Archives for July 2012

The Missouri Corn Growers Association has endorsed Gov. Jay Nixon’s re-election campaign.. . the first time the group has made a gubernatorial endorsement.

Association President Billy Thiel says the group decided to endorse Nixon because he has promoted Missouri agriculture by helping to expand its markets globally. The group also cited Nixon’s support for ethanol cooperatives, among other things. Nixon, a Democrat, faces no serious opposition in the Aug. 7 primary. Four Republicans are competing to challenge him. Earlier this summer, Nixon was endorsed by the political action committee for the Missouri Soybean Association. That group said it was the first time it had backed a Democrat for governor.

A member of a violent nationwide motorcycle gang was sentenced Tuesday to nearly seven years in federal prison for making pipe bombs intended for rival biker gangs.

Carlos Wesley Rose Sr., known as “PitBull,” was president of the Kentucky chapter of the Wheels of Soul Outlaw Motorcycle Gang. He pleaded guilty to a racketeering charge in April, and was sentenced in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. Federal prosecutors say Rose admitted to conspiring on two occasions to make pipe bombs to use against members of rival clubs in the Chicago area. Federal agents stopped his car and found explosives and a handgun. He admitted he was on his way to Chicago to deliver the items. Prosecutors described the gang, based in Philadelphia with branches throughout the U.S., as well organized and extremely violent. Authorities say the gang distributed crack cocaine and heroin and committed robberies to raise money. They also blame the gang in at least three murder cases.

A northern Missouri man has been sentenced to more than six years in prison and ordered to pay $2.7 million for a marketing scheme involving an energy-generating machine.

The U.S. attorney’s office said Tuesday that David Grammer claimed a fictitious device known as “Boydoplex” could generate energy. It says 84 investors sank over $3.3 million into the machine, which Grammer claimed was being developed in Hannibal and Evansville, Ind. When investors questioned delays, Grammer allegedly told them the laboratories had flooded or been destroyed by natural disasters.
The 55-year-old Macon resident pleaded guilty in April to two felony counts of mail fraud. He was sentenced Tuesday to 78 months in prison. The $2.7 million of restitution is the amount the U.S. attorney says was traced to Grammer’s bank accounts.

Relief from the heat is still a day or more away, according to forecasters, and even then it won’t be a lot of relief. An excessive heat warning remains in effect through tomorrow night, with highs in the 101 to 106 range and heat indices 103 to 108.

The drought and heat have caused further deterioration in Missouri’s corn crop. 79 percent is now in very poor or poor condition. The USDA says it has received reports of farmers chopping down their corn. Just 5 percent of the crop is in good to excellent condition. Nationally, 45 percent of the corn crop is very poor or poor. Last week it was 38 percent.

For Missouri soybeans 68 percent are now in very poor or poor condition. Just 8 percent of the crop is in good or excellent condition. Soybeans nationally, 35 percent is now poor or very poor compared with the 30 percent a week earlier.

Governor Nixon has declared a statewide state of emergency because of the impact that the prolonged severe heat and drought are having on both agriculture and public health. The governor says the high temperatures and dry conditionsare taking their toll on Missourians. Farmers are suffering tremendous losses in crops and livestock, and more heat-related deaths and emergency room visits are being reported, particularly among seniors.

Kirksville firefighters battled a house fire yesterday in the 2200 block of west Gardner. When first crews pullded up to the scene, flames could be seen shooting from the home. Everyone inside made it out safely, and firefighters were able to contain the blaze before it spread. The fire started in a bedroom and the house suffered smoke damage throughout. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has declared an emergency because of the recent drought.

The state disaster declaration Monday allows state agencies to help local officials respond to the drought and heat. Nixon says state health officials have confirmed 25 heat-related deaths, including 20 in the St. Louis area. Health officials report that there have been 829 heat-related trips to hospital emergency rooms. Nixon says farmers also are facing significant losses to crop and livestock and fire remains a risk. He says state officials are monitoring how the drought is affecting public water supplies.

Governor Nixon has declared a statewide state of emergency because of the impact that the prolonged severe heat and drought are having on both agriculture and public health. Executive Order 12-07, signed by the Governor this afternoon, activates the State Emergency Operations Plan, which authorizes state agencies to assist local jurisdictions with their emergency response. The governor says the high temperatures and dry conditionsare taking their toll on Missourians. Farmers are suffering tremendous losses in crops and livestock, and more heat-related deaths and emergency room visits are being eported, particularly among seniors.A high risk of fire from tinderbox conditions continues, and Nixon says state officials are monitoring how the drought is affecting public water supplies and distribution.

Kirksville firefighters battled a house fire this morning near the 2200 block of west Gardner. When first crews pullded up to the scene, flames could be seen shooting from the home. Everyone inside made it out safely, and firefighters were able to contain the blaze before it spread. The fire started in a bedroom and the house suffered smoke damage throughout. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

…DANGEROUS HEAT TO PERSIST THROUGH WEDNESDAY…
…EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT
WEDNESDAY…

.VERY HOT CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE FROM 101 TO 106 DEGREES THROUGH WEDNESDAY…WITH AFTERNOON HEAT INDICES RANGING FROM 105 TO 110. IN ADDITION…OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES WILL DROP ONLY INTO THE MID 70S TO LOWER 80S ACROSS MANY AREAS. THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF PROLONGED HEAT WILL INCREASE THE RISK FOR HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES IF PROPER PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

A St. Louis-area man has been charged with killing his estranged wife with his children nearby.

The Jefferson County prosecuting attorney’s office issued a warrant Saturday charging 54-year-old Matthew McDonough with second-degree murder in the death of 38-year-old Deborah McDonough. Authorities were called Friday night to McDonough’s Imperial home. They found the victim’s body in a bedroom. Matthew McDonough was found in the basement, with cuts that apparently were self-inflicted. Authorites say there were signs of a struggle in the house but declined to elaborate further. The children weren’t hurt and are staying with relatives.