RIVER RADIO NEWS 022514
BOY REPORTEDLY FOUND FACE DOWN IN CREEK IN CARTER COUNTY
A two year old boy was reportedly found face down and not breathing in a Carter County creek.
The boy was found yesterday in a creek near Ellsinore. According to KFVS, he has been taken to a St. Louis hospital and Sheriff Richard Stephens said the boy was still alive last night.
An investigation into the incident is underway; however the sheriff says it appears to be accidental.
MORLEY MAN ARRESTED ON CHILD MOLESTATION CHARGES
A Morley man was taken into custody recently on child molestation charges.
According to the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, 39 year old Eddie S. Hamblin was arrested on Friday following an investigation of an alleged sexual assault.
Hamblin has been charged with one count of first degree statutory sodomy and two counts of first degree child molestation.
CAPE POLICE SEARCHING FOR UNKNOWN MAN WHO APPROACHED CHILD
Officers in Cape Girardeau are looking for a man who they say approached and tried to pick up a child last week.
Authorities say the incident happened last Thursday afternoon near Franklin Elementary School. Cape Girardeau Police Officer Darin Hickey says the student told investigators that a white van had pulled up near the student and that the driver, a white male, said he was going to turn the van around to pick the child up.
Hickey says the child continued walking and that when the driver turned the van around, got out and approached the child, the child ran to the school. The driver then left the scene.
Authorities say they are not treating the incident as an attempted abduction, as the man made no attempt to grab the child. However, they do say the case is being treated as a suspicious person.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 573-335-6621.
PIEDMONT MAN ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE FELONY MARIJUANA CHARGES
A Piedmont man is facing multiple felony drug charges following his arrest Monday night in Wayne County.
According to the Highway Patrol, 53 year old Ira R. Zamzow was arrested on felony charges of manufacturing a controlled substance, marijuana; and attempt to distribute a controlled substance, marijuana.
Zamzow is also facing a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
AREA SHERIFF WARNING OF SCAMMERS CLAIMING TO BE FROM PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE
An area sheriff is warning citizens to be on the lookout for a phone scam involving people claiming they are from Publisher’s Clearing House.
Izard County Sheriff Tate Lawrence says the scammers will state that the individual has won large sums of money.
The scammers direct the individuals to purchase a gift card in the amount of $500 from a discount store and provide them with the numbers from the card. They may also ask individuals to meet them with $500 cash.
The scammers claim the money is to cover travel and other related expenses in delivering the prize. The website for Publisher’s Clearing House states that they never notify winners by phone or email and that one never has to pay money to receive the prize.
THREE RIVERS IN THE TOP 20 NURSING PROGRAMS FOR MISSOURI AND KANSAS
Ingram’s Magazine has included Three Rivers College in their list of the top nursing programs in Missouri and Kansas.
Three Rivers College was in the Top 20 according to a release from the college. Among the top 20, Three Rivers is the only institution listed with accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and Three Rivers’ Nursing program also has the lowest in-state tuition.
Three Rivers is still accepting applications for its Fall 2014 day and evening nursing classes in Poplar Bluff. The application deadline is March 1st. For more information, call 573-840-9680.
REVISED TAX BRACKETS GETS FIRST APPROVAL FROM MISSOURI HOUSE
Missouri House members have endorsed the first change in Missouri's income tax brackets since the Great Depression.
A bill given initial approval Monday would require Missouri's tax brackets to be adjusted annually for inflation starting in 2015.
Although the tax rates have changed over time, Missouri's top income tax bracket has been set at $9,000 since 1931. That means all income over that amount is taxed at the same 6 percent rate.
Republican House member Paul Curtman, of Pacific, is sponsoring the tax-bracket legislation. He says that while $9,000 may have been a decent income during the Great Depression, it now falls below the poverty level.
Legislative researchers estimate the tax-bracket adjustment could reduce state tax revenues by $26 million when it's fully in effect.
LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD
U.S. attorneys have filed a lawsuit against the Missouri National Guard alleging it shortchanges civilian employees when they are called to active duty.
The lawsuit announced Monday says the Missouri National Guard has been requiring civilian employees to resign before allowing them to go on active duty.
The lawsuit says that effectively denies the employees 15 days of annual paid military leave that they are entitled to under federal law. The civilian employees could receive the benefits if they were allowed to take a leave of absence or go on furlough for active duty.
U.S. attorneys are asking a judge to retroactively order benefits for the employees.
A Missouri National Guard spokeswoman referred questions to the state attorney general's office, which had no immediate comment.
CANDIDATES CAN START FILING FOR OFFICE TODAY
Candidates for Congress and state offices are lining up at the secretary of state's office to file for the 2014 elections.
Filing opens today and runs until March 25th. Candidates showing up today will participate in a random drawing to determine whose name shows up first on the August primary ballot.
All 163 state House seats are up for re-election, as well as 17 Senate seats. The Republicans currently hold 108 seats in the House and have 24 of the Senate's 34 spots.
The state auditor's race is the only statewide contest on the ballot.
All eight of Missouri's U.S. House members also face re-election.
Filing occurs at the secretary of state's office, located a couple of blocks west of the Capitol building.
