July 2009 gas prices - Updated Friday 7/3 Gas prices often go up for holiday weekends, but that isn't happening this week in the Fort Leonard Wood area. While the high price for Friday, 7/3, remained unchanged at $2.599, where it has been at one gas station since June 19, the low price dropped to $2.199 at one station, down 12 cents from Friday's low price. Other prices at gas stations along the I-44 corridor in Pulaski County also trended downward, with seven stations decreasing prices from Thursday to Friday by margins of up to 20 cents and no stations raising prices. Prices were substantially down from a week ago with 13 stations dropping prices up to 30 cents. On a monthlong basis, most gas prices were lower with drops of up to 30 cents compared to a month ago, but one gas stations had a prices of two cents higher. Click to see a chart with a complete table of 16 area gas station prices. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Tonya Ellzey questions city officials on their plans for a new city pool in St. Robert. St. Robert takes questions about proposed pool tax vote in August SAINT ROBERT, Mo. (July 3, 2009) — Only about 20 people turned out Monday evening to hear St. Robert city officials explain a plan that would raise taxes by an estimated $475,000 per year to expand the city’s park system and build an indoor and outdoor pool. If approved by voters in a special Aug. 4 election at the St. Robert Community Center, a new quarter-cent sales tax would be imposed on most purchases in the St. Robert city limits, while an existing personal property tax on residents would be eliminated. The result is that people living in other cities who shop at Wal-Mart or other stores in St. Robert will be paying to build, expand and maintain the St. Robert park system. St. Robert City Administrator Alan Clark told those in attendance that the existing city parks budget of $84,000 isn’t anywhere close to enough money to build a pool, especially one that would open in September 2010 as now being planned. “That looks on paper like a lot of money, but it’s generally taken us about 2-1/2 years to get a park to where it needs to be for folks to be able use it. This gives you an idea of the real-world costs,” Clark said. The proposed pool would cost about $3.8 million to build with ongoing operational and maintenance costs in excess of $150,000 per year. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

St. Robert's proposed pool would be funded by a quarter-cent sales tax that would also support local parks in the city. St. Robert officials say tax hike for city pool won't drive their shoppers away SAINT ROBERT, Mo. (July 3, 2009) — When Sheriff J.B. King and Eastern District Commissioner Bill Farnham asked members of the Pulaski County Commission to place a half-cent countywide law enforcement sales tax on the ballot, Presiding Commissioner Bill Ransdall said St. Robert business leaders didn’t like that idea because it would raise sales taxes in the Wal-Mart area above 8 percent and could drive shoppers into other communities. While the law enforcement sales tax proposed by King and Farnham would have been collected countywide, shoppers in St. Robert generate more than two-thirds of the county’s sales tax revenue despite accounting for only about a tenth of the county’s population. That’s mostly due to the high volume of sales at Wal-Mart and other businesses on St. Robert Boulevard, on Missouri Avenue leading out of Fort Leonard Wood’s main gate, and on Old Route 66. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

St. Robert city officials hope to open a $3.8 million aquatic facility by September 2010 Getting voters to vote is crucial to pass park tax, St. Robert leaders say SAINT ROBERT, Mo. (July 3, 2009) — Elections in St. Robert usually have the lowest turnout in the entire county, with turnout rates as low as 3 percent in some cases. Special elections usually draw few voters in any case, and in the April 2009 St. Robert city council elections when Waynesville R-VI School Board members were also on the ballot, only 274 people showed up to vote — 4.18 percent of those registered, or less than half of the countywide average turnout of 11.14 percent. Frank Herbert, who serves on the St. Robert Planning and Zoning Commission, said at a Monday evening public hearing on the proposed pool tax that educating voters is crucial and thanked City Administrator Alan Clark for his efforts. “I grew up in Louisiana politics where they get out and tap dance and everything else,” Herbert said. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Dixon mom arrested on DWI charges after crashing car with kids inside DIXON, Mo. (July 3, 2009) — State troopers arrested a Dixon mother Friday afternoon on drunk driving charges after they say she totaled her car in a crash with her two children inside. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, Ashley M. Monell, 22, was southbound on Highway 133 about four miles south of Dixon when she failed to negotiate a curve about 12:30 p.m., ran her 1997 Plymouth Breeze off the right side of the roadway and hit a tree, causing minor injuries to herself and her son and daughter. In unrelated incidents this week, troopers also arrested Miguel A. Rosario, Keshawn L. Viel and Roy J. Odle on various charges including drunk driving. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Armed robbers struck the Lion's Den adult bookstore early Thursday morning. Lions Den adult bookstore hit by armed robbers Thursday morning BUCKHORN, Mo. (July 2, 2009) — Sheriff’s deputies continue to investigate an early Thursday morning armed robbery at the Lion’s Den adult bookstore just west of the Waynesville city limits. Many details of the incident remain unclear, according to Sheriff J.B. King, but he confirmed that the bookstore was robbed about 4 a.m. and multiple people have been taken into custody. Waynesville and St. Robert police officers assisted with locating the suspects, King said. No charges have yet been filed, King said, and no names have been released. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

State patrol, St. Robert, Waynesville team up for holiday DWI enforcement PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (July 2, 2009) — Local law enforcement personnel want to make sure that those who want to drink this weekend in Pulaski County don’t get behind the wheel of a car. Representatives of the state patrol and city police from St. Robert and Waynesville announced in recent weeks that they’ll be conducting drunk driving patrols over the Independence Day weekend. At Thursday afternoon’s meeting of the Waynesville Police and Emergency Services Committee, Police Chief Bob Carter said all three agencies will be conducting drunk driving enforcement activities in their jurisdictions, staggered at different times during the weekend beginning Friday. “We wish everybody a good holiday, but at the same time we are going to do a DWI saturation patrol that we signed up for with the state,” Carter said. “Don’t quote me on the times, but I know ours are offset so we can assist each other if need be.” Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Jim Young of the Military Order of the Purple Heart holds up a replica of the original Purple Heart authorized by George Washington. Leaders of new FLW Purple Heart chapter plan to help wounded veterans FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (July 1, 2009) — On Tuesday, 47 active duty soldiers and veterans in the Fort Leonard Wood area received a new charter as Chapter 140 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an organization of wounded veterans working to encourage and support other injured military personnel. State officials expect the new chapter to grow rapidly. “We are proud of the fact that we are a veterans’ organization that no one can join without showing a set of orders,” said Jim Young, chief of staff for the Department of Missouri of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and a member of Chapter 621 in Springfield. “You can be assured that they are combat-wounded veterans; we guard that very, very jealously … we don’t consider it vanity to have honest pride in our eligibility for this distinctive organization. In fact, when I have sworn members in, the first thing I do is say, ‘Welcome to the order, and I’m sorry you’re eligible.’” Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Three fireworks options hosted by area communities for Independence Day FORT LEONARD WOOD/WAYNESVILLE/RICHLAND, Mo. (June 30, 2009) — The area’s largest fireworks show is at Fort Leonard Wood, which relaxes its regulations for visitors on July 4 for those who want to attend the evening fireworks event or the annual Soldier Show which will be held before the fireworks. The show begins at 9 p.m., around nightfall, and is preceded by the Salute to the Union at 7 p.m. and the Soldier Show at 7:30 p.m. Earlier in the afternoon, concessions, games and other activities for children and adults begin at 3 p.m. and run through the evening. For those who don’t want to come on Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville United Methodist Church, located off Highway T in West Waynesville, holds its own fireworks celebration at 9 p.m. preceded by a community celebration with games, prizes, music and food running from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Another celebration will be held the following week in Richland with events beginning at 5 p.m. and fireworks at dusk. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

FLW Fifth Engineers return this week FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (June 29, 2009) — The first of two groups of soldiers from the 5th Engineer Battalion returned late Sunday night to the United States after a deployment lasting nearly a year and a half. About 200 members of the battalion returned this weekend; another similar-sized group is expected to return later this week. Times and dates for the second group of soldiers to return haven’t been announced and could be affected by many factors. During the 15-month tour of duty in Iraq, the 5th Engineers focused on route clearance and construction operations. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Missouri Agriculture Director Jon Hagler speaks to Pulaski County Democrats. Democrats promote agriculture, health insurance coverage at Friday event DIXON, Mo. (June 27, 2009) — More than a hundred Pulaski County Democrats thought they were going to hear U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton speak Friday night at the Warnol Fish Farm southeast of Dixon, but his place was filled by a speeches on agriculture issues when Skelton had to remain in Washington for a close vote on President Barack Obama’s energy policy. Jon Hagler, Missouri’s agriculture director, and State Sen. Frank Barnitz, a Dent County rancher whose senate district includes Pulaski County, both urged their audience members to support Democratic policies which they said will benefit farmers, ranchers, and Americans in general. Hagler said he’s tried to bring a very different philosophy to the Department of Agriculture. “Over the five months that we’ve been in there we’ve been in there, we’ve been able to start the transformation of Missouri’s Department of Agriculture to a department that cares about the everyday hard-working farmer from the grass-roots level all the way through,” Hagler said. “For years they only cared about how much money they made ... Now we’re starting to care about how much money you make, because what you make makes a difference.” Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Waynesville firefighters assist at a Friday afternoon crash. Two wrecks send three injured people to area hospitals on Friday evening WAYNESVILLE/RICHLAND, Mo. (June 27, 2009) — Two car wrecks on Friday sent three people to area hospitals. The first, a two-vehicle crash on Historic Route 66 in Waynesville near the Bank of Iberia and Waynesville Cinema, tied up traffic for nearly half an hour as people were leaving work. Waynesville Rural Fire Chief Doug Yurecko said his firefighters were called at 4:45 p.m. to a wreck between a black Jeep Laredo 4x4 and a brown Chevrolet S-10 pickup with major rear-end damage to its pickup truck bed, which was crumpled by the force of impact. Two patients who had been in the pickup were transported to General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital by Pulaski County Ambulance District personnel; the occupants of the Jeep Laredo were not hurt. The Waynesville police report isn't finished so names and any citations were not immediately available. Later that evening, Tri-County firefighters from Richland and Pulaski County Ambulance District personnel responded to a 10 p.m. report of a rollover wreck northwest of Richland with a vehicle resting against a bluff. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, Amanda R. Minges, 22, of Lake Ozark, was eastbound in a 1991 Honda on Route A at Torinado Springs in Camden County when she failed to negotiate a curve to the left, exited the left side of the roadway and overturned, suffering moderate injuries and totaling her vehicle. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Hay bales and deck chairs float in the Crocker pool. Vandals trash Crocker pool Thursday CROCKER, Mo. (June 25, 2009) — Students in Crocker’s summer school program, along with many other area children and adults, had looked forward to using the community pool to relax on some of the season’s hottest days. Instead, city employees, volunteers and park board members are working hard to remove large amounts of hay bales, pool furniture and other debris from the community pool and have been forced to shut it down on the last two days of summer school, which are usually the highest-traffic days of the year. “They’re in the process of trying to get the hay out of the pool so it doesn’t start to cause problems with the water,” said Mayor Linda Wilson. “We’ve got hay bales and picnic tables and the like thrown in the pool … I can’t believe anybody would do something like this.” Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Hot and bothered? Head for the courthouse, or for St. Robert city hall PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (June 25, 2009) — If you’re hot under the collar, government leaders in Saint Robert and Pulaski County want you to come to their offices. That’s not just an invitation to residents who are frustrated about government services, but also to people who may not have access to air conditioning. Officials with both the county and city issued public notices Thursday morning stating that people who need someplace to get out of the heat can come to their air-conditioned facilities. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

