Joplin Globe: R-8 Board of Education candidate Michael Joseph is our partner

Two days before Joplin R-8 voters go to the polls to elect two members of the Board of Education, the Joplin Globe has sent paid advertisements supporting the candidacy of Dr. Michael Joseph, to those who receive Globe newsletters..

The message line reads "Dr. Michael Joseph for School Board," while the advertisement itself, as you can see by the accompanying photo, shows a prominent Joplin Globe logo followed by "A message from our partner."

Since when is the Joplin Globe a partner with a candidate for the Board of Education?

Joseph is running in a three-candidate race for two three-year positions. The other candidates are incumbent Board President Sharrock Dermott and Jennifer Martucci.

While the Globe occasionally sends advertisements to those who receive its newsletters, the suggestion of a partnership between the newspaper and a political candidate is unseemly, to say the least.







The last time I can recall the Globe doing this was three years ago, something I wrote about in the post below.

Joplin Globe: Sharrock Dermott is our partner

News on upcoming Turner book signings and this week's top Turner Report/Inside Joplin posts

One week today, Saturday, April 6, I will be at Always Buying Books in Joplin for the first signing of my book Lost Angels: The Murders of Rowan Ford and Doug Ringler.

I am scheduled to appear on KSN's Living Well program Tuesday sometime between 4 and 5 p.m.

I will also be signing books and speaking at the Crowder College Authors Fair Saturday, April 27. I will present a talk on Lost Angels at 10:30 a.m. and I will be signing books from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.







I will have more information on both events.

Lost Angels is available locally at Always Buying Books and Changing Hands Book Shoppe in Joplin, Pat's Books in Carthage and Granby Auto Supply and Hardware in Granby. They can also be purchased in either paperback or e-book format from Amazon at the links below.

The top 10 posts this week for the Turner Report, Inside Joplin and Inside Joplin Obituaries and links to each of them are listed below.







The Turner Report

1. Probable cause affidavit: Former Joplin resident, mother of two, created child pornography with infants

2. Webb City charged with DWI, preliminary blood test showed nearly three times legal limit

3. Northpark Mall owner to pay $90 million to settle class action lawsuit alleging RICO violations, gouging tenants on electricity costs

4. Federal grand jury indicts former Pineville youth minister on child pornography charge

5. Twenty-four hour operations to end at 100 Wal-Mart Supercenters

6. Probable cause; Carthage man stabbed one person 10 times, another one six, another in the chest

7. Tulsa viewers offer overwhelmingly positive responses as Tiffany Alaniz returns to work after DUI

8. Billy Long: Mueller found no collusion, but Nancy Pelosi, Democrats, media still unhinged, lying

9. $125 million lawsuit filed against the Weather Channel, estates of SW Missouri storm chasers killed in Texas crash

10, Jasper woman charged with tampering with a witness files for divorce from accused child molester husband

***
If you like what you are reading on the Turner Report/Inside Joplin blogs, consider making a contribution to support this alternative news operation by using the "donate" button or send your contribution to Randy Turner, 2306 E. 8th, Apt. A, Joplin, MO 64801

Inside Joplin

1. Three people stabbed in Carthage, two airlifted to Springfield with critical injuries

2. Jasper 17-year-old charged with four counts of statutory rape

3. Jasper County Sheriff's Office Arrests

4. Golden City man arrested on meth trafficking charges

5. Jasper County Dissolution of Marriage Petitions

6. Joplin Police Department Weekend Arrests

7. Joplin Police Department Arrests March 28-29

8. Carthage teachers receive recognition as outstanding beginning teachers

9. Joplin Police Department Arrests March 26-27

10. Joplin Police Department Arrests March 27-28

Inside Joplin Obituaries

1. Rita Ponder

2. John Cheetham

3. Fred Clark

4. Brian Jarosz

5. Steve Grider

6. Billie Bennett

7. C. Rea

8, Andy Melton

9. Colleen Crabb

10, Carlene Blades

Nancy Hughes: Who do I remind you of?

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
I Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)

The elderly lady pinched my cheeks and hugged me until I could hardly breathe as she exclaimed for everyone to hear: “Oh my! You have to be related to Pat Haggans! Your smile, the way you walk…even how you talk. You remind me so much of her!”

I confirmed that yes, she was my aunt and thanked the woman for the compliment, as I rubbed my cheeks and prayed the sting of the pinch would go away quickly. I got that reaction a lot as a little girl because my aunt and I were very similar in mannerisms, personality and appearance.

Here is my question for you today: When people look at you, who do they see? We may remind them of a friend of theirs or perhaps a sister or cousin . . . but do we remind them of Jesus?

In I Corinthians 11:1, Paul is not saying “Follow MY example. Period. That’s it!” Absolutely not. Instead, he encourages believers to follow him but only because he is following Christ’s example.

And his encouragement holds true today. If I am going to carry the name Christian – Christ Follower – then I must make sure that the way I walk, talk and smile – in other words, everything about me – mirrors the perfect example of Christ.

I ask you today to hold me accountable, my friends. In the checkout line at the grocery store, when I’m stuck in traffic, in a conversation with friends, when someone takes my spot in the parking lot. Who do I remind you of?

Father, My desire is to be like you in everything I do and say but it seems like I fail miserably time and time again. Help me to stay in your Word every day so that I never forget how you treated and loved those around you. I want people around me to see you in me every single day. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

· If this was your last day on earth, how do you think people would view your life?
· Would they say “She was a Christian!” or would it be “SHE was a Christian?”

Apply

· Search the Scriptures to find examples of how Jesus treated those around Him.

· Keep those Scriptures in mind as you face each day, no matter where you go, and practice loving and speaking as Jesus did in His ministry.

Power

· I Corinthians 11:1 (NIV) “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

· I Peter 2:21 (NIV) “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”

· Psalm 143:8 (NIV) “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”

(For more of Nancy Hughes' writing, check out her blog, Encouragement From the War Room.)

Jason Smith: Democrats owe President Trump an apology for Russian collusion hoax

(From Eighth District Congressman Jason Smith)

For more than two years, Americans have been bombarded by the news media airing report after report on ‘collusion’ between President Trump and the Russians who interfered in the 2016 election.

If you listened to any of the talking heads or high-profile Democrats running for President, the conclusion of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into President Trump’s campaign would be the end of his presidency. 

But as the Department of Justice announced this week the Mueller probe was ending without finding any evidence whatsoever of conspiracy or collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, one of the largest hoaxes in American history came crashing down.

Special Counsel Mueller had every available Department of Justice resource at his disposal in his lengthy investigation into President Trump’s campaign. After two years and $25 million of taxpayer funds spent investigating President Trump, the Special Counsel’s investigation found there was no evidence of collusion between any member of President Trump’s campaign and Russia. 

His team of 40 federal FBI agents and 19 federal prosecutors interviewed 500 witnesses and issued 2,800 subpoenas, ultimately drawing the same conclusion Congressional investigations reached months ago at a fraction of the cost. 

