February 23, 2015

RIVER RADIO NEWS 022315  

MAN SHOT AND KILLED IN CARTER COUNTY

 

A Carter County man was reportedly shot and killed Friday.

 

According to the Daily American Republic, authorities were alerted early Friday morning by a woman who said a family member had been shot.

 

When authorities arrived, they found 43 year old Mark Rutter dead. A suspect was reportedly taken into custody for interviews.

 

 

MAN FOUND DEAD OVER THE WEEKEND IN POINSETT COUNTY

 

One man is in custody in connection to a dead body found over the weekend in Northeast Arkansas.

 

The body of Jeff Foster was found Saturday after a report of gunshots being fired in Poinsett County.

 

According to KAIT, 58 year old Charles Davis, of Harrisburg has been taken into custody.

 

 

MAN ACCUSED OF INFANT SON’S METHAMPHETAMINE DEATH

 

(AP) - A southeastern Missouri man is jailed on $1 million bond after being accused of causing the methamphetamine-related death of his eight-month-old son.

 

The Park Hills Daily Journal reports 21-year-old James Belleville of Valles Mines in St. Francois County is charged with felony abuse of a child resulting in death.

 

The charge alleges that Belleville permitted infant Caleb Belleville to ingest methamphetamine. An autopsy determined the baby died last October of acute methamphetamine intoxication, although alcohol also was found in the child's system.

 

The newspaper reports that Belleville told investigators on Tuesday that he had not used methamphetamine in several months, but he later admitted to using the drug in January.

 

Online court records don't show whether Belleville has an attorney. He does not have a listed home telephone number.

 

 

TRAIN HITS TRUCK IN JONESBORO

 

Two people suffered minor injuries after a train hit a truck Friday in Jonesboro.

 

According to authorities, the truck got stuck on the railroad tracks after sliding on an icy road. The truck was then hit by the train.

 

Both the driver of the truck and another person in the vehicle were injured and taken to an area hospital.

 

 

STEELE MAN ARRESTED IN PEMISCOT COUNTY ON WEAPON CHARGE

 

A Steele man is facing a weapon charge following his arrest Sunday morning in Pemiscot County.

 

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 23 year old Robert Cochran was arrested shortly before 11 am on a felony charge of unlawful use of a weapon.

 

The type of weapon involved was not released.

 

 

WINTER WEATHER CAUSES DAMAGE TO MULTIPLE BUSINESSES IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

 

Multiple locations suffered damage due to the winter weather that hit the area last week.

 

A roof collapsed on a structure in Dexter causing damage multiple businesses including a restaurant. The awning of a gas station also collapsed in Dexter.

 

In Miner, a gas station had part of its awning collapse, as well.

 

 

AREA POLICE CAUTION DRIVERS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR BLACK ICE

 

The Poplar Bluff Police Department is warning area residents to be on alert for black ice.

 

The warmer temperatures caused some of last week’s snow fall to melt over the weekend; however temperatures have since gone back down below freezing. Moisture could be frozen over causing areas of sidewalks, parking lots, and driveways to be slick.

 

The forecast calls for temperatures to get back above freezing during the daytime on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

 

 

MISSOURI ENGAGEMENT OFFICE UNFUNDED IN PROPOSED 2016 BUDGET

 

(AP) - Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon may not get funding this year for one of the flagship pieces of his response to unrest in Ferguson after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in August.

 

Missouri House Budget Committee chairman Tom Flanigan, of Carthage, says he does not plan to add funding to the 2016 budget for the Office of Community Engagement.

 

Nixon created the office in September by executive order and tasked it with facilitating communication with citizens and finding policy solutions to help poor and minority communities.

 

Republican lawmakers criticized the way Nixon pulled funding from various departments for the 2015 fiscal year ending June 30th, expressing concerns that it may detract from department services.

 

 

MISSOURI LEGISLATORS SEEK ABILITY TO INTERVENE IN LAWSUITS

 

(AP) - Missouri's Republican Senate leader wants the ability to intervene in lawsuits regarding the constitutionality of state laws, if the attorney general declines to appeal or ask for a stay of a court ruling.

 

Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey of St. Charles said in a statement Friday that he has filed a bill giving himself and the House speaker the authority to intervene in cases challenging state laws.

 

He says Attorney General Chris Koster has failed to fully defend Missouri's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in some recent cases.

 

Koster did not appeal a Missouri judge's decision in October 2014 to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

 

Dempsey says General Assembly leaders should be able to intervene in such cases to defend state laws.