RIVER RADIO NEWS 040714
ONE DEAD FOLLOWING SINGLE VEHICLE WRECK IN SCOTT COUNTY
One man has died following a single vehicle wreck Saturday morning.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the wreck occurred when a vehicle driven by 47 year old Stanley J. Templeton, of Bertrand, ran off the side of Interstate 55 in Scott County and struck a tree.
Templeton was pronounced dead at the scene.
MAN REPORTEDLY SHOOTS HIMSELF FOLLOWING HIGH SPEED CHASE
A man reportedly shot himself following a high speed chase with officers Friday evening.
According to the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, the man led police on a chase on Interstate 55 that reached speeds of 80 to 90 miles per hour.
The suspect exited at Portageville and pulled into a vacant lot just west of the exit. As officers approached the vehicle, the man fired a single round into his head and died immediately.
The man was identified as 43 year old Thomas Louis Seminazzi, of Maryland. A woman who was also in the vehicle was not injured.
MAN ACCUSED OF HAVING SEX WITH UNDERAGE GIRL
A 35 year old Jonesboro, Arkansas man is facing charges after a 12 year old girl told authorities that they had had sex.
According to KAIT, 35 year old John Richardson allegedly admitted to officers to having sex with the child. Richardson is a registered sex offender who had previously spent four months in prison in connection to an incident involving a five year old child.
Richardson was arrested on child pornography and rape charges.
TWO ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES IN MISSISSIPPI COUNTY
Two people are facing multiple felony charges following their arrests Friday morning in Mississippi County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 28 year old Jeremiah P. Ellis, of Chicago, Illinois, and 24 year old Ashley L. Patterson, of East Chicago, Indiana, were arrested Friday on felony charges of unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest by fleeing, tampering with physical evidence, three counts of first degree assault on a law enforcement officer, three counts of first degree armed criminal action, and two counts of first degree endangering the welfare of a child.
The pair also reportedly each had an FBI warrant for bank robbery.
PUXICO MAN ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES
A Puxico man is facing drug charges after being arrested Friday afternoon in Stoddard County.
According to the Highway Patrol, 65 year old Richard A. Benfield is facing felony charges of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine; possession of drug paraphernalia; and possession of a controlled substance inside a correctional facility.
Benfield is also facing charges of careless and imprudent driving resulting in an accident, leaving the scene of an accident, and possession of marijuana.
HARVIELL MAN FACING POSSESSION OF METH CHARGE
A Harviell man is facing a felony meth charge.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 42 year old Kevin W. Bryant was arrested Saturday night in Butler County on a felony charge of possession of methamphetamine.
Bryant is also facing a charge of driving while intoxicated, drugs.
INMATE FOUND DEAD AT SOUTHEAST CORRECTIONAL CENTER
State prison officials say a 73 year old inmate has died at the Southeast Correctional Center.
The Missouri Department of Corrections on Friday announced the death of Nelson DeCloud. He was serving a 220 year sentence for kidnapping, felonious restraint, rape and forcible sodomy from Clay County and had been imprisoned for 20 years.
An agency news release says the corrections department does not suspect foul play in DeCloud's death.
MOBILE OFFICE TO BE HELD THIS WEEK IN EAST PRAIRIE
Staff members of United States Senator Roy Blunt will be in East Prairie this week to meet with constituents.
The meeting is a part of the Senator’s Mobile Office Program, which gives Missourians the opportunity to discuss their questions or concerns with the federal government one-on-one with members of Senator Blunt’s staff.
The Mobile Office will be held Wednesday, April 9th, from 3:30 to 4:30 pm at the East Prairie City Hall.
DRAINAGE REPAIRS TODAY IN BUTLER COUNTY
Crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation will be in Butler County today for drainage repairs on Highway 53.
The work zone will be located at First Street. Weather permitting, work is scheduled to be done today from 7:30 am to 1 pm.
PIPE REPLACEMENT TO FORCE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF DUNKLIN COUNTY ROAD
A Dunklin County road will be closed today so crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation can replace a pipe beneath the roadway.
Route B in Dunklin County will be closed today from 8 am to 3 pm between County Roads 314 and 326 for the replacement.
BRIDGE INSPECTION TO BE HELD TODAY ON INTERSTATE 55
North and Southbound I-55 in Scott County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform a routine bridge inspection.
The bridge to be inspected is over Ramsey Creek at Scott City.
Weather permitting, work will performed today from 10:30 am to 3 pm on the northbound lanes and then tomorrow from 9 am to 3 pm on southbound lanes.
MEDICAID EXPANSION PROPOSED THAT WOULD EXPAND COVERAGE TO SOME ELDERLY AND DISABLED RESIDENTS
Some Missouri Republicans have adamantly opposed expanding Medicaid to low-income adults by tapping into billions of federal dollars under President Barack Obama's health care law.
Yet support has been quietly growing among some of those same Republicans for a mini Medicaid expansion.
Some Republicans are teaming up with Democrats to back a proposal that would double the amount of assets people could have without being disqualified for Medicaid coverage. The change is projected to expand Medicaid coverage to nearly 8,200 elderly and disabled residents at an eventual annual cost of around $160 million in combined federal and state funds.
Missouri's asset limits haven't changed since 1968. Individuals are capped at $1,000 of assets and married couples at $2,000.
A Senate committee has endorsed two bills to raise the asset limits.
