NEW MADRID COUNTY AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING STOLEN EXCAVATOR
A John Deere Excavator was recently stolen from a Southeast Missouri graveyard.
According to the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department, the excavator was taken Monday morning from the Mounds Park Cemetery. It had been dropped off earlier Monday and an employee noticed it was gone a couple hours later.
Anyone with information on the theft is asked to contact the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department.
MINOR KILLED IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS WRECK
A minor was killed over the weekend in a Northeast Arkansas wreck.
According to the Arkansas State Police, the wreck occurred Saturday night in Craighead County. The minor’s vehicle reportedly ran off the roadway, hit a ditch, and overturned.
The name of the minor was not released.
33 PINTS OF BLOOD COLLECTED DURING RIVER RADIO BLOOD DRIVE
The River Radio Blood Drive produced over 30 pints of blood for the American Red Cross.
According to the Red Cross, a total of 33 pints of blood was collected at the blood drive on December 29th at the Greater Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce.
The Red Cross says that each pint of blood has the potential to save up to three lives.
AUTHORITIES LOOKING FOR SUSPECT IN CONNECTION TO LIQUOR STORE ROBBERY
Authorities are searching for a Corning man following the robbery of an area liquor store.
Authorities are looking for 52 year old Lonnie Blanton in connection to the robbery of State Line Liquor Store Saturday night. Blanton was identified from surveillance footage from the store.
The Clay County Sheriff says that Blanton is considered armed and dangerous.
POPLAR BLUFF TEEN ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
A Poplar Bluff teenager was taken into custody Monday morning on multiple charges.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 19 year old Tyler Hathaway was arrested shortly before 9 am on charges including possession of a controlled substance – hydrocodone and failure to register a motor vehicle.
Hathaway was arrested in Butler County.
FRAUDSTER REPORTEDLY USING NAME OF POPLAR BLUFF POLICE OFFICIAL
The Poplar Bluff Police Department is warning area residents of a fraudster who is using the name of a police official.
The suspect has identified himself as “Deputy Jeff Rolland with Butler County”; and threatened to arrest the victims if they did not pay an $800.00 bond using prepaid credit cards.
In previous complaints, a suspect posed as a member of the victim’s family; said they had been arrested; and asked the victim to pay their bond using a prepaid credit card.
The Police Department says bond money will not be collected over the phone. Anyone who receives one of these calls is advised to hang up and contact local law enforcement.
NINE FATALITIES REPORTED IN MISSOURI DURING NEW YEARS COUNTING PERIOD
The Missouri State Highway Patrol says that 9 people were killed and 42 injured in 344 traffic crashes during the New Year’s Counting period.
The holiday counting period went from 6 pm, December 31st to 11:59 pm January 4th.
Only one of the fatalities reported was in Southeast Missouri. In addition, troopers made 90 arrests for driving while intoxicated during the 102-hour counting period.
REPAIRS SET THIS WEEK FOR ROUTE 80 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 work zone is located between Route AA and County Road 706.
Weather permitting, work will performed through Thursday, January 8th from 9:30 am to 3 pm daily.
TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY FOR MIRANDA LAMBERT CONCERT IN CAPE GIRARDEAU
A Grammy nominated county music artist will be performing next month in Cape Girardeau.
Miranda Lambert’s Certified Platinum Tour will be making a stop at the Show Me Center on Thursday, February 26th. Doors will open at 6:30 pm, with the concert beginning at 7:30 pm. Lambert will be joined by special guest Rae Lynn during the concert.
Tickets are set to go on sale this Friday beginning at 10 am.
MISSOURI LAWMAKER PROPOSES SPEED LIMIT INCREASE ON SOME RURAL INTERSTATES AND FREEWAYS
A state lawmaker wants to increase the speed limit on Missouri's rural interstates and freeways from 70 mph.
State Representative Mike Kelley of Lamar filed legislation recently to boost the speed limit on those roads to 75 mph.
Kansas increased speed limits from 70 mph on some roads in 2011.
The Kansas City Star reports traffic-related fatalities and injuries in Kansas are up on roads with newly increased 75 mph speed limits. But transportation officials say it's too early to blame that on the speed limit.
Numbers from the Kansas Transportation Department show a 54 percent increase in highways deaths on those roads since the speed limit was raised. Injuries are up about 13 percent compared with the two years before the new speed limit went into effect.
ARKANSAS REVENUE OVER 44 MILLION DOLLARS HIGHER THAN EXPECTED
Finance officials say Arkansas' revenue is $44.1 million higher than expected halfway through the fiscal year after corporate tax collections boosted the state's coffers last month.
The Department of Finance and Administration said Monday that December's net available revenue totaled $482.8 million - $10.7 million higher than December 2013 and $19.3 million above forecast. The state's revenue for the fiscal year, which began July 1, totals nearly $2.6 billion.
Revenue last month was boosted primarily by corporate income tax collections that were $21.7 million above December 2013 and $21.1 million above forecast. Sales and individual income tax collections were both below forecast last month.
The report is the final one before the Legislature convenes for this year's session and incoming Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson is sworn in next week.
REVENUES UP OVER FIVE PERCENT IN MISSOURI
Missouri's revenues are up more than 5 percent this fiscal year and the state's budget chief says that means the governor will likely not need to further freeze spending.
Revenue figures released Monday show net general revenues for December are up 10.7 percent compared to last year.
Individual income tax collections were up 9.6 percent last month and up 6.3 percent from July through December.
State budget director Linda Luebbering says the bump in December is a sign that people are feeling better about the economy.
Luebbering says the 5.1 percent growth is just shy of the estimated 5.2 percent Governor Jay Nixon's been using to guide spending restrictions. She says more restrictions likely are unnecessary.
More than $700 million in funds still are frozen.