State troopers investigate a Wednesday rollover. Crocker rollover victim escapes injury CROCKER, Mo. (June 24, 2009) — State troopers responded Wednesday afternoon to what was originally reported as a rollover wreck with injury northwest of Crocker on Belle Road, but upon arrival, found that the driver had escaped unharmed. According to Crocker Firefighter Jim Patton, seven firefighters responded to a 2:51 p.m. report of a wreck north of Highway U and found a black Chevrolet pickup that had landed on its passenger side facing southbound. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Plato teens hurt in Tuesday afternoon crash south of Fort Leonard Wood PLATO, Mo. (June 24, 2009) — A wreck south of Fort Leonard Wood on Tuesday afternoon hurt two teenagers. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, Matthew A. Curtis, 17, of Plato, was northbound on Highway 17 about three miles north of Roby at 3:30 p.m. in a 1998 Oldsmobile when he swerved to miss an oncoming vehicle that was in his lane of travel, ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a telephone box. Curtis was not hurt but two passengers, Brad Childress, 16, of Roby, and Kory Cobb, 17, of Plato, both suffered minor injuries. In an unrelated incident, state troopers arrested Christopher Black, 23, of Salem, on Saturday in Pulaski County on various charges including driving while intoxicated. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Crocker fire fatality identified CROCKER, Mo. (June 22, 2009) — Following a Friday morning autopsy, personnel with the state fire marshal’s office have announced that the person who died in a Saturday morning fire north of Crocker was the person who ordinarily lived at the home. Cornelius M. Jones, 50, died in a fire at his home at 13375 Blue Jay Road, according to Capt. Bill Anderson of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department. Investigation into the cause of the blaze is ongoing. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

No identification yet on victim of Saturday fire north of Crocker CROCKER, Mo. (June 22, 2009) — Extended delays are likely before law enforcement personnel can say for certain who died in a Saturday morning fire north of Crocker. According to Capt. Bill Anderson of the Pulaski County Sheriff's Depsrtment, most family members of the person who ordinarily resided in a house on Blue Jay Road have been notified of the Saturday fire, but the fire victim’s body was burned to the point that physical identification could not be made and DNA testing will have to be used. “From the remains, I can tell you that on the surface it appears to be an adult male,” Anderson said. “We’re making a logical leap of faith that the person who was in the house belonged in the house, but we don’t know that until we have proof positive.” Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Firefighters were unable to save this Crocker home Saturday morning. Crocker fire kills one Saturday morning, no name yet released CROCKER, Mo. (June 20, 2009) — Fire investigators have not released the name of a person who died early Saturday morning north of Crocker. According to Assistant Fire Chief Mark Fancher, firefighters received a call about 9 a.m. from a neighbor reporting that a home on the 13000 block of Blue Jay Road had burned to the ground overnight and neighbors could not find the person who lived there. Crocker firefighters found the house had completely collapsed into the basement and the fire was mostly out. “It was on the ground when we arrived; the only thing we saw was some smoke coming out of the basement,” Fancher said. Kass Brazeal, an investigator with the state fire marshal’s office, said one person was found inside the home but the name of the person and cause of the blaze remained under investigation. Information won’t be released until an autopsy is completed, he said. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

George Harry Widener Coach Nelson's children file wrongful death civil suit in wrong-way wreck SAINT ROBERT, Mo. (June 17, 2009) — The adult son and daughter of former Waynesville High School baseball coach Don Nelson have filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit in Pulaski County Circuit Court. The target of the civil lawsuit, George Harry Widener, 64, of Jerome, also faces criminal charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with a June 4 fatal crash in which St. Robert police say Widener was driving the wrong way in a Chevrolet Avalanche SUV on Old Route 66 and ran head-on into Nelson, who was riding a motorcycle. Nelson, 54, was pronounced dead at the scene. The civil lawsuit brought by the adult children, Kenneth Todd Nelson and Stacie Marie Cruz, was filed by Mark Turley of the Smith-Turley law firm based in St. Robert. Widener had already hired John Garrabrandt of the Dan Birdsong law firm in Rolla to represent him in the criminal case. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Laclede Electric restores power near SR; Waynesville working on lines PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (June 16, 2009) — An electric substation power problem that knocked out power to about 2,100 residents east of St. Robert turned out to be a fuse issue, Laclede Electric Cooperative spokesman Byron Dudley said Tuesday evening. Dudley said the outage began about 5:15 p.m. Tuesday and was fixed by 6:30 p.m. Anyone in the Laclede Electric service territory who still has no power should call Laclede Electric to report the problem, he said. In Waynesville, City Administrator Bruce Harrill said Tuesday evening that city utility crews continue to work to restore power. The Rigsby Apartments and about 50 individual homes were still without power as of 6:45 p.m., he said. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Thousands lose power, face washed-out roads following recent storms PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (June 16, 2009) — A series of storms have been pounding Pulaski County since last week, creating major problems for road crews and electric companies. Hundreds of electricity customers are still without power in Waynesville and in rural areas east of St. Robert, and many city and county roads are impassible or barely driveable, according to local officials. Laclede Electric Cooperative spokesman Byron Dudley said his company thought until Tuesday afternoon that most of the problems were under control, but that changed when a major electric feeder line and substation in the Hancock area from Sho-Me Power, the cooperative’s wholesale power supplier, went out about 5:15 p.m., affecting about 2,100 customers. That outage affects the Hickory Valley subdivision that’s partly within the St. Robert city limits, and runs north along Highway 28 to the Gasconade River to Devil’s Elbow, and then along the south side of Interstate 44 and Highway Z and Teak Lane to CR 1729 in Phelps County. Hundreds of customers are also still without power in the city of Waynesville, and road damage is so severe in rural areas that no clear list of damaged roads is yet available. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

A motorist snapped a utility pole Tuesday morning in St. Robert. Two wrecks strike utility poles PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (June 16, 2009) — A driver in St. Robert snapped a utility pole in a rollover wreck Tuesday morning. Lt. Felton Shoemaker of the St. Robert Fire Department said city firefighters, police, and Pulaski County Ambulance District personnel were called to the corner of Houston Road and St. Robert Outer Road about 6:40 a.m. after they received numerous reports of a rollover wreck and damaged power pole. However, after inspection, firefighters determined the utility pole served cable television and telephone wires and didn’t pose an electrical hazard. The male driver of the black Ford Expedition SUV left the scene of the crash before emergency personnel arrived, Shoemaker said, but was later located in a residence near the area. The driver's name and medical condition weren't immediately available. At 8:30 a.m. Monday, Jerry D. Plunkett, 81, of Dixon, was eastbound on Highway 28 about 5.4 miles south of the Dixon city limits in a when he slid off the right side of the roadway and struck a utility pole, totaling his 1986 Volvo and suffering moderate injuries. In unrelated Sunday morning incidents, state troopers arrested Douglas C. Anderson, 30, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Jonathan P. Coffelt, 23, of St. Robert, on numerous charges including driving while intoxicated. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Sewer district personnel inspect flood damage on Texas Road. Rapid rainfall washes out many roads PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (June 15, 2009) — Pulaski County Commissioners cut short today’s meeting after Eastern District Commissioner Bill Farnham left to deal with a flood emergency on Texas Road and the other commissioners agreed about an hour later that they needed to review flood damage as well. Farnham received multiple reports during the meeting that major damage had happened on Texas Road in an area where the Pulaski County Sewer District had done extensive work. Farnham told his road crews to gather detailed photographic and other evidence to document the road problems. “You got a camera down there? Take pictures. It’s time we sue the piss out of the sewer district,” Farnham said. “There’s a house that’s got water in it and vehicles flooded all over the place down there.” Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

State troopers arrest SR man for DWI after plowing into two parked cars SAINT ROBERT, Mo. (June 13, 2009) — State troopers in Phelps County reported Saturday that they charged Khayree A. Darton, 29, of St. Robert with crashing into two parked cars while driving drunk. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, Darton was eastbound on the Powellville Outer Road about five miles west of Jerome at 1:50 a.m. when he ran his 2007 Chevrolet Impala off the right side of the roadway and struck a parked 1994 Acura Legend which then struck a parked 1992 Ford Crown Victoria, both of which had been parked facing south with nobody inside. Darton suffered minor injuries but refused treatment at the scene, and was subsequently arrested at 3:42 a.m. and transported to the Phelps County Jail, where he was cited for numerous offenses including driving while intoxicated as a prior offender. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Dixon woman totals car in early Saturday morning rollover wreck DIXON, Mo. (June 13, 2009) — A Dixon woman totaled her car at 2:25 a.m. Saturday morning, suffering moderate injuries as a result. State troopers reported that Ashley L. Bell, 25, had been northbound on Crest Road about three miles west of Dixon at 2:25 a.m. when she ran her 2001 Dodge Neon off the left side of the roadway, struck a utility pole and overturned. In an unrelated incident, Carolyn Kirk, 63, of Waynesville, was arrested by state troopers at 1:25 a.m. on multiple charges, including two bad check warrants, failure to stop at a stop sign and not having a valid driver's license. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Pulaski County Regional Fair opening ceremonies to be held tonight SAINT ROBERT, Mo. (June 12, 2009) — The Pulaski County Regional Fair officially begins tonight with opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. with a Future Farmers of America scholarship presentation, though initial events were also held Thursday night. A key change this year is that general admission to the fair is free, though certain events such as bull riding, an ATV rodeo, and motocross racing will charge for admission. Children six and under will still be admitted free to those events, but adults and older children will pay $5 to enter the ATV rodeo and motocross events, and $10 for admission to the bull riding contests. A full schedule of events is included in the article. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Jack's Towing personnel remove Tristen Larson's pickup truck which was wrecked Friday morning. Drunk Fort Leonard Wood sergeant rolls pickup Friday on Highway O DIXON, Mo. (UPDATED 2:30 p.m. June 12, 2009) — A Fort Leonard Wood serviceman, Sgt. Tristen A. Larson, 22, faces multiple charges including drunk driving after rolling his pickup truck Friday morning on Highway O about a quarter-mile north of the Gasconade River. Troopers said Larson, a Waynesville resident, was southbound in a red Dodge Ram 1500 pickup shortly after 8 a.m. approaching Cave Road when he ran off the right side of the road into a deep ditch. Larson had minor facial injuries but declined treatment. In an unrelated incident, state troopers arrested Quantrell M. Stickland, 23, of Devil’s Elbow, at 9:10 p.m. Thursday on charges including drunk driving. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Bond reduced to $75,000 for wrong-way driver accused of killing coach VIENNA, Mo. (June 11, 2009) — The man accused of killing former Waynesville High School head baseball coach Don Nelson will be allowed out of the Pulaski County Jail, but only if he can come up with $75,000 in cash, property or surety via a bail bondsman. In a special bail hearing Thursday afternoon in Vienna, Maries County Associate Circuit Judge John Clayton granted most of the bail reduction requests and conditions proposed by John Garrabrandt, an attorney with the Dan Birdsong law firm in Rolla who George Harry Widener, 64, of Jerome, has hired as his defense attorney in the involuntary manslaughter case against him. Clayton said he had little choice but to grant the bond reduction. Widener has been held since shortly after the June 4 fatal crash on a $250,000 cash-only bond, but Clayton ordered the bond reduction to $75,000 cash, surety or property, with special conditions of no use of alcohol, no driving, no contact with the victim's family, and no presence in establishments whose primary purpose is serving alcohol, and scheduled a June 25 preliminary hearing in the Pulaski County Courthouse at 10:30 a.m. That’s a change from the original June 17 date. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Associate Circuit Judge John Clayton Judge warns against lobbying efforts in wrong-way driver fatality case VIENNA, Mo. (June 11, 2009) — Associate Circuit Judge John Clayton had a strong warning Thursday afternoon for those who deluged his clerk at the Maries County Courthouse with phone calls objecting to releasing George Widener on bail: back off, or he’ll call in the state attorney general for an investigation. After the Pulaski County judges declined to rule on a motion by defense attorney John Garrabrandt to reduce the bail for Widener, who had been held on a $250,000 cash-only bond following his arrest on negligent homicide charges accusing him of killing longtime Waynesville High School baseball coach Don Nelson in a June 4 wrong-way drunk driving crash, Circuit Judge Tracy Storie assigned the case to Clayton. When friends of Nelson learned the bond reduction hearing would be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, they lit up Clayton’s office phone with requests that he deny bail. According to Clayton, between 12:01 and 1:17 p.m., his clerk received 31 separate phone calls trying to influence the bond hearing. “Somebody coordinated that and I consider it to be harassment,” Clayton said. “I will not put up with that from either side ... you may not — I repeat, may not — abuse my office.” Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

