State audit of Vernon County Ambulance District begins

(From State Auditor Nicole Galloway)

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway has announced her office has begun an audit of the Vernon County Ambulance District in southwest Missouri. Residents of the district requested the audit through the petition process.

In May, the former director and the former bookkeeper of the Vernon County Ambulance District were indicted by a federal grand jury for embezzling more than $260,000 from the district between January 2013 and October 2015.

"Even after fraud and abuse has been identified, an audit can identify processes and procedures that need oversight in order to protect taxpayer dollars in the future," Auditor Galloway said. "I encourage anyone with information that might be helpful to contact my Whistleblower Hotline."

The petition audit required 863 signatures from registered voters within the district. Individuals who would like to provide information for consideration in this or any audit may contact the State Auditor's Whistleblower Hotline at moaudit@auditor.mo.gov or by calling 800-347-8597. Concerns may also be submitted anonymously online at auditor.mo.gov/hotline.

Dewey Combs, coach of three Parkwood state football champions dead at 87

The most legendary football coach in Joplin history, Dewey Combs, died Sunday at age 87.

Combs won state championships in 1975, 1980, and 1983, at Parkwood High School and also coached the 1966 Trenton team to the state title.

"This was my dream job," Combs told Columbia TV station KOMU during an interview at the dedication of the Dewey Combs Athletic Complex at Junge Field on August 22, 2014. "I ended up here in Joplin and I never looked for another job."

Combs arrived in Joplin the year after leading Trenton to the state championship and remained through the 1986 season. He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

Supreme Court rules for Missouri church in playground case

Court document: Former North Middle School teacher beaten in jail while awaiting trial on felony statutory rape charge

In a bond reduction motion filed today in Jasper County Circuit Court, Rebekah E. Wedick, the newly hired lawyer for former North Middle School reading teacher Amanda Schweitzer, claims Schweitzer has been "harassed, beaten, and threatened by other inmates."

The incidents, Redick said, "have been witnessed and documented by the guards."

Schweitzer is being held on a $40,000 surety bond plus $10,000 cash bond on a felony statutory rape charge.

The probable cause statement said Schweitzer, 37, took a 13-year-old boy to her home and had sex with him.

She also has been charged with statutory rape, statutory sodomy and kidnapping in Newton County for allegedly taking the same boy to the Water's Edge Camp Ground and having sex with him.

In the bond reduction motion, Wedick points out her client has no prior felony or misdemeanor convictions and up until now had never had any problems with the law.

"Defendant has long suffered from depression and six months ago was treated for a major concussion. She voluntarily checked herself into (a) mental health treatment program prior to being arrested."

Redick notes that Schweitzer has "a stable place to go home to should she be granted a reasonable bond.

"Defendant's husband is more than willing to let her move back into the marital home. Defendant's husband is compassionate, involved and is supporting her throughout this despite the alleged circumstances."

The husband has a new job and is financially stable, Redick wrote, adding that her client would "happily comply with GPS monitoring or any other restrictions this court deems necessary."

Schweitzer was arrested during a Joplin Police Department investigation of allegations that Schweitzer sent nude photos of herself to three students, age 14, 14, and 13.

Probable cause statement: Monett substitute teacher admits to sexual relationship with student

A Monett School District substitute teacher faces felony sex charges in Barry and Lawrence counties after allegedly having sex with a 17-year-old student.

Loryn Barclay, 24, Monett, is free after posting a $25,000 surety bond in Lawrence County. She has not yet appeared in Barry County, where her bond is set at $10,000

School officials told the Monett Times Barclay had been working as a paraprofessional since the beginning of the year and was fired April 27, the same day officials learned about the sexual relationship. Before becoming a paraprofessional, she had worked as a substitute teacher.

Barclay is charged with two counts of sexual contact with a student in Lawrence County and two counts in Barry County.

The details of the allegations against Barclay are included in the probable cause statement below:

Graves: House to vote on Kate's Law this week

(From Sixth District Congressman Sam Graves)

On July 1, 2015, 32-year-old Kate Steinle was tragically shot and killed while the walking the streets of San Francisco with her father. The bullet came from a gun stolen by Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, an immigrant who had re-entered this country illegally after being deported for committing a separate crime.

This week, the U.S. House will vote on H.R. 3004, legislation that will increase the criminal penalties for deported felons who come back into the United States. Kate's Law, as it is also known, is designed to prevent any American from facing a tragedy like Kate Steinle and her family did two years ago Saturday.

I’ve always said that there is nothing wrong with legal immigration. But it has to be legal. The problem is that some misguided federal policies - and certain cities across the country - fail to recognize the dangers of illegal immigration.

Illegal immigration is just that - illegal. And regardless of the reason they are here, illegal immigrants are still living here illegally. One of the things that frustrates me most about Washington D.C. is that people seem to forget that.