In fact, the Special Counsel’s investigation found that Russian affiliates made multiple offers to assist the Trump campaign, but his campaign rejected those offers.

Vladimir Putin’s goal in 2016 was to disrupt our elections and sow division throughout the United States. President Trump didn’t help him, but the mainstream media and high-profile Democrats did. 

That’s why in 2019 we’re still rehashing the 2016 election, 29 months after the fact. The Washington Post, New York Times, CNN, and MSNBC combined published more than 8,500 stories mentioning the Mueller investigation, far outweighing their coverage of historic tax reform, President Trump’s economic success, and the American military crushing ISIS overseas. 

CNN alone wrote 900 more stories about Russia than on President Trump’s tax cuts for the middle class. The liberal media pushed story after story about Russia, trying to scare Americans into thinking their President was controlled by a foreign power.

The media had help from high-profile Democrats in Congress, who now owe President Trump an apology. The Chairman of the Democrat Caucus wondered on national television if our President is a “Russian asset.” 

DNC Chairman Tom Perez said, “there is a mountain of evidence of collusion.” Representative Adam Schiff, the Democrat Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, repeatedly said on national television that he had “more than circumstantial evidence” of collusion. 

Now that the Mueller investigation has shown Chairman Schiff is lying, he should apologize to the President of the United States and step down as the head of the House Intelligence Committee.

Liberals have said for two years now that Mueller should be able to complete his investigation and the American people should trust the results. But now that he vindicated President Trump, the radical left refuses to accept his findings. This week after a summary of the Special Counsel’s report was submitted to Congress, Congresswoman Maxine Waters said, “this is not the end of anything.” 

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib circulated a letter to begin the process of impeaching President Trump. With no clear vision on how to lead the country forward, opposing President Trump is the only thing uniting the new radical majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. And that’s why they’re having such a hard time accepting reality – the real Russian conspiracy is the false narrative they’ve been forcing on the American people for years.

The conclusion of the Special Counsel’s investigation should finally close the book on this ridiculous chapter. With the debunked Russia distraction behind us, it’s time for Congress to move on and get back to what the American people sent us to Washington to do – solving the most pressing issues facing our nation.

Federal grand jury indicts Anderson man on child pornography charges, information led to arrest of former Joplin woman in Kentucky

A 10 a.m. Wednesday arraignment and detention hearing has been scheduled in U. S. District Court in Springfield for Levi Joseph Erwin, 26, Anderson, who was indicted by a federal grand jury this week on child pornography charges.

The indictment indicates Erwin received and distributed child pornography at least as early as January 15 through February 22 in McDonald County.







The indictment came as a result of investigative work by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, with information received from Erwin leading to federal officers in Kentucky arresting Paige Cagle, 25, a former Joplin resident, who allegedly sent Erwin child pornography involving infants, including at least two videos created while she was living in Joplin.

Online court records indicate Erwin is a former Springfield resident.

Federal judge cites history of creating child porn with infants, domestic violence, orders former Joplin woman held without bond

A woman who told a federal investigator that she created child pornography with infants, including at least two videos made while she was living in Joplin, will be held without bond while awaiting trial.

In an order issued Friday, U S. District Court Judge Matthew Stinnett said Paige Cagle, 25, is a "danger to the community," and rejected her request that she be allowed to stay with her father, a federal law enforcement who lives in a condominium in Colorado, noting that several children live there.

Probable cause affidavit: Former Joplin resident, mother of two, created child pornography with infants

Cagle told Agent Romagnoli she is attracted to children under the age of fourteen and knows she is continuing the cycle of abuse that she experienced as a child. She admitted she has been collecting child pornography since the age of fourteen. Cagle poses a significant risk of danger to the community, as it appears she has difficulty controlling her urge to view, possess, and/or produce child pornography. She also has a history of domestic violence altercations as recently as February 2019. This indicates Cagle is physically violent to those around her as well as an alleged sexual predator. 

 Cagle was arrested Monday by federal officers in Kentucky Monday following an investigation that began with the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, who received information from another person they were investigating and who was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury, Levi Erwin, Anderson, that Cagle had sent him child pornography.







In his order, Judge Stinnett noted several reasons for not allowing Cagle to have bond.

The United States pointed to several facts which indicate Cagle is a flight risk or poses a risk of nonappearance. Cagle is twenty-five years old and has two children, ages 2 and 11 months. Her children have resided in Winchester, Kentucky, with her grandmother since these charges were filed. This is Cagle’s primary tie to the Eastern District of Kentucky, but due to the pending charges, Cagle is not permitted to see her children. 

Cagle has lived in Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Florida, Colorado, and Arkansas. Cagle’s mother lives in Florida. Cagle was living in a hotel at the time she was arrested on the instant charges. She is homeless and unemployed. 

Although her father is a federal law enforcement officer and has offered to ensure her appearance in court, her father travels for work approximately two nights per week, and four to six nights per month he is not in the United States.This will make it difficult, if not impossible, for her father to ensure that she appears at all of her court dates in Kentucky. 

Weighing these facts, the Court finds that there are no conditions or combination or conditions which would assure his appearance at future Court proceedings.

Cagle relied on the argument of counsel to overcome her presumption that she was a danger to the community. Cagle proffered that she can be monitored via global positioning system. She will have no access to the Internet at her father’s residence because it will be password-protected. She will likewise have no access to the devices capable of browsing or communicating on the Internet, such as iPhones and laptops. 

Consequently, Cagle rebutted the initial presumption. Upon examination of the relevant factors under the BRA, however, the United States proved by clear and convincing evidence that Cagle posed a danger to another person or to the community. 

The first factor to consider is the “nature and circumstances of the offense charged, including whether the offense is a crime of violence […] or involves a minor victim[.]” Cagle stands accused of two counts of producing child pornography. 

According to Department of Homeland Security Special Agent Michael H. Romagnoli’s Affidavit in Support of the Complaint, Cagle admitted to recording herself sexual abusing her minor child on more than one occasion and sharing those videos using the Internet. 

Although the United States did not raise the issues at the detention hearing, there are two other facts that weigh in favor of detention based on risk of flight or nonappearance: the steep penalties Cagle is facing in this matter and her history of drug use. 

The second factor concerns the “weight of the evidence against the person.” “This factor goes to the weight of evidence of dangerousness, not the weight of the evidence of defendant’s guilt.” The evidence of Cagle’s dangerousness is substantial: she admitted she sexually abused her own child on multiple occasions; she admitted she produced, distributed, and received child pornography; and she has three separate domestic violence incidents in her background 

“Just one sexually-related offense against just one minor is enough to imply dangerousness.” United States v. Demarcus Bristuan Fitzhugh, Cagle admitted to abusing her own child more than once and to possessing child pornography featuring numerous other child victims. This factor weighs heavily in favor of detention. 