George Harry Widener Wrong-way fatality motorist seeks reduction of $250,000 bond Thursday SAINT ROBERT, Mo. (June 11, 2009) — Clad in a striped orange-and-white prison jumpsuit, George Harry Widener, 64, of Jerome, showed no emotion Tuesday when he appeared in court for an arraignment on involuntary manslaughter charges accusing him of killing former Waynesville High School head baseball coach Don Nelson in a June 4 wrong-way head-on crash. He's hired the Dan Birdsong law firm from Rolla, and on Wednesday, John Garrabrandt from that law firm entered his appearance on Widener’s behalf. Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren continued Widener’s bail at $250,000 cash-only and as of Thursday he was still in the Pulaski County Jail. However, the case has now been transferred to Maries County Associate Circuit Judge John Clayton, and a bond reduction hearing has been scheduled at 1:30 p.m. today before Clayton seeking a lower bond amount. The crash that generated the charges happened when Nelson was riding a motorcycle and was struck head-on by Widener, who was driving the wrong way on Old Route 66 in St. Robert in a Chevrolet Avalanche SUV. Widener was not hurt in the crash; Nelson was pronounced dead on the scene. Widener has three prior alcohol-related convictions dating back to 1983. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Old H Highway in Waynesville remains closed due to flooding. Storm damage closes roads, knocks down power lines throughout county PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (June 10, 2009) — High winds Wednesday night caused numerous localized and regional power outages around the county, with reports of power outages in downtown Waynesville that knocked out many streetlights as well as downed trees blocking power lines throughout the county. Highway T and Highway 17 were both reported as being blocked north of the Waynesville city limits, with emergency personnel setting up a roadblock at Rice’s Cleaners on Highway 17 to stop traffic while emergency personnel cleared trees out of the roadway, reopening the road by 9:50 p.m. Tri-County firefighters responded to a report of power lines down on Highway A west of Richland and discovered that while the lines were telephone wires rather than electrical wires, the roadway was completely impassible. Hazelgreen firefighters responded to a Laclede County blockage of a different Highway T in that county that remained blocked as of 11:30 p.m. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Storms cause no crashes, but one drunk driver arrested Wednesday DIXON, Mo. (June 11, 2009) — State troopers received no reports of weather-related injury crashes in or near Pulaski County during either the Tuesday or Wednesday storms, but they did arrest one Dixon woman, Cynthia C. Winters, 28, for driving while intoxicated and for careless and imprudent driving. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Crocker firefighters saved this mobile home Tuesday morning. Quick response from Crocker firefighters saves home Tuesday CROCKER, Mo. (June 10, 2009) — Quick reaction time by Crocker firefighters saved most of a mobile home Tuesday morning, according to Fire Capt. Robert Ishmael, who said six firefighters and an engine arrived within three and a half minutes of the report of a blaze on Highway 17 across from Crocker High School. “Upon arrival, we had light smoke showing from the street,” Ishmael said. “We confined (the fire) to a single room and contents.” The residents, Dana Boyles and her two children, were not home at the time the fire broke out. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

George Harry Widener Wrong-way fatality motorist was repeat DWI offender, police say SAINT ROBERT, Mo. (June 9, 2009) — The man who police say killed Coach Don Nelson in a Thursday night wrong-way crash was driving drunk at nearly three times the legal alcohol limit and also had three previous drunk driving convictions, according to documents filed Monday in Pulaski County Circuit Court. George H. Widener, 64, of Jerome, faces a charge of first-degree involuntary manslaughter in connection with Nelson’s June 4 death. According to the results of a blood alcohol test, Widener had a blood alcohol content of 0.214 percent; Missouri’s legal limit for driving is 0.08 percent. The charge faced by Widener is a Class B felony which carries a penalty of 5 to 15 years in prison. According to obituary information provided by Waynesville Memorial Chapel, Nelson’s funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, at the Parker Fine Arts Building of Waynesville Middle School, with burial following at Waynesville Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 p.m. Tuesday with Masonic rites by Richland Masonic Lodge No. 385 at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Spec. Paul A. Cary AWOL soldier from Fort Leonard Wood accused in rash of recent robberies SAINT ROBERT, Mo. (June 9, 2009) — An AWOL soldier from Fort Leonard Wood was charged Monday with robbing the Microtel motel in St. Robert on Saturday afternoon. Spec. Paul August Cary, 32, of the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, appeared before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren on Tuesday morning, having changed his military uniform for an orange prison jumpsuit. Warren arraigned him on charges of committing first-degree armed robbery, a Class A felony, by robbing a woman of $341. That woman was later identified in court documents as a motel manager. Court documents say he's also suspected in a string of other robberies including the Discount Smoke Shop and Holiday Inn Express in St. Robert and Price Cutters in Waynesville, with charges pending in those cases. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Spec. Dusty Parrish (shown at an earlier rank) holds his company guidon in Iraq. Cold War-era device used by Iraqi insurgents to kill FLW medic FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (June 8, 2009) — A young Army medic from Fort Leonard Wood was so popular that more than 200 soldiers lined up outside his surgical room last week in Iraq offering to donate blood in an unsuccessful attempt to save his life, according to his brigade commander. “You can recognize how busy they are over there, but they all rallied, and I think they would rally for any member of their organization, but it says a lot about him and about those soldiers over there,” said Col. Rob Risberg, who commands the stateside headquarters unit overseeing the 5th Engineer Battalion in which Spec. Charles “Dusty” Parrish, 23, had served. Parrish died on Thursday in the Iraqi city of Balad due to wounds suffered earlier that day when his vehicle was hit from close range by a hand-thrown anti-tank grenade while doing route clearance operations in the Iraqi city of Jalula. His death was announced Saturday by Fort Leonard Wood and Department of Defense officials; he was a platoon medic for the 55th Mobility Augmentation Company, one of the subordinate units of the 5th Engineers. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Saint Robert woman sideswiped Sunday on I-44 near Doolittle DOOLITTLE, Mo. (June 8, 2009) — A St. Robert woman who stopped her vehicle partly on the travelled portion of Interstate 44 Sunday morning had her vehicle wrecked when it was sideswiped by another vehicle. State troopers reported that Rosa M. Blackwell, 43, suffered minor injuries after she stopped her 1997 Dodge at mile marker 178 near Doolittle at 9:05 a.m., partially blocking the right lane. Her vehicle was then sideswiped by a 2007 Volvo driven by Jose A. Juarez-Vega, 47, of Grand Prairie, Texas. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

FLW soldier killed just weeks before return of 5th Engineers from Iraq FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (June 6, 2009) — Only a few weeks before the expected return of Fort Leonard Wood’s 5th Engineer Battalion from Iraq, the unit has lost a soldier to an anti-tank grenade attack. Spec. Charles D. Parrish, 23, of Jasper, Ala., died on Thursday in the Iraqi city of Balad due to wounds suffered earlier that day. According to a Fort Leonard Wood press release, Parrish’s vehicle was hit in the Iraqi city of Jalula. Local media in Alabama reported that Parrish was an Army medic with a wife and 4-year-old son. It wasn't immediately clear whether they live in the Fort Leonard Wood area or whether they had returned to live with family members elsewhere. Post officials say a late Monday morning briefing is planned that will provide further information on the incident. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Jack's Towing personnel unload a rollover wreck Friday afternoon. Two single-vehicle wrecks hurt two Friday afternoon, Saturday morning PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (June 6, 2009) — Separate one-vehicle crashes in the Shalom Mountain/Northern Heights Estates area two miles north of Waynesville and a wreck on Interstate 44 west of Rolla caused minor injuries to a Waynesville teenager on Friday and a Fort Leonard Wood resident on Saturday, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports. About 3:40 p.m. Friday, troopers found that Kolby D. Jarquin, 16, of Waynesville, had been southbound when he ran off the right side of London Road, overturned and struck an embankment, totaling his 2000 Chevrolet Trailblazer. At 7:50 a.m. Saturday, Maximillian D. Arredon, 23, of Fort Leonard Wood, had been westbound at mile marker 177 when he skidded off the right side of the roadway before striking an embankment. In an unrelated incident, another Fort Leonard Wood resident, Johnathon W. Mullins, 21, was arrested by state troopers at 3:40 p.m. Friday in Washington County on a warrant from the Bourbon Department of Public Safety for failure to appear on a speeding charge. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Counties get sympathy but no money from judges on juvenile legal costs ROLLA, Mo. (June 6, 2009) — Faced with tens of thousands of dollars in added expenses caused by the need to pay additional attorneys to help low-income parents in juvenile court cases, county commissioners received sympathy but not many dollars Friday from the judges of the 25th Judicial Circuit. Meeting in what’s called an “en banc” session, the judges told Pulaski County Presiding Commissioner Bill Ransdall and others that they ought to lobby the state legislature, not the judges, to solve the problem. “Commissioners and coujnty clerks have powerful lobbies,” said Phelps County Associate Circuit Judge Ralph Haslag. “We know there are some unfair costs ... we’re not trying to be unfair to you.” Haslag and other judges said the risk of a person not having a legal advocate and then appealing is too great and the judges have to follow procedures to ensure adequate legal representation for poor parents. Ransdall said Pulaski County faces major financial problems and will have great difficulty paying its share of a legal services bill that, for the four-county circuit, is expected to be more than $70,000 per year. “We borrowed $150,000 last year to balance our budget because our sheriff’s jail was full,” Ransdall said. “Our county has never paid this before.” Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Procedure change could speed courts ROLLA, Mo. (June 6, 2009) — A minor procedural change proposed by local judges and Pulaski County Circuit Clerk Rachelle Beasley may have major financial benefits to the cash-strapped county. Meeting Friday afternoon in an “en banc” session — a twice-per-year council of the eight judges of the 25th Judicial Circuit that sets policy for the courts of the four-county circuit — judges approved a policy change that Beasley said will move cases through the system more quickly and reduce the amount of time defendants have to stay in jail awaiting trials. “Defendants will be brought up from jail within a few days of being arrested, the associate judge will review the file, and the defendant will be counseled on having an attorney. He’ll be referred to a public defender or decide to represent himself. The judge can then take up a public defender request, or deny it,” Beasley said after the meeting in which the judges approved the policy change. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Three hurt in Wednesday wrecks PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (June 6, 2009) — Two one-vehicle crashes Wednesday injured three people. In an 8:40 a.m. crash just east of the Phelps-Pulaski county line on Interstate 44, Brenda C. Hundt, 58, of Reeds Spring, had been eastbound in a 2005 Chevrolet when she entered a curve about 14 miles west of Rolla, lost control on wet pavement, slid off the right side of the roadway and struck a guardrail, Hundt and her passenger, Harold E. Hundt, also of Reeds Spring, both suffered moderate injuries. Later that afternoon, troopers responded to a wreck on Chicago Road about two miles east of Dixon in which Melody J. Messex, 27, of Dixon, was driving a 1995 Dodge Caravan southbound at 12:25 p.m. when she ran off the right side of the roadway, returned to the roadway, ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree, finally coming to rest in the roadway. Messex was not hurt but her passenger, Elvis R. Sudheimeyer, 34, also of Dixon, suffered moderate injuries. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Coach Donald Nelson's motorcycle was totaled Thursday night in a head-on wreck with a SUV. Local coach, radio sportscaster killed in motorcycle wreck Thursday night SAINT ROBERT, Mo. (June 5, 2009) — St. Robert police have released the names of both drivers involved in a fatal head-on crash late Thursday night in front of the St. Robert Church of God. The deceased driver is Donald E. Nelson, 54, of Waynesville, who was a longtime local educator and play-by-play radio sports announcer. Charges are pending against George H. Widener, 64, of Jerome, police said. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

