Jackie Rehwald [email protected] Published 11:07 p.m. UTC May 25, 2018 A Bolivar man was charged with felony driving while intoxicated following a crash in Springfield early Thursday morning that caused "serious physical injury," authorities say. Dontay James Sharp, 20, was scheduled to be arraigned Friday morning in front of a Greene County judge. According to the probable cause statement, the crash happened after 1 a.m. near the intersection of Kimbrough Avenue and Sunshine Street. MORE: After debilitating crash, Ozark senior receives high school diploma — in his hospital bed Sharp was operating a 2004 F-250 when it collided with a 2003 Oldsmobile Alero driven by Melanie Zengotita. The two passengers in Sharp's truck, Jessica Crawford and Amanda Lerbs, told the officer that Sharp was driving westbound on Sunshine Street at a high rate of speed and that they were scared enough due to his driving that they were "holding each other." All of the occupants … [Read more...] about Alcohol-related crash Thursday morning results in serious injuries for occupants
Heading to the lake or river this weekend? Here’s what to know about Memorial Day forecast
Wes Johnson [email protected] Published 9:22 p.m. UTC May 25, 2018 It looks like the weather gods might be smiling on the Ozarks this weekend. After several days of pop-up heavy rain storms this week, the National Weather Service is predicting only a 20 percent chance of showers on Saturday, and hot and sunny weather Sunday and on Memorial Day. High temperatures are forecast to be 89 on Saturday, 91 on Sunday and 90 on Monday. That's good news for some outfitters who already are seeing their phones ringing steadily from paddlers wanting to rent canoes, kayaks and float tubes. "People want to float when it's hot and sunny," said Anita Van Steenis at Two Rivers Canoe Rental in Eminence. "Both the Current River and Jacks Fork are in good shape and they're cleaning up after last weekend's flood. The water level now is really good." At Windy's Canoe Rental in Eminence, owner Mike Smith said the Jacks Fork river level was "perfect" despite the river being closed briefly … [Read more...] about Heading to the lake or river this weekend? Here’s what to know about Memorial Day forecast
At Fantastic Caverns, a new observation deck opens over Little Sac River
Claudette Riley [email protected] Published 11:00 p.m. UTC May 25, 2018 A new attraction has opened at Fantastic Caverns, a ride-through cave just north of Springfield. The family-owned tourist destination recently constructed a boardwalk and elevated observation deck along the Little Sac River. The stretch overlooks the output of Indian Spring and its convergence with the river. MORE: Live alligators, pythons coming to Big Cedar Lodge ropes course According to a news release, the observation deck and boardwalk front 175 feet of the Little Sac River’s southern bank. Construction involved more than two miles of lumber and more than 15,000 nuts, bolts, screws and anchors. “It is a great addition to the property as we kick off the summer season this Memorial Day weekend,” said Fantastic Caverns General Manager Doug Campbell in a news release. A trail starts near the visitors center and parking lot and continues through a collapsed cave system … [Read more...] about At Fantastic Caverns, a new observation deck opens over Little Sac River
Woman charged with making false police report that led to 15-hour Willie Haughton standoff
Gregory J. Holman [email protected] Published 10:48 p.m. UTC May 25, 2018 A 25-year-old woman has been charged with making a false police report leading to a 15-hour standoff on Bolivar Road last month as police searched for homicide suspect Willie Haughton. According to a probable cause statement filed by police, officers were dispatched to a Bolivar Road home early April 5 after Angel Perreira texted 911 stating that the suspect was at the residence. Related: Springfield police chief shares details on two homicides and 'very violent suspect' Perreira allegedly lied about being at the home, according to the probable cause statement. She told police April 27 that she was told "third-hand" that the homicide suspect, Haughton, was there. She thought 911 would take her more seriously if she told 911 that she had been at the address, according to the statement. The resulting standoff took about 15 hours and required the deployment of 47 officers, one of whom was injured … [Read more...] about Woman charged with making false police report that led to 15-hour Willie Haughton standoff
Pokin Around: A beautiful building, but age has caught up to owner, who is selling it
Steve Pokin [email protected] Published 11:13 p.m. UTC May 25, 2018 When I spoke to James Ashford in December 2016, he told me about his love of life. "I don't think you need to sit around and vegetate," he said back then. "You have to suck the marrow out of life every day." And that love of life is why he has backed away from his project at 600 E. Commercial St., at the roundabout at Washington Avenue. He does not want to die. MORE: Answer Man: Why does a recycling company care so much about the definition of marriage? I wrote about Ashford and his new-business project in a December 2016 Answer Man column. Then, a few months ago, I noticed a for-sale sign in front of the empty new building. "The doctor told me I did not need to be in the restaurant business," says Ashford, now 75. Ashford had suffered a massive heart attack in 2014. He was revived three times en route to the hospital. When he recovered, he was ready for a … [Read more...] about Pokin Around: A beautiful building, but age has caught up to owner, who is selling it