The third factor, the “history and characteristics of the person,” considers a host of issues. Cagle’s criminal history includes a charge for 4th degree assault— domestic violence, which was amended down to an ultimate conviction for harassment without physical contact.

She has also had two domestic violence orders filed against her by two different individuals. These appear to be in addition to the assault charge. The most recent domestic violence order was filed in February 2019, but was dismissed a few days later at the request of the victim. 

Cagle has a history of frequent drug and alcohol abuse that began when she was thirteen years old. She has been unemployed for a long period of time. This factor weighs heavily in favor of detention.  

The final factor to consider is “the nature and seriousness of the danger to any person or the community that would be posed by the person’s release.” Cagle offered that she could live with her father in Colorado. Her father lives in a condominium community with children nearby, including children in the unit next door. 

Cagle told Agent Romagnoli she is attracted to children under the age of fourteen and knows she is continuing the cycle of abuse that she experienced as a child. She admitted she has been collecting child pornography since the age of fourteen. 

Cagle poses a significant risk of danger to the community, as it appears she has difficulty controlling her urge to view, possess, and/or produce child pornography. She also has a history of domestic violence altercations as recently as February 2019. This indicates Cagle is physically violent to those around her as well as an alleged sexual predator. This factor favors a finding of pre-trial detention. 

The Court finds that the conditions Cagle proposed are insufficient to mitigate the serious risks to the community. Accordingly, based upon an examination of the relevant factors discussed above, the Court finds that the United States has established by clear and convincing evidence that Cagle is a danger to another person or to the community.

Joplin R-8 Board renews 250 probationary teachers' contracts, 20 teachers leave district, Gilbreth hired as JHS principal

Joplin R-8 Board of Education extended probationary contract renewals to 250 teachers during a closed session Tuesday, which indicates that including teachers who have been newly hired for the 2019-2020 school year, the district continues to have nearly half of its faculty having less than six years of experience.

The board also hired Steven Gilbreth as Joplin High School principal and took the following actions:

*Reviewed the following lists of people leaving whose departures required no board action because they have "fulfilled their contractual obligation or are not a contracted employee.

Certified Separations: Shannon Brower, Shelby Campbell, Amanda Christy, Lori Cole, Joshua Flora, Michael Gandy, Maenzie Harp, Taylor Kaempfe, Antoinette O'Brian, Luis Percovich, Priscilla Reed, Matthew Reichman-Bennett, Amy Sims, Karla Theilen, Sussanah Watkins, Crystal Weltha, and Cassandra Williams. 

Classified Separations: Nancy Carney, Landon Williams, Donna Self, Willis Weston, Frank Davidson, Danny Crane, Amber Duvall, and Holly Parks.

*Renewed contracts of the following probationary teachers:

Ariel Adams, Kathleen Allen Nicole Allen, Misti Ard, Elizabeth Arnold, Mirnada Ash, Kristen Bagby, Shantel Barker, Randi Barkley, Douglas Barto, Charli Baugh, Samantha Beeson, Heather Bennett, Marissa Blievins, Cynthia Bonds, Kasondra Boone, Cynthia Boren, Rachel Bowyer, Katie Bozarth, Deborah Brill, Nash Brodsky, Patrick Bromley, Shawna Brooks, Cody Brooks

Bailey Brown, Katie Brown, Tanya Burk, Jesica Burroughs, Nichole Butcher, Brad Byers, Donald Carey, Meg Carlisle, Adrienne Carson, Sarah Clemens, Brock Compton-Hamiel, Tonya Conn, Courtney Cook, Amber Cooney, Bradley Cox, Courtney Crandon, Brian Danner, Benjamin Davis, Todd Delph, Kari Dietrich, Megan Dillahay, Doug Donnel, Brad Douglas, Morgan Doyle, Shelly Dunn

Brendan Durbin, Erica Durossette, Caleb Durr, Dora Eastin, Jennifer Eckhardt, Shannon Elias, Haley Elliot, Courtney Escoto, Brian Evans, Heidi Fenske Hodges, Anthony Ficken, Jeremy Finley, Karen Fitzsimmons, Jessica Flethcher-Fierro, Stacy Flora, Joseph Flynn, Lauren Frieden, Makayla Fuller, Hannah Fuller, Casey Funk, Kristen Gavenda, Zachary Gibson, Melinda Gibson, Tarryn Gilbert, Vickie Gilbet

Miranda Glaser, Jennifer Glenn, Emily Golden, Linda Gooch, Renee Goostree, Kerri Goucher, Syeda Greenlee, Shelly Greninger, Jennifer Hancock, Lori Hannon, Katherine Hargrove, Tylan Harris, Nicole Hart, James Hartzfeld, Holly Hasty, Vivian Hays, Jessica Henson, Marina, Hicks, Myra Hidalgo, Jennifer Hill, Cynthia Hilsabeck, Marcia Himes, Racritia Hobson, Heidi Hodges, Audrey Hogan

Emily Holder, Katherine Honeywell, Juliana Hughes, Kylie Hurrell, Carrie Hutter, Krista Ideker, Brooks Jackson, Betsy James, Curtis Jasper, Julie Jasper, Charles Jenkins, Lisa Jolley, John Juarez Garcia, Michael Juergens, Katie Juergens, Chelsey Junker, Sally Junkins, Melissa Kendal, Amanda Kent, Tabitha Lackey, Morgan Lamar, Teresa Lamberson, Cindy Land, Jessica Lawyer, Jinger Lee

Gina Lee, Christina Leonard, Alexis Leonhart, Drew Long, Olivia Lotven, Jinnifer Loum, Louis Manders, Hanna Martin, Jennifer Matson, Roxcee McCully, Karalee McDonald, Ashleigh McFarland, Kimberley McIntire, Misti Meads, Chelsea Meyer, Teresa Meyers, Melissa Miller, Rebecca Miller, Hollie Miller, Kira Mitchell, Jennifer Mock, Kristen Moore, Elsie Morris, Elise Murphy, Robin Nelson

Hannah New, James Newman, Elizabeth Nichols, Olivia Nolting-Hampton, Ashley Ohlman, Alexia Ohnemus, Tina Olson, Megan Olson, Laurie Orr, Noelle Ott, Victoria Overton, Cheyanna Padilla, Julie Pagan, Amy Paige, Micah Patterson, Eryn Perryman, Annette Peterson, Amy Price, Somer Quade, Joseph Raffurty, Marly Ramsour, Nicholas Reid, Joshua Reitz, Lacy Rice, George Richardson 

Jill Riley, Nancy Robertson, Michelle Robertson, Jodi Rogers, Jessica Rogers, Allison Rogers, Rachel Rosener, Angela Sanborn, Christian Sargent, Amanda Sauer, Brenden Schneider, Kathleen Schrader, Terrence Scott, Andrew Seavy, Carmen Seeley, Nichole Selvey, Jessica Sewing, Preston Sharp, Logan, Shaw, Brandi Shipley, Cheryl Sieber, Toby Sissons, Marc Smallwood, Caitlan Smith, Alex Smith

