ADDITIONAL VICTIMS SOUGHT IN CONNECTION TO DEXTER HIV CASE Police in southeast Missouri continue to reach out to additional potential victims after a man with HIV told them he has had sexual relations with up to 300 people in the past decade, including up to 60 in Missouri.
David Mangum, of Dexter, is charged with one count of recklessly infecting another person with HIV, and 21 counts of exposing two additional others to HIV. The 21 counts reflect the alleged number of sexual encounters Mangum had with those two men, neither of whom has developed HIV.
Dexter detective Cory Mills said Monday that he is reaching out to potential victims throughout southeast Missouri.
Mangum has pleaded not guilty and faces a preliminary hearing October 3rd. He is jailed without bond. LOCAL MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO PRODUCING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
A Poplar Bluff man has reportedly pled guilty to producing child pornography.
62 year old David L. Cathey has pled guilty to two counts of producing child pornography, according to the Department of Justice.
Cathey allegedly admitted that over a period of several years, he took sexually explicit photographic images of two minor females. Both children were less than twelve years old when Cathey started taking the photographs.
Cathey stored some of the images on a compact disc, which he then left in a computer that he sold. Cathey is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment on each count and a possible $250,000 fine, as well as a life-time term of supervised release.
Sentencing was scheduled for December 16th. JONESBORO MAN FACING RAPE AND KIDNAPPING CHARGES
Police in Jonesboro have arrested an area man on rape and kidnapping charges.
According to authorities, Timothy Brinkley, of Jonesboro, is accused of kidnapping, beating, and raping his estranged wife. The man had allegedly kidnapped her by putting her in a vehicle and driving from her home. She had tried to escape from him at a gas station, but he was able to recapture her.
Brinkley also reportedly beat the victim and held a knife to her throat. ORAN MAN ARRESTED OVER THE WEEKEND AFTER MAKING GUN THREATS
An Oran man was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly threatened someone with a gun.
According to Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter, his department responded to a call about a domestic disturbance. During an investigation of the incident, it was discovered that 25 year old Quentin Hanselman had unlawfully threatened someone with a handgun.
Hanselman has been taken into custody and charged with unlawful use of a weapon.
Sheriff Walter has asked that anyone with information about the incident, call 573-545-3525. MATTHEWS MAN MISSING FOLLOWING BOAT CRASH
Authorities are still searching for a Matthews man who has been missing since Sunday.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 27 year old Christopher A. Wescoat has been missing since the boat he was piloting struck an anchored barge in the Mississippi River.
A second person in the boat, 37 year old Ronald D. Pipkin, suffered moderate injuries and was taken to a Cape Girardeau hospital. CARUTHERSVILLE MAN SENTENCED TO OVER 17 YEARS ON COCAINE CHARGE
A Caruthersville man is facing over 17 years behind bars on a cocaine related charge.
According to the Department of Justice, 50 year old Dwayne Woods has been sentenced to 210 months imprisonment for conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.
Woods reportedly supplied cocaine that was eventually sold on the street as crack cocaine. Woods was the seventeenth and final person sentenced for their roles in this case. OVER 150 BRIDGES FOUND DEFICIENT IN ARKANSAS
Twenty state-owned bridges that carry upward of 100,000 vehicles daily are among 156 Arkansas spans that inspectors consider both structurally deficient and at risk for a catastrophe should a key component fail. That's according to records in the National Bridge Inventory.
Most Arkansas bridges considered both deficient and "fracture critical" are on county roads that are less traveled. But eight are on significant federal highways and 11 are on Arkansas routes maintained by state transportation officials.
Arkansas highway officials say that listing a bridge as fracture critical doesn't automatically mean it is unsafe. The agency says each bridge in the state must be inspected every two years. The ones on federal list are inspected annually, except for one, which is checked every eight months. SCHOOL REGISTRATION OPEN FOR REGIONAL SPELLING BEE
Area schools can start registering for the Fifth Annual Southeast Missouri Regional Spelling Bee.
The spelling bee has been scheduled for March 8th, 2014, at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff.
Participating schools must complete their registration by October 15th and complete a school-wide spelling bee before February 7th, 2014, to participate.
The top three contestants from each qualifying school will be eligible to participate in the regional spelling bee, with the winner receiving an expenses-paid trip to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
For more information, contact Mark Sanders at 573-840-9618. GOOSENECK CAMPGROUND REOPENS THANKS TO VOLUNTEERS
A campground that was originally a victim of budget cuts has reopened thanks to volunteers.
The Gooseneck Campgrounds on Ozark National Scenic Riverways has been opened. The collaborative effort between local volunteers and the park will continue as long as there are funding shortfalls and as long as the public supports the volunteers in the campground maintenance.
Since there is no water, visitors will need to bring their own water when camping at Gooseneck and camping fees will not be charged. For more information, call (573) 323-4236. PAVEMENT REPAIRS THIS WEEK IN DUNKLIN COUNTY
Highway 25 in Dunklin County will be reduced to one lane this week so Missouri Department of Transportation crews can perform pavement repairs
Highway 25 will be reduced between Route 153 and County Road 426.
Weather permitting, work will take place today through Thursday from 6:30 am to 4 pm each day. DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION ASKING FOR INPUT ON FOREST GUIDELINES
Missouri's Conservation Department is seeking public input on voluntary guidelines for managing forests.
The agency is developing the policies to help private land owners manage forest resources, and is aiming for guidelines that are understandable and practical. The proposal includes guidance on enhancing soil and water quality, wildlife habitat and forest health.
The guidelines are entirely voluntary.
Conservation officials are accepting public comments through November 15th.
