Springfield Judge Gives Lawyer 120 days In Jail

Kansas City Lawyer Carlos D. Romious will be staying in the Greene County jail for the next 120 days after exhibiting, "rude and angry demeanor," toward Greene County Circuit Court Judge Tom Mountjoy.  Judge Mountjoy filed contempt charges on July 24, against Romious for displaying several previous outbursts in the courtroom.

Rominous, who was representing a man from St. Charles in a jury trial made repeated remarks toward the judge. On one occasion he asked, "if the 'proceeding was a joke' and stated to the Court 'you're going to sit your ass up there.'" Rominous then accused judge Mountjoy of "corrupting and stinking up the case" and "corrupting this system."

Judge Mountjoy then ordered Rominous to appear in court the next day at 8 a.m.  When Rominous appeared before the judge the next morning he asked Judge Mountjoy ,"Are you a pedophile?"

Rominous , in another charge, is accused of attacking a court security officer, after refusing to go through a metal detector at the courthouse in Kansas City Kansas.

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Missouri Water Patrol: Two Teens Drown On Sunday

Cody Landreth,18 of Iberia, Mo., drown Sunday near the Jackson Branch Cove /4mm on Lake of the Ozarks. The victim along with three others were swimming approximately 250 ft across the cove to a private dock. Landreth began to struggle just before reaching the dock and told the others that he was drowning. Landreth then went under. The other swimmers tried to locate him, but could not. His body was later recovered by MSWP dive team in 27 feet of water.

 

Tanner Stanton, 17 of Bethany Mo., drown Sunday evening while he was crossing a low water bridge on Big Creek and slipped into the water. Persons with him at the time could not reach him. Stanton went under and did not resurface. No information given on recovery efforts.

Empire District Electric Warns Customers Of Scam

Empire District Electric Company is warning customers to beware of a new scam. A person claiming to be from the company is calling customers and telling them that they need to pay their delinquent bill or their service will be disconnected. Customers are then told they  will need to make a payment over the phone to avoid disruption of service.

Director of corporate communications, Amy Bass, says that Empire District Electric does not ask for credit card or checking account numbers over the phone. The company corresponds thru mail to delinquent customers. If payment is not received then customers will be contacted by the collections department but the department does not take payment over the phone. It is merely a means to touch base with the customer

Customers do have the option of paying their bill over the phone,however, they have to make the phone call to a third party number given to them by Empire. Customers themselves  have to make the call. If anyone calls asking customers to make a payment over the phone, they should report the call to authorities.

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Deadly Church Shooting In Tennessee

Two people have died and several others remain in serious to critical condition after a gunman opened fire during a youth performance Sunday at the Unitarian Universalistic Church, in Knoxville. Tennessee. The gunman, Jim D. Adkisson, 58, walked into the church and opened up a guitar case, pulling out a .12 caliber shotgun and began shooting into the congregation.Greg McKendry,age 60, a long time member of the congregation took a direct hit and was killed as he put himself between the gunman and the congregation.

Three men from the congregation tackled Adkisson and held him down until police arrived. A 73 -year-old woman has also died from injuries she sustained in the attack. None of the children were hurt.

Adkisson was arrested and has been charged with first-degree murder and is being held on a 1million dollar bail. The gunman was from the Knoxville area, but it is not believed he attended church there. His motive still remains unknown.

Body Found In Kings River

A call from 911 lead the Carroll County Special Operations Rescue Team to a man's body downstream from the Trigger Gap swim area on Kings river. The victims body according to authorities was found in three feet of water wedged between two boulders. The victims truck was parked nearby. Sheriff Bob Grudeck said the cause of death will not be announced until a report is received from the Medical examiners office in Little Rock. The name of the victim is being withheld upon the request of the family.

Missouri Board Of Education To Discuss 4-Day School Week

The 4-day school week seems to be gaining momentum around the country. At this time 16 states have already implemented the system. Current laws in Missouri prohibit schools from participating in the shorter week, but, changes may be coming. Jim Morris, a spokesman with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education states that the department has received some inquires regarding the 4-day school week.

