RIVER RADIO NEWS 022615
POPLAR BLUFF BROTHERS SENTENCED ON FIREARMS CHARGES
Two Poplar Bluff brothers were sentenced Tuesday on firearms charges.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 55 year old David Rush was sentenced to 36 months on one felony count of unlawful transfer of a firearm, and one felony count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license.
50 year old John Rush was sentenced to 36 months on three felony counts of unlawful transfer of a firearm, and one felony count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license.
The attorney’s office says that between 2010 and 2014 both brothers actively engaged in the business of selling firearms. Agents conducted a series of buys from each defendant using informants and undercover agents. Records show that during this time, John Rush sold more than 1200 firearms.
TWO POPLAR BLUFF WOMEN ARRESTED ON METH CHARGE
Two Poplar Bluff women were taken into custody late Wednesday night on drug related charges in Butler County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 48 year old Lori Ethridge and 21 year old Regina Ethridge were each arrested on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
PURSUIT LEADS TO ARREST OF SIKESTON MAN
An early Wednesday morning pursuit has led to the arrest of Sikeston man.
According to Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter, a deputy was on patrol when he observed a green pickup with no rear license plate and a front tag that was registered to a different vehicle.
The vehicle was travelling on a county highway when the Deputy attempted to initiate a stop. The pickup failed to stop and turned onto a field road. The vehicle then left the roadway, entered a field, and attempted to cross a drainage ditch, eventually getting stuck.
The driver, 40 year old John Burnett, was taken into custody. A glass pipe with white residue was located in the driver’s shirt pocket during a search. That residue later tested positive for methamphetamine.
Burnett is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance, unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest.
MALDEN WOMAN FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES FOLLOWING HER ARREST TUESDAY NIGHT
A Malden woman is facing multiple charges in connection to her arrest Tuesday night.
According to authorities, 23 year old Ashley Collins was taken into custody shortly after 11 pm Tuesday night in Butler County.
Collins was arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine; possession of drug paraphernalia; possession of marijuana; and second degree tampering with a motor vehicle.
TWO ARRESTED DURING NORTHEAST ARKANSAS TRAFFIC STOP
Two Jonesboro residents were taken into custody early Wednesday morning during a traffic stop in Northeast Arkansas.
According to authorities, 42 year old Robert Holt and 34 year old Jessica Brolin were arrested during the stop.
A deputy reportedly found over 80 grams of suspected methamphetamine during a search of the vehicle.
PEDESTRIAN STRUCK BY VEHICLE IN NEW MADRID COUNTY
A pedestrian was reportedly struck by a vehicle Tuesday night in New Madrid County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 43 year old Donald McLarty, of Lilbourn, was pushing an ATV down Highway D when he was allegedly hit by a vehicle driven 46 year old Shelly Cawhorn, also of Lilbourn.
McLarty suffered moderate injuries and was taken by air to an area hospital. Cawhorn and a passenger in her vehicle suffered minor injuries.
NEW MADRID POLICE SAY MEN ASKING FOR CABLE BOXES ARE LEGITATE
Two men who have been knocking on doors in New Madrid and asking residents for their cable box are legitimate and are working for a company called CES, on behalf of Charter Cable.
New Madrid Police originally contacted Charter, who informed them that had no men working in the area, which led the police department to issue a warning about the men.
However, since then, officers discovered that CES has a contract with Charter to recover cable boxes from former Charter customers.
FEDERAL LAWSUIT TARGETING ARKANSAS STEEL MILL IS DISMISSED
(AP) - A lawsuit seeking to stop construction of a steel mill in northeast Arkansas has been dismissed.
U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes on Wednesday dismissed the lawsuit by Nucor Steel against Big River Steel. Holmes ruled that the citizen lawsuit under the federal Clean Air Act is not authorized and that his court has no jurisdiction.
Nucor claimed Big River Steel has violated the Clean Air Act. Big River Steel countered that the mill is still under construction and not operational, so it can't be emitting anything to violate the act.
Nucor operates a steel mill in Blytheville, about 20 miles from where Big River Steel broke ground in September on a $1.3 million mill in Osceola.
Nucor is also appealing approval of an air permit granted for Big River's mill.
CAPE WOMAN CLAIMS $100,000 PRIZE, JUST IN TIME
A Cape Girardeau woman has claimed a $100,000 Missouri Lottery prize, just in time.
Lottery officials say 66 year old Margaret Friend claimed her prize only three days before the “Cadillac Riches” Scratchers game expired.
Friend bought her winning ticket at Schnucks in Cape.
PRESCRIPTION DRUG DATABASE BILL ENDORSED BY MISSOURI HOUSE
(AP) - A measure to create a database to monitor the prescription of drugs such as addictive pain killers is moving forward in the Missouri House.
The House gave initial approval to the bill creating a prescription drug database to identify potential abuses by a vote of 105 to 46.
Republican Representative Rebecca Roeber, of Lee's Summit, says she supports the bill because she believes her sister, who died from an apparent overdose in 2012, would still be alive if the database had been in place earlier.
The database proposal has passed the House before but has faced opposition from a Senate Republican who says he is concerned about potential privacy breaches.
The House must vote again before the bill goes to the Senate.
MISSOURI HOUSE BUDGET PANEL WANTS MORE FOR EDUCATION
(AP) - Community colleges and K through 12 education would get larger funding boosts under a House Budget Committee proposal than those recommended by Governor Jay Nixon.
An increase of $70 million for basic aid to school districts over last year and $6 million for community colleges are part of a proposal discussed Wednesday by the Missouri House Budget Committee.
The additional $20 million for school districts over Nixon's recommendation is enough to make sure no district gets less than last year, according to the state's education department.
The budget committee still may change the proposal before it goes to the House and then Senate.
The budget committee's plan includes no increase for state universities, but officials at some institutions said they are hopeful that legislators will add that as the budget process continues.