Lincoln Police Department employee resigns over social media post
(Photo:Sammy Zimmermanns / MGN) LINCOLN, Neb. — An employee with the Lincoln Police Department has resigned after the department was alerted to a social media post that violated their rules. Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister said the social media post was brought to their attention on May 4. The post was only viewable to friends and was made while the employee was off-duty, but the publicly viewable portion of the account identified the account owner as a member of the police department. Bliemeister said the post contained opinions and captions that were in violation of our General Orders governing social media that states “Individuals who identify themselves as an employee of the department shall not publish any communication which would under any circumstance undermine or tarnish the department. No personnel shall relate themselves with other information, opinions, or positions that would bring adverse criticism or embarrassment upon the department.” … [Read more...] about Lincoln Police Department employee resigns over social media post
Would Rosenstein give Congress documents on Mueller probe or resign?
WASHINGTON (Circa) — The Justice Department official in charge of overseeing the special counsel investigation has been flexible this week, bending to two difficult demands from President Donald Trump and conservatives in Congress. It is unclear how accommodating Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will be in the future as he faces congressional demands for information related to the special counsel probe. On Monday, Rosenstein agreed to open an internal Justice Department investigation into possible political motivations behind the FBI's surveillance of Trump campaign officials and on Thursday, he honored a long-standing subpoena and provided classified briefings to members of Congress on similar matters. The pressure is on Rosenstein to continue producing sensitive material related to the ongoing special counsel investigation. If he thwarts requests from Congress, he could be held in contempt without a guarantee the president will intervene to protect him. Or he could … [Read more...] about Would Rosenstein give Congress documents on Mueller probe or resign?
Was the FBI investigation of the Trump campaign driven by evidence or politics?
WASHINGTON (Circa) — As more information becomes public about the FBI’s probe of ties between President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and the Russian effort to influence the election, the president and others say a picture is emerging of a politically-motivated investigation that used dubious evidence to justify surveilling his aides to build a still-unproven case for collusion, but some say officials had valid reasons for their suspicions. “We now have a lot of information to piece together,” Sharyl Attkisson, host of Sinclair’s “Full Measure,” said in an interview with KABB Friday. In a recent op-ed for The Hill, Attkisson detailed evidence she believes supports the contention that the investigation was deployed against Trump for political purposes. Among those eight signs were many of the techniques investigators reportedly used to gather information on the actions of Trump aides. “There are several of them, such as … [Read more...] about Was the FBI investigation of the Trump campaign driven by evidence or politics?
Moniteau County bank sues former president, COO
A California bank has sued a father and daughter who served as its president and chief operating officer. Federal court documents allege Angela Flippin, who served as COO of Peoples Bank of Moniteau County, diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars in improper payments to herself and the bank's former president David Hampton. The bank asked the court to force the pair to pay back almost $1 million plus attorneys' fees and other charges. Hampton became the bank's president May 1, 1990. Flippin began her employment at the bank Feb. 1, 1993. Hampton was fired Feb. 21, 2017, and Flippin was fired Feb. 17, 2017. Court documents say Flippin had access to all of the bank's accounting and computer systems, which gave her the ability to make payments and changes. Beginning around 2010, the bank alleges, Flippin and Hampton began receiving improper payments by collecting overtime for hours they, as salaried employees, were not entitled to. Flippin received comp time payments totaling $110,982.29 … [Read more...] about Moniteau County bank sues former president, COO
Hastings railroad crossing to close for maintenance
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — A railroad crossing east of Hastings will be closed for two days for scheduled maintenance, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. During the maintenance on May 31, Highway 6 will be closed at the railroad crossing located 200 feet west of Maxon Avenue. East and westbound Highway 6 traffic will be detoured to N-74, via US-281 and N-14. The detour will follow the route of US-6 to US-281 to N-74 to N-14 to US-6, in both directions. The anticipated completion date for the project is June 1. … [Read more...] about Hastings railroad crossing to close for maintenance