RIVER RADIO NEWS 072214
TWO KILLED IN HEAD ON COLLISION
Two people have died following a head on collision Monday morning in Poinsett County.
According to the Arkansas State Police, the wreck occurred when a vehicle driven by Rickey Wheeler, of Trumann, ran off the side of Highway 63, crossed the median and hit another vehicle head on.
The driver of the second vehicle, Mary Torres, of Brookland, was pronounced dead at the scene. Wheeler was later pronounced dead at an area hospital.
MAN FOUND DEAD IN ARKANSAS
An investigation is ongoing into the death of a rural Mountain Home, Arkansas man.
According to the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, 52 year old Raymond Lee Barnes was found dead on the ground outside his home Sunday evening.
Barnes body was sent to the Arkansas State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON IN CONNECTION TO 2012 MURDER
A Cape Girardeau man has been sentenced on a murder charge for the 2012 death of Darcus Purl.
Steven Williams was sentenced Monday to life in prison on a charge of second degree murder.
Williams allegedly shot Purl during an altercation over a woman.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED IN WRECK INVOLVING DUMP TRUCK
A Poplar Bluff man suffered serious injuries in a wreck Monday evening.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 77 year old Bruce McIver was driving a dump truck on US 67, when another vehicle reportedly pulled into his path at an intersection.
McIver was seriously injured and taken by ambulance to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. No injuries were reported for the driver of the second vehicle.
MAN ARRESTED ON STATUTORY RAPE WARRANT
Kennett authorities have arrested an area man on a sex related charge.
According to the Kennett Police Department, Damon J. Lemons, of Kennett, was arrested Sunday morning, shortly before 4 am.
Lemons was arrested on an outstanding felony Dunklin County warrant for statutory rape.
BUTLER COUNTY ROAD TO BE CLOSED TODAY FOR PIPE REPLACEMENT
Crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation will be in Butler County both today and tomorrow to prepare Route HH for a pipe replacement.
During the preparations, Route HH will be closed between County Roads 334 and 202. Work is scheduled to be performed on both days from 7 am to 5 pm.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA LEGISLATION HITS SNAG IN ARKANSAS
Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel has rejected the wording of a proposal to legalize medical marijuana by a group that is trying to put the measure before voters in 2016.
McDaniel's office on Monday rejected the wording of the proposal by Arkansans for Compassionate Care, which had tried unsuccessfully to get medical marijuana legalization on this year's ballot.
The group had been unable to gather the 62,507 signatures from registered voters needed by the July 7th deadline to submit petitions to qualify for the November ballot.
The group is now trying to put the legalization measure on the 2016 ballot. McDaniel cited ambiguities in the text of the latest measure in rejecting its wording.
The proposal would allow patients with qualifying conditions to buy marijuana from nonprofit dispensaries.
GROUP SEEKS TO STOP EXPANSION OF ALCOHOL SALES IN ARKANSAS
A group opposed to a proposal expanding alcohol sales in Arkansas is asking the secretary of state to not certify the measure for the November ballot, claiming it missed a deadline to submit petitions.
An attorney for a group called Let Local Communities Decide For Themselves asked Secretary of State Mark Martin's office to not accept any more petitions for the proposal, which would legalize alcohol sales in all 75 Arkansas counties. Thirty-seven counties currently prohibit alcohol sales.
The group claims the petitions should have been submitted by July 4th, which would have been four months before the November election. The state deadline was July 7th.
The group favoring expanded sales is gathering additional signatures after Martin's office said it had fallen short of the 78,133 needed to qualify.
