RIVER RADIO NEWS 121013
JONESBORO MAN ACCUSED OF RAPING YOUNG GIRL
A Northeast Arkansas man has reportedly confessed to raping a young girl.
According to the Jonesboro Sun, 21 year old Donald Stevens, of Jonesboro, confessed to raping an 8 year old girl that he had been asked to babysit. Stevens was arrested previously after being accused of allegedly raping a 13 year old girl at a party in October.
MAN ARRESTED AFTER HITTING ANOTHER PERSON WITH HIS CAR
A man has been taken into custody after allegedly hitting another man who was stuck in a ditch.
According to KAIT, the incident occurred Saturday night in Brookland. A man had reportedly gotten stuck in a ditch when a vehicle hit the vehicle of a person who was helping the man, then struck the man that was stuck in the ditch and fled.
The man that was hit was treated for non-life threatening injuries at an area hospital. The driver of the vehicle that hit the man was taken into custody later that night.
CANOPY COLLAPSES AT NORTHEAST ARKANSAS BUSINESS, INJURING ONE
A canopy collapsed at a convenience store in Northeast Arkansas on Monday afternoon, injuring one person.
According to KAIT, the incident happened at a convenience store in Ash Flat. There were five vehicles underneath the canopy when it collapsed. One person reportedly had to be treated at a nearby hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
The winter weather was cited by authorities as a contributing to the collapse.
AREA COLLEGE NAMED AS ONE OF TOP IN STATE FOR TEACHER EDUCATION
An area college has been chosen as one of the top in Missouri for teacher education.
The College Database ranked Southeast Missouri State University as seventh in Missouri for producing education graduates in 2012.
The College Database is a not-for-profit organization whose goal is to provide free information about education options to students, parents and other interested parties.
ARKANSAS GOVERNOR TO BE IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS TODAY
Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe is expected in northeast Arkansas today for a couple of events.
Beebe will be in Paragould this morning to participate in the Paragould Medical Park ribbon-cutting ceremony. The governor will then participate in the NEA Baptist Hospital dedication in Jonesboro this afternoon.
Beebe will return to central Arkansas where he's to address the Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts annual meeting in North Little Rock on Wednesday morning.
LISTENING POST MEETING TO BE HELD IN KENNETT
A Listening Post meeting has been scheduled for next week in Kennett.
The meeting will be held from 2 to 3 pm on Monday, December 16th at the Kennett Chamber of Commerce.
Listening Posts are opportunities for Missourians to discuss their questions or concerns with the federal government one-on-one with members of U.S. Senator Roy Blunt’s staff.
WEATHER FORCES RESCHEDULING OF RIVERWAYS MEETINGS
The winter weather of the past weekend has prompted the rescheduling of a public meeting originally planned for today.
The public meeting for the Draft General Management Plan has been rescheduled for Tuesday January 7th at the Van Buren Youth and Community Center.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways Superintendent Bill Black said that the poor condition of many roads around the Riverways was the reason for the delay.
The draft plan can still be viewed online at www.parkplanning.nps.gov/ozar.
SECRETARY OF STATE WARNS OF FRAUD THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander is warning Missourians to be on the lookout for fraud attempts this holiday season.
In addition to the well known scams, such as bogus charity solicitations and spam email seeking bank account number and personal information, Kander also wants Missourians to aware of financial fraud and threats to savings.
Kander says, “Be wary of individuals who claim to have trading expertise and offer to set up or "manage" an online brokerage trading account on your or another investor’s behalf. Allowing unlicensed individuals to set up an account in somebody else’s name or utilize that individual’s username and password can lead to substantial trading losses and account theft.”
Kander also says that the best way to protect yourself is to call the Investor Protection Hotline at 1-800-721-7996 before making any investment.
HIGHWAY PATROL TO PARTICIPATE IN DWI ENFORCEMENT CAMPAIGN STARTING ON FRIDAY
State Troopers in Southeast Missouri will be joining with other officers statewide starting on Friday for a DWI Enforcement campaign.
According to Captain George Ridens, enforcement efforts will be increased starting on Friday and continuing through January 4th, in an effort to stop people from driving impaired during the holiday season.
The Highway Patrol says that alcohol and drug-impaired drivers have killed 151 people and injured 2,019 in 2013.
