RIVER RADIO NEWS 082714
INMATE FROM MALDEN DIES FROM INJURIES RECEIVED DURING BEATING
A Missouri inmate from Malden has died after being beaten by his cellmate at the Jefferson City Correctional Center.
The Cole County sheriff's office said Tuesday that 35 year old Mark Melton was assaulted August 19th and taken to University Hospital in Columbia. The sheriff's office said Melton died Sunday as a result of his injuries, and the case has now been classified as a homicide.
The sheriff's office said the cellmate is a 33 year old man serving sentences for second degree murder and armed criminal action.
Melton pleaded guilty in 2009 to attempted first-degree sodomy and was sentenced in Dunklin County Circuit Court to nine years in prison.
An autopsy was performed Monday, but the sheriff's office says results will not be ready for several weeks.
NAMES RELEASED OF THOSE INVOLVED IN KENNETT HIT AND RUN
Kennett Police have released the names of two people who were victims of a hit and run collision on August 23rd.
Authorities say a dark colored SUV stuck pedestrians 54 year old Clinton D. Queen and 58 year old Vernon Pittman, both of Kennett. The vehicle then fled the scene. Pittman was taken to a Memphis hospital and is still listed in critical condition.
On Tuesday, officers arrested 42 year old Joseph M. Stewart, of Kennett, for assault first degree and felony leaving the scene of an accident.
MAN CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC ASSAULT AND KIDNAPPING
A Sikeston man has been taken into custody on multiple charges including kidnapping.
According to Missouri Case Net, Harold Duff has been charged with second degree domestic assault and kidnapping in connection to an alleged incident on August 14th.
Duff allegedly kidnapped a woman and also hit her. The woman was later able to escape.
TEEN FACING 30 COUNTS OF BREAKING OR ENTERING
A teenager is facing charges after he allegedly broke-in to multiple vehicles in the Jonesboro area.
According to KAIT, 18 year old Lane Fears was arrested in connection to 30 vehicle break-ins around the community. Over $16,000 worth of items were reportedly taken from the vehicles.
Fears is facing 30 counts of breaking or entering.
EMILY CLARK PARKS IS REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR BUTLER COUNTY COLLECTOR
The Republican Party of Butler County has chosen their nominee for the Butler County Collector position.
Emily Clark Parks was selected as the Republican nominee to replace Brenda Fox, who passed away earlier this month.
The election will be held on November 4th.
McCASKILL VISITS POPLAR BLUFF TO ANNOUNCE EXPANSION OF VA SECRET SHOPPER PROGRAM
U. S. Senator Clair McCaskill was in Poplar Bluff yesterday to announce the expansion of a VA Secret Shopper Program.
Senator McCaskill explained to a group at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center that the Secret Shopper Program involves surveys given to veterans after utilizing medical services to gain feedback about their experience.
She said the program, which sees survey results sent to her office rather than the medical facility, previously served 120,000 veterans in Kansas City, St. Louis and Columbia, and that with the expansion of the program to Poplar Bluff, an additional 20,000 Missouri veterans will be served.
McCaskill says the survey program has seen positive results in the past with improvement each year. She told the group that a promise made to a veteran is a moral obligation that the country must meet.
EARTHQUAKE REPORTED NEAR NEW MADRID
An earthquake was recorded Tuesday morning near New Madrid.
According to the Center for Earthquake Research and Information, a 2.3 magnitude micro earthquake occurred at 9:06 am 7 miles south of New Madrid.
The quake had a depth of 5.1 miles.
LAW ENFORCEMENT SAY AMENDMENT COULD MAKE IT EASIER TO CONVICT CHILD SEX OFFENDERS
Missouri law enforcement groups are promoting a proposed constitutional amendment that they say could make it easier to convict child sex offenders.
Members of the state prosecutors and sheriffs associations held a news conference Tuesday at the Capitol to tout proposed Constitutional Amendment 2 on the November ballot.
The measure would allow evidence of past criminal actions to be used in the prosecution of child sex abuse cases, even if those past allegations did not result in convictions. The law enforcement groups say the change would put Missouri on par with rules used by the federal government and many other states.
The proposal was referred to the ballot by the state Legislature.
