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 Top Local Stories

 

Johnson shooting ruled suicide

After receiving complete autopsy reports, local authorities have ruled the shooting death of Dr. Vic Johnson, Polo veterinarian, a suicide.

Sheriff Jerry Galloway, County Coroner Dana Brown and Prosecutor Brady Kopek conferred on the autopsy report before deciding that Dr. Johnson shot himself. “There was nothing to indicate a homicide,” said Sheriff Galloway.

He said that despite hundreds of comments on a website pointing a finger at Dr. Johnson’s wife, authorities have to look at facts, not opinion.

The sheriff indicated that ballistics and evidence reports on the gun used in the shooting would probably not be completed and back to him for months.

 

Hobbs in county custody, waives preliminary

Robert C. Hobbs, 48, Hamilton, was returned last week to Caldwell County and appeared in Circuit Court before Judge Jason Kanoy last Thursday morning and waived formal arraignment on first degree murder, armed criminal action and forgery charges.

Hobbs is charged with the Feb. 16 shooting death of his father, George H. Hobbs, at the Hobbs home in rural Caldwell County. The murder was discovered on Feb. 19 when a sheriff’s deputy went to the home for a well being check requested by a social worker for the nursing home Hobbs’ elderly mother resides in. Hobbs had not made his regular visits to his mother that week. The body was found on the floor of a bedroom at the home and a physician at Heartland Regional ruled the death a homicide.[Read More]

Three file for 43rd Circuit position

Three area attorneys have officially filed for the 43rd Circuit Judicial seat vacated late last month by Judge Warren L. McElwain. Tom Chapman, a Chillicothe attorney, was the first to file in Jefferson City on March 1 when filing opened following McElwain’s official retirement on Feb. 28 at midnight. He was followed by Hamilton attorney and former associate judge Daniel Chadwick on March 1. The latest filing was March 8 by Joe Gagnon, a Lathrop attorney.

Chapman is a Republican, while Chadwick and Gagnon are Democrats. The latter are hoping for a judicial appointment by Governor Jay Nixon, also a Democrat, to fill out McElwain’s term for the rest of the year. Both have appeared before county Democrat committees seeking their recommendations.

The 43rd Circuit includes two divisions. McElwains slot was considered Division I and former Judge Steve Griffin’s position was a Division II slot, which was filled by gubernatorial appointment early last year by R. Brent Elliott, who is seeking election to the position.

 

Meeting Monday to discuss road closings

The Caldwell County Commission is urging anyone interested in the effects of road closings this spring to attend a meeting next Monday, March 15, at 1:30 p.m. at the Nazarene Church Fellowship Hall in Kingston.

Several  road closures are scheduled by the Missouri Department of Transportation this year for bridge replacements. One of those closings will involve the bridge over U. S. Route 36 in Hamilton, calling for a complete deck replacement.

Refreshments will be provided at the meeting.

 

Polo senior prom royalty

The Polo FBLA-sponsored senior prom was held recently and participants saw the “crowning” of a prom king and queen. John Sanders donned his Mexican hat crown as king and Linda Trammel reigned as queen. (Photo by Polo yearbook staff)

 

 

Recent Stories

Bobcat Courtwarming

The Braymer Bobcats Courtwarming was held last Friday night despite the weather, hosting 2 games against the Hardin Bulldogs. The JV boys and Varsity boys teams both prevailed with a victory. The crowning was held at halftime of the boys game. The Courtwarming Royalty crowned this year was Prince, freshman Jesse Utt, Princess, sophomore Melanie Dinwiddie, Queen, senior Courtney Taylor, and King, senior Dylan Adkison. Congratulations for being chosen as this years winning Royalty.

Breckenridge royalty

John Adams and Jackie Hayes were announced as Breckenridge 2010 Courtwarming King and Queen

Mirabile Township residents dig into gravel records, find discrepancies

By Anne Tezon

Mirabile Township has been the subject of some intense scrutiny the past several months. Monday afternoon that scrutiny reached an even higher level as a private investigator hired by Clarkson Construction, owners of Everett Quarries in Kingston, showed up at the courthouse asking questions of the county commission and the county clerk.

The scrutiny started several months ago with some local residents who were disgruntled over the continuing poor condition of their gravel roads.  Duane Burnett and Keith Wilcox launched their own personal investigation into the issue and say they became suspicious when Mirabile Township Trustee Bill Hascall refused to meet with them to discuss road conditions.  Instead, he invited them to attend the next township board meeting. 