The horrible death of Kate Steinle highlights the real consequences of Sanctuary Cities and weak illegal immigration laws. Even though Lopez-Sanchez had seven felony convictions and had been deported multiple times, he was still released by the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office when detained prior to Steinle's death.

There is no reason why any city in this country should refuse to enforce laws against illegal immigrants. It punishes everyone who follows our laws, it sends the wrong message to the rest of the world, and it can have devastating consequences for our people. I look forward to voting for a bill this week to help make sure that never happens again.

Moran: If health care bill isn't good for Kansas, it isn't good for me

(From Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas)

Healthcare is one of the most important issues facing individuals and families across Kansas. 

I was not and am not for Obamacare and have seen firsthand the negative impact the law has had on too many Kansans. 

I was the first member of Congress to offer legislation to repeal the burdensome law and we must make certain it is replaced with a plan that improves the opportunities for Americans and Kansans to access affordable and quality healthcare. 

I will fully review this legislation to gain a complete understanding of the impacts and consequences this bill would have on hardworking Kansans. 

If this bill isn’t good for Kansas, it isn’t good for me. Please click here for a video of my take on the bill. Text of the draft legislation can be found here.

Hartzler: Supreme Court has ruled for our religious liberties

(From Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler)

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court announced their ruling in favor of Trinity Lutheran’s preschool in Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer:

"I am pleased the High Court has ruled on the side of our constitutionally protected religious liberties in today’s Trinity Lutheran case," said Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, who represents the district where the learning center resides. "A ruling against this preschool would have had far-reaching consequences for Americans. When one freedom is threatened, they are all in jeopardy.

"This case was about whether Trinity Lutheran, like all other schools in the state, could competitively apply for and receive grant funding to provide recycled tires that are used to improve playground safety for Missouri’s children,” added Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, who led an amicus brief in the House supporting Trinity Lutheran Church Child Learning Center. “Religious discrimination has no place in America, and I'm glad to see the U.S. Supreme Court agreed, reinforcing our First Amendment freedoms.”

Greitens praises Supreme Court decision in Trinity Lutheran case

(From Gov. Eric Greitens)

Governor Eric Greitens praised the United States Supreme Court’s 7-2 decision today in favor of Trinity Lutheran, a church in Columbia, Missouri.

“People of faith won an important victory today.

Earlier this year, I reversed Missouri’s policies that discriminated against religious organizations. The ACLU and others attacked our decision. We did not back down, and we will continue to fight for people of faith.

Like our administration, the Supreme Court decided that people of faith should not be discriminated against. Missouri is home to many excellent religious organizations that serve our kids, our families, and our communities. We will continue to work together with these organizations to help the people of Missouri.”

Links provided to top Turner Report/Inside Joplin links for the week

An Iowa sex offender who plowed into the Diamond Post Office during a high speed chase Friday morning provided the top post this week on Inside Joplin and the number seven post (and still gaining visitors) on the Turner Report.

Meanwhile, a reader's comments about Ace Mohr and about me topped the Turner Report statistics. The death of Joplin High School student Dylan Paugh was the number one post on Inside Joplin Obituaries.

The Turner Report

1. Reader: Ace Mohr is redeemable; Turner is a sad, haunted negative human being

2. High school photographer sentenced to 24 months in prison for internet stalking

3. Ten lawsuits alleging assault and battery, malpractice filed against former Joplin pediatric surgeon

4. Joplin High School sinkhole repairs cost $17,000+

5. So you want to be a Joplin R-8 middle school athletic director

6. Accused killer of Carthage man pleads not guilty

7. Sex offender charged with two felonies after crashing into Diamond Post Office during high speed chase

8. MSSU education student/Lamar student teacher arrested on child pornography charges

9. Greitens signs four bills into law

10. Joplin City Council approves $3.7 million contract for senior center construction

Inside Joplin

1. Iowa sex offender crashes into Diamond Post Office following high speed chase

2. Joplin Police: Have you seen this woman?

3. Dangerous, possibly armed, sex offender may be in Joplin area

4. Barton County Sheriff looking for missing Lamar teen, may be in Joplin area

5. Jasper County Dissolutions of Marriage

6. Jasper County Sheriff's Office Arrests

7. Joplin Police Department Weekend Arrests

8. Joplin Police Department Arrests June 21-22

9. Joplin man charged with felony leaving the scene after injury accident on 66

10. Jasper County Marriage Licenses

Inside Joplin Obituaries

1. Dylan Paugh

2. Leah Robinson

3. Janice Roughton

4. Kenneth Roach

5. Jason Chenault

6. Kristy Blanchard

7. Sheila Childers

8. Bradley Hembree

9. Thomas Bennett

10. Earlene Kelley