Luke Smith, Kaycee Spaugh, Joy Stafford, Whitney Stahl, Ali Stauffer Vashti Stevenson, Elizabeth Stewart, Jodi Stewart, Aimee Stinnett, Dana Stokesbary, Maria Stuart, Karlee Talent, Jamie Taylor, Elysha Thomas, Joshua Thompson, Nicole Thorn, Coutney Throener, Marvin Tindall, Jaylee Todd, Stacey Tracy, Travis Trueblood, Patricia Tufts, Donald Turnbull, Angela Turner, Tyer VanCleave

Jessica Vaughan, Kelsey Vene, Katie Virden, Emily Wade, Blair Wallace, Bethany Walles, Ranesa Ward, Shela Ward, Shelby Washburn, Kathy Webb, Casee Wheeler, Lisa Whitaker, Bethany White, Aaron White, Mary White, Datyon Whitehead, Kelsea Whitten, Samantha Widmar, Connie Wilkinson, Jennifer Williams, Anthony Witt, Kyle Wolf, Sharla Wood, Jessica Woods, Cheri Wright, Holly Yust 

Certified Employments: Joshua Franklin, Noah Hembree, Brian Nagle, Alex Pace, Morgan Ramsey, Kylie Shelton, Dereka Swaim, Jessica Brockman-Herron, Emanuel Flores, Emma Gilion, Jordan Gossard, and Alexandra Johnson.

Certified Resignations: Kristin Clark, Brianne Keener, and Billie Stanley.

Classified Employments: Hunter Blanton, Loretta Combes, Sondra Crowell, Sheridon Hounschell, Nathan McFadden, Alan Murray, Teddra Pratre, Paris Rivette, Ryan Smith, Ashiley Staffne, and Aubri Wilbert.

Substitutes: Amanda Hutcheson, Chee Harris, Lisa Clark, Kaitlyn Curry, Emily Wooten, and Cathy Eichelberger.

Department of Public Safety, Highway Patrol, MODOT urge motorists to slow down near stopped emergency vehicles

(From the Missouri Department of Public Safety)

After a second Illinois State Police trooper was killed while working along a highway this year, three Missouri state agencies are uniting to urge motorists to slow down and proceed with extreme caution whenever they approach a stopped emergency vehicle. It’s not just a recommendation – it’s required by Missouri’s “Move Over” law.

“Twice, in less than three months, a family has been devastated after losing a loved one in a crash that should not have happened,” Colonel Eric Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol said. “We’re asking drivers to ‘move over,’ as required by law.”

Illinois state trooper Brooke Jones-Story was killed Thursday in Freeport, Ill., after being struck by a semi-tractor trailer as she conducted an inspection of another truck on the shoulder of U.S. Highway 20. In January, Illinois state trooper Christopher Lambert was fatally hit by a vehicle as he assisted at a traffic crash scene.

“We ask all drivers to keep the safety of our public servants in mind when traveling Missouri roads,” MoDOT Deputy Director and Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger said. “They’re just trying to do their jobs and make it home safely that night.”

Missouri’s “Move Over” law requires motorists who encounter a stopped emergency services vehicle to “move over” and proceed with caution in the following ways:

· Proceed with caution and yield the right-of-way, if possible, with due regard to safety and traffic conditions by moving into a lane that is not adjacent to the stopped emergency vehicle while on a roadway with at least four lanes, at least two of which are in the motorist’s direction of travel.

· If a lane change is not possible, motorists must proceed with due caution and reduce their speed, maintaining a safe speed for traffic conditions.

National Work Zone Awareness Week begins April 8, which is a time dedicated to reinforcing work zone safety messages to the traveling public. But the officials are urging motorists to keep worker safety in mind at all times.

· Nine members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol have been killed in the line of duty and several others seriously injured after being struck by vehicles in the performance of their duties. Four of those line of duty deaths occurred after the Move Over law passed.

· 134 MoDOT employees have been killed in the line of duty since 1932. 

“I hope these two tragic deaths in less than three months serve as a wakeup call for motorists who are multi-tasking and distracted in any way while driving,” Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten said. “Please think of the people who are out there working to assist the public, and the families who love them and don’t want to lose them.”

The move over law (Section 304.022 RSMo.) initially went into effect in 2002 for emergency vehicles with red and blue lights. It has been expanded twice since then and now also includes vehicles whose amber or white lights are activated. The Move Over law is in effect to ensure the safety of men and women who work roadside in emergency services, including – law enforcement, fire and rescue workers, ambulance personnel and tow truck operators.

Hartzler: The Mueller Report showed no collusion; it's time to move on

(From Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler)

After almost two long years, $25 million taxpayer dollars, more than 2,800 subpoenas, and 500 search warrants, Special Counsel Robert Mueller has released his report showing there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump Campaign. 

This investigation was very thorough, conducted with all the Justice Department resources available to Special Counsel Mueller. He made it clear that while Russian affiliates made multiple efforts to try to reach out to the Trump Campaign, those efforts were unsuccessful. Furthermore, the Justice Department concluded that there is no evidence that the President obstructed justice. 

This fact is echoed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who served eight years under President Obama, saying there was no case for obstruction. 

While some in the Democratic Party insist on continuing to chase this non-story, it is time for Congress to focus on the issues that really matter to Americans – investing in economic growth, addressing health care, and fixing our broken immigration system. It is time to move on.

 

KSN report: Readers tired of Joplin Globe's trash talk

The petition to stop the Joplin Globe from throwing its free newspapers into yards continues to gain momentum and tn the accompanying video, KSN examines the problem.

From the KSN report:

"What we did find out was we had a small handful of carriers who are not really doing what they should have been doing, so we've taken some steps internally to make sure it doesn't happen again." said Frank Leto of the Joplin Globe.

"We're not interested in creating litter of any kind, we've talked to our carriers to make sure it's not an issue going forward, but as I said, if it happens once, that's too often, it's a small percentage in the total delivery but I do appreciate it being brought to our attention this week." said Leto.

Online petition claims Joplin Globe is trashing our neighborhoods 

Billy Long: Mueller found no collusion, but Nancy Pelosi, Democrats, media still unhinged, lying

(From Seventh District Congressman Billy Long)

At long last, special counsel Robert Mueller has turned in his report on Trump – Russia collusion to U.S. Attorney General Barr. What was Barr’s conclusion in a 300 plus page report? He found no collusion between President Trump and Russia during the 2016 election.

After 675 days, 600 interviews, 28 hearings, 50 attorneys working on the investigation and more than $25 million dollars spent, special counsel Robert Mueller’s work is done. Not only did Mueller find no evidence of collusion, he found that President Trump and associates turned down multiple offers from Russian-affiliated individuals that offered up their help during the election. 