The two have been attending every meeting since then and have filed Sunshine Law requests with the county clerk’s office in Kingston for records detailing purchases of gravel and reimbursements for FEMA disaster relief projects following the floods of 2007.

The question that Wilcox and Burnett want answered is “Where’s the gravel?” In their detailed search of county and township records, they’ve uncovered several inconsistencies and omissions, some of which they fear may represent fraud, especially where federal disaster relief funds are concerned.[Read More]

Filing begins for county offices

On the first day of filing for elective county offices Tuesday, six individuals, mostly incumbents, filed to retain their Caldwell County positions.  Dale Hartley and Bud Motsinger both filed for the presiding county commission slot currently held by Hartley, while Julie Hill, Recorder of Deeds, Carrie Miller, circuit clerk, Jason Kanoy, associate circuit court judge and Beverly Bryant, county clerk, all filed to seek re-election.

March 30 is the deadline to file for county office, including township committee positions.

 

Bank Northwest to prosecute former employee

Bank Northwest has announced Friday that in connection with an internal review of records it has discovered that a former employee of the bank was engaged in unauthorized transactions during the course of employment at the bank. The unauthorized activity resulted in a loss of bank funds the exact amount of which cannot be disclosed at this time. However, none of the bank’s customers have suffered any loss and the amount of the loss has not in any way affected the safety and soundness of the bank. Bank Northwest remains strongly capitalized in comparison to its peers with total capital in excess of $7,300,000 million dollars. The bank will vigorously seek criminal prosecution of the employee involved and has reported the details to law enforcement and regulatory  authorities.

Arrest made in radiator shop robbery

On Feb. 7 at 9:07 a.m. the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Glenn’s Radiator Shop located at 7400 N.W. Sale Barn Road, Cameron. Upon arrival the owner was contacted and it was determined that someone had entered the office area of the business and removed the safe from that location along with other items.

Through investigation, an arrest was made of a Steven A. Taylor, 28, who was charged with burglary II, theft and stealing with $100,000 dollar cash only bond along with a California parole violation warrant no bond. He is currently in custody at the Caldwell County Detention Center. This case is currently under investigation by the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office.

Lady Cats end season abruptly

According to an official statement from Braymer C-4 School Principal Mitch Barnes, the Braymer Lady Cats basketball season has been cancelled for disciplinary reasons.

Reportedly some of the girls didn’t want to run and walked out during a practice session.

Courtwarming has been rescheduled for this Friday night at half-time during the varsity boys game with Hardin. The JV boys will have a full game against the Hardin Bulldogs.

The girls game next Tuesday will be played with Hardin playing the Meadville girls at Braymer. The Braymer varsity boys will meet the Meadville boys in regular play.

Braymer water rates main topic at council meeting

Monday night’s main topic of discussion at the Braymer City Council meeting was the low rates of the city’s water bills. Councilman Hardee Ritchey read a report from USDA, which suggested the rates be raised $5 a month per household. 

Water supervisor Phil Clevenger informed the councilmen that Braymer has the lowest water rates in the county with only two rate increases since the 70s, the last being in 2004. The councilmen discussed having a public meeting to educate Braymer residents about the water rates. It was said the residents need to remember their water bills include water, sewer and trash, so the water part of the bill is usually only around $25. Ritchey  also said,  “It’s no time to raise rates, but it’s going to have to be done.” The councilmen asked Clevenger to work up figures from other towns and present them at the next meeting.  Mallory stated that at this time there are $6,000 worth of delinquent water bills.

Councilman Mike Copple represented “Stretch” Owen in regard to a renter’s water bill. He felt he shouldn’t have to babysit his renters. One of his renters left the water running (not dripping) so the pipes wouldn’t freeze. The council voted that the homeowner was responsible for the remaining bill after the renter’s deposit took care of the majority of the bill.[Read More]

Brelsford case continued to April 5

Marie Kay Brelsford, former county deputy clerk, appeared in Caldwell County Circuit Court last Thursday with her attorney, Roger Potter, who filed a motion for release of $13,500 in an appearance bond. Judge Warren McElwain granted the release and also agreed to a request to continue the case to April 5 at 9:00 a.m.

[Read More] 

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