RIVER RADIO NEWS 121913
SECOND PERSON CHARGED IN 2012 SHOOTING DEATH
A second suspect now faces murder charges for a fatal shooting nearly 20 months ago in southeast Missouri.
The Daily Journal newspaper in Park Hills reports that 24 year old Tyson Fortner, of Bismarck, was charged with second degree murder in the April 25, 2012, killing of 57 year old Thomas Espy. Earlier, 24-year-old Zachary Clampitt, of Park Hills, was charged with first degree murder.
Espy was sleeping on a couch at a family retreat near the Black River in Reynolds County when he was shot.
Clampitt is already serving a seven-year sentence for assault on law enforcement and property damage. Fortner was already jailed on warrants for driving while suspended, shoplifting, and failure to appear in court.
SHOTS REPORTEDLY FIRED IN CAPE GIRARDEAU
Authorities are investigating a report of shots being fired in Cape Girardeau.
Shots were reportedly fired into two separate residences Wednesday evening. One of the residences was located on Good Hope Street and the other on Hanover. According to KFVS, the incidents are under investigation and police do not have any suspects.
MAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO VEHICLE BREAK INS IN NORTHERN ARKANSAS
A man has been taken into custody following multiple reports of vehicle break-ins.
According to the Baxter County Sheriff’s Department, multiple reports were made of thefts of contents from vehicles on December 17th. A purse containing credit cards and other documents was taken from one of the vehicles and two muzzle loaders rifles were taken from another.
Authorities also took a report from a nearby resident indicating that she found credit cards in her son’s bed that did not belong to him. Those credit cards were found to be in the name of one of the theft victims. Further searching of the residence uncovered the stolen muzzle loaders in the suspect’s bedroom.
Early Wednesday morning, authorities responded to a complaint indicating that 23 year old Alec Robert Johnson was trying to get into a residence. Deputies found Johnson in possession of Xanax and took him into custody.
Johnson is facing charges of breaking or entering, theft of property, and possession of a schedule six controlled substance, among other charges.
SEVEN ARRESTS MADE DURING BUTLER COUNTY CHECKPOINT
State troopers made seven arrests during a sobriety checkpoint last weekend in Butler County.
According to the Highway Patrol, a total of 170 vehicles were stopped during the four hour operation on December 14th. Of the seven arrests made, four were driving while intoxicated arrests.
There were 34 warnings and 13 summonses issued during the operation.
18 YEAR OLD THREE RIVERS STUDENT CLAIMS 100 THOUSAND DOLLAR LOTTERY PRIZE
An 18 year old student at Three Rivers College should not have any trouble paying for books next semester.
Rodie Rainey, of Lowndes, won $100,000 from a Missouri Lottery “Millionaire” scratchers ticket she purchased in Zalma.
Rainey says she was having some bad luck that day, so she pulled into a gas station and bought the ticket.
HEARING SCHEDULED FOR TODAY IN POPLAR BLUFF TO DISCUSS DISCUS PROPOSED HIGHWAY PROJECT
A hearing will be held today by the Missouri Department of Transportation to discuss intersection improvements at Route PP and Township Line Road.
The meeting is scheduled for 4 to 6 pm at the Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce. The proposed intersection improvements at Route PP and Township Line Road include constructing a four-leg roundabout to improve safety and help traffic flow more smoothly.
Two options for the Route 67 crossover at Township Line Road will also be shared at the meeting.
According to project manager Jason Williams, "Visitors can stop-by anytime between 4 and 6 p.m. to discuss the details of the project with a member of the project team and provide their comments.”
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS SHERIFF ISSUES WARNING ABOUT SCAM PHONE CALLS
The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department is reporting that they have received several calls about an insurance scam that is using local numbers.
A post on the sheriff’s department’s Facebook page says that it seems that the scammers are attempting to obtain people’s social security and credit card numbers and that the local numbers that are showing up on people’s caller IDs are not who is really calling.
Authorities are urging everyone to be careful with their personal information.
GROUND BROKEN FOR NEW THREE RIVERS BUILDING
Three Rivers College held a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday for the new Humanities and Social Sciences building.
The 40,000 square foot classroom building, when completed, will include the college’s first lecture hall, 16 state-of-the-art classrooms, and three computer labs.
In addition, the structure will also contain a two-story FEMA certified safe room capable of withstanding 200 mile per hour winds.
The building will be located on the east side of the Poplar Bluff Campus by the Academic Resource Commons and the Westover Administration Building.
Construction is expected to be completed in the Spring of 2015.
MISSOURI AUDITOR EXAMINING STATE TAX CREDIT PROGRAMS
Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich says he will have reports coming out soon on some of Missouri's biggest tax credit programs.
Schweich says he hopes to release audits early in the 2014 legislative session on tax credits for developers who build low-income housing, renovate historic buildings and clean up contaminated old business sites.
Missouri waived $144 million of taxes during its last budget year because of the low-income housing credits. Developers redeemed nearly $79 million in historic preservation tax credits and more than $6 million in Brownfield remediation tax credits for work on contaminated sites.
Lawmakers are to consider new limits on some of those tax credit programs during their session that starts January 8.
Schweich said he wants the audits out early enough that lawmakers can use the information.
OVER 86,000 PEOPLE APPLY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE UNDER ARKANSAS PROGRAM
More than 86,000 Arkansas residents have applied for health insurance under a state plan to use Medicaid expansion money to provide the coverage.
The Department of Human Services said Wednesday that of the 86,341 people who applied, 72,361 are eligible for the private option insurance.
The program is separate from the federal health insurance program that operates through the HealthCare.gov website. As of last week, about 1,400 Arkansas residents had enrolled in that program of 18,000 who applied.
State health officials say that 5,700 private option applicants will be placed in the traditional Medicaid program.
