core standards.
Those standards outline goals for student learning in each grade, such as when to learn division. They were adopted to create consistent, high-quality standards for education nationwide, but some Missouri lawmakers say they take control of education away from the state.
Work groups are reviewing those standards and could recommend that the state Board of Education nix them in October.
Wood says drafting standardized tests in Missouri would prevent educators from teaching current standards in order to get students to pass a test aligned with Common Core.
COMMENTS BEING ACCEPTED FOR PETITION THAT WOULD REDUCE JAIL TIME FOR SOME DRUG OFFENDERS
A proposal to reduce time in jail for nonviolent Missouri drug offenders is open for comments.
The initiative posted this month at sos.mo.gov would change state law to allow parole and probation for certain nonviolent offenders.
The measure would set the minimum prison term for a second-time, nonviolent offender at 40 percent of their sentence.
That would ramp up to 50 percent for offenders convicted twice before and to 70 percent for those with three or more felony convictions.
A petition must receive approval from the secretary of state and attorney general and get a financial estimate before it can be circulated for signatures.
Supporters would have until May 2016 to collect roughly 165,000 registered voters' signatures needed for the November 2016 ballot.
FEDERAL JUDGE STRIKES DOWN GAY MARRIAGE BAN IN ARKANSAS
A federal judge has struck down Arkansas' gay marriage ban, which could eventually pave the way for county clerks to resume issuing licenses.
U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker ruled Tuesday in favor of a pair of same-sex couples who had challenged the 2004 constitutional amendment and an earlier state law defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
But Baker put her ruling on hold, anticipating an appeal.
A spokesman for Attorney General Dustin McDaniel says he is reviewing the ruling. He says a decision will be made after the Thanksgiving holiday and in consultation with Republican Attorney General-elect Leslie Rutledge.
The ruling comes as the state Supreme Court is weighing a separate case, which stems from May, when a Pulaski County judge struck down the ban.