I voted in Congress that I want to see the full report released to the public minus any necessary redaction for national security concerns. The public is entitled to see the full report in my opinion.

This $50,230 a day investigation was nothing more than a political smear campaign aided and abetted by a long list of politicians and media folks. 

Since the beginning, 8,500 articles have been written by The Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN and MSNBC. These news outlets dedicated more time, space and money for the Russia investigation than issues such as the Trump administration’s work to defeat ISIS and the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. 

Matt Taibbi with the Rolling Stone said it best when he said Russiagate may have destroyed the media’s reputation. Although I would argue the mainstream media’s reputation was destroyed a long time ago, its coverage of the Russia investigation only made things worse.

Over the last two years, Democrats, along with nearly all 2020 presidential contenders, have used the Russia investigation as one of their main rebukes against President Trump. When it finally came to a close, what should have been a time of celebration and relief turned into more political games and talking points. 

Both Speaker Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Schumer released a joint statement questioning Barr’s letter and declaring that despite the fact the Mueller report found zero collusion they would still proceed with partisan congressional investigations.

As I’ve said from the beginning, special counsel Mueller deserved to finish his work concerning Russia’s possible meddling in our election. I believed that the facts needed to come out unimpeded. 

We were told myriad times and had it shouted not from rooftops, but from studio sets that President Trump was going to without a doubt fire Mueller. That did not happen. 

Mueller’s investigation was completed and the facts showed that President Trump and associates did not collude with Russia. It’s time to move on and put this behind us. The next time a president of these United States is so vilified by an unhinged mob perhaps this unfortunate event will give them cause for pause before they order up another fake dossier and force the hiring of a special prosecutor. 

We have more important issues that need our time and energy. Issues like unsealing the FISA warrants to see who lied to the judge before something similar happens to you or me. Joseph Goebbels once said if you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it, and you will even come to believe it yourself.

The president told the world repeatedly, “There was no Collusion with Russia,” and even though we were told in a most Goebbels-esque fashion that there most certainly was collusion when the dust settled ... there was none.

Probable cause affidavit: Former Joplin resident, mother of two, created child pornography with infants

A former Joplin woman was arrested earlier this week in Kentucky on federal child pornography charges.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed in U S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Paige Danielle Cagle, 25, admitted to making at least two pornographic videos of an infant while living in Joplin.

Though Cagle has since moved to Kentucky, the allegations against her came as a result of an investigation by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crime Task Force.

Michael H. Romagnoli, special agent, Department of Homeland Security, detailed the allegations against Cagle in the affidavit:

On or about March 1, 2019, Brian Martin, Southwest Missouri Cyber Crime Task Force, Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children, who is also a Homeland Security Investigations Task Force Officer, (TFO) contacted your affiant. 

TFO Martin believed he may have identified a hands-on sex offender in Kentucky. His investigation had identified a suspect in Missouri who had received images and a video of a child being sexually abused by a female friend who used to live in Missouri. 









According to Martin, his suspect was cooperating. The suspect in Missouri, Levi ERWIN, came to the Sheriffs Office to confess to possessing child pornography. ERWIN stated that he had been communicating with a female, Paige Danielle CAGLE, using Kik and Facebook Messenger. 

ERWIN said he had received pictures of CAGLE's children that were pornographic, and that there was a video that CAGLE had made in which she digitally penetrated a two-year-old's vagina. 

According to information provided by TFO Martin, ERWIN knew CAGLE from her time living in Missouri and believed the child in the images was in fact her child and that CAGLE was abusing her. Further investigation by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crime Task Force led them to believe the female suspect was in the Lexington, KY area. 

TFO Martin stated he served a search warrant on Facebook and obtained IP addresses that showed CAGLE was in Lexington as recently as February 22, 2019. 

Messages on Facebook appeared to indicate that CAGLE had bought a house or was in the process of closing on a house. Other information was an IP address that geolocated to the Days Inn on Broadway in Lexington. 

Your affiant and the Kentucky ICAC Task Force took steps to attempt to locate CAGLE including local intelligence gathering and eventually your affiant and KSP Sgt. Mitch Hazelett contacted Verizon Wireless requesting an emergency ping order for (a phone number). 

This phone was linked to CAGLE through boyfriend, William THOMAS. Verizon was able to obtain a location for the phone near New Circle Road and Bryan Avenue. Unfortunately, Verizon's pings are not exact. 









Since the exact location was not able to be obtained, the phone was called by KSP Det. Wilmer A. Gatson in order to obtain the exact location. At approximately 2010 hours Det. Gatson called (the number). This number was answered by THOMAS. 

Det. Gatson identified himself and asked to speak with CAGLE. When CAGLE answered, he again identified himself and stated he needed to do a welfare check on her and her children and needed her address. 

At first, CAGLE said she was at her grandmother's address on Ironworks Road but Det Gatson told her that we knew she was not there because law enforcement had just left that location. CAGLE then stated she was at 1211 Brian Avenue in Lexington. 

Investigators arrived at the address given by CAGLE minutes later. Upon arrival, CAGLE and THOMAS were identified by KSP personnel. SA Romagnoli and Det Gatson identified CAGLE and asked her if she would be willing to speak privately in her kitchen, away from THOMAS. 

CAGLE agreed and walked from the living room into the kitchen with investigators. CAGLE was asked if she had children living with her and she indicated that she had two kids, K.C. (age 2) and E.T. (age 11 months), who were both asleep in their bedroom. 

CAGLE said she also lived with William Scott THOMAS, who was her fiancee. CAGLE said they moved into 1211 Bryan Avenue five days ago. CAGLE stated her prior address was 2797 Ironworks Road, where she lived for three months with her grandmother (Darlene Stinnett). 

CAGLE was asked about her places of residence aside from Kentucky and she listed them. She indicated she lived in Missouri most recently. 

CAGLE was asked if she had a phone number and she stated she did not. She said her phone was broken. She said her last phone was a Samsung Galaxy Note 5. CAGLE said she broke her phone in February of 2019 and had not gotten and new one yet. 

CAGLE was asked if she knew why the police were at her house and she teared up. She paused and said, "Because I looked up child pornography." She continued to be tearful and said she was trying to stop and wanted to get help. She said she was abused as a child and that is why she liked child pornography. She said she even told her fiancee and her Dad about it. 

She said when she told her grandmother about it she was kicked out of her grandmother's house and that is why she had to move into her current residence. She said part of trying to stop was to delete every internet account. 

After a brief break for CAGLE to collect herself, a recorder was activated. CAGLE was read the Miranda Warning and asked if she had been threatened or promised anything or beaten or if anyone had been mean to her and she replied "No." She stated she would like to continue talking to investigators and had previously said she wanted to be accountable and cooperate. CAGLE also signed a Miranda Waiver of rights. 

