RIVER RADIO NEWS 040815
CREWS SEARCHING FOR MAN WHO IS BELIEVED TO HAVE FALLEN OFF TUG BOAT
Crews in Northeast Arkansas are searching for a man who is believed to have fallen off a tug boat near Osceola.
The deckhand reportedly fell off the vessel on the lower Mississippi River, around mile marker 782. The incident was first reported to authorities at around 1:30 am Tuesday morning.
The search for the man is set to continue today.
JONESBORO MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES
A Jonesboro man has been sentenced to four years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections, along with a five year suspended imposition of sentence, on sex related charges.
According to KAIT, 48 year old Steven Eagle entered a guilty plea yesterday to charges of computer child pornography and first degree sexual assault.
Eagle had formerly served as an instructor in the Westside School District.
CAPE GIRARDEAU MAN ACCUSED OF STEALING FROM EMPLOYER
(AP) - A Cape Girardeau man faces a theft charge following accusations he stole nearly $73,000 from his employer.
The Southeast Missourian reports 32 year old Jeffrey D. Lage is charged with theft over $25,000, which is a Class B felony.
A probable cause statement says Velosity Electronics was notified by the Bank of Missouri that its account was getting low. The company checked its bank statements and found the missing money was being transferred by Lage to pay his personal credit card.
The transactions began in March 2014 and continued through October. Lage has worked for the company since 2008.
An initial arraignment is set for April 27 in Jackson. It wasn't immediately clear if Lage has an attorney.
ONE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AFTER MAN WAS HIT WITH A SHOVEL
A Steele man was taken into custody on multiple charges in connection to an incident where a man was allegedly hit with a shovel.
According to the Steele Police Department, officers were sent to a residence on March 25th in reference to an assault. At the residence, officers found a 42 year old man who had sustained a head injury from being struck with a shovel.
A 39 year old male was taken into custody on charges of first degree assault and armed criminal action.
CHARLESTON MAN SENTENCED ON FIREARM CHARGE
A Charleston man is facing over 18 years in prison on a firearm charge.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 35 year old Mario Evans was sentenced Tuesday to 221 months on one felony count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
In August of 2013, officers found a loaded .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol with the serial number removed, $1,238 in U.S. currency, and 45 grams of marijuana in Evans car.
Evans was previously convicted in 2001 and 2004 of distributing controlled substances and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
BUTLER COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS
Poplar Bluff has elected a new city councilman.
Philip Crocker was elected over David Lourwood to the city council representing Ward 4, according to unofficial results from the Butler County Clerk’s office.
Voters also chose Heather Tuggle and Kenneth Davis for two seats on the Poplar Bluff R-1 School board.
Elsewhere in Butler County, Glenda McCameron won the race for Qulin Alderman, Gene Russom and John French were elected to the Neelyville School Board, and a Neelyville school proposition received just under 57 percent of votes in favor of its passage.
DONATION ADVANCES TECHNOLOGY FOR AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
A local elementary school recently received a $2,500 donation toward the expansion of technology to students.
Rick Duncan of Butler County was among over 1,000 people across the U.S. selected to receive a monetary award through America’s Farmers Grow Communities.
He selected Lake Road Elementary School as the benefactor since his daughter-in-law works as a guidance counselor there, and his granddaughter attends the school.
Principal Erica Weadon says she intends on using the money toward purchasing additional laptops and a cart so the second grade also has more access to online instructional resources.
OZZIE SMITH TO SPEAK AT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
St. Louis Cardinals great and Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith will be speaking at Southeast Missouri State University later this month.
Smith will close out the current speaker series on April 20th at 7:30 pm in the Show Me Center.
Tickets are required and can be purchased for $10 at www.showmecenter.biz and the Show Me Center Box Office.
DAMAGING WEATHER POSSIBLE IN LATE WEEK STORMS
A cold front moving into the region on Thursday night has the potential to bring in damaging weather according to the National Weather Service.
According to a Hazardous Weather Outlook, we have showers and thunderstorms possible in Southeast Missouri through early Friday morning, however the best chance for severe storms will be late Thursday into Thursday night.
Damaging winds and large hail will be the primary concerns, but a few tornados cannot be completely ruled out. Heavy rainfall and frequent lighting could also accompany thunderstorms this week.
BRIDGE REPAIRS FORCE CLOSURE OF STODDARD COUNTY ROAD
Route 114 in Stoddard County will be closed beginning today as contractor crews perform bridge repairs.
The section of roadway to be closed is located from County Road 785 to Route AH.
The road is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, April 15th at 5 pm.
MISSOURI SENATE OKS BUDGET CUTTING IMMIGRANT SCHOLARSHIPS
(AP) - Missouri students living in the U.S. illegally couldn't get state-funded scholarships under a budget proposal that has won Senate approval.
Senators voted 25-8 on Tuesday in favor of a higher education budget bill that restricts state money from going to scholarships for those immigrants.
The bill also would require public colleges and universities to charge immigrants living illegally in the U.S. the international rate of tuition.
Supporters say taxpayer money shouldn't go to help those students, while opponents said it unfairly punishes young immigrants brought to the country by their parents.
The proposal was part of a package of bills under Senate review that outline $26 billion in state spending for next year.
Changes include roughly $27 million more in performance-based funding for public colleges compared with this year.
MISSOURI HOUSE ENDORSES TECHNICAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
(AP) - Supporters say a measure to set minimum standards for career and technical education certificates in Missouri provides another path forward for students who don't plan to go to college.
The Missouri House gave initial approval Tuesday to a measure that would require the state's board of education to develop standards for diplomas to teach core technical skills to prepare students for careers.
The certificates would not replace high school diplomas. School districts would be able to develop their own programs, with the state setting some minimums.
Republican Rep. Kathy Swan, of Cape Girardeau, says the certifications would provide evidence that students are ready to enter the workforce.
The measure faces another vote in the House before moving to the Senate.
