RIVER RADIO NEWS 031114 SENATH MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER CHARGE IN DEATH OF THREE YEAR OLD GIRL
A Senath man has pled guilty to a murder charge in the 2011 death of three year old Breeann Rodriguez.
Shawn Morgan pleaded guilty Monday to charges of first degree murder, child kidnapping, and armed criminal action. Rodriguez went missing in August of 2011 and her remains were found 10 days later.
Authorities say Morgan confessed to killing the child after authorities found her on the ladder of his above-ground backyard swimming pool.
He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
DEXTER WOMAN GETS 15 YEARS FOR KILLING MAN WITH HAMMER AND HATCHET
A southeast Missouri woman has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for killing a St. Louis man, using a hammer and a hatchet as the weapons.
Tammi L. Todd, of Dexter, was sentenced last week. She pleaded guilty in May to second degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of 48 year old Wendell Adams.
Adams died two days after being found unconscious at his home in June 2011. A motive for the attack wasn't clear.
PARAGOULD MAN SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON ON RAPE CHARGE
A Paragould man has been sentenced on a rape charge.
According to Prosecuting Attorney for the Second Judicial District of Arkansas, Scott Ellington, 43 year old Barry Wayne Crow pled guilty to a charge of rape in connection to an investigation that began last March.
Crow was sentenced to 40 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
NEW MADRID COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATING STRING OF LILBOURN THEFTS
A large amount of stolen items were seized in January in connection to a string of thefts in Lilbourn.
The New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department says arrests were made in January in connection to the thefts and some of the items that were recovered have yet to be identified. According to the Sheriff’s Department, the thefts are still under investigation.
If you were the victim of a theft of burglary prior to January 17th and believe some of the items may be yours, contact the Lilbourn Police Department to set up a meeting.
POULTRY FACILITY BRINGING 1,000 NEW JOBS TO NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
A planned 1,000 new jobs are coming to Northeast Arkansas as a part of a recently announced poultry facility.
Peco foods announced on Monday that they were bringing a fully integrated poultry facility to Randolph and Clay Counties. The new facility will include a hatchery, feed mill and processing plant.
The feed mill will be located in Corning, with the processing plant and hatchery residing just outside of Pocahontas.
Groundbreaking on the feed mill site is set for April and the first stages of work on the hatchery and processing plant site will begin in July.
TWEENS INTERNET SAFETY TALK TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY
The Poplar Bluff Municipal Library will be hosting an internet and online safety talk for tweens this week.
The program will be presented by Detective Scott Phelps on Thursday, March 13th at 1 pm. The discussion will offer tips and pointers on the safe use of the Internet, social media, and texting.
Another session meant for adult audiences will be held on Tuesday, March 18th at 6 pm.
For more information call Poplar Bluff Municipal Library at 573-686-8639.
THREE RIVERS TO HOST 16TH ANNUAL DISTRICT MUSIC FESTIVAL
Hundreds of high school musicians and singers will be testing their skills at the upcoming 16th Annual Three Rivers District Music Festival.
Event officials say 15 high school bands and nine high school choirs will perform March 22nd and 29th. The event is open to the public, and friends and family members of the musicians are invited to attend.
The Festival is one of 20 such events in the state, where local bands and choirs compete for spots in the State Music Festival in Columbia on May 2nd and 3rd.
High schools with participating bands and ensembles include: Bloomfield, Caruthersville, New Madrid County Central, Clearwater, Dexter, Doniphan, Greenville, Malden, Poplar Bluff, Portageville, Puxico, and South Pemiscot.
High Schools with choirs attending the festival are: Bloomfield, New Madrid County Central, Dexter, Doniphan, Greenville, and Poplar Bluff.
MODOT ASKING FOR MOTORISTS HELP IN REPORTING POTHOLES
The Missouri Department of Transportation announced on Monday a pothole repair initiative that will see crews aggressively respond and patch potholes to keep highways smooth and safe.
To help with this imitative, MoDOT is asking motorists to report the locations of potholes by calling the Customer Service Center at 1-888-ASK-MODOT. You can also report potholes online at MoDot.org.
MARIJUANA BILL DISCUSSED BY MISSOURI HOUSE
Most Missouri adults would be able to buy and use recreational marijuana under a bill being considered by a state House panel.
The measure would let people older than 21 produce, sell, distribute and use cannabis. The legislation would allow the state to adopt regulations on marijuana distribution and to levy an excise tax up to 25 percent of the drug's cost.
It is sponsored by Democratic Representative Chris Kelly, of Columbia. The House public safety committee held a hearing on the measure Monday, but did not take a vote.
MISSOURI FARMERS TO SEE LARGER PROPERTY TAX BILLS
Missouri farmers will get a larger property tax bill for their land starting in 2015.
Property tax for agricultural land is based on its productive value. Farms are divided into eight groups based upon land quality, with the best in Grade 1 and the worst in Grade 8.
The Missouri Tax Commission has recommended increasing the productive values for all farms by about 5 percent. State lawmakers' deadline to reject that proposal was this past weekend. It means the new values will be in place for the 2015 and 2016 tax years.
The tax commission estimates the change will mean about 10 cents more tax per acre. The commission says the last change in productive values took effect in 1995.