CAGLE was asked if child pornography meant (to her) pictures of children naked or engaging in sexual activity and she said it did. She said in her Dropbox account she had images mostly of children ages 4 to 13 years of age and mostly girls. She said most of the images came from Kik. She said she also used Scout and websites like that to find people that were "the same" to collect pictures. She indicated that she started collecting child pornography at around the age of 14 or 15. She created her Dropbox around 2015 to save the images. 

CAGLE stated she was attracted to girls ages 4 to 13 and this is what mostly was in her CP Dropbox account. She said there was likely other types of CP in it, but this would have been what she received from others. CAGLE also stated she would give out her Dropbox password, so others could upload images into her account. CAGLE stated she got sexual gratification from the pictures and sexual chats she had on the internet and through KIK and this was why she did it. 

CAGLE stated she was abused as a child and she was asked if she understands how this type of abuse creates a cycle and she said she did. She said she felt herself wanting to continue the cycle. She was told she is continuing the cycle with her children. CAGLE agreed that she was continuing the cycle. She again became visibly upset and then stated there were 4-5 occasions with K.C. 









The next portion of the affidavit contained Cagle offering the investigators a graphic description of what she did with her child from the time the child was nine months old to 1 1/2.

Two of the videos were made in Joplin, she told investigators.

CAGLE was asked if she remembered sharing the videos with specific people and she said the names of the people she remembered sharing the videos with via Dropbox were "Charles," "Bobby," "Levi ERWIN," and a Kik usemame "4 easygoing." 

CAGLE was asked specifically about ERWIN. She said she remembered Levi ERWIN from meeting him at a carnival (where she later recalled working). She said he lives in Anderson, MO. CAGLE stated she sent him a video she made of K.C. and had sexually explicit chats with him. 

Charges were filed against Erwin Thursday.

Joplin City Council to vote on contract for interim city manager Dan Pekarek Monday

Under the terms of a proposed contract to be voted on by Joplin City Council during its 6 p.m. meeting Monday, Interim City Manager Dan Pekarek will be paid $13,175 per month until a full-time city manager is hired.

Pekarek, the city of Joplin's health director, has been serving in the interim position since the sudden resignation of Sam Anselm March 12.







Among other items in the contract:

-Pekarek will receive $100 per month automobile allowance

-$420 per month will be placed in an ICMA Retirement Corporation Deferred Compensation Account

-Vacation at a rate equivalent to four weeks per year (same benefit Pekarek currently has)

Under the terms of the contract, if the Council should decide "that is it not in the best interests of the city" for Pekarek to remain as interim city manager, he will return to his position as health department director.

Warrensburg Republican's bill offers tax credit to movie makers to come to Missouri

(From Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg)

This week, I presented Senate Bill 366 to the Economic Development Committee. The “Show Missouri Film and Digital Media Act” reauthorizes an expired tax credit that encourages the production of motion pictures and television programs in Missouri.

Since the previous tax credit lapsed in late 2013, production companies have bypassed Missouri and taken their projects to states that offer financial inducements.

Film and TV crews spend a lot of money when they film on location. Witnesses testifying before the committee recalled the $7 million economic impact that southeast Missouri experienced when “Gone Girl,” a film starring Ben Affleck, was filmed in Cape Girardeau early in 2013. 

Likewise, production of “Up in the Air,” a 2009 comedic drama starring George Clooney, injected $12 million into the St. Louis area. Even “Winter’s Bone,” a low-budget film that brought actress Jennifer Lawrence national acclaim in 2010, is credited with $800,000 of spending in southwest Missouri.

This economic activity all but vanished when the Legislature did not renew Missouri’s previous film and television production tax credit. 

In recent years, several projects that appear to be Missouri-based were actually filmed elsewhere. Viewers watching the Netflix series “Ozark” assume they’re seeing the Lake of the Ozarks, but filming actually occurs in Georgia. HBO’s series “Sharp Objects” is set in Missouri, but also is filmed in Georgia. Not a single minute of the Oscar-winning movie “Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri” was filmed in our state.

To attract future film and television projects to Missouri, SB 366 allows a tax credit equal to 25 percent of qualifying in-state expenses for film production companies when at least half of the project is filmed in Missouri. It also places a $4.5 million cap on the program.

Tulsa viewers offer overwhelmingly positive response as Tiffany Alaniz returns to work after DUI

Former KODE and KSN anchor Tiffany Alaniz, now a reporter at KOKI in Tulsa, returned to work Monday, five weeks after being arrested for driving under the influence.

The charges against Alaniz were filed when she slammed into a utility pole at 17th and Peoria February 14 shutting off power in the area for several hours.

On her KOKI Facebook page, Alaniz posted a supportive card a viewer had sent her and received overwhelmingly positive comments from other viewers.







One woman wrote "Happy for you and your beautiful daughter. You are a great Newscaster. We all make mistakes...we learn and move on to a bright future.God loves you and so do we ❤️"

Another wrote, "Welcome back I sure have missed you in my home ! Happy you’re OK! See you on Fox 23."

Paul Richardson offers update on his latest projects promoting Neosho, Newton County

(Paul Richardson's column, The Horse I Rode In On, appears regularly in the Neosho Daily News, Seneca News-Dispatch and the Turner Report.)

I recently received an inquiry about these articles. Do I get paid for writing these articles? Well, sure, you bet, it is a handsome sum, out to four places on the right side, that is the right-hand side of the decimal point.

No Virginia, these writings are simply for your enjoyment. I once considered writing as an occupation, but the early drafts on that I posted on various public walls kept disappearing. I guess the disinfecting scrub they use is more powerful than the pen.

Beginning many years ago my life became so occupied with life. Supporting a family, raising kids, raising a grandson, raising a niece, work and on the list goes. Then there was all the other stuff that legends are made of. Some is factual, some is fiction, and some was just imaginary, coming from sources that I don’t even know of. 

In short, I had a very full and busy life. Even the most ardent time management failed at the task of budgeting time for writing. I work this occasional prose into my busy schedule by multi-tasking. Not wanting to give up sleep time, eating time, naptime, or various other sundry times, I found a way to multi-task during, well, let’s say nature call times. Since I had always avoided public facilities it gives me another rational explanation for riding all the way home if the occasion arises. This is probably quite an appropriate place for these thoughts to be constructed as I am sure that a significant percentage of my readership multi-task by reading the articles under the same conditions.

This article has become a portion of my community service. I have written many times about community involvement and that there are numerous ways in which one can become involved. So, in part, the sharing that is provided in these articles is, perhaps, a type of community volunteer effort. Now everyone will want to get on board this train in order to say that they too are contributing. That’s fine and I hope it works out for you.

Fortunately, this effort isn’t the only volunteer work that we involve ourselves in. Not going to provide a laundry list of these, but you are always welcome to tag along on some of the other adventures.

Lately everyone is wanting to know what I am doing with my time. That’s a fair question. I have started on some new ventures. Some of the things that I had been doing and are continuing is to provide information and service to the Neosho community. If you want to find out what is going on around town, a Facebook page exist that consolidates the information on every event and happening that we can wrangle. 

