RIVER RADIO NEWS 070915
AUTHORITIES SAY 90 YEAR OLD ARKANSAS WOMAN WAS ABDUCTED FROM HER HOME
(AP) - Authorities in northeast Arkansas are searching for a 90-year-old woman who they say was forcibly taken from her home.
The Bay Police Department on Saturday activated a Silver Alert for Lavinda Counce, who was last seen Friday afternoon. Craighead County Sheriff Marty Boyd told reporters Tuesday there is evidence that shows she was abducted from her Bay home.
Boyd declined to say why authorities believe she was abducted and says an investigation is ongoing.
Officers located Counce's car at a Jonesboro hospital late last week. They say security footage shows a man in dark clothing getting out of her car.
Boyd told the Jonesboro Sun that a silver alert issued Saturday inaccurately reported that Counce has dementia.
STEELE WOMAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO INVESTIGATION INTO FIREARMS THEFT
A Steele woman has been taken into custody in Kennett.
According to the Kennett Police Department, 32 year old Dana Burse was arrested in conjunction with an ongoing investigation where several firearms had been reportedly stolen from a residence in Kennett. Burse is suspected of pawning one of the stolen firearms.
Kennett Police say several more arrests are expected in the near future.
ARKANSAS MAN FACING SIX COUNTS OF RAPE
A rural Mountain Home, Arkansas man is facing multiple counts of rape following an investigation by local authorities.
According to Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery, 62 year old Larry Johnson is in custody on six felony counts of rape.
Johnson allegedly had sexual contact multiple times with a 19 year old female who has been clinically diagnosed as having a learning capacity of a seven to 10 year old child.
MAN RESCUED AFTER JUMPING INTO MISSISSIPPI RIVER
A man was retrieved by authorities Wednesday after he reportedly jumped into the Mississippi River.
The man had allegedly been acting suspiciously near the casino in Cape Girardeau when police were called. Authorities say that the man had a knife when they arrived on the scene.
The man then jumped into the river and was eventually pulled out by authorities. He was then taken to a local hospital.
HORSE FOUND SHOT IN THE HEAD NEAR PUXICO
Authorities are seeking more information after a horse was found dead last week near Puxico.
According to the Daily Statesman, the horse’s owner discovered that the horse had been shot in the head at what appears to be close range. The horse was a 14 year old Appalossa gelding.
The incident occurred on the owner’s farm on County Road 483. Multiple other horses in the area were unharmed.
Anyone with information about the case should contact the Stoddard County Sheriff’s Department at 573-568-4654.
MULTIPLE EVENTS COMING UP AT THE POPLAR BLUFF MUNICIPAL LIBRARY
The Poplar Bluff Municipal Library has multiple events coming up as a part of the 2015 Children’s Summer Reading Program.
Comic Book artist Nathan Rice will be at the library on July 11th, 18th, and 25th, to teach a drawing workshop beginning at 2 pm.
Members of the Poplar Bluff Police Department, Fire Department, and the Butler County Emergency Medical Services will stop by the library on July 15th to talk to children and read stories to them.
Free tickets for the shows are available at the Library. For more information, go online to www.poplarbluff.org.
MISSOURI TO REQUIRE CHILD SAFE PACKAGING FOR LIQUID NICOTINE
(AP) - Missouri soon will require child-proof packaging for liquid nicotine used in electronic cigarettes.
The measure signed Wednesday by Governor Jay Nixon is aimed at making it more difficult for children to ingest chemicals in the liquid. Lawmakers have said that could prevent accidental poisonings.
Experts have said nicotine is especially dangerous for children.
Electronic cigarettes work by heating liquid nicotine into an inhalable vapor, which sometimes is flavored to taste like candy.
Retailers who violate the new law will face a $250 first-time fine. The fine is $500 for each additional offense.
The measure does not apply to liquid nicotine that's been sealed by a manufacturer and isn't intended to be opened by consumers.
GOVERNOR NIXON SIGNS BILL TO UP RESPONSE TO CHILD SEX ABUSE
(AP) - A new Missouri policy is aimed at increasing reporting and responses to allegations of children sexually assaulting other minors.
Governor Jay Nixon signed the measure into law Wednesday. It will require the state Children's Division to report claims of sex abuse between two children to a local office. Local offices must respond to the report, and can conduct an investigation if needed.
Nixon says the agency previously had limited authority to take action on alleged child abuse by a minor under 14.
The measure also will require daycares to implement a written policy on safe sleep practices for infants.
Lastly, daycares and preschools must inform parents or legal guardians upon request if children in a daycare have exemptions to immunization requirements.
