RIVER RADIO NEWS 111813
STORMS CAUSE OUTAGES, DOWN TREE LIMBS IN MISSOURI
Severe Missouri storms have left thousands without power, destroyed a mobile home and damaged numerous roofs.
Ameren Missouri reported a high of about 37,000 outages Sunday afternoon, mostly in the St. Louis area. Power was gradually being restored.
The National Weather Service says there is roof and shingle damage across parts of St. Louis and St. Louis County, as well as downed and uprooted trees. Roof damage also was reported at a Wentzville school.
A trained spotter reported that a mobile home in Scott County was destroyed, but no one was injured.
Forecasters issued a series of tornado and thunderstorm warnings across a large swath of eastern Missouri and several other Midwestern states. Extensive damage has been reported in several Illinois communities.
SUSPECT ARRESTED IN STRONG ARM ROBBERY
A suspect has been arrested in connection to a recent robbery that took place at the Poplar Bluff Walmart.
According to Poplar Bluff Police, 17 year old Marquis Deshun Wiggins has been arrested in the strong arm robbery, which occurred the morning of November the 6th at the Poplar Bluff Walmart.
According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, a shoplifting suspect was stopped by a Walmart loss prevention associate as the suspect was exiting the store with a piece of merchandise.
The suspect allegedly struck the associate and pushed him to the ground. He then dropped the merchandise and fled.
Officers used a still photograph from the Wal-mart surveillance video, along with additional photos of his apparent juvenile companions.
According to authorities, on Thursday, two juveniles enrolled in the Poplar Bluff schools. The school employees recognized them from the photos. The teens were accompanied by their mother and older brother. The older brother was later identified as the suspect.
MISSOURI MAN DIES IN ATV CRASH
A 26 year old eastern Missouri man has been killed in an ATV accident.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol says Chad M. Unterreiner. of Perryville, died Friday night when the ATV he was on collided with another ATV in Ste. Genevieve County. Both drivers were ejected.
Unterreiner was pronounced dead at the scene. The other ATV driver was taken to a St. Louis hospital in serious condition.
BOLLINGER COUNTY DOG SHOT WITH ARROW
A Bollinger County dog has been shot with an arrow and the dog’s owner is seeking answers.
The Bollinger County Sheriff's Office say they are investigating after a dog was shot with an arrow on Friday.
Sherry Sullivan, the owner of the mixed pit bull dog, says her children discovered that the 7 year old dog was injured with an arrow sticking out of him.
Sullivan took the dog to emergency services where the arrow was removed.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Bollinger County Sheriff's Office.
HOBBY LOBBY IS COMING TO POPLAR BLUFF
A Hobby Lobby is coming to Poplar Bluff this spring.
According to a spokesperson for Hobby Lobby, a date has not been set. Hobby Lobby has leased the 48,800 square foot section of Valley Plaza in the former Montgomery Ward building along Maud Street. The Goodwill Industries will move to another part of the complex.
Jim Bailey, the owner of the Valley Plaza and Mansion Mall shopping centers has been renovating the building and plans to turn it over to Hobby Lobby on February 1st.
Hobby Lobby plans to hire 30 to 50 local employees with hourly pay starting at $14.00 an hour for full time work and $9.50 for part time.
THREE RIVERS COLLEGE TO BEGIN WORK ON $6.2 MILLION PROJECT
The Three Rivers College Board of Trustees has awarded a nearly $6.2 million contract for a new classroom building.
According to the College, work will begin in December on the 38,000 square foot, two story building that will be located on the hillside east of the library and Westover buildings. It will house humanities and social sciences programs. The project is being funded by the sale of bonds, a $2.6 million federal safe-room grant and donations.
Construction is set to begin in December and should finish in the spring of 2015.
BLYTHEVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY IS FULL
The Blytheville Humane Society is listed as "critically full."
According to BHS President Pam Ford, the shelter has been no-kill for over two years, leading to the need for more accommodations, more employees, extra work hours and the need for extra donations. The shelter is set up to house 45 animals, but currently has 60.
The Humane Society staff is looking for foster homes and encouraging people to adopt, but for the right reasons. With the holidays approaching, there is one surge they don't want - people trying to adopt as a gift.
Animals available for adoption or foster homes are listed on the Blytheville Humane Society Facebook page.
MISSOURI GOVERNOR NIXON SHIFTS LEFT POLITICALLY
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has taken a new, more left-leaning approach in his second term.
Nixon has long been a Democrat. But he could have passed himself off as a moderate Republican during his first four years as governor. He cut taxes, spending and thousands of government jobs. And Nixon shied far away from President Barack Obama's signature health care law.
Since he won re-election a year ago, however, Nixon has sought to expand Missouri's Medicaid eligibility under Obama's health care law. He vetoed a big income tax cut and numerous other bills passed by the Republican-led Legislature. And this past week, Nixon came out in support of gay marriage.
Some political scientists say Nixon appears to be re-positioning himself to appeal to national Democrats.