A Thursday head-on crash killed a motorcyclist. Motorcyclist killed Thursday night in SR by head-on crash on Old Route 66 SAINT ROBERT, Mo. (June 4, 2009) — A head-on crash between a motorcyclist and a wrong-way sport utility vehicle driver killed the motorcyclist Thursday night. About 10 p.m., St. Robert police received a report of a crash in the westbound lane of Old Route 66 in front of Charlie’s Cars. Other nearby landmarks include the St. Robert Church of God. Sgt. Butch Hohman said the names of the drivers won’t be immediately released, but said the vehicles were a gray 2006 Chevy Avalanche 4x4 SUV and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The SUV was eastbound in the westbound lane, Hohman said. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Hazelgreen firefighters work to extinguish a travel trailer blaze. Travel trailer fire slows traffic on Interstate 44 south of Richland RICHLAND, Mo. (June 4, 2009) — A traveling family lost their camper Thursday when it caught fire on Interstate 44 at mile marker 149, sending smoke high into the evening sky. Cpl. Christine Boogart of the Missouri State Highway Patrol said she was in the area when the blaze broke out. “I was just up the road on a traffic stop and I saw the smoke and came,” Boogart said. “Some people said you could see the smoke as far away as Richland.” The blaze broke out about 7 p.m. as the Freund family from DeSoto were westbound on Interstate 44 in their 1991 Winnebago, a full-size travel trailer. “They were just going down the road, smelled smoke, and they pulled over and flames just started shooting out,” Boogart said. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Four wrecks involve Pulaski County drivers on Memorial Day weekend PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (June 4, 2009) — Four Memorial Weekend wrecks in or near Pulaski County sent five people to area hospitals with various injuries. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, two of the wrecks occurred at different locations on Highway 28 south of Dixon, which is a construction zone due to ongoing road work. Troopers reported that Christina M. Mitchell, 33, of Dixon, had been westbound on Highway 28 at 2:20 p.m. Friday when she rounded a curve about six miles south of Dixon, ran her 2000 Ford pickup off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree, suffering moderate injuries. A 1:45 p.m. Sunday motorcycle crash on a Highway 28 curve a mile and a half south of Dixon caused only minor injuries to the rider, Donald L. Reiser, 54, of Nixa, when he was southbound on his 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle, failed to negotiate the curve, travelled across the centerline, and ran off the left side of the roadway before impacting the ground and overturning. Also on Sunday, a motorcycle wreck on Highway J about five miles south of the Jerome exit at mile marker 169 on Interstate 44 seriously injured two Edgar Springs residents. Kurt D. Ross, 42, had been southbound on his 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle at 8:50 p.m. when he struck a deer and slid off the roadway, ejecting both himself and his passenger, Kristie K. Ross, 41. Kristie Ross was airlifted to Springfield for emergency treatment. On Memorial Day, troopers reported that James W. Fiatte, 40, of Crocker, suffered minor injuries when totaling his 2002 Ford F-150 pickup. Fiatte been westbound on Resort Road about three miles south of Crocker at 4:40 a.m. when he ran off the left side of the roadway and struck several trees before coming to rest. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Waynesville sewer bond seeking stimulus funds passes by 94 percent WAYNESVILLE, Mo. (June 2, 2009) — Not many elections can claim a 94 percent margin of victory, but that happened Tuesday evening when Waynesville residents decided by a 207 to 13 vote to allow the city to apply for $6.5 million in state revolving fund and federal stimulus package financing. “We think the project will cost about $5.2 million, but we bonded for a somewhat larger amount in case of overruns or something unexpected,” said Waynesville City Administrator Bruce Harrill. “We are just pleased with the action of the voters.” A total of 220 people cast ballots, with 41 voting absentee by a margin of 34 yes to 7 no, and 179 cast ballots in person on Tuesday with 173 voting yes and 6 voting no. City Councilman Ed Conley called the vote a “no-brainer” at a public hearing last month to discuss the vote since the city would likely have had to do the sewer project work anyway. New federal Environmental Protection Agency regulations prevent cities from letting untreated sewage run into streams and lakes during high-volume periods of discharge caused by stormwater getting into the sewer lines, and the project will be required to add enough treatment and storage capacity to hold Waynesville’s sewage during storms. The untreated but diluted sewage now flows directly into the Roubidoux Creek when too much rainwater mixes with the sewage for the current system to handle. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Waynesville councilmen urge ‘yes’ vote today in sewer bond election WAYNESVILLE, Mo. (June 2, 2009) — Voters within the city limits of Waynesville have until 7 p.m. today to cast their ballots in a special election to authorize borrowing $6.5 million for sewer and water projects. Only one polling place will be open at Waynesville Middle School. The precinct opened at 6 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. The vote requires a simple majority of 50 percent. While most similar bond votes are intended to raise taxes to pay for a loan, city officials have emphasized that the vote won’t raise taxes and will prevent the city from needing to seek higher interest commercial financing for sewer and water projects that they expect will soon be required by federal regulatory agencies. Instead, the bonding proposal will allow Waynesville city officials to apply for funding from a state-operated revolving fund that uses economic stimulus money from President Barack Obama’s American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Passage is a “no-brainer,” Councilman Ed Conley said. “And I want to make sure the sewer district understands that they’re going to pay their share,” Conley said. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Waynesville poll workers Charlas Bales and Georgia Tuckness wait for voters to arrive. Waynesville sewer bond vote turnout remains low as 7 p.m. deadline nears WAYNESVILLE, Mo. (June 2, 2009) — There are less than 15 minutes left to vote on the Waynesville sewer board election, and according to poll worker Waita Karcher, most of the 930 ballots printed for the election remain unused. So far, 175 people have voted. The deadline is 7 p.m. for a $6.5 million bond election. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Four crashes tie up emergency personnel on Wednesday PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (May 30, 2009) — Wednesday was a busy day for area emergency personnel, especially the Waynesville Rural Fire Protection District whose firefighters rushed from a fatal fire to two different wrecks, the first happening at 10:14 a.m. less than a mile away from the fatal fire. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, Leslie Gillispie, 51, of Waynesville, was northbound on Highway 17 near Interstate 44 Exit 153 in a 1993 Ford when she turned into the path of a southbound 2005 Chevrolet driven by Virgil Jefferies, 31, of Plato. Gillispie suffered serious injuries and her vehicle was totaled, while Jefferies suffered moderate injuries. Later in the day, they responded to a crash involving a relative of Ambulance District deputy chief Mike McCart. State troopers reported that Dakota L. McCart, 16, of Waynesville, was pulling her 2007 Toyota pickup northbound out of a driveway on Highway W about 1.5 miles north of Highway 7 at 6:01 p.m. when she accelerated to avoid a collision with another vehicle, ran into the ditch, and continued for several more feet before striking a tree, suffering minor injuries. A rollover wreck at 5:30 p.m. on Highway 17 two miles north of Crocker totaled a 1996 Isuzu Rodeo but caused only minor injuries to its driver, Emily J. Potter, 18, of Crocker. Troopers reported that she had been northbound when she ran off the right side of the roadway, overcorrected, skidded out of control and overturned on the east side of the road. Also on Wednesday, a three-vehicle crash outside the county involving a Waynesville driver caused minor injuries. Troopers reported that Bunny Campbell, 53, of Waynesville, was eastbound in a 2000 Ford Crown Victoria at 5:20 p.m. on Interstate 44 at the 193 mile marker in St. James when he lost control of his vehicle on wet pavement and struck the median cable barrier. His car was then struck by a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier driven by Jonathan R. Walter, 26, of Foristell, followed by a 2003 Buick LeSabre driven by Stephen L. Fribley, 77, of Auburn, Ind. None of the three drivers were hurt, but the wife of the Buick driver, Sue B. Fribley, 81, of Auburn, suffered minor injuries. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Coroner releases name of victim of Wednesday blaze in Buckhorn BUCKHORN, Mo. (May 28, 2009) — Pulaski County Coroner Mikel Hartness announced Thursday morning that one person died in Wednesday morning’s mobile home fire in Buckhorn. The victim was John Leland Michael, 49, of Buckhorn. Release of the name was delayed pending notification of out-of-state relatives. “The autopsy has been completed and the preliminary finding was death was due to smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning,” Hartness said. The fire investigation continues, according to Waynesville Rural Fire Chief Doug Yurecko, but there’s no reason to believe the fire had a suspicious origin. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Hazelgreen wreck sends one to hospital Tuesday afternoon HAZELGREEN, Mo. (May 27, 2009) — A wreck on Interstate 44 near the Pulaski-Laclede county line tied up traffic late Tuesday afternoon while firefighters helped tow company personnel remove a vehicle from the median cables. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, Dennis G. Hardin, 37, of St. Robert, was eastbound on Interstate 44 in a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee when he ran off the left side of the road at 4 p.m. and struck the median barrier cable, suffering moderate injuries. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Lt. Shay Green-Mason of the St. Robert Fire Department assists at the Buckhorn blaze. Blaze wrecks mobile home in Buckhorn on Wednesday morning BUCKHORN, Mo. (May 27, 2009) — UPDATED 9:05 a.m.: Both lanes of traffic are now open on Highway 17 south of Buckhorn, but fire crews and the state fire investigators remain on the scene. A Wednesday morning fire destroyed a mobile home near the Buckhorn Shell gas station on Highway 17. Waynesville firefighters were dispatched about 6:40 a.m. to a report of heavy smoke showing from a mobile home. “Somebody stopped up at Buckhorn Shell and reported smoke showing; they said something was on fire south of the interstate,” said Waynesville Rural Fire Chief Doug Yurecko. “We heard the smoke investigation call at the firehouse, and about that time we got that call to a residential structure fire.” Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Sgt. Paul Faris Brooks Death announced of Missouri National Guard sergeant with family at FLW FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (May 25, 2009) — On the same day that Missouri National Guard officials welcomed home a unit of helicopter repair soldiers, they announced the death of a guardsman from a different unit, Sgt. Paul Faris Brooks, who was one of three soldiers killed in a single incident in Iraq last week. Brooks is the tenth member of the Missouri National Guard to be killed during operations in Iraq or Afghanistan. Brooks, 34, whose wife and seven children live at Fort Leonard Wood, was a member of the Missouri National Guard who volunteered for a second tour of duty in Iraq. While deployed with the headquarters and headquarters company of 1/252 Combined Arms Battalion of the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, he and two other soldiers, Maj. Jason E. George, of Tehachapi, Calif., and 1st Lt. Leevi K. Barnard, of Mount Airy, N.C., were killed by an improvised explosive device during a foot patrol. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

