FEMA DEADLINE IS TODAY TO APPLY FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE FROM MARCH STORMS
Homeowners in several Southeast Missouri counties are running out of time to apply for assistance from FEMA for damage they received in the storms this past March.
According to FEMA officials, homeowners and renters who were affected by the March 14th and 15th disaster in 18 counties, including Butler, Carter, Ripley, and Wayne, may be eligible.
The deadline to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance from that storm system is today.
You can still ask for additional assistance, as long as you submit an initial application before the deadline.
The fastest way to apply is at DisasterAssistance.gov. You may also apply by calling FEMA at 1-800-621-3362.
CARTER COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO THREE DECADES IN PRISON FOR PRODUCING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL
A Carter County man has been sentenced to three decades in prison for producing child sexual abuse material.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, in December, 53 year old Clinton Rongey was convicted of one count of sexual exploitation of a minor.
Evidence and testimony at the trial showed that between February and November of 2023, Rongey produced more than 100 images containing child sexual abuse material.
On Monday, a US District Judge sentenced Rongey to 30 years in prison.
AREA RESIDENTS REMINDED TO KEEP THEIR PETS OUT OF THE HEAT
With a heat wave enveloping the area, residents are being reminded to make sure their pets are safe.
You should never leave your pet in a parked car. Even with the window cracked, temperatures inside the car quickly rise to dangerous levels.
You should not exercise with your pet when it is too hot outside and also do not take your pet to crowded events.
If your pet is going to be outside, make sure they have access to shade and plenty of water.
OZARK BORDER ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 8TH
The annual membership meeting of the Ozark Border Electric Cooperative will be conducted next month.
The meeting will be held at 2:30 pm on Friday, August 8th at the Ozark Border Headquarters on South Westwood Boulevard in Poplar Bluff.
Members will be voting for the Board of Directors, with three seats being contested. The first will see incumbent Judy Lunsford taking on Gary Melton and Tod Spradley for the District 2 seat. Incumbent Bill Hager will be facing Derek Boyers for the District 3 seat.
The other race is in District 4, where incumbent Greg Lintz is being challenged by Chad Payne. Each race is for a three year term.
Voting will be conducted on multiple dates and locations during the week in the leadup to the meeting. Voting and registration will be available for all members on Monday, August 4th at the Malden Ozark Border Office, on August 5th at the Puxico Office, on August 6th at the Van Buren Office, and on August 7th at the Doniphan Office. Those four locations will be open for voting on their respective dates from 9 am to 3 pm.
Voting will be available at the Poplar Bluff Ozark Border Electric Headquarters on Friday, August 8th from 7 am to 2 pm.
RIPLEY COUNTY GIVEN FAIR RATING IN NEW AUDIT
Ripley County has been assessed a fair rating according to a new report from the Missouri State Auditor’s Office.
State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick says that the audit found issues in the Sheriff's Office, the Public Administrator's Office, and with the county's fuel use logs.
Two former members of the Ripley County Sheriff's Office were arrested earlier this year and are facing criminal charges for stealing guns from an evidence locker.
Fitzpatrick says that the report shows how they may have thought they could get away with it because of a failure to maintain an accurate seized property log for at least a decade. He added that the new sheriff has made keeping an accurate inventory a top priority, which will play a key role in preventing theft like this from happening again.
The audit also found the Sheriff's Office does not issue receipt slips for all money received, use pre-numbered bond forms, or reconcile receipts to deposits. As the report notes, the failure to do so increases the risk that loss, theft, or misuse of money received could occur and go undetected.
Another finding in the report notes how county fuel use logs are not complete and maintained for all vehicles, reviewed for reasonableness, or reconciled to fuel purchases.
The full report is available at auditor.mo.gov.
CULVERT REPLACEMENT SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEK IN DEXTER
Route AD in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane this week as Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a culvert under the roadway.
The section of roadway being reduced is located from Stone Brooke Drive to North Outer Road in Dexter.
Weather permitting, work will take place today through Thursday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