While legislation was introduced last year on the subject of 4-day weeks, it did not go anywhere. That could change and State Sen. Scott Rupp, R-Wentzville, who is a member of the Senate’s Education Committee, says he is willing to consider changes within the legislation to allow schools in Missouri the ability to go to a 4-day week.

Within the 100 school districts across the nation that have made the change,they have reported saving thousands of dollars just in fuel costs. The draw back however, is not having any solid evidence as to the impact it will have on learning. For Missouri educators that takes top priority over the schools bottom line. Missouri schools won't make any changes until they are certain that the quality of education students receive is not compromised in an attempt to save money.

Morris said that the subject will be discussed with the state board of education during their next meeting in August. He also believes it will be back in legislation next year.

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4 Men Escape Ok. Correctional Facility

Update : Three of the four men have been captured. Bobby J. Stow is still at large.

Four men are still at large after escaping from the John Lilley Correctional Center in Boley Ok., Tuesday afternoon. Authorities are searching for:

Captured:

Christopher Caskey, 23, a white male, about 6 feet tall weighing 150 pounds. He has blond hair and brown eyes.

Jack L. Weems, 19, a white male, about 5 feet 10 inches tall weighing 158 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.

Ricky D. Parks, 26, a white male, about 5 feet 5 inches tall weighing 136 pounds. He has blond hair, blue eyes and a tattoo on his neck.

Still At Large:

Bobby J. Stow, 45, a white male, about 5 feet 6 inches tall weighing 145 pounds. He has brown hair and hazel eyes. Stow has two prior escape convictions.

Anyone with information about the escapees should call (866) 363-1119 or the Okfuskee County Sheriff’s Department at (918) 623-1122.

President Bush Says-"Wall Street Got Drunk"

KTRK News in Houston Texas has obtained footage of some comments President Bush made during a fundraiser for Congressional candidate, Pete Olson.In the video President Bush states that,

"Wall Street Got Drunk."

"It got drunk and now it has a hangover."

The private fund raiser was off limits to reporters, but someone attending the fundraiser caught the moment on tape. President Bush also had a few other things to say.

Click here [KTRK] web-site to view the video.

Flight 458 Carrying 7 Congressmen Makes Emergency Landing

A late night flight carrying seven congressmen headed back to Washington D.C. from Houston made an emergency landing at the Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans early Monday morning. The flight was diverted to the New Orleans airport after a drop in cabin pressure.

Flight 458 made a rapid descent to get to an altitude where oxygen would not be needed. They were given priority landing status and landed without incident. The plane was carrying former presidential candidate Ron Paul along with Ted Poe, John Carter, Solomon P. Ortiz, Ciro Rodriguez, and Henry Cuellar.

The congressmen were to be in Washington D.C. by 6:30 Monday morning to vote... ironically, on an aviation safety bill.

Missouri Water Patrol:Three Drown On Missouri Waterways Since Saturday

Saturday, July 19

Jess Lansaw age 21of Greenfield, IL., drown while he was tubing with friends on the Meramec River near the Meramec Caverns. Lansaw was in the water holding on to the tube when he pushed away and began swimming.  He went under the water and resurfaced a couple of times before disappearing. He was not showing any signs of struggling. His body was recovered by Divers, Sunday afternoon.

Sunday, July 20

Becky Drew, age 28 of Excelsior Springs, Mo., drown at the Watkins Mill State Park where she was found by another swimmer at the swim beach. Witnesses and Park Rangers attempted CPR, but the victim could not be revived.

Monday, July 21

Eli Stiens, age 19 of Skidmore, Mo.,drown on the Nodaway while he was camping with friends on a sandbar. Stiens decided to go for a swim and was approx. 25 ft. from the sandbar when he started experiencing trouble. His friends attempted to rescue him, but he kept pulling them under and they had to let go. Stiens disappeared and did not resurface. The victim was recovered by Andrew County Fire Department. He would have turned 20 next Wednesday, July 30th.