Friday, August 29, 2014

Barton County Sheriff's Department Report

(From the Barton County Sheriff's Department)

Trailer Stolen
On 08-20-2014  Ronald S. Legrand came to the Sheriffs Office and reported that he had a trailer stolen and knew who stole it.  After obtaining statements from several individuals about the trailer an interview was conducted with the suspect, Jackie D. Ford, age 45, of Lamar.  Reports in this case will be sent to the prosecutor for filling of criminal charges of Stealing.

Crowder College's new president begins first semester

A report from KODE's Allie Woldtvedt

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Traffic slowdown scheduled on I-49 in Lamar Thursday

(From MODOT)

I-49 at Lamar: Traffic Slowdowns/Stops
For Bridge Girder Installation at First St.
 
MoDOT Traffic Alert:
Where: Northbound and southbound lanes of I-49 at First Street in Lamar

When: At times between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 28
What: Law enforcement officers slowing down I-49 traffic and possibly stopping traffic to allow contractor crews to install bridge girders over I-49
Traffic Impacts: Drivers urged to use caution and be prepared to stop during the operation

Weather and/or work scheduling conflicts will alter the work schedule.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Stotts City man pleads guilty to child pornography charge

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Stotts City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to attempting to manufacture child pornography by secretly videotaping a child victim in the shower.

Christopher L. Modglin, 45, of Stotts City, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to one count of attempting to manufacture child pornography.

By pleading guilty today, Modglin admitted that he secretly recorded video of a child victim between the ages of 11 and 13 years old taking a shower. Modglin also admitted that he owned several computers that contained images and movies of child pornography.

Nixon announces funding for Chadwick early childhood education project

(From Gov. Jay Nixon)

Gov. Jay Nixon today visited the Chadwick School District to announce a new investment throughMissouri Start Smart to expand access to quality early childhood education opportunities so that more Missouri children start kindergarten ready to succeed in school and beyond.

“Last year we launched Missouri Start Smart to increase access to affordable early childhood education programs to help young children succeed in school and help parents stay in the workforce,” Gov. Nixon said. “This effort was incredibly successful and I’m proud to announce that it is back for a second year, as we continue to recognize that early childhood education is a smart investment with a big return.”

Monday, August 11, 2014

Dade County Route NN closed Tuesday for pipe replacement

(From MODOT)

Dade County Route NN CLOSED
On Aug. 12 for Pipe Replacement
 
MoDOT Traffic Alert:
Where: Dade County Route NN CLOSED between Routes N and AA south of Lockwood.

When: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12.
What: Road closed to allow crews to replace a deteriorating drain pipe underneath the road.
Traffic Impacts: Drivers will have access to driveways on either side of the closing, but will not be able to travel through the work zone.  Drivers are urged to find an alternate route during the closing.

Weather and/or work scheduling conflicts could postpone the project.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Springfield investigators find burned woman's suicide note

(From the Springfield Police Department)

During the course of the investigation into the death of 30-year-old Ashli Hilton, a suicide note was found in the home. While indications at this time point to suicide as her cause of death, this case will remain under investigation until the autopsy is complete. 
 
Springfield firefighters were called to the 1300 block of East Pacific Monday evening for a fire outside. Upon arriving, they found the body of 30-year-old Ashli Hilton lying in the back yard of the home with severe burns. No additional information is available at this time.

Guilty pleas mean Buffalo gals won't be coming out tonight

Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that two Buffalo, Mo., women have pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing the identities of 20 victims to obtain unauthorized credit cards in the victims’ names.

Kelly Marie Lockhart, also known as Kelly Marie Wilson, 35, of Buffalo, waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to a federal information that charges her with one count of aggravated identity theft. In a separate but related case, Stacy R. Rosa, also known as Stacy R. Webbe, 40, of Buffalo, waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014, to a federal information that charges her with one count of aggravated identity theft.

Lockhart and Rosa admitted that they aided and abetted one another to obtain unauthorized credit cards by stealing the identity information of approximately 20 victims between April 12, 2012, and Jan. 17, 2014. They used the credit cards to make approximately $60,655 in purchases.

Lockhart and Rosa used stolen personally identifying information (including individuals’ names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers and bank account information) to gain access to the identity theft victims’ bank and credit card accounts via telephone and the Internet, and to open new credit card accounts. Lockhart and Rosa obtained unauthorized credit cards issued in the victims’ names, and utilized those cards to purchase merchandise and gift cards and to obtain cash advances.

The plea agreements each cite a specific example in which they impersonated a North Carolina victim during a telephone call and obtained a secondary credit card in the name of Kelly Wilson (Lockhart’s alias). On April 22, 2013, Lockhart used the unauthorized credit card in Bolivar, Mo., to obtain a $3,600 cash advance. On April 30, 2013, Rosa used the unauthorized credit card to pay $96 for her visit to a hair salon in Buffalo.

Under federal statutes, Lockhart and Rosa are each subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000 and an order of restitution. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Mohlhenrich. They were investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Buffalo, Mo., Police Department and the Bolivar, Mo., Police Department.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Woman dies in Springfield fire

(From the Springfield Police Department)

A 30-year-old woman has died as the result of a fire-related incident.  Springfield firefighters were called to the 1300 block of East Pacific Tuesday evening for a fire outside.  Upon arriving, they found the body of the woman lying in the back yard of the home.  An autopsy will be conducted Wednesday to determine the cause of death.  The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.  The woman’s name will be released once family has been notified.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Springfield Police seek help finding missing woman

(From the Springfield Police Department)

The Springfield Police Department is investigating a report of a missing person and is asking for assistance from the public. Ashley C. Onescu (Cunningham) was last seen getting into a green Pontiac Grand Am near the Library Station, 2535 N. Kansas Expressway, at approximately 2 p.m. on June 30. Onescu does not have access to her prescribed medications. She has gone missing previously, but had always contacted family members by phone or social media in the past. Onescu has not had any contact with family members since she was last seen on June 30. Family members fear she may be in danger.
 
Onescu is 22 years of age, approximately 5 feet 7 inches, 115 pounds, reddish-blond hair, blue eyes and a tattoo on each shoulder.
 
Anyone with information in reference to Onescu’s disappearance or whereabouts is asked to call the Springfield Police Department at 864-1810. Callers may remain anonymous.

Springfield Police to hold DWI checkpoint

(From the Springfield Police Department)

The Springfield Police Department takes drunk driving very seriously and is planning increased enforcement, which will include at least one DWI checkpoint, during the month of August.
 
The checkpoint will be funded by a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation. In 2013, the SPD worked over 2,190 hours related to this grant. These directed enforcement efforts yielded 190 DWI arrests, 903 traffic citations, 41 drug arrests, 33 felony arrests, five stolen vehicles recovered and 63 fugitive apprehensions. An additional 878 DWI arrests, which were not part of directed enforcement efforts, were made throughout the year.
 
Consequences of drunk driving include jail time, loss of driving privileges, sentencing to use ignition interlocks and increased insurance rates. Financial losses include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work and the potential loss of a job.
 
Drunk driving is not worth the consequences. Remember, if you drink and drive, you lose.

 

Seligman man killed in one-car crash near Washburn

A Seligman man killed in a one-vehicle accident 6:10 p.m. Sunday on MO 90 two miles west of Washburn.

According to the Highway Patrol, a 1979 Chevrolet Corvette driven by Brian S. Sharp, 31, ran off the roadway, struck a culvert and overturned. A passenger in the Sharp vehicle, Kenneth Patterson, 48, was pronounced dead at the scene by Barry County Coroner Charles McManus.

The death was the 59th fatality in 2014 for Highway Patrol Troop D.