A Saturday morning rollover wreck in St. Robert was the first of four wrecks so far involving Pulaski County on Memorial Weekend. Four wrecks so far involve Pulaski County drivers on Memorial Weekend PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (May 25, 2009) — As of early Monday afternoon, state and local law enforcement agencies have reported four Memorial Day weekend wrecks in Pulaski County or other counties involving Pulaski County residents. St. Robert police released a report Sunday afternoon on a Saturday morning rollover wreck at the corner of Old Route 66 and Plattner Avenue that sent five people to Phelps County Regional Medical Center for treatment. According to the police report, Thomas L. Nanney, 29, of St. Robert, had pulled from a stop sign on Plattner Avenue about 10:35 a.m. in a Chevy Blazer, looked to the right, failed to see an approaching 1999 Ford Escort coming from the left, and entered the roadway directly in front of an approaching 1999 Ford Escort driven by David A. Gains, 46, also of St. Robert, which caused Gains’ car to hit Nanney’s van with enough force that it caused the van to roll over onto its side. Pulaski County Ambulance District personnel treated injuries of Janice A. Stukey, 29, Alyssa Nanney, 3, Bethanie Nanney, 6, Allassa Stukey, 7, and Young Choe, 54, all of St. Robert. Two wrecks on Sunday totaled one vehicle in a rollover south of Richland but caused only minor damage and injuries in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 17 near Buckhorn. The worst wreck happened at 2:13 p.m. when Serena N. Wagenknecht, 21, of the city of Nevada, was northbound on Highway 7 about six miles south of Richland in a 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, ran off the left side of the road, struck a tree and overturned. Wagenknecht suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to St. John’s Medical Center in Springfiel. About two hours later, troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash about a mile south of the Waynesville city limits on Highway 17 at Buckhorn involving a 1999 Buick driven by Ruth A. Pippin, 65, of Naylor, and a 1999 Harley-Davidson motorcycle driven by Chris N. Rude, 51, of Devil’s Elbow. Troopers reported that Rude had been stopped in the southbound lane at 4:14 p.m. waiting to make a left turn when his motorcycle was struck in the rear by Pippin’s car. Pippin was not hurt but Rude suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Phelps County Regional Medical Center by Pulaski County Ambulance District paramedics. An earlier Memorial Weekend wreck happened Saturday outside Pulaski County but involved two St. Robert men, Robert M. Dowling, 28, and Nolan B. Mosier, 26, and has previously been reported. Both were moderately injured and their vehicle was extensively damaged in a 9:30 a.m. wreck a mile west of Rolla. State troopers reported only one arrest so far this weekend in Pulaski County: Allen H. Adkins, 47, of Hartville, who was arrested at 12:03 a.m. Sunday on charges of tampering with a motor vehicle and transported to the Pulaski County Jail. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Flags fly for Memorial Day weekend over the Waynesville City Cemetery. Memorial Day observances planned; FLW troops return Sunday from Iraq PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (May 23, 2009) — Numerous area observances will be held Monday to commemorate Memorial Day. The two traditional observances will be held at 8:30 a.m. at the Fort Leonard Wood post cemetery and at 10:30 a.m. at Sunset Memorial Estates cemetery in West Waynesville, both sponsored by the Harry S. Truman Chamber 152 of National Sojourners. The events will include comments by Fort Leonard Wood officials and placement of wreaths by numerous community organizations. One day before Memorial Day, a unit of National Guard soldiers based at Fort Leonard Wood will be returning from a yearlong deployment in Iraq. Missouri National Guard officials invite members of the public to come to the Kit Bond Aviation Facility at Fort Leonard Wood at 4 p.m. Sunday to greet 50 members of the the 1-106th Assault Helicopter Battalion, who were activated for duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in June of last year. Outside the immediate area, a St. Louis-area soldier, Spc. Jamey Abercrombie of Company C of the 1/138th Infantry, has organized a “Fallen Soldiers’ March” in O’Fallon on Memorial Day and is inviting Fort Leonard Wood area servicemembers to participate. According to information provided by the St. Louis USO branch, the seven-mile ruck march will run from 8 a.m. to around 11 a.m., beginning at the 9/11 Memorial at the intersection of Highway 40/64 and Winghaven Boulevard and ending at the Veteran’s Memorial Walk at Belleau Road. “As of right now it is only for soldiers, but maybe in the future it could be open to the public,” said event organizer Spc. Jamey Abercrombie. “This year we are soldiers remembering our own.” Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Seven people were taken to Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla following this Saturday rollover. Six crashes involving area residents hurt 13 people so far since Thursday The worst area crash reported so far this Memorial Day weekend was a Saturday morning rollover wreck in St. Robert that sent seven patients, some of them children, to Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla with undetermined injuries. Little information was immediately available about the 10:40 a.m. crash in the eastbound lane of Old Route 66 at the corner of Plattner Avenue in St. Robert between a white Ford Escort passenger car with front-end damage and a green Chevy Blazer van that had rolled onto its passenger side. Two crashes in Crocker sent residents to hospitals. At 10:10 p.m. Thursday, a rollover wreck on Highway U about three miles west of Crocker seriously injured Adam P. Burge, 18, of Crocker, and totaled his vehicle. State troopers reported that Burge had been westbound in a 1998 Nissan Sentra when he ran off the left side of the roadway, struck an embankment, went airborne and overturned. At 10:45 a.m. Friday, Jose E. Mangual, 36, of St. Robert, was northbound on Highway 17 about three miles north of Crocker riding a 2008 Suzuki motorcycle when he crossed the center line, went off the left side of the roadway and overturned. Mangual, who had been wearing his helmet, suffered moderate injuries. Also on Friday, a three-vehicle crash at 12:43 p.m. on Old Route 66 at the Exit 159 overpass hurt a motorcyclist. That wreck involved a 1993 Dodge driven by Elizabeth M. Houghton, 23, of Dixon, a 1982 Honda motorcycle ridden by Sean C. Nichols, 36, of St. Robert, and a 2004 Lincoln driven by Annie R. Johnson, 67, of Dixon. Police reported that Nichols and Johnson were stopped in traffic on westbound Old Route 66 when Houghton was driving westbound, diverted her attention from the roadway as she approached the stopped vehicles, failed to see that the vehicles were stopped in the roadway and continued forward, causing the Houghton vehicle to hit the Nichols vehicle, propelling it forward and hitting the Johnson vehicle. Nichols suffered undetermined injuries and was transported to General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital for treatment. Outside the county, state troopers in Boone County reported Thursday that a Waynesville woman, Crystal M. Hutchinson, 19, ran her 2007 Chevrolet into the rear end of a 1987 Chrysler driven by Michelle L. Sanders, 35, of Columbia, who at 2:12 p.m. was stopped in traffic on U.S. Route 40 about a quarter-mile west of the Interstate 70 junction waiting to make a left hand turn. Sanders suffered moderate injuries; Hutchinson was not hurt. Two St. Robert residents suffered moderate injuries in a 9:30 a.m. Saturday wreck about a mile west of Rolla. Troopers reported that Robert M. Dowling, 28, had been westbound on County Road 8100 at 9:30 a.m. in a 2008 Dodge Avenger when he ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree, causing extensive damage to his vehicle and injuring both himself and his passenger, Nolan B. Mosier, 26. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Two motorcyclists hurt in Laquey LAQUEY, Mo. (May 21, 2009) — A two-vehicle motorcycle crash near Laquey injured two Lebanon riders Wednesday afternoon. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, neither rider was wearing his helmet in the 3:25 p.m. wreck on Highway AB just west of Highway 17 involving Wesley D. Horsley, 39, who was riding eastbound on a 2004 Yamaha Warrior and following Gregory W. McFadin, 43, on a 1980 Harley-Davidson. As both approached a stop sign, Horsley’s Yamaha struck the rear of McFadin’s Harley-Davidson and both riders were ejected from their motorcycles, seriously injuring Horsley and moderately injuring McFadin. Pulaski County hasn’t had a vehicle crash since May 10 that caused any injuries, but state troopers have had numerous arrests, including Eric A. Nikitas, James D. Routh, Jeffrey L. Farkasdi, Mark E. Sachs, and Gregory C. Muldrow. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Dixon man killed Monday; two arrested on suspicion of murder DIXON, Mo. (May 12, 2009) — STORY UPDATED 9:14 a.m., May 13 — Two people are under arrest on suspicion of murdering a Dixon man Monday night, according to Dixon City Marshal Cliffty Yoakum. David Blankenship, 49, was found dead in his home by his sister around 7 p.m., Yoakum said. Two other Dixon residents, a 17-year-old woman and her 27-year-old boyfriend, have since been arrested in connection with Blankenship’s death. “The victim’s sister said she spoke very frequently with him by cell phone, and when she couldn’t reach him, she got worried,” Yoakum said. “She has keys to the house, she went over and found the body. She called 911, we got there within just a minute or two, and it was obvious it was a murder scene.” Sheriff J.B. King announced Wednesday morning that Robert A. Fortner, 27, and Ashley N. Gilbert, 17, have been charged with second-degree murder and are currently held in the Pulaski County Jail in lieu of a $1 million bond. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Storm causes major road damage, Laquey road cut off by 15-foot ditch LAQUEY, Mo. (May 12, 2009) — Members of the Pulaski County Commission recounted emergency efforts over the weekend to deal with the aftermath of a Friday storm that caused damage all over Pulaski County, including a washed-out culvert on Sherwood Road near the Laquey school that trapped numerous people in their homes. “You could have hid a semi truck down there and nobody would have been able to see it,” said Western District Commissioner Ricky Zweerink at Monday morning’s county commission meeting. “It was a 15-foot wide hole, and it was 15 feet deep and it cut the whole road out. The banks are straight up and down on each side; there was no way to get to the residents who were down there,” Zweerink said. “That’s a dangerous devil down there. I’ve been around a lot of those things but this was dangerous.” Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Three Dixon residents hurt in wrecks, two arrested in drunk driving cases DIXON, Mo. (May 12, 2009) — Two Sunday wrecks sent three Dixon residents to area hospitals. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, Dennis D. Shattuck, 49, rolled his 1976 Dodge pickup at 9:06 p.m. on Route O about eight miles south of Dixon and was airlifted with serious injuries. Shattuck had been southbound when he ran off the right side of the roadway overcorrected, veered across the roadway and ran off the left side, striking an embankment, overturning, and totaling his pickup. Shattuck suffered serious injuries and was flown to University Hospital in Columbia. Earlier in the day, Ashley N. Plog, 24, and her passenger, Keirin A. Plog, 3, both suffered moderate injuries in a 4 a.m. wreck on Highway 17 at the Interstate 44 junction at 4 a.m. Plog had been northbound in her 2006 Nissan when she ran off the right side of the roadway while rounding a curve, crossed over the eastbound on-ramp to Interstate 44, ran down an embankment and then struck a ditch. In two unrelated Sunday cases, state troopers arrested James J. McDaniel and Burgess P. West, both of Dixon, on charges involving drunk driving and drugs. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Capt. Joel Maxwell, right, instructs 20 Missouri National Guard officer candidates on how to set a course during a land navigation exercise at Fort Leonard Wood. Missouri National Guard officer candidates conquer land navigation FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (May 11, 2009) — Even in a modern, technologically advanced world with a global positioning system, Soldiers still need to be trained on how to navigate using a map, compass and other low-tech tools. That type of training is especially important for officers, who may be called on to lead their soldiers through battlefields. That’s why 20 Missouri National Guardsmen in the 2nd Battalion, 140th Regiment Missouri Regional Training Institute Officer Candidate Class 48 worked on land navigation, both day and night, during their third drill weekend in a grueling 18-month program where they’ll have to demonstrate they have what it takes to become an officer. “We want to make sure that they have the skills necessary to be able to navigate in the event that the GPS equipment goes down or the Blue Force Tracker is not working,” said Capt. Joel Maxwell, course instructor. “They can still use a compass and a map, find an objective on that map and be able to successfully lead their troops to that objective. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Matthew J. Wilson/Missouri National Guard

