RIVER RADIO NEWS 112113
MAN HIT BY RAILCAR IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
A man is listed in critical condition after reportedly being hit by a railcar last night.
According to KAIT, Jonesboro police say that the man tripped and fell on tracks at a factory before being run over by a railcar.
The incident occurred at around 7 pm Wednesday night. The identity of the man has not been released.
SECOND ARREST MADE IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS BURGLARY AND ASSAULT
Officials in Baxter County have made a second arrest in an alleged burglary and assault last month.
According to the Baxter County Sheriff’s Department, 44 year old Michael Gene Coplen, of Mountain Home, has been taken into custody on felony charges of aggravated residential burglary, first degree false imprisonment, first degree terroristic threatening, theft of property, and possession of a firearm by certain persons.
The arrest is in connection to an alleged burglary and assault that took place at a residence on October 11th. Kyle Motes, also of Mountain Home, was arrested earlier this month in connection to the incident.
SILVER ALERT ISSUED FOR MISSING MOUNTAIN HOME MAN
Arkansas State Police have issued a silver alert for a missing Mountain Home man.
The alert was requested by the Mountain Home Police Department for 48 year old John E. Thompson. Thompson is described as 5 foot, 11 inches tall, weighing 220 pounds with short brown hair and blue eyes.
According to the Arkansas State Police, Thompson is handicapped, suffers from depression and has some mental illness.
Thompson was last known to be at Mountain Valley Condos near Pizza Hut. He was last seen wearing a T-shirt, jeans and a black bomber jacket.
Anyone who has information about Thompson’s location is asked to contact the Mountain Home Police Department at (870) 425-6336.
STATE OFFICIAL CONDUCTS AUDIT OF MALDEN CONTRACT LICENSE OFFICE
Missouri State Auditor Thomas Schweich released an audit yesterday of the Malden Contract License Office.
The office was given an overall performance rating of good, which indicates the office is well managed.
A few items were listed on the report for correction, such as the video camera system not retaining recordings long enough. The report is available online at auditor.mo.gov.
SURVEYS ARE OUT FOR THE 2013 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
Nominations are being taken for the 2013 Poplar Bluff Citizen of the Year.
Surveys were sent out earlier this month by the Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce. The nominations should be submitted to the Chamber of Commerce by December 13th.
DID YOU GET PREPARED FOR WINTER WEATHER YESTERDAY
Yesterday was Winter Weather Awareness Day in Missouri, and with cold weather and possibly snow on the way next week, it is time to make sure you are prepared.
According to the National Weather Service, one of the things you can do is check your food supply and restock if needed. Include food that requires no cooking in case of power failure.
You should also get your car winterized and if you travel often, you should carry a winter storm kit in your vehicle. The kit should include items such as a flashlight, windshield scraper, extra clothes, matches/candles, booster cables, sand, and blankets.
(KWOC Only) A link to additional information about winter weather is available on our facebook page at facebook.com/KWOC.
POOR WEATHER CITED AS REASON FOR LOW DEER NUMBERS ON OPENING WEEKEND OF FALL DEER HUNT
Missouri wildlife officials say the fall deer hunt could still turn out to be normal despite a slower than usual start due to poor weather conditions.
The Department of Conservation says hunters killed 61,446 deer on the opening weekend of the November firearms season.
That was down 12 percent from last year's opening weekend, which with a total of 69,614 deer was the lowest opening-weekend number in more than 20 years.
Hunters came out in force later last year to still rack up the state's third-largest deer kill. This year's figures also could rebound.
The department says that because the firearms deer season is longer than it was 20 years ago, more hunters now wait until after the opening weekend.
ARKANSAS DUCK SEASON KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND
Arkansas duck hunters will see dry conditions if they head out for the first day of the season Saturday.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said Wednesday that aerial surveys this week found that some ducks are already here. Numbers weren't available.
While precipitation has been up for the year, most of the state's public duck hunting areas are dry. Biologists say cold fronts over the past few weeks likely pushed ducks into Arkansas from more northern latitudes, and a cold front predicted to pass through on Friday could provide another push of ducks in time for opening weekend.
For the continent as a whole, duck populations remain high. The commission says last summer's count was the second-highest estimate, behind only that of 2012. Mallards totaled more than 10 million.
