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A Jefferson City man has been charged with kidnapping and assault after an incident Monday morning in the Capital City.Victor Sloan Jr., 19, is charged with two counts of third-degree assault, one count of second-degree kidnapping and one count of resisting arrest.A Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statement states officers were called to a residence in the 600 block of Locust Street where Sloan allegedly physically attacked a woman by choking her, forcibly holding her and throwing her over his shoulder to carry her. Sloan also took the woman’s cellphone away to prevent her from calling 911 and blocked an exit from the apartment they were in for more than two hours so she could not leave.The woman was eventually able to call 911, and officers found the victim on a sidewalk trying to escape from Sloan. One officer said he saw Sloan pushing and shoving the woman.Sloan later told officers he was trying to prevent the woman from committing suicide as she had earlier … [Read more...] about JC man charged with kidnapping, assault

COLUMBIA (AP) — A proposed settlement could end the long legal fight over a failed effort to build an artificial sweetener factory in Moberly.The proposal is between bankruptcy trustee Bruce Strauss and former Mamtek CEO Bruce Cole and his wife, Nanette. Bruce Cole created Mamtek and persuaded Moberly officials in 2010 to issue $39 million in bonds to build an artificial sweetener plant.The plant was never built, Mamtek went into bankruptcy, and Cole served about 3½ years in prison for theft and securities fraud.The Columbia Daily Tribune reported the proposed settlement would free more than $800,000 to pay creditors of the bankrupt company.The Coles would receive $100,000 for the sale of their Beverly Hills home and would not have to pay a $1.25 million judgment to recover money taken from the bond fund. … [Read more...] about Proposed settlement in failed Moberly sweetener plant saga

St. Mary’s suspends stroke center certification Ambulance service to divert stroke patients to other hospitalsThe Cole County Ambulance Service is no longer transporting patients with stroke symptoms to St. Mary’s Hospital after the hospital voluntarily suspended its stroke center certification.Ambulance Chief Matt Lindewirth told the Cole County Commission on Tuesday the ambulance service was notified of the suspension by the hospital Friday. Lindewirth said he wanted to let the commission know because he expects the number of transfers the service will be doing will increase in the immediate future.“Due to inconsistent neurology coverage following the departure of our neurologist last fall, we have temporarily paused our national Primary Stroke Center certification, which became effective on Monday,” St. Mary’s spokesman Brian Westrich said. “However, we anticipate this is a temporary situation as we continue working to secure appropriate neurology … [Read more...] about St. Mary’s suspends stroke center certification

CMCA takes on new PR managerCentral Missouri Community Action will have a new spokeswoman, beginning Feb. 1.Cheryl Unterschutz is joining the nonprofit as its public relations manager. CMCA, based in Columbia, serves eight counties in Central Missouri — Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Cole, Cooper, Howard, Moniteau and Osage.The organization offers a number of programs in the region. Its largest program is Head Start — providing comprehensive child development services by seeing to youth medical, nutritional, emotional and social needs.The Foster Grandparents Program allows seniors to volunteer with children who have special needs to promote education and literacy. Its weatherization and assistance program reduces burdens on families by providing energy-efficient weatherization for their homes.The organization uses federal Community Service Block Grants and community support to help clients with employment, education, housing, nutrition, emergency services, health and to better … [Read more...] about Central Missouri Community Action names new spokeswoman

County declines to put sales tax to help at-risk youth on ballotThe Cole County Commission declined to put a proposed sales tax increase to help at-risk youth on the April 2 ballot.“Putting Kids First” organizers told commissioners Tuesday they had planned to gather the 3,000 petition signatures needed to put the issue on the ballot by Jan. 4. However, as of Tuesday, they had about half that number and showed the box with the signed petitions they had collected. With the holidays and recent winter storms, they could not reach the threshold, they said.The organizers faced a Jan. 4 deadline for the petitions so the Cole County clerk’s office had time to verify signatures on the petition. The deadline for governmental bodies to put a measure on the April ballot was Tuesday.Over the last several weeks, Joy Sweeney, director of the Jefferson City Council for Drug Free Youth, had urged the commission to put the matter on the ballot to allow residents to vote on the matter. … [Read more...] about Sales tax to help at-risk youth left off April ballot