Crocker man rolls vehicle Thursday TURKEY RIDGE, Mo. (May 8, 2009) — A Crocker man wrecked his car and suffered serious injuries in a late Thursday night rollover wreck. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, Mark J. Harpstrite, 48, was driving a 2000 Dodge Durango northbound on Highway W near Rake Lane southeast of Richland at 11 p.m. when he ran off the left side of the roadway, overcorrected, and his vehicle overturned. In an unrelated incident, troopers in Camden County arrested Jack R. McKee, 30, of Dixon, on various charges. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Spc. Matthew White fires his M16 downrange at pop-up targets during the Missouri National Guard 35th Engineer Brigade's weapons qualification at Fort Leonard Wood. Missouri National Guard’s 35th Engineers qualify on weapon ranges FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (May 8, 2009) — For the first time since they’ve returned from deployment in 2008, members of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 35th Engineer Brigade went to the weapons range last weekend to qualify with the M-16 rifle, M-249 machine gun and M-9 pistol. Sgt. Sayanara Soth of Waynesville, who qualified with a 26, said she enjoyed the range time. “It’s fun because you get to complete different areas of your soldiering skills,” she said. “You practice your tactical skills, like shooting.” All 64 members of the company qualified with the M-16, while three out of three qualified with the M-249 and 19 out of 19 qualified with the M-9. Spc. Matthew White fires his M16 downrange at pop-up targets during the Missouri National Guard 35th Engineer Brigade's weapons qualification at Fort Leonard Wood. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Matthew J. Wilson/Missouri National Guard

Officer Candidates Kendall McDaniel, Caleb Keltner, Richard Branson and Anthony Traber practice clearing a hallway using picnic benches as simulated walls. National Guard officer candidates work on urban battlefield tactics FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (May 8, 2009) — Ten soldiers in the Missouri National Guard’s Officer Candidate Class 47 of the 2nd Battalion of the 140th Regiment Missouri Regional Training Institute recently went through instruction on proper troop movements in an urban setting during their monthly drill weekend. The instruction included conducting an ambush, reacting to an ambush, entering and clearing a building, performing voice communication, reacting to direct and indirect fire, selecting temporary fighting positions, reacting to an improvised explosive device, conducting a raid and looking for the enemy, said Capt. Juan Valencia, classroom instructor. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Matthew J. Wilson/Missouri National Guard

Tech Park planner for FLW crashes during Friday rainstorm in Rolla FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (May 8, 2009) — The man who helped guide the creation and expansion of the University of Missouri Tech Park on Fort Leonard Wood avoided injury in a Friday morning crash that sent two other people to Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla for treatment. Ron Selfors, 63, of Dixon, said he was on his way to work when high winds and wet roads combined to cause a crash at Exit 184 in Rolla. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, Selfors was eastbound on Interstate 44 at 10:22 a.m. when his 1998 Dodge Ram pickup and a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle struck each other while both were eastbound during. Selfors, who had been wearing his seat belt, was not hurt. However, the Volkswagen driver, Robert W. Bechtel, 53, and passenger, Deborah A. Bechtel, 23, both of Marshfield, suffered minor injuires. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Wild weather wrecks roads, downs many power lines Friday morning PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (May 8, 2009) — Wild winds knocked down trees and power lines at numerous locations around Pulaski County, but the county appears to have missed the tornados that prompted Thursday morning tornado warnings in Laclede County, southern Pulaski County, and northern Texas County. The worst damage appears to be in the Laquey area, though Highway 28 was blocked by a downed utility line and numerous other roads were affected by high water or downed utility lines. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

County fills sewer board vacancy; some say board should be elected PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (May 7, 2009) — County commissioners decided Monday to fill a vacancy on the Pulaski County Sewer District board by appointing a man who attends most sewer board meetings anyway as a visitor. Commissioner Bill Farnham said he had no objection to appointing Carl Jensen, a Hunter’s Point/Southside resident who is a sewer district customer, but wants to see a new system put in place for selecting sewer board members. “I know there are certain boards we never had problems with, but the sewer board is very controversial,” Farnham said. “All these other boards, the ambulance district and fire and water boards, are elected by the people. That would take us out of it.” Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Lawson Smith takes questions from county commissioners. Presiding Commissioner asks why he wasn't told about powder scare PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (May 7, 2009) — Presiding Commissioner Bill Ransdall wasn’t happy when he learned about a hazardous materials incident at the courthouse via out-of-state calls, but not from his own emergency management personnel. At Monday’s county commission meeting, Ransdall and the commissioners spoke with Sheriff J.B. King in closed session to find out what happened during the Saturday incident. On Thursday, Ransdall grilled Lawson Smith, the county’s emergency management director, to find out why he hadn’t been notified that the courthouse was on lockdown due to a suspicious powder that emergency responders feared was anthrax. “I was getting calls even from out of state asking what was going on. You, the sheriff and the fire chief in particular need to have a conversation,” Ransdall said to Smith. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Tourism strong despite weak national economy, tourism director reports PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (May 7, 2009) — Tourism is looking up in Pulaski County despite downturns in the national economy, Tourism Bureau Executive Director Beth Wiles told county commissioners Thursday morning. Wiles, who runs an agency that is supported by a transient guest tax on hotels and motels in Pulaski County, told commissioners that she represents Pulaski County at 16 different national trade shows seeking to draw vacationers and conventions to Pulaski County, and also markets the county’s attractions via advertising in 19 different publications. “These trade shows and marketplaces are where we go and meet people one-on-one,” Wiles said. “We have a tremendous amount of visitors who come into the area and are bringing new money ... it is a very important part of the economics of this community.” Wiles said the Pulaski County Tourism Bureau is hosting an open house on Tuesday, May 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Visitors’ Center, and invited the commissioners to attend. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Joseph Esparza fled from custody Wednesday afternoon. County jail inmate recaptured after brief escape Wednesday afternoon WAYNESVILLE, Mo. (May 6, 2009) — Sheriff J.B. King has spent tens of thousands of dollars to improve the physical security of his jail and voiced many concerns about the security procedures at a neighboring jail that often houses county inmates, but when he had his first inmate escape in many years, the lack of a $45 set of leg irons was what made the difference since the inmate was outside the jail walls at a doctor’s appointment. Deputies knew that Joseph Esparza was a flight risk; he was in the Pulaski County jail on charges stemming from a car chase last month during which he had fled from law enforcement personnel. However, he sustained a broken wrist during that car chase and subsequent crash, so deputies didn’t have him in handcuffs when they took him by foot, along with another inmate, to a doctor’s office about a block away from the jail. When he got to the doctor’s office about 4 p.m. Wednesday, Esparza ran out of the office and the deputy couldn’t catch him. Esparza was recaptured 75 minutes later near Rice's Cleaners on Highway 17. Motives aren't yet clear for the escape, and it's not yet known if Esparza had help. “I don’t think he likes police very much and I don’t think he likes jail very much,” King said. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Citing fatal wreck, commissioners say traffic making MoDOT roads unsafe PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (May 4, 2009) — Many of Pulaski County’s largest and most heavily traveled roads aren’t part of the county’s road system at all, and instead are maintained by the Missouri Department of Transportation. At Monday’s county commission meeting, Presiding Commissioner Bill Ransdall said he’s worried that new residential and commercial construction on roads such as Highway T, Highway 17, Highway Y and Highway 28 is making what were once winding and curving rural roads into major safety problems. Problems are particularly bad on Highway T north of Waynesville, he said, noting a recent head-on crash that killed an elderly motorist when a teen driver crossed the centerline and slammed into her car. “We need to talk to (MoDOT district engineer) Tom Stehn about that fatality wreck on Highway T; that’s the third bad wreck we’ve had recently on that curve,” Ransdall said. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Dixon wreck hurts Arkansas man DIXON, Mo. (May 4, 2009) — A Sunday morning wreck four miles from Dixon on Highway O totaled the car of John G. Davis, 76, of Jonesboro, Ark. According to Missouri State Highway Patrol reports Davis was eastbound in a 1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo at 11 a.m. when he ran his off the right side of the roadway, struck a highway sign and returned to the roadway. He then crossed the center line, ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree, suffering moderate injuries. In unrelated matters, troopers arrested Lance N. Townsend and James T. Gibson late Saturday night and early Sunday morning on various alcohol-related driving offenses. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Dozen cited in drunk driving checkpoint Saturday in St. Robert ST. ROBERT, Mo. (May 4, 2009) — Continuing efforts to require seat belt usage and stop drunk driving are paying off, according to Sgt. Butch Hohman of the St. Robert Police Department. In a statement released Sunday, Hohman said a late night Saturday and early morning Sunday sobriety checkpoint resulted in 283 vehicles being checked, with four people cited for being minors in possession of alcohol by consumption, five people cited for driving while intoxicated, two for driving while their license was suspended, and one for careless and imprudent driving. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Sidewalk, street pavement problems cause concern for SR city council ST. ROBERT, Mo. (May 4, 2009) — Lyle Thomas, St. Robert’s director of public works, said at Monday night’s city council meeting that he’s applied for a MoDOT grant of federal stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to do sidewalk rehabilitation work or new construction. The St. Robert application for $101,000 would link the existing Missouri Avenue sidewalk to the Eastlawn and Phoenix area. Responding to questions from aldermen, Thomas said a proposed pedestrian walkway over Interstate 44 is still in the planning stages and will cost about $680,000 and plans now call for having a sidewalk on the north side of St. Robert Boulevard rather than the south side, even though the placement of the Tourism Bureau property makes designing the project complicated. St. Robert Boulevard has other problems as well, according to Alderman Allan Johannsen. “I’ve been almost hit a couple of times this past month over there were you turn in to go to Domino’s Pizza because people whip out there in the turn lane and they almost hit you head on,” Johannsen said. The problem, he said, is that the painted traffic lanes on the road wear off and quickly become difficult to see. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

SR may bid on state license fee office ST. ROBERT, Mo. (May 4, 2009) — Now that two of the three Pulaski County Commissioners have decided they don’t want to bid on the state license fee contract office down the road in Waynesville, St. Robert aldermen gave the go-ahead Monday night to consider submitting a bid to become the fee agent. “We’ve got the space here, driver’s testing is already here,” said City Administrator Alan Clark. “I will check into the feasibility of this. This helps the community; you’ve got one-stop shopping.” Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

