Author: Shawn Kober

Legislature proposes reforms to end ‘debtor’s prisons,’ mandatory minimum sentences

Legislature proposes reforms to end ‘debtor’s prisons,’ mandatory minimum sentences

Posted by | May 14, 2019 | , |

The Legislature has approved bipartisan legislation that would keep Missourians from being put back in jail for failing to pay the costs of being put in jail; and would eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent crimes. Representative Bruce DeGroot (photo: Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications) House Bill 192 aims to end charging prisoners board bills” for their stays in jail.  Persons who don’t pay those bills can be required to come to a “show-cause” hearing and risk additional jail time.  Lawmakers said this amounted to putting people in a “debtor’s prison.” The bill would allow counties to seek to...

Read More
Driver backs up boat through fence and off a 5 foot wall

Driver backs up boat through fence and off a 5 foot wall

Posted by | Mar 19, 2019 | , , , |

Osage Beach, MO – On 03/18/2019 at approximately 1519 hours, Osage Beach Police responded to a report of a one vehicle accident, in the parking lot of Casey’s, located at 4710 Osage Beach Parkway. Investigation of the accident by the Osage Beach Police Department concluded a gray 2008 Ford F150, driven by 69-year-old R. Greg of Pittsburg Mo. was backing his 2007 26’ Chaparral boat and trailer when he alleged the accelerator stuck. Greg was unable to stop the boat before it backed into a wooden fence belonging to Casey’s and traveled off the edge of the parking lot...

Read More
Statement on Protecting National Parks while Providing the American People Continued Access during the Lapse of Appropriations, attributable to P. Daniel Smith, Deputy Director, National Park Service:

Statement on Protecting National Parks while Providing the American People Continued Access during the Lapse of Appropriations, attributable to P. Daniel Smith, Deputy Director, National Park Service:

Posted by | Jan 14, 2019 | , |

“During the lapse of appropriations, the men and women of the National Park Service who have remained on duty have gone to incredible lengths to keep America’s iconic national parks as accessible as possible to the American public. Thanks to the strong relationships that many national parks have built with partners across the country, a number of states, private concession companies, and park nonprofit groups have stepped up to provide over two million dollars’ worth of donations and in-kind services to help over forty parks  continue to provide key services for visitors. “As the lapse in appropriations continues, it...

Read More
MDC foresters say southeast Missouri fall color is crawling in

MDC foresters say southeast Missouri fall color is crawling in

Posted by | Oct 25, 2018 | , |

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Autumn color is still at a crawl this week, despite the cooler temperatures, according to Jennifer Behnken, a Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) community forester. Autumn color in southeast Missouri is highly affected by the variable weather, which has changed swiftly from hot to cold, she said. Sometimes trees turn their fall leaves into yellow, red, and purple foliage in a steady progression from late September through October. Peak colors often appear in the third or fourth week of October. But this year, color change has been erratic. Not unlike recent weeks where October started...

Read More