If you have access to the internet and are a Facebook user, check out the following page: Neosho Area Community Events. Like it and you can get notifications when it is updated, or events are added. On the home page there is a column on the left side and one of the items in that column is the tab labeled Events. Select that and you will be transported to a new page that will contain a bulletin board type listing of upcoming events from every corner of Neosho. Very handy indeed.

I would also like to direct your attention to another site that is provided by the Missouri Department of Tourism: www.visitmo.com. 

On this site if you use the search icon in the upper right-hand corner and search Neosho, you will see a listing of currently approved sites and events in the Neosho area. Steady work is being performed to bring all the listings for Neosho up to a very presentable and attractive standard. This site is utilized by people across the nation as the Missouri Department of Tourism markets Missouri at large to potential visitors near and far. 

For the past several weeks ads for California, Las Vegas, Texas and other locales are showing up on our local television stations. Missouri Department of Tourism does the same type of marketing in a variety of areas throughout the nation. 

Efforts are being made to ensure that in this marketing plan the potential visitors will know that Neosho and Newton County have things to offer. While accessible to everyone including our local population, this site is directed to a much larger and distant audience.

Well that my reader friend is a couple of the items that we are involved in. There is more and we can cover it as time goes on. Another option will be for you to follow, yes yet another Facebook page, In Sane Marketing Solutions. Information will be showing up on that site as we develop the efforts to take our community to the rest of the nation!

Carthage man placed on probation for calling bomb threat to Webb City High School to keep friend from getting traffic ticket

Under a plea bargain agreement, Robert Lee Ritter, 43, Carthage, was sentenced Monday in Jasper County Circuit Court to four years in prison, then placed on supervised probation for five years on a felony charge of making a false bomb report.

The Highway Patrol arrested Ritter after he called in a bomb threat to Webb City High School to keep a friend from getting a traffic ticket. Ritter was a passenger in the vehicle.

A charge of hindering prosecution was dropped earlier.

Graves: Say thanks to those who play a role in our public schools

(From Sixth District Congressman Sam Graves)

Our public schools have always been one of our best assets in North Missouri.

I am grateful for the work that our public schools do in educating our children. Much of North Missouri is rural and without them, many of our children simply wouldn’t have access to the same future as other kids in more populated areas. It’s hard for some to imagine having less than hundreds of kids in a school and yet, most of our rural schools don’t remotely come close to that number. Some have less than 10 total kids to a class. Yet, I know that, whether in a large school like Park Hill South or a small one in Atlanta, MO, our students are getting a quality education.

That’s because our teachers and faculty are devoted to our students. These dedicated educators help produce outstanding graduates who go on to make a difference here at home and around the world. That simply doesn’t happen without committed educators.

I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible work done by our public schools. I am the proud product of the Tarkio Public School system as are my children. Now, some of them teach as well.

This week is known as Public Schools Week. I am proud to once again co-chair Public Schools Week with colleagues on both sides of the aisle. This week is an opportunity to celebrate our public schools and honor those who dedicate their lives to making sure our kids get the best education possible. Whether it be the teachers, administrators, school board members, bus drivers or parents, everybody plays a part.

Now, more than ever, it’s critical that we support our public schools, particularly in our rural areas. They currently face some of the most challenging times, such as funding and teacher recruitment and retention. We’ve seen many schools go to great lengths to make sure they keep the doors open and continue to provide quality education. It’s imperative that they continue to receive the support they need.

I would encourage you to take a moment to say thanks to those in your community who play a role in education. They are vital to the fabric of North Missouri.

Mike Moon: House leadership leaving the majority of Missourians without a voice

(From Rep. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove)

In the previous two Capitol Reports, I referred to a portion of the Declaration of Independence:

“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed….”

The first right (given by God) listed is “Life.” Without life, the others are meaningless.

The second is “Liberty.” Liberty is defined as “the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views.” No one (at least, I’ve not encountered anyone who) wants more government (laws which restrict our ability to do the things we want to do).

The third is, “Pursuit of Happiness.” The fifth amendment (in the Bill of Rights) changed this phrase to “property.”

When speaking of property, we often think of tangible items. While real estate, dwellings, animals, vehicles all fit the definition of property, we would be remiss if we omitted time, ideas, and, of course, business.

During a previous gubernatorial administration, the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) took it upon themselves to re-interpret tax rules and the application of these rules. One particular redefinition related to places of entertainment. Please bear with me because I find it difficult not to make light of the laughable decision made by the DOR.

Most logically thinking individuals would readily agree that sporting events, ballets, plays, and concerts would/should be considered entertainment (and, under DOR tax rules are subject to a use tax – patrons or ticket-buyers are charged a tax, collected by the venue operator and remitted to the DOR).

Here’s the laughable part: The DOR decided that fitness centers, martial arts training centers, dance studios, et cetera were/are entertainment venues and therefore subject to the use tax.

When the change was made by the DOR, business owners stated that they contacted the department for clarification (should a patron tax be collected or not). According to the business owners, answers provided were not clear. Therefore, many, if not most did not collect the tax.

Audits followed and some business owners were found to be out of compliance with the DOR tax rules. The out-of-compliance business owners were assessed fines (tax). One particular business was fined more than $200,000 (a resulting settlement was reached totaling $36,000 – the same amount held in business’ bank account. I find that particularly odd).

Are you finding this to be unbelievable?

The DOR’s action(s) was corrected by the enactment of law, however, no action has been taken to make whole the businesses who were wronged.

Over the past three sessions, I have worked with the legislative liaison for the DOR. Interestingly, this individual worked as a legislative assistant to the Senator who pushed the “fix” to the underlying problem. Recently, during a conversation about making whole the businesses harmed by the DOR action, this liaison stated that these businesses are “doing okay” and did not need to be re-imbursed. (Incredible!)

For the past three sessions, bills have been filed to right this wrong. Last session (2018) a bill aimed at doing this was forwarded to the House calendar only to die.

This session (2019) the same bill has yet to be referred to committee.

Along that line (of bill referrals), this session I filed 13 bills at the beginning of session. As (unwritten) House procedure dictates, a representative wishing to be granted a hearing is asked to make that request known to the Speaker, in-writing. To date, requests for 12 bill hearings were delivered (in January) to the Speaker.

One bill has been referred to committee – the only bill for which a committee hearing was NOT requested. Does this seem a bit odd?

Recall the attempt to change the House rules…. Could this lack of attention to the bills be related to the failed attempt?

Recently, a representative reminded me of my attempt to change the way in which the House really works. He related to me his frustration regarding the progress of the bills he filed. This individual went on to say: “You mentioned the concentration of power among a few individuals. I’ve made it known my opposition to “X” (a Republican Caucus priority). Since then, nothing I’ve filed has moved.”

