RIVER RADIO NEWS 112014
POPLAR BLUFF NORDYNE PLANT TO FINISH CLOSURE NEXT MONTH
A suburban St. Louis-based company is shutting down two factories in Missouri that at one time employed more than 700 people.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that O'Fallon, Missouri-based Nordyne Inc. will finish closing its Poplar Bluff plant next month. The plant employed about 500 people.
Nordyne will begin closing its Boonville plant in December and finish by June, according to a notice filed with the Missouri Division of Workforce Development. About 240 workers will be impacted.
The company announced in March 2013 it would consolidate its Missouri plants at a new location in Saltillo, Mexico.
POPLAR BLUFF CHAMBER WARNS ABOUT FALSE INVOICES
The Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce is warning business owners and managers about a possible scam in the area.
The scam involves false invoices sent by fax from a company called American Yellow Corporation. According to an alert from the Chamber, several local businesspeople have received the fake bills.
The alert says the Better Business Bureau has given American Yellow Corporation a rating of F, due to several complaints alleging the company sends fraudulent invoices for directory publication services that were never ordered.
MAN FLOWN TO MEMPHIS HOSPITAL FOLLOWING SHOOTOUT WITH POLICE
A Clarkton man was shot Wednesday during a shootout with police.
According to KFVS, Elton Loughary allegedly fired a shot at police officers before an officer returned fire. Loughary was shot in the process and eventually was flown to a Memphis Hospital.
The incident is under investigation.
DONIPHAN HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL ARRAIGNED ON FORGERY CHARGE
The principal at Doniphan High School was arraigned earlier this week on a felony forgery charge.
According to the Daily American Republic, 53 year old Ronald McCutchen allegedly forged a college placement test for a former student.
McCutchen was placed on paid administrative leave on October 1st.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER INJURED IN CRASH WHILE ON DUTY
A law enforcement officer was injured Wednesday night after getting in a wreck while responding to a call of shots being fired.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 26 year old Joshua Doyle, of Poplar Bluff, was responding to the call when he failed to negotiate a curve and ran off of Highway 164 in Pemiscot County.
Doyle suffered moderate injuries in the wreck.
MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED AFTER VEHICLE CRASHES INTO SHOP BUILDING
A man suffered serious injuries Wednesday in Bollinger County after a vehicle crashed into a shop building.
According to the Highway Patrol, 75 year old William Kramper, of St. Louis, was driving on Highway JJ near Patton when he ran off the side of the road and struck a wooden shop building.
Kramper also struck 74 year old Perry Long, who was in the building at the time. Long was seriously injured and taken to a Cape Girardeau hospital.
FIRST BUSINESS LOAN ISSUED THROUGH MISSOURI INNOVATION CORPORATION
The first business loan has been closed through the Missouri Innovation Corporation at Southeast Missouri State University.
The loan for just over $25,000 went to a craft coffee shop in Sikeston.
The Intermediary Relending Program is a revolving loan fund program managed by the MIC and funded by a $1 million investment from USDA Rural Development. It was established to help entrepreneurs in the region secure financing for their new or existing small businesses.
For more information about the program, go online to semo.edu.
TWO MILLION DOLLAR GRANT APPROVED FOR JOB TRAINING EFFORTS
A state board has approved a $2 million grant to help fund Missouri job-training efforts that have been scaled back because of a state budget freeze.
The money approved Tuesday by the Missouri Development Finance Board will go to a state program that helps pay for customized training for businesses.
The Missouri Works jobs training program was budgeted to get $14 million this year. Governor Jay Nixon froze all but $2 million of that because of concerns about the state's finances.
The Department of Economic Development cut its average training assistance in half to less than $20,000 per project, and it's funding just 112 of the 437 companies that applied.
The additional $2 million grant could provide funding for at least some of those other companies.
ATTORNEY GENERAL TO STOP ACCEPTING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THOSE UNDER INVESTIGATION
Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster no longer will accept campaign contributions from anyone under investigation by his office.
Koster on Wednesday announced the new, self-imposed policy after a New York Times report alleged he was influenced by lobbyists and campaign donations.
The report addressed claims that Koster, along with attorneys general across the country, changed policies and negotiated more favorable settlements after receiving campaign contributions and perks from lobbyists.
He says he also no longer will accept contributions from lobbyists or attorneys representing entities facing litigation from his office.
Gifts of any value from registered lobbyists are off the table, as well as contributions from members of Koster's office.
He's asking lawmakers to enact similar policies statewide.
Koster says the newspaper report distorts how his office deals with companies.
