KELSO MAN ARRESTED ON STATUTORY RAPE AND CHILD MOLESTATION CHARGE
A Kelso man is in custody on sexual related charges.
According to the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, 22 year old Justin A. Williams was arrested on Monday on charges of statutory rape and child molestation.
Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter says that his office received a call Monday afternoon reporting that Williams was molesting a young female at a residence in Kelso. Williams left the residence before officers could arrive; however he was found and taken into custody a short time later.
When questioned by a detective, Williams reportedly confessed to acts of unlawful behavior with a 6 year old female. His bond was set at $50,000.
WARRANT ISSUED FOR ARREST OF PARAGOULD DOCTOR ON VIDEO VOYEURISM CHARGES
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Paragould OB/GYN who is accused of taking nude photos of a patient during a medical exam without her knowledge, consent or approval.
According to Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ellington, the warrant was issued for 68 year old Dr. Paul Becton Jr. on five counts of video voyeurism. Authorities reportedly found numerous pictures of nude women on a cell phone that was taken from Becton during a search.
The warrant says that the pictures appeared to have been taken in a medical office during examinations. The search was prompted after a woman told police that she became suspicious after an examination that she may have been photographed.
BUSINESSES PLEDGES $50,000 TOWARDS THREE RIVERS ACTIVITY CENTER
A $50,000 pledge has been finalized to go to the Three Rivers Activity Center project.
Leaders from the Three Rivers Endowment Trust and First Missouri State Bank recently met to finalize the five-year pledge for the activity center, which will be a state-of-the-art athletics center for the Three Rivers Raider and Lady Raider basketball teams.
FIVE INJURED, ONE SERIOUSLY, IN REYNOLDS COUNTY WRECK
One person has serious injuries and four others were also injured in a two vehicle wreck Tuesday in Reynolds County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the wreck occurred on Missouri Highway 21 in Centerville when a vehicle driven by 72 year old Wanda Atkins, of Centerville, allegedly crossed into the oncoming lane and hit another vehicle.
Atkins suffered moderate injuries, while a passenger in her vehicle, 81 year old Kenneth Atkins, was seriously injured. Three people in the other vehicle suffered minor injuries.
CAPE GIRARDEAU MAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO ILLINOIS SHOOTING
A Cape Girardeau man is facing charges in connection to a shooting incident in Illinois.
According to the Carbondale, Illinois Police Department, 26 year old Darrion D. Jake has been charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and mob action.
The arrest is in connection to an incident last week where a victim was shot in the abdomen. The incident is still under investigation.
10 YEAR OLD WORLD SERIES TO BE PLAYED IN JONESBORO IN 2015
The Cal Ripken 10-year-old World Series and Jonesboro city officials have finalized plans for Jonesboro to host the 2015 series.
Babe Ruth League Commissioner Robert Faherty Jr. and Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken North Arkansas District Commissioner Gary Hoyt signed a contract Monday to bring nine regional winning teams and an all-star team from Jonesboro to play in the World Series at Joe Mack Campbell Park in August 2015.
Jonesboro's Advertising and Promotion Commission provided the tournament guarantee fee of $45,000 that is to be used for costs associated with the World Series such as travel and lodging expenses for each team.
The World Series will bring about 130 players and their families to Jonesboro - potentially thousands of people that city officials say will provide a boost to the city's economy.
SUPREME COURT RULING GIVES GREATER LEGAL PROTECTIONS TO INJURED WORKERS
The Missouri Supreme Court has overturned 30 years of precedent with a ruling that gives greater legal protections to injured workers who are fired from their jobs.
In a 5 to 2 decision, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that employees no longer have to prove that workers' compensation claims were the exclusive factor for their dismissal in order to win lawsuits claiming retaliation.
Instead, the court said employees must show only that workers' compensation claims were a contributing factor in their subsequent dismissal from their job.
State law does not explicitly set forth a standard of proof in such lawsuits, but the exclusive cause standard had been adopted by the state Supreme Court in 1984. Since then, all of the judges on the Supreme Court have changed.
NUMBER OF JOBS AND UNEMPLOYMENT RATE BOTH GO UP IN MISSOURI
Missouri's unemployment rate increased in March, though the size of payrolls also grew.
The Department of Economic Development reported Tuesday that the jobless rate grew to 6.7 percent from 6.4 percent last month. Employers added a net of 3,500 jobs in March.
Top gainers were the construction and education and health services. Construction jobs grew by 2,000 and education and health services grew by 1,600. On the other hand, the leisure and hospitality sector declined by 1,900 jobs.
Missouri's civilian labor force of about 3 million people grew by 8,450 during March. The labor force counts people with jobs and those who are on unemployment but looking for work.