SR says courthouse anthrax threat response shows joint training works ST. ROBERT, Mo. (May 4, 2009) — Only a few months ago, St. Robert emergency personnel trained along with a special National Guard response team in a mock exercise simulating a domestic terrorist attack on the St. Robert city hall. Fire Chief Chuck Fraley told aldermen at Monday night’s city council meeting that their prior training was invaluable when what he called a “very viable threat” led to a full-scale hazardous materials response to the Pulaski County Jail on Saturday evening as Frogfest was ending. Fraley told the aldermen that his firefighters and hazmat response team were called out to assist Waynesville police and other emergency responders with a hazardous materials scare at the Pulaski County Jail. A suspicious powder in the courthouse eventually turned out to be harmless, but local police, paramedics, firefighters, and military emergency response teams followed their training for an incident that could have been real. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Army must re-emphasize values, retiring top FLW NCO says FORT LEONARD WOOD (May 1, 2009) — The senior enlisted man at Fort Leonard Wood called for a major cultural change in the Army at his retirement ceremony, warning his audience Friday that his speech might not be what they expected. Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Hayes, who with his wife Olga has made strengthening military marriages a major focus of his last three years at Fort Leonard Wood, told the assembled soldiers at Nutter Fieldhouse that his short-term plans after retirement include becoming a high school football coach but longer-term plans could include political activity. Hayes said that whatever he does will place a strong emphasis on his Christian commitments and applying them to the needs of families both in and out of the Army. “I’m not the same person I was 30 years ago, and I praise God for that,” Hayes said, noting that the Army provided him with the discipline he needed to fix his own background as a self-described “ungrateful, rebellious, child.” Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Courthouse square closed to investigate suspicious powder WAYNESVILLE, Mo. (May 2, 2009) — An unknown powder shut down Waynesville’s downtown courthouse square for nearly two hours Saturday evening beginning around 5 p.m., just as Frog Fest participants were leaving the park and clogging downtown streets with pedestrian and vehicle traffic. The powder eventually proved to be harmless, but that wasn’t clear for several hours. King said the powder was discovered while deputies were conducting an investigation involving a domestic incident and opened a letter at the courthouse to examine some documents inside the letter. After the unknown powdery substance fell to the floor, the department “was placed on a lock down and local area emergency responders were notified,” he said in a prepared statement. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Waynesville's Frog Fest kicked off Saturday morning and will run until Sunday, with a frog kiss at 5 p.m. Saturday. Frog Fest kicks off with T-shirts, food, and fun in the Waynesville park WAYNESVILLE, Mo. (May 2, 2009) — Frog Fest began Saturday in Waynesville under overcast rather than rainy skies, and temperatures by mid-afternoon only reached into the mid-60s. The festival’s Frog Queen, Rhea Anne Mathews, had a simple message for her helpers: “I’m so hoppy to be here,” Mathews said. “It’s great to be ‘raining’ over such a wonderful group.” In addition to the bands — which this year are local — and food and craft vendors, Saturday’s events included a 1 p.m. Frog Race in Roubidoux Creek sponsored by the Waynesville-St. Robert Chamber of Commerce and a 2 p.m. piñata-breaking event. At 5 p.m., the winner of the kiss-a-frog contest will be announced, with either Sheriff J.B. King, Pulaski County Circuit Clerk Rachelle Beasley or St. Robert City Administrator Alan Clark being required to kiss a frog, depending on which of the three receives the most donations in canisters left around town. Events for Saturday conclude at 6 p.m., resuming at noon on Sunday. A silent auction is underway and will end at 2 p.m. Sunday. Events tomorrow include a 1:30 p.m. piñata breaking. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

St. Robert City Administrator Alan Clark said his Marine amphibious training made his smooching partner a "kissing cousin." Gone to the frogs: Alan Clark selected Saturday to smooch 'kissing cousin' WAYNESVILLE, Mo. (May 2, 2009) — St. Robert City Administrator Alan Clark received the dubious honor of being selected to kiss a frog Saturday evening as part of Waynesville’s annual Frog Fest celebration in the downtown city park. Each year, area residents vote with their pocketbooks on which of several local leaders they’d like to have kiss a frog by making donations in various jars posted in Waynesville businesses. Participants were Clark, who received $52.57 in donations, Sheriff J.B. King, who received $37.52, and Circuit Court Clerk Rachelle Beasley, who received only $9.55 from people who wanted her to kiss the frog. City Clerk Barb Stinson noted that all donations go to charities after expenses of the festival are paid. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

National Guard liaisons can help prevent basic training dropouts ARLINGTON, Va. (May 1, 2009) — At some point during basic training — around the time an Army drill sergeant screams in a recruit’s face at the top of their lungs, or about the 1,000th pushup, or after 10 seconds into rolling around in sawdust — almost all recruits ask themselves the same question: Did I make the wrong decision to join the Army? Some push the thought away quickly, but others don’t. Luckily, seasoned National Guard members stationed at Initial Entry Training (IET) posts are there to catch these wayward recruits before they make a snap, emotional decision that may have life-changing consequences. Where mentoring for some may involve a pep talk, some need more tangible encouragement. Sgt. Maj. Tom Sznura, the TRADOC liaison sergeant major at Fort Leonard Wood from the Florida National Guard, likes to use the “carrot” of schools when a recruit has problems at IET. “(In) late ’05 I had a soldier who was causing some problems. They brought him to me,” Sznura said. “(I told him) ‘You give me a 270 or better on the (Army Physical Fitness Test), and I will put a recommendation in that you will go to Airborne school,’” Sznura said. The recruit shaped up, and scored more than 290 to pass his class. During a deployment to Afghanistan a year later, he heard a voice and turned around to see that same soldier standing in front of him, now a hard-charging specialist on the fast track to promotion. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Staff Sgt. S. Patrick McCollum/National Guard Bureau

Hazelgreen firefighters prepare to remove a rolled-over pickup from Interstate 44 on Saturday. Passing motorist rescues trapped driver from burning pickup on I-44 HAZELGREEN, Mo. (May 2, 2009) — Fire Chief Eric Price says a Richland driver is lucky to be alive. About 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Hazelgreen firefighters received a report of a rolled-over pickup truck on fire near mile marker 143 with a person trapped inside. While many vehicle fire calls turn out to be radiator steam or something else other than a fire, the pickup truck blaze was a true fire. “A passerby came by and got it before we got here, thank God,” Price said. Troopers reported that Kenny A. Young, 56, totaled his pickup and was arrested by state troopers at 5:33 p.m. on charges of driving while intoxicated and careless and imprudent driving. According to troopers, Young had been eastbound in a 1986 Dodge pickup at 5:15 p.m. when he ran off the roadway to the right, struck the rock bluff and overturned. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Chamber ambassador Joe Grumney helps Don Murray catch frogs at the race finish line. Winners announced in frog race WAYNESVILLE, Mo. (May 2, 2009) — Winners of the Waynesville Frog Race, sponsored by the Waynesville-St. Robert Chamber of Commerce, were Frog No. 25, sponsored by Cathy Funk, who will receive a $100 savings bond from First State Bank, Frog No. 139 sponsored by the Bebee family who will receive $75, and Frog No. 149 sponsored by Carrie Killea, who will receive $50. The three had the fastest rubber frogs of 165 purchased at a cost of $5 per frog or $10 for a team of three frogs. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Darrell Todd Maurina

Area Voices

King Obama's race to a socialist monarchy There’s a new book coming out titled The Coming Insurrection. Anonymous French anarchists who authored this tome advocate the violent destruction of capitalism. I can understand the necessity of force in Europe and Asia, where they’ve dabbled with socialism for the better part of the last century only to realize its failure and demoralization. Decades ago, China began edging its way to capitalism. Germany and Hungary announced tax cuts in an attempt to reverse the damage, paving the way back from the abyss. My question is, “Why would violence be necessary in America?” Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Dave Weinbaum

One-Line Philosopher: Top 10 thoughts of the week Dave Weinbaum's weekly top ten list of random thoughts. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Dave Weinbaum

Ambulance Director Gary Carmack Paramedic's Corner: Excessive heat is another underrated problem Many people do not realize how deadly a heat wave can be. In contrast to the visible, destructive, and violent nature of floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes, a heat wave is a "silent killer." In 1995 alone, 1,021 Americans perished in heat waves, including 633 in Illinois and 57 in Missouri. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff reports that for the period from 1979 to 2003, excessive heat exposure caused 8,015 deaths in the United States. That corresponds to an average of 276 deaths a year from excessive heat. During this period, more people in this country died from extreme heat than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Ambulance Director Gary Carmack

Sheriff J.B. King Sheriff’s View #27 for June 29 to July 3, 2009 I do not have any long information to pass on today, but I do have a series of short news flashes. I saw a letter to the editor in the Waynesville Daily Guide this week; the writer was concerned about the lack of a dog holding center for Pulaski County and dog control in general. Several years ago I went before the County Commission and presented this information. The basic answer at that time was that Pulaski County did not have the needed money to take on such a job. Also, I was notified on Thursday that the County Commissioners have decided not to move on the financial grant for $14,246, so I am once again working on the task of going after this grant. We now know that the other five grants we have up for review will probably not be decided upon until late July or early August of this year. The COPS grant for the two new deputies will be especially hard to win; withy $8.5 billion in funding requests for this grant and only $1 billion in federal funding to handle the grant, there will be a lot of disappointed people when the feds make their selections known on this grant. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Sheriff J.B. King

Hot dog diplomacy while the banned march on It pains most Americans to see the incredible display of ignorance and arrogance our president has represented us with in regard to sworn enemies of the USA, Christians, Jews and moderate Muslims. The latest episode of our apologizer-in-chief is over the crooked elections in Iran. The mullahs have taken the president for a naïve coward. After all, these are the brave religious icons that have the chutzpah to tell others to hurl their bomb-vested babies into civilian buses. Currently these fanatical mullahs are ordering Iranian thugs to maul, maim and murder men, women and children demonstrating against the crooked elections. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Dave Weinbaum

Ambulance Director Gary Carmack Paramedic's Corner: Lightning is a dangerous and deadly threat According to statistics kept by the National Weather Service, the 30-year average for lightning fatalities across the country is 61 deaths per year. Lightning usually claims only one or two victims at a time, and because lightning does not cause mass destruction, such as from a tornado event or a hurricane, lightning generally receives much less attention than the more destructive storm-related events. Due to underreporting, it is estimated that, more realistically, about 100 to 120 people die each year because of lightning. Documented lightning injuries in the United States average 300 per year, but undocumented lightning injuries are likely much higher. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Ambulance Director Gary Carmack

Keeping in Touch with Tourism: Plans are in place for local promotions The Pulaski County Tourism Bureau has several new visitors’ programs that are being introduced this summer. The first is a Scavenger Hunt entitled “Around the Square and More,” which takes visitors by Frog Rock and down around the square in Waynesville. The hunt lists various attractions and sponsoring businesses that the participants must visit in order to find the answers for the clues given in the Hunt Guide. The other program is Travel Bingo, in which participants look for matching items for each icon on the game card. Visitors completing these game cards may bring them back to the Visitors’ Center during regular business hours for a free gift. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Beth Wiles, Pulaski Tourism Director

Sheriff J.B. King Sheriff’s View #26 for June 22 to 26, 2009 We seem to have made the transition from drowning to heat exhaustion in about 50 hours, but that is the way of Missouri weather. As of noon on Saturday, June 20, our case number/calls for service count stands at 4,410. The jail list on Friday had 64 names. We have had three deputies drop out for medical reasons in the past five days. That leaves us very short on manpower. In order to give you a better idea how this type of a sick rate hinders our short-handed department, I will give you a few details. On Thursday, June 18, we had two deputies start their day shift at 8 a.m. They worked all day, but by 4 p.m., both night-shift deputies who were due to start at 4 p.m. had called in sick, so both day-shift cars continued until 9 p.m. when the third-shift deputies came on the air. Thus, both of these day-shift deputies worked a 13-hour day. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Sheriff J.B. King

One-Line Philosopher: Top 10 thoughts of the week Dave Weinbaum's weekly top ten list of random thoughts. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Dave Weinbaum

TV hits this fall: Leave it to Uigher The fall TV season will soon be upon us. With the economy in tatters, our democracy dumped overnight in favor of Marxism, and our new foreign policy of kissing up to enemies and throwing old friends under busses, people will need a break. With four-dollar gas on the way, no jobs and a looming federal bankruptcy, Americans need fantasy and distraction. What to do, what to do? Hey, let’s check out the new fall lineup! And who knows, maybe a new administration will come in so businesses can afford to advertise again. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Dave Weinbaum

Ambulance Director Gary Carmack Paramedic’s Corner: Tracking the ticks to stop Lyme Disease (part 2) Following the first part of this two-part article, I received some comments from readers that the hallmark clinical sign of Lyme Disease wasn’t present when they got Lyme Disease: the change in skin color with central clearing causing the so-called “bull’s eye.” In medical terms, this rash is called “erythema migrans.” It is a circular rash that continues to grow. In many cases, this rash is missing, and the lack of the rash can cause a misdiagnosis. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Ambulance Director Gary Carmack

