RIVER RADIO NEWS 121714
NEW MADRID MAN SENTENCED FOR 2013 HOMICIDE
A New Madrid man has been sentenced in connection to a 2013 homicide.
According to the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, Joseph Thornton was sentenced to 35 years for the homicide of Jeremie Johnson, along with 5 other assaults.
Thornton allegedly hit several subjects, including Johnson, with his vehicle at a Sikeston residence. Other victims struck by the car, including two children, were transported to various hospitals for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
MAN SENTENCED TO 50 YEARS ON CHARGES INCLUDING ATTEMPTED RAPE
A Northeast Arkansas man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to multiple charges including attempted rape.
According to authorities, 23 year old Kevin Maget, of Jonesboro, was sentenced to 50 years in prison on charges of attempted rape and second degree sexual assault.
Maget was arrested in connection to an incident involving a 12 year old girl.
TWO ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES
Two East Prairie residents were recently taken into custody on drug charges.
According to authorities, 33 year old Ronnie Brawner Jr. and 30 year old Ashley Cobb were arrested. Brawner is facing charges of distribution of a controlled substance near government housing and trespassing, while Cobb has been charged with possession of a controlled substance.
POPLAR BLUFF STUDENT TO BE FEATURED ON MTV SERIES
A Poplar Bluff High School senior will be featured on the MTV series “Rebel Music: Native America.”
Darian Sales was one of 36 Native American teen correspondents invited to attend the Tribal Nations Conference on December 1st, at the White House.
MTV covered the conference for the series which, in a future episode, will feature Sales exploring her Native American heritage. Sales discovered she was part Choctaw Indian four years ago.
OVER 60 WEATHER RADIOS DONATED TO BUTLER COUNTY SCHOOLS
Over 60 weather radios have recently been donated to schools in Butler County.
On December 8th, Butler County Emergency Management Director Jeff Shawan donated 65 weather radios to all of the schools in the county, including at least one device for every facility within the Poplar Bluff R-I school system.
The donation was made through a grant for $1,000 from the Walmart foundation that was then matched by the Butler County Commission.
MEDAL OF VALOR TO BE GIVEN TO SOUTHEAST MISSOURI DEPUTY
A deputy from the Scott County Sheriff’s Department will be awarded with the Medal of Valor tomorrow by Governor Jay Nixon.
Justin Wooten will be honored for pulling two crew members out of burning train in May of 2013.
Wooten will be a part of a ceremony with 9 other law enforcement officers on Thursday.
WEEKLONG DRAINAGE REPAIRS PROJECT SET FOR STODDARD COUNTY
Crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation will be in Stoddard County over the next week for drainage repairs on Business 60.
Work is scheduled to be performed from 9 am to 4:30 pm daily through December 23rd. During the repairs Business 60 will be reduced to one lane between Cooper and West Oak streets.
EDGE RUT REPAIRS SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEK IN NEW MADRID COUNTY
Route 80 in New Madrid County will be reduced to one lane this week as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform edge rut repairs.
The section of roadway is located between Route B and Route AA.
Work will performed daily through Friday, from 9:30 am to 3 pm daily.
BILL WOULD GRANT AMNESTY IN CERTAIN DRUG CASES
A proposed Missouri bill would give legal amnesty to those seeking emergency medical help for drug overdoses.
Republican state Representative Bryan Spencer of Wentzville recently proposed a bill protecting those who call for help from being charged with some drug crimes.
Some who call an ambulance for themselves or others would be immune from charges of drug possession, but there are stipulations. The amnesty only kicks in if the individual has less than a certain amount of an illegal substance.
For example, someone with more than three grams of heroin, cocaine or morphine would not be protected. Police still could arrest those if they already had suspicion that they were committing illegal activity before calling for help with an overdose.
MISSOURI UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HITS LOWEST POINT IN OVER SIX YEARS
Missouri's unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest point in more than six years.
The state Department of Economic Development released data Tuesday showing the seasonally adjusted jobless rate dropped from 5.9 percent in October to 5.6 percent in November.
That puts the unemployment rate at its lowest rate since May 2008.
Seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment grew by 4,500 jobs in November, bringing the number of new jobs for the year at more than 42,000.
MISSOURI OFFICIALS WITHDRAW SCHOLARSHIP PROPOSAL
Missouri higher education officials are backing off an attempt to make scholarships available to students at an online university.
The Department of Higher Education has withdrawn a proposed rule change for scholarship eligibility that would have redefined what it means for an institution to be "located in Missouri."
The intent was to make Access Missouri scholarships available to students at Western Governors University-Missouri, an online only school.
A legislative committee had been scheduled to meet Wednesday to decide whether to block the proposed rule.
A group of private Missouri colleges and universities opposed the scholarship change, partly because of fears that an expanded pool of eligible students would mean less money for each recipient.
An education department memo says the proposal was withdrawn to provide time for further discussions.
