RIVER RADIO NEWS 080614
BUTLER COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS
Butler County residents came out to make their opinions heard during yesterday’s Missouri Primary.
In local races, Republicans were the only group to have competitive races. John Shock defeated Scott Dale by 104 votes for the nomination for Associate Circuit Judge for Division 3.
For the nomination for Presiding Commissioner of the County Commission, Vince Lampe won over Larry Kimbrow and Ed Strenfel. Lampe carried 2,963 of the 6,057 votes cast.
For the nomination for Poplar Bluff Ward 5 Committeeman, Peter Tinsley defeated Ryan Kyle Ortego 134 to 65.
HUBRECHT WINS STATE HOUSE SEAT IN SPECIAL ELECTION
Republican Tila Rowland Hubrecht has won a seat in the Missouri House of Representatives.
Hubrecht defeated Democrat Ryan Holder during a special election held yesterday for Legislative District 151, which includes voters in Stoddard and Scott Counties. The special election was held to fill a seat left vacant after the resignation of State Representative Dennis Fowler.
Also, in Southeast Missouri, bond issues passed Bloomfield and Campbell while a school bond issue did not receive enough votes in Neelyville.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON GUN RIGHTS, FARMING, AND DIGITAL PRIVACY APPROVED
Voters approved three constitutional amendments yesterday during Missouri’s Primary election.
Missouri voters decided to bolster legal protection of electronic communications through a state constitutional amendment on digital privacy. Constitutional Amendment 9 had the biggest gap in voters with almost 75 percent of voters voting in favor.
The closest amendment race was for Constitutional Amendment 1 which unofficial numbers have being approved by just 2,528 votes of almost a million cast. The amendment proposed to make farming an official constitutional right, similar to existing protections for the freedoms of speech and religion.
Voters also passed Constitutional Amendment 5, which will expand state gun rights to cover ammunition and other accessories. It also will declare those rights to be "unalienable" and require any gun-control restrictions to be subject to strict legal scrutiny.
TAX AND LOTTERY MEASURES FAIL IN PRIMARY VOTE
Two of the five proposed constitutional amendments in Missouri failed during yesterday’s primary election.
Voters rejected a ballot measure that would have created a Missouri Lottery scratch-off ticket with net proceeds designated to help veterans. Unofficial numbers have Constitutional Amendment 8 failing by 10 percent of the vote.
Voters also decided against a sales tax increase to pay for roads and other transportation projects. Just over 59 percent of voters sided against the transportation tax.
FOOTBALL PLAYER TO HAVE SURGERY
A Poplar Bluff High School football player who collapsed during practice earlier this week is set to have surgery.
According to Poplar Bluff Mules Football fan page on Facebook, Caleb Morrow will go into surgery on Friday.
Morrow collapsed during the first day of football practice on Monday. A coach and athletic trainer performed CPR after Morrow collapsed.
WOMAN CLAIMS MAN ABUSED HER FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 YEARS
A Jonesboro man is facing a rape charge.
According to KAIT, Jonesboro authorities say a woman claimed that Richard Ressler abused her for approximately eight years until December 2012.
Ressler was ordered to be held on a bond of $100,000 on Monday with a court date set for August 29th.
RAPE CHARGE DROPPED AGAINST NORTHEAST ARKANSAS MAN
A rape charge has been dropped against a man in connection to an incident in August of 2013 in Northeast Arkansas.
According to KAIT, the rape charge against Phillip Kyle Bunch, of Cave City, was dropped. Bunch was arrested and charged last year following the report of the alleged incident in Izard County.
NEW DIRECTOR ANNOUNCED FOR THREE RIVERS CENTER AT KENNETT
Three Rivers College has announced who has been chosen as the new director for the college’s center in Kennett.
Kathy Ballard will replace Ann Matthews, who was appointed as Dean of Student Services in July. Ballard has served as Coordinator of Disability Services since 2009 and has worked at Three Rivers since 1998.
ALMOST TWO MONTH LONG ROAD PROJECT BEGINNING TODAY IN NEW MADRID COUNTY
Highway 61 in New Madrid County will be reduced to one lane with a 10-foot width restriction over almost two months so contractor crews can perform pavement repairs.
The work zone is located from Larcel Drive to County Road 824.
Weather permitting, work will take place through October 1st from 7 am to 5 pm daily.
