OVER $160,000 MISSING FROM GREENVILLE CITY FUNDS
The Missouri State Auditor says that over $160,000 are missing from Greenville City Funds.
According to Auditor Nicole Galloway, an audit was initiated as a part of a law enforcement investigation, which resulted in criminal charges filed by the Attorney General's Office this summer against former Greenville City Clerk Pamela Birmingham.
The audit report details improper payroll and other payments, improperly cashed checks, and missing cash over a more than two year period while Birmingham performed the financial accounting functions.
A criminal investigation revealed the former city clerk deposited many of the checks written to her from the city, cash, and other unrelated checks into a personal bank account and spent $62,416 from this account on various personal items.
The report also detailed a lack of oversight by the city, which allowed the fraudulent activity to take place and continue undetected. The report includes recommendations to improve oversight of accounting functions, documentation of financial transactions, and record keeping processes.
The complete audit report is available at auditor.mo.gov.
CHILD SERIOUSLY INJURED IN PEMISCOT COUNTY WRECK
Three people were injured, one seriously, in a wreck late last night in Pemiscot County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the wreck occurred on US Highway 61 when a vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign and struck another vehicle.
A child passenger in the first vehicle was seriously injured in the wreck and transported to a Blytheville hospital. The driver of the first vehicle and a teenage passenger each received moderate injuries and were both taken to the same hospital.
No injuries were listed for the driver of the second vehicle.
BRACKET RELEASED FOR 32ND ANNUAL POPLAR BLUFF SHOWDOWN
The bracket has been released for the 32nd Annual Poplar Bluff Showdown.
According to Poplar Bluff Athletic Director Kent Keith, the tournament will begin December 27th and feature eight teams across four states at the Poplar Bluff Senior High gym.
The first round will feature the Poplar Bluff Mules taking on Memphis Central High School out of Tennessee.
Other first round match-ups include Fayetteville vs. Christian County, Jonesboro vs. Kirby, and Ewing Marion Kauffman vs. Humboldt.
The Showdown will run over three days from December 27th through the 29th. Tickets are on sale at the High School Athletic Department for $7 per day.
POPLAR BLUFF RESIDENT REAPPOINTED TO MISSOURI SEISMIC SAFETY COMMISSION
A Poplar Bluff man is one of two Southeast Missouri residents who have been reappointed to the Missouri Seismic Safety Commission.
According to Missouri Governor Mike Parson, Daryl Sorrell, of Poplar Bluff, and Joel Evans, of Portageville, have both been reappointed to the commission, which initiates a comprehensive program to prepare the state for responding to a major earthquake.
Sorrell is currently the General Manager of M & A Electric Power Cooperative and has been a member of the commission since 2016.
Evans is the President and CEO of the Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation in Portageville.
MASS CASUALTY TRAUMA KITS GIFTED TO PARAGOULD POLICE DEPARTMENT
A Northeast Arkansas police department has been gifted multiple trauma kits from the Stop the Bleeding Foundation.
According to the Paragould Police Department Facebook Page, they have received six mass casualty trauma kits, which contain six tourniquets, pressure dressings, chest seals and a folding stretcher.
The Police Department says the gift was made possible by the #blueandyou foundation, who donated nearly $150,000 to Stop the Bleeding to train regional law enforcement, firefighters and other first responders in emergency life saving techniques
RIPLEY COUNTY ROAD TO BE CLOSED TODAY FOR PIPE REPLACEMENT
Route N in Ripley County will be closed today so Missouri Department of Transportation crews can replace a pipe under the roadway.
The section of Route N to be closed is located one mile east of Route E.
Officials say that work is scheduled to take place from 8 am to 3 pm.
CULVERT PIPE REPLACEMENT TO CAUSE DELAYS THIS WEEK IN STODDARD COUNTY
A culvert pipe replacement is set to cause delays this week in Stoddard County.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, Business 60 in Stoddard County will be reduced to one lane between Baliff Drive and Jeanette Lane so crews can replace the pipe under the roadway.
Weather permitting, work will take place from 7 am to 3:30 pm daily through Friday.