Sheriff J.B. King Sheriff’s View #25 for June 15 to 19, 2009 The biggest boo to occur this weekend happened about 2:49 a.m. on Sunday when we had two deputies on duty and we got two hot calls at the same time. The first call was suspicious activity in a residential neighborhood with an odd truck parked with lights on and then off, and about that same time, a shot was heard. The second call was simple — thirty guys fighting in the parking lot at a local adult entrainment center. We sent one deputy to each call, placing both of them in danger, but with our current budget constraints, we are squeezed into a position where we usually only have two deputies on duty at any given time. We do have some possible good news on a USDA grant for vehicles. If we qualify, we might be able to afford five or maybe even six used cars at once. Adding five 2006 Ford patrol cars at one time would just be overwhelming to us, since our newest vehicle right now is the 2005 jail van. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Sheriff J.B. King

One-Line Philosopher: Top 10 thoughts of the week Dave Weinbaum's weekly top ten list of random thoughts. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Dave Weinbaum

Stop the settlements! End the occupation! Give the land back! One can certainly agree that when a nation takes away land from its rightful owners, without provocation, then it should stop building and adding settlements on aforesaid ground. Negotiations should take place to return said terrain to the aggrieved, immediately thereafter. The position of the Obama Administration in demanding Israel stop the West Bank settlements, implying that land will be the solution to Mideast peace, sets the precedent for a similar situation ... one that is much closer to home. Aztlan, Mecha and La Raza (the race) represent thousands of Latinos who are demanding that the USSA (United Socialistic States of America) stop the settlements in all seven Southwest states ... no more building in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Texas and Houston. Then we can see to the return of these lands to the rightful owner, Mexico. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Dave Weinbaum

Sheriff J.B. King Sheriff’s View #24 for June 8 to 12, 2009 My deputies have asked that I once again remind people that house and business address numbers must be displayed in a location where we can see them. If you dial 911 and ask for help, we cannot help you if we cannot find you. Along the same lines, if your burglar alarm goes off on a routine basis without proper cause, that creates another problem for us. The jinx seems to be solidly fixed on one of our cars which has broken down and been “repaired” at least five times in the last week, and has now gone down again. On Saturday, I attended a class at Grace Covenant Christian Center in Waynesville, hosted by Pastor Judy Tillet, that focused on church violence. Yes, I know that seems to be an odd statement, but over the past several months all across our nation from a factory setting to schools, churches, hospitals, and even an old folks long-term care home, there have been determined attacks by armed gunmen bent on massive human destruction. This appears to be an issue that will continue to concern law enforcement. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Sheriff J.B. King

One-Line Philosopher: Top 10 thoughts of the week Dave Weinbaum's weekly top ten list of random thoughts. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Dave Weinbaum

Why is President Obama dragging us down to oblivion? Mr. President, according to your recent speech, we still have a lot of apologizing to do to Arabs/Muslims. Many Americans, including myself, disagree with that assertion. I’d like to give you the courtesy of explaining and clarifying your words to the Muslim world today and in previous speeches on Arab/Muslim TV. Who would have thought that a mere eight years after 9/11 a president of the United States would apologize for ANYTHING connected to our controlled response to the murdered 3,000 innocent Americans, many of whom jumped to horrifying deaths, not to speak of their still-suffering families? No one doubts that these Arab/Muslim terrorists would have killed millions if they could have. The reaction in Muslim cities all over the world was celebration and joy. I don’t understand why you, my president, are genuflecting to the Muslim world in representation of me and the other 300 million Americans. Care to comment? Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Dave Weinbaum

Gary Carmack Paramedic’s Corner: Tracking the ticks to stop Lyme Disease (part 1) A friend of mine was sick for several days with a musculoskeletal flu-like-syndrome, which is best described by malaise (a vague uneasy bad feeling), fatigue, chills, fever, and headache, sometimes with stiff neck, myalgias (diffuse muscle pain, usually accompanied with malaise), and arthralgias (joint pain). She went to a doctor and was treated for the flu. The fatigue continued with headaches and the malaise only worsened. Additionally, she had a funny bite that had a red border, then clear, sort of like a “bull’s eye” center. Another doctor recognized possible Lyme Disease, ordered lab tests to confirm it, started antibiotic therapy, and finally got her well. This painful ordeal took months, mostly due to the absence of early diagnosis and therapy. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... Ambulance Director Gary Carmack

County Collector Terri Mitchell June Collector’s Report Summer is here and we are almost midway through 2009. Without looking at a calendar, we can always tell when summer is approaching because we begin to have inquiries about the annual land tax sale. The annual sale is held on the fourth Monday of August in every county in the state as mandated by Missouri state statutes; the fourth Monday this year falls on Aug. 24. Last year, we used the new tax sale software and were extremely pleased with the results; it provides greater efficiency in service and sale documentation for our records and tax sale participants. The first published list of properties will appear in the Daily Guide beginning July 17 and updated lists will run the next three Fridays. The web site, www.pulaskicollector.com, also provides a link to the daily updated list until the sale date. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ... County Collector Terri Mitchell

Court Reports

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 6/26/2009 Arraignments of Christopher B. Wright, John Ray Davis II, Joann Rutherford, Carl A. Terry, and Matthew Edward Waage before Associate Circuit Colin Long on June 26, 2009.  Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 6/25/2009 Waiver of preliminary hearing by Leslie Bernard Howard, Joseph C. Esparza, Rick Griffith, and Carmen L. Hayes and preliminary hearings for Brian Radford, Kathleen A. Bevacqua and Michael Leon Warren, all before Associate Circuit Colin Long on June 25, 2009.  Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 6/24/2009 Waivers of preliminary hearing by Earnest L. Mentola and Christopher Haggith and preliminary hearings for Paul A. Cary, all before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren on June 24, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 6/22/2009 Arraignments of Christopher M. Haggith and Paul A. Cary before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren on June 22, 2009.  Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 6/18/2009 Arraignment of Anthony E. Goree before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on June 16 and waiver of preliminary hearing by Michael F. Talley, preliminary hearing for Paul A. Carey, and arraignment of Thomas M. January before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren on June 17, 2009.  Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 6/9/2009 Arraignments of Paul A. Cary and George Widener before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren on June 9, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 6/2/2009 Arraignments of Robert S. Hubbard and Adam P. Burge before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on June 2, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 5/29/2009 Arraignments of William J. Greenhalgh and David S. Batchler before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on May 29, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 5/27/2009 Arraignments of Michael D. Elmer Jr. and Kenneth W. Dart before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren on May 27, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 5/19,21,22,26/2009 Arraignments of Donald Jason Carroll and Steven Charles Pranger and waiver of preliminary hearing by Joshua R. Wright before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on May 19, 2009; arraignment of Jonathan Bowen, preliminary hearing of Christopher Sandusky and waivers of preliminary hearing by Angelo C. Coronado, Richard D. Sandusky, Matthew Christopher Melching and Aaron P. Lynch before Judge Long on May 21, 2009; arraignment of Lamond H. Tuggles before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren on May 22, 2009; and arraigment of James L. Thomas and Allen Harley Adkins II before Judge Long and of Earnest L. Mentola before Judge Warren on May 26, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 5/14/2009 Waivers of preliminary hearings by Luke A. Daniels and Shawn Adam Gephart before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren on May 13, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 5/13/2009 Arraignments of Joseph C. Esparza, Robert Fortner and Ashley N. Gilbert before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on May 13, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 5/12/2009 Arraignments of Aaron P. Lynch and Burgess West before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on May 12, 2009.  Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 5/7/2009 Arraignments of Christopher James Woodman before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren and waivers of preliminary hearings by Kele L. Johnson, Kenora Deshawn Clark, Joel Ruiz and Freddy J. Isbell before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long, all on May 7, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 5/5/2009 Arraignments of Wesley R. Moore and Michael J. Trosclair before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on May 5, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 5/4/2009 Arraignment of James H. Jordan on May 4, 2009, and of Christopher William Zack and Brandy J. Franks on May 5, 2009, all before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long.  Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 4/28/2009 Arraignment of Jeanette Santisteban before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long and of Roy E. McKinnon before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren, both on April 28, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 4/27/2009 Arraignments of Rick Griffith, Angelo C. Coronado, Tonya R. Kelley, Cassey L. McCray, Richard D. Sandusky, and David Alan Timmons before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on April 27, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 4/24/2009 Arraignment of Donald Mathers before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on April 24, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 4/23/2009 Waivers of preliminary hearings by Jason Ryan Thomas, Allen Dale Vergara, Jacquen L. Bratcher, and Bryan Edward Koenig before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on April 23, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 4/20/2009 Arraignments of Sayreia A. Lisenby and Peter Andrew York before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on April 20, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 4/16/2009 Waiver of preliminary hearings for Michael S. York, Daniel J. Gaines, and Edward E. Jennings before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren and arraignment of Carmen L. Hayes before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long, all on April 16, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 4/13/2009 Arraignments of Leslie Bernard Howard, Joel Ruiz, and Michael Leon Warren before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on April 13, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 4/9/2009 Arraignments of Brandon Powers and Kele L. Johnson before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on April 9, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 4/6/2009 Arraignment of Michael S. York before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on April 6, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 4/2/2009 Arraignments of Brian Radford and Christy Tennyson and waivers of preliminary hearings by Jeffrey Aaron Farnham, Deena J. Rowden and Richard A. Shaw, all before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on April 2, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 4/1/2009 Arraignments of Edward E. Jennings and Daniel J. Gaines on April 1, 2009, before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 3/27/2009 Waiver of preliminary hearing by Famika Jackson-Roberts on March 27, 2009, before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long.  Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 3/25/2009 Waiver of preliminary hearing by Julia Parker on March 25, 2009, before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren.  Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 3/23/2009 Arraignment of James J. Stewart on March 23, 2009, before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 3/19/2009 Waiver of preliminary hearing by Robert Lee Jerome Quick on March 18, 2009, before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 3/17/2009 Arraignments of Kenora Deshawn Clark, Leslie Bernard Howard and Tyrone K. Spence, and waiver of preliminary hearings by Jacob Lee Perdue, Donovan Reheem Boyd, Luke David Pinder, Cletus Conklin, Jeanne Conklin, Derrick Leon Redden, Samantha J. Tull, Jason R. Hernandez, and Brian A. Copeland, all before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on March 17, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 3/12/2009 Arraignment of Marcus W. Recar before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on March 12 and extradition waiver of Mark Wilson before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren on March 11, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 3/10/2009 Arraignment of Julia Parker before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren on March 10, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 3/2/2009 Arraignment of Jacquen L. Bratcher before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on March 2, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 2/27/2009 Arraignments of Lindsay Brooke Robinson, Stephanie Ann Lawrence and William D. Poe before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on Feb. 27, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 2/25/2009 Arraignments of Jan E. Summerford and Gary Lee Sinden, and waiver of preliminary hearings by William R. Cooper and Regina Carethers, and preliminary hearing for Mary J. Cagle, all before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren on Feb. 25, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 2/23/2009 Arraignment of Christopher Lawrence before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren on Feb. 23, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 2/5/2009 Arraignment of Bruce Bagley and waiver of preliminary hearing by Lawrence D. Sinclair before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on Feb. 5, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 1/29/2009 Arraignments of Veronica Hutchins and Jermaine D. Haggard before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on Jan. 29, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 1/16/2009 Arraignments of Regina M. Carethers before Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren on Jan. 14, 2009, and of John Sandifer before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on Jan. 16, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...

Pulaski County Circuit Court Reports, 1/9/2009 Arraignments of Timothy James Fry, Joseph M. Trotter, Tyler James Bish, Jason D. Clark and Lucas G. Warner before Associate Circuit Judge Colin Long on Jan. 9, 2009. Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...