RIVER RADIO NEWS 051514
JONESBORO AUTHORITIES SEARCHING FOR TWO MEN IN CONNECTION TO REPORTED ARMED ROBBERY
Authorities are investigating an armed robbery that reportedly occurred Wednesday night in Jonesboro.
Two men allegedly took multiple items at gunpoint, including a phone and a credit card, from two people in the parking lot of an apartment complex on North Caraway.
Authorities are searching for the suspects.
MISSING ARKANSAS WOMAN DISCOVERED IN MISSISSIPPI
A missing woman from Pocahontas has been found safe.
According to KAIT, 67 year old Mary Carolyn Waddell was discovered Wednesday in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
According to the Arkansas State Police, a silver alert was issued for Waddell earlier this month after she went missing.
DEXTER MAN SENTENCED ON FIREARM CHARGE
A Dexter man has been sentenced on a firearms charge.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 22 year old Quenten T. Martin was sentenced to 57 months on one felony count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
In May of 2013, officers found Martin outside a Dexter hospital near a firearm on the ground. He admitted to officers that he had thrown the gun down when he saw the officers.
Martin is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
MAN ALLEGEDLY MAILED MARIJUANA TO AREA JAIL
An Illinois man has been arrested after allegedly mailing marijuana to an area jail.
30 year old Lenard Duncan is facing a charge of distribution of a controlled substance.
According to authorities, Duncan allegedly mailed the marijuana to an inmate at the Mississippi County Detention Center where he had previously been jailed.
TRC STUDENTS RECOGNIZED AT STUDENT EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Over 50 high performing students were recently recognized at Three Rivers College’s Annual Student Excellence Awards.
Winners were chosen to represent each academic department and career education program, the Three Rivers Centers, honor society students, and major student organizations. To be eligible a student must have completed at least 15 credit hours and have a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
The ceremony was held on May 9th.
ARCHITECTS MEET WITH POPLAR BLUFF EDUCATORS
Architects are meeting with local educators to discuss the new buildings plan.
Officials from Ittner Architects of St. Louis began the programming phase of the buildings plan on Tuesday, May 6th. They visited with Poplar Bluff High School educators to define needed space in the new facility, which will be located at the site of the 5th and 6th Grade Center.
Planners are continuing to meet with other educators this week including administration, faculty, and staff from the 5th and 6th Grade Center and Junior High.
MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL AND UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI SYSTEM PRESIDENT SPEAK TO POPLAR BLUFF EIGHTH GRADERS
Two Missouri state officials were recently in Poplar Bluff to speak to local students.
University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe and Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster spoke to eighth graders at the Poplar Bluff Junior High School about the importance of higher education.
The presentation on May 8th was a part of the Show Me Value tour.
GOVERNOR TO DECIDE ON SUNDAY MOTORCYCLE SALES
Missourians could buy motorcycles and some other recreational vehicles on Sundays under legislation sent to the governor's desk.
Many states have repealed bans on selling retail on Sunday, but Missouri still prohibits dealers from selling cars, trucks and motorcycles on that day.
Under the bill given final approval Tuesday, dealers could sell motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, personal watercraft and other vehicles "customarily sold by powersports dealers." Cars and trucks still could not be sold on Sundays.
Supporters argue it would make Missouri more competitive with neighboring states, including Kansas, that allow such sales on Sunday.
Missouri law already allows recreational vehicles, mobile homes, tires and repair parts for motor vehicles to be sold on Sundays.
LAWMAKERS GIVE APPROVAL TO AMENDMENT ON EARLY VOTING
Missouri lawmakers have given final approval to a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow early voting, though some contend it would be too limited.
The proposal would permit early voting on six days - but not on Saturday or Sunday. The early voting period would end the Wednesday before Election Day.
House members passed the measure 92 to 57 on Wednesday. It cleared the Senate earlier this week 22 to 8, so it will be on the ballot this year.
Another early voting proposal also could appear on the fall ballot. An initiative petition would allow early voting for six weeks - including weekends for the final 21 days before an election.
GOVERNOR NIXON REPORTEDLY USED MONEY INTENDED FOR FOSTER CARE OVERSIGHT TO PAY DUES
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon's administration has been paying its dues to the National Governors Association with money intended for foster care oversight and other social services.
State financial figures show Nixon's administration has paid about $390,000 in dues to the group over the past three years from the budget of the Department of Social Services. More than half of that money has come from the department's administration of the Children's Division, which oversees the foster care program.
House Republican leaders on Wednesday denounced the payment method as "disturbing" and "deceptive."
Nixon spokesman Scott Holste released a written statement from the governor saying House leaders should already have been well-aware of the dues payments. The statement called their newfound concerns a "diversionary stunt" as the legislative session draws to a close.