This is not the only comment I’ve heard. Others are now finding truth in the fact that an oligarchy has infected the MO House and only a select few have the luxury of making substantive decisions regarding policy. A number of freshmen have been afforded opportunities to see their bills move through the House. (This may be a strategic move to cause these members to discount the oligarchy argument.) Outside these exceptions, however, the majority is on the outside looking in… and you (among many others) are left without a voice....

Federal grand jury indicts former Pineville youth minister on child pornography charge

A federal grand jury today indicted former Pineville First Baptist Church youth minister Ryan Daniel Crawford, 32, for coercing a nine-year-old girl to "engage in sexually explicit conduct" to create child pornography in McDonald County.

What Crawford did may have even been worse.

Crawford was already facing six felony charges- five counts of child molestation and one count of sexual misconduct- in McDonald County Circuit Court. Court records indicate the crimes took place in December 2017 at Crawford's home at the same time period designated in the federal grand jury indictment.

According to the probable cause statement in the McDonald County case, Crawford admitted having an "addiction to child pornography," and having been involved in sexual misconduct with children for some time.








When he was arrested, he had pornographic photos of a McDonald County child on his phone, according to court documents. Crawford was originally charged with one count of child molestation, but interviews with children at the Children's Center in Joplin revealed four more victims, according to the probable cause statement.

The case was investigated by the McDonald County Sheriff's Office and the Pineville Police Department.

A pre-trial conference in the McDonald County case is scheduled for April 29.

Judge John LePage issued five full orders of child protection against Crawford a month after the original charge and renewed the protection orders in January.

$125 million lawsuit filed against The Weather Channel, estates of SW Missouri storm chasers killed in Texas crash

The mother of a driver who was killed during the March 28, 2017 crash that also killed southwest Missouri storm chasers Randall Yarnall and Kelley Williamson filed a $125 million wrongful death lawsuit against the Weather Channel and the estates of the two men Tuesday in U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Karen Di Piazza, the mother of Corbin Lee Jaeger who died when the storm chasers ran a stop sign and failed to yield to the Jeep he was driving, alleges Williamson and Yarnall were reckless and that the Weather Channel encouraged that recklessness.

From the lawsuit:

Williamson and Yarnall were well-known storm chasers for TWC and stars of the TWC Show Storm Wranglers. According to Williamson's Facebook profile, Williamson started working at TWC on February 26, 2016, listing his occupation as "Storm Chaser at the Weather Channel, covering all weather events via Live Stream as it is happening.'









Yarnall became Williamson's driving partner on April 9, 2016. On or about the summer of 2016, Williamson and Yarnall were approached by TWC to star in a new television show ultimately named Storm Wranglers in which Williamson and Yarnall, among other job duties, would operate the Suburban to record video footage to be used by TWC employees, to wit video editors, producers and directors of TWC, to produce the television show Storm Wranglers.

The concept of Storm Wrangers, according to a TWC news release was to portray Williamson and Yarnall as heroes who chased storms.

TWC's concept of presenting storm chasing as an adventurous, thrilling sporting event and to make its two stars "heroes" resulted in the violent death of young Corbin Lee Jaeger.

 Williamson and Yarnall were live streaming a storm for the Weather Channel and for their YouTube account when the accident occurred, according to the petition, with their vehicle operating at 70 miles per hour.

"The failure to stop at this stop sign was defendants' fourth such violation that day."All of the violations were captured on video, the lawsuit says.

The video ends abruptly just before the collision as the Suburban travels full speed towards the stop sign. The warning signs, as well as the stop sign itself, are all clearly visible and unobstructed through the lens of the video equipment being used and deployed by the TWC defendants.

At that time, defendants were attempting to track down and film tornadoes in the region, and at the time of the subject accident, it was raining. It is believed their speed at the time of driving through the stop sign and at impact with the Jeep was approximately 70 miles per hour. Notably, no one from TWC mentions or refers to the pair's blatant and repeated traffic violations during the video.

The lawsuit claims that the windshield on the storm trackers' vehicle was obstructed by the expensive Weather Channel equipment. It quotes from an interview Williamson gave to the podcast Storm Front Freaks on December 29, 2016.

If anyone even seen (the Suburban) they wonder how I get in it. I've got a pretty good-sized computer sitting here in front of me and one camera in the windshield and then I've got another console here that I run a camera that's actually on top of my vehicle.Then  I've got up on the dash a live view that I actually stream back to TWC with. It's kind of like crawling into a cockpit. There's not a lot of room.

In another interview cited in the lawsuit, Williamson said a lot of times he could see more through the camera lens than he could with his eyes.








The lawsuit alleges Williamson and Yarnall had a history of "reckless and dangerous driving" that was on display in their videos.

In just 14 of these videos, the pair runs 80 stop signs, four red lights and one out-of-service traffic light.

The lawsuit also notes Yarnall posted video that he took of a tornado through the driver's side window while he was driving.

Weather Channel employees often offered instructions to Williamson and Yarnall during their live streaming, the lawsuit claims, and hired them even though they were not meteorologists.

TWC knowingly two chicken farmers and cattle ranchers from Missouri without any emergency/first responder or meteorological training to star in their show. 

TWC then instructed there to barrel into dangerous weather conditions to obtain footage, needlessly endangering local residents fleeing impending catastrophe and trained first responders.

The Weather Channel was aware of the risk it was taking, according to the lawsuit. The producer of Storm Wranglers received a text message from another storm chaser December 4, 2016, offering a warning about Williamson and Yarnall.

As far as the Storm Wranglers: I understand the need and fact for "dumbing down" for the general public, but I'm gonna be honest here (and I hope you take no offense at what I am going to say please... the fact of the matter is that you have two very inexperienced, new and uneducated chasers ... talk about liability. See where I am going with this? I'm not gonna badmouth Kelley, but I'm not going to lie either.

Twenty-four days before the accident that killed Wililamson, Yarnall and Jaeger, the producer sent a message to the same storm chaser. She said she had forwarded the storm chaser's concern to her Weather Channel boss.

"I'm not sure if you happened to catch any of Kelley's movements, but he put himself in a VERY bad spot, live on air, so God forbid if anything happened, we would have seen it happen live on air ... NOT GOOD."

On the day after the accident, the producer messaged the storm chaser once more.

"Everything I told him about driving safer and not being so distracted and then telling you that I was worried that he was gonna kill someone or himself ... those are the exact messages I shared with you.

"And then it happens.

"So I am obviously in a way dark place right now. I know many of us are. I guess that's what killing me. I tried to tell him over and over. And then when I saw him yesterday near Paducah he pulls up and he was driving not Randy.

"I asked him why he was driving and not doing the filming in a joking matter. He just laughed.

"We talked about the storms and the day and then said our goodbyes and good lucks. He drove off. I remember thinking hope they are safe today and hope they have a good day."

The lawsuit asks for damages "of not less than $125 million." and a jury trial.

***
Available now from Amazon- 5:41: Stories from the Joplin Tornado and Scars from the Tornado' One Year at Joplin East Middle School