RIVER RADIO NEWS 042514
MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
A Texas murder suspect has been taken into custody in Northeast Arkansas.
According to authorities, 54 year old Danny Mitchell Cannon, from Clyde, Texas, was taken into custody Wednesday evening in Strawberry.
Cannon reportedly has a warrant for first degree felony murder for the shooting death of 51 year old Brenda Ruth Holland in Baird, Texas.
MAN KILLED IN CONFRONTATION WITH POLICE
Authorities say a Walnut Ridge police officer fatally shot a man after the man shot a woman and then pointed his gun at police.
Walnut Ridge Police Chief Richy Thatcher says the man intentionally crashed his vehicle into the woman’s car early Wednesday. Thatcher says the man then shot the woman with a handgun.
Two Walnut Ridge officers who responded ordered the man to drop his weapon. Thatcher says the man then shot himself in the side then turned with his gun facing the officers. One officer opened fire, killing the man.
The police chief says the woman was taken to a Memphis, Tennessee, hospital, where she is in stable condition.
The man has been identified as Elijah Waltman, of Delaplaine. Thatcher says the officers involved in the incident are on paid administrative leave.
NAYLOR MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
A man facing a statutory rape charge is now facing child pornography charges.
According to the Daily American Republic, 25 year old Billy Joe Wertenberger, of Naylor, was arrested this week on 10 counts of possessing child pornography.
Wertenberger is already facing a statutory rape charge for an incident involving a 13 year old girl. The child pornography charges come from images allegedly found during the statutory rape investigation.
ARKANSAS PROSECUTOR OBJECTS TO CLEMENCY RECOMMENDATION
A prosecutor in Northeast Arkansas has filed an objection to a recent recommendation by the Arkansas Parole Board.
The board recommended that convicted killer Denver Mitchell be released from prison on executive clemency. Mitchell was convicted of first-degree murder by Greene County jurors for the 1990 slaying and beating of Willard Williamson in Paragould and was sentenced to life in prison.
Greene County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kimberly Dale has asked Arkansas governor Mike Beebe to deny the parole board’s recommendation.
ART FOR ANIMALS CLOSING RECEPTION IS TONIGHT
The Animal Welfare Alliance will be holding the closing reception for this year’s “Art for Animals” benefit tonight.
The free reception will be held from 5 to 7 pm at Artfully Framed in the Bluff Estates Shopping Center. Final bidding will take place on the art pieces tonight and there will also be prizes given out.
Proceeds from the event will go to the Animal Welfare Alliance. Pictures of the paintings up for auction are available online at facebook.com/artfullyframed.
35TH ANNUAL MERCHANTS SHOWCASE TO BE HELD SATURDAY
The 35th annual Merchant Showcase will be held tomorrow at Three Rivers College.
The Merchant Showcase gives local businesses and vendors an opportunity to showcase their services to the public. Participating businesses will have booths set up in the Bess Activity Center for giveaways, demonstrations, contests, and more.
There will also be the opportunity for visitors to win one of four cash giveaways. The Merchant Showcase will be held from 10 am to 3 pm on April 26th. Admission is $1. Children, five years old and younger get in for free.
CRIMINAL CODE OVERHAUL APPROVED BY MISSOURI LEGISLATORS
Missouri lawmakers gave final approval to the first comprehensive rewrite of the state's criminal laws in decades.
The House and Senate voted Thursday to send the legislation to Governor Jay Nixon's desk. The measure would create new classes of felonies and misdemeanors, and reorganize crimes to fit the new penalty structure.
It also reduces the punishment for people convicted of possessing less than 10 grams of marijuana on their first offense and lengthens prison sentences for criminals who sexually abuse children.
Nixon has previously expressed reservations that the bill would do too much at one time. The overhaul passed with enough votes in both chambers to override a potential veto. Because of the vote's timing, Nixon would have to act before lawmakers adjourn in mid-May.
SENATE APPROVES COUNTY HEALTH REGISTRIES
County officials could compile lists of residents with health problems under a Missouri bill intended to identify people in need of help during disasters.
The bill given final approval Thursday by the Senate allows the creation of voluntary registries of people with "health-related ailments" who may need assistance in emergencies. The House passed the bill earlier, so it now goes to Governor Jay Nixon.
The identities of people on the list would be exempt from disclosure under Missouri's open-records law. But an incident report would be made public if any of the people are involved in a disaster or emergency.
