FORMER NEW MADRID COUNTY SHERIFF BUD COOPER PASSES AWAY
The former Sheriff of New Madrid County has passed away.
New Madrid County Sheriff Joey Higgerson has announced that W.T. Bud Cooper passed away over the weekend.
Cooper served as Sheriff from August of 2020 until his retirement last June.
In addition to his work as Sheriff, Cooper was also a retired Master Sergeant for the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
MISSOURI GOVERNOR CALLS SPECIAL SESSION OF LEGISLATURE
Missouri legislators will be returning to Jefferson City next week after Governor Mike Kehoe recalled them for a special session to consider aid for tornado victims and incentives for stadiums for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.
Governor Mike Kehoe announced the special session Tuesday, less than two weeks after deadly tornados hit the eastern part of the state.
Kehoe is proposing a $5,000 income tax deduction to help offset the cost of insurance policy deductibles for affected people and $25 million to expand eligibility for a state emergency housing assistance program for people living in areas covered by state requests for presidential disaster declarations.
Missouri officials are also scrambling to come up with an offer for the Kansas City sports teams because Kansas lawmakers last year authorized bonds for up to 70% of the cost of new stadiums, paying them off over 30 years with revenues from sports betting, Kansas Lottery ticket sales, and new sales and alcohol taxes.
Kehoe's special session agenda also includes spending on construction projects around the state, including $25 million to help fund a research nuclear reactor at the University of Missouri.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STUDENT COMPETING IN SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE THIS WEEK
A southeast Missouri student is participating in the Scipps National Spelling Bee this week.
14 year old Scott Tingle from Senath-Hornersville Middle School will be competing in the Spelling Bee for the second year in a row.
Tingle is sponsored by Three Rivers College.
In the preliminaries on Tuesday, Tingle correctly spelled the word “Katana” in round One. Tingle advanced past round two after correctly answering the question “What does it mean to Trounce?”
This year’s 243 national qualifiers advanced through local and regional bees that took place through the end of March. All rounds of this year’s national competition will take place at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI WOMAN SENTENCED FOR ACTING AS A MONEY MULE, AIDING $565,000 FRAUD
A Southeast Missouri woman will be spending over a year in prison for moving $565,000 in stolen funds.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 55 year old Sheri Reeves, of Kennett pleaded guilty in November to one count of aiding and abetting bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, and one count of wire fraud.
Officials say that Reeves acted as a money courier or “money mule,” transferring money obtained by fraud to others. Despite being warned by the FBI, Reeves continued to assist in the commission of financial crimes.
On Tuesday, a US District Judge sentenced Reeves to fifteen months imprisonment and ordered her to pay $565,000 in restitution to the Bank of America.
She will also have to serve a term of five years supervised release upon her release from imprisonment.
TWO ARRESTED ON METH CHARGES IN WAYNE COUNTY
Two men were arrested Tuesday in Wayne County on felony drug charges.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 49 year old Boyd Wood and 37 year old Harold Kelsoe, both of Williamsville, were each arrested Tuesday afternoon on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance - methamphetamine.
They are also both facing a charge of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
Following the arrests, both men were held at the Wayne County Jail.
PEMISCOT COUNTY ROAD TO BE CLOSED TODAY FOR CULVERT REPLACEMENT
Route B in Pemiscot County will be closed today so Missouri Department of Transportation crews can replace a culvert under the roadway.
The section of roadway being closed is located from Route A to County Road 216 near Wardell.
Weather permitting, work will take place through 5 p.m.
