Heroin dealer accused in Cockrell death pleads guilty

A Joplin man pleaded guilty Monday in U. S. District Court in Springfield to two felony drug charges in connection with the August 19, 2011, death of Ryan Cockrell, son of former major league outfielder and Joplin Parkwood all-state quarterback Alan Cockrell.

According to court records, Lavar Beard, 33, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and distributing heroin leading to a death. According to a plea agreement, which has not yet been agreed to by the judge, Beard will serve 25 years on each count, to run concurrently.

A description of Beard's crimes was included in the online court record:

Beginning on or about June 2011, and continuing to on or about September 20, 2011, in Jasper County, in the Western District of Missouri, and elsewhere, defendant had an agreement or understanding with Ashley Henson, Jason Hirshey, Brian D. Ferguson, Haley J. Ferguson, and others, to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin.  The defendant voluntarily and intentionally joined in the agreement and at the time defendant joined in the agreement, he knew the purpose of the agreement or understanding.During the course of, and in furtherance of the conspiracy, defendant obtained heroin from a source of supply outside of Joplin, Missouri.  The defendant transported the heroin to Joplin, Missouri, and the surrounding area for distribution to others.  The defendant’s co-conspirators assisted in the distribution of heroin in and around Joplin, Missouri.  The amount of heroin distributed during the course of the conspiracy,including relevant conduct, was more than 100 grams, but less than 400 grams.On or about August 19, 2011, in Jasper County, Missouri, defendant knowingly and intentionally distributed heroin, and as a result of the use of this heroin, Ryan Cockrell died.

Haley Ferguson, another of those indicted, is scheduled to plead guilty Friday morning during a hearing in Springfield.

McCaskill: I would love to have President Obama come to Missouri and campaign

Republicans have said over and over again during the past few weeks that Sen. Claire McCaskill is shying away from President Obama because of his lack of popularity in the Show-Me State.

She did anything but dodge the president during a news conference at the Jasper County Democratic Headquarters in Joplin tonight.

"I would love to have (President Obama) come to Missouri and campaign," Senator McCaskill said, adding that she has extended an invitation to him.

"I support the president. He is much better than Mitt Romney," Sen. McCaskill said. "Mitt Romney represents the economic policies that put us in the hole in the first place."

City of Joplin issues outdoor burning ban

(From the City of Joplin)

In accordance with Section 307 of the International Fire Code which was adopted by the City of Joplin via Section 58-51 of the Joplin Municipal code, Joplin Fire Chief Mitch Randles has issued a complete ban on all outdoor open burning and recreational fires within the City Limits of Joplin.
 
This ban does not include fully covered or enclosed grills, cookers or smokers. In addition, as Independence Day approaches this year, the Joplin Fire Department encourages citizens to keep safety in mind as they handle fireworks to avoid any problems. 

This ban is being issued in the interest of Public Safety as a result a continuing pattern of hot, dry, and windy weather. The ban will be lifted once the weather pattern changes and the city has received a sufficient amount of rain fall to reverse current conditions.

Martin announces "sweeping reforms to clean up attorney general's office"

(From the Ed Martin for attorney general campaign)

On Monday, Republican candidate for Attorney General Ed Martin announced comprehensive and wide-ranging reforms to clean up the Attorney General’s office in Missouri. Martin’s announcement was prompted by State Auditor Tom Schweich’s audit of Chris Koster and the Attorney General’s office released on June 27. The audit revealed contingency contract bids were manipulated by the Attorney General with direct implications on campaign contributions.

“Schweich’s audit successfully brought to light the improper manipulation of contingency fee contracts by Koster and the Attorney General’s office,” Martin said. “Missourians deserve better from their state government. My plan will give Missourians the ability to see every step in the bidding and award process because it should be open and fair, not subject to campaign contributions and 'pay-to-play' tactics like it would be in Obama’s Chicago. Under my plan, the Attorney General’s office will meticulously document exactly where and how tax dollars are being spent on legal fees and witnesses. We need a government that is subject to the people, not controlled by interest groups and high-profile law firms.”

Martin’s plan will expand the Missouri Accountability Portal to include the following information:

• All costs legal or otherwise with backup documentation
• All fees to outside lawyers with backup documentation
• All campaign contributions to the Attorney General’s campaign or related committees while in office.

The plan will also establish a moratorium on contingency fee awards.

Further details of the plan are based on suggestions from State Auditor Tom Schweich in regards to contingency fee contract awards, professional services, office policies and procedures, and internal
controls. Such suggestions include:

• Working with the Office of Administration to remove the veto language in future contingency fee awards after they are referred to the OA, or to put procedures in place to decline campaign
  contributions from firms submitting proposals.
• Document and disclose the methodology and criteria considered for selecting outside legal and expert witness services.
• Develop a standardized case management system with all relevant information
• Using the new case management system to track costs per case
• Establishing proper segregation of various office functions and duties

Martin's plan to restore integrity to the Attorney General’s office comes after a State Auditor’s audit showed that Attorney General Chris Koster received $170,000 in campaign contributions from law firms bidding on contingency fee contracts. The audit also showed that $4.6 million was spent for legal and expert witness services, but the Attorney General’s office failed to prepare and retain documentation that would show how and why it selected particular attorneys and experts.

Sue Allen, state representative and chair of the Interim Committee of Government Bidding and Contracting added:
“As a Missouri taxpayer and a state representative, I am deeply troubled by the apparent misuse of our tax payer dollars. Auditor Schweich's audit raises more questions than it answers. It is my assessment, based on Schweich's finding that Koster needs to be held more accountable and allow for an independent investigation.”

Another state representative and member of the Bidding committee, Marsha Haefner agreed.
“Voters often have a low opinion of those of us who serve in public office, and many times with good reason.  There needs to be a level of accountability from elected officials and all state departments who spend taxpayer money in order to counteract that mistrust.  Yet, our current Attorney General is not exactly cooperating when asked to account for $4.6 million in taxpayer dollars.”

Hartzler calls for assistance for farmers during drought

(From Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler)

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, a farmer and member of the House Agriculture Committee who represents one of the country’s most rural districts, is closely monitoring the drought situation in Missouri and is asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for an emergency release of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands for livestock and grazing.

“What I have seen in the Fourth District and around our farm is disheartening,” said Hartzler. “The corn is dying, soybean plants are under stress, and pastures are drying up. In addition, the news from the National Weather Service is not good. In a report issued late last week we were told that conditions not only are very dry but will likely continue and result in drought conditions worsening in the coming weeks as the current hot and dry weather pattern is likely to be with us through at least this week.”

“I have been joined by Missouri’s other eight U.S. House Members in asking the USDA to consider releasing CRP lands to ease the enormous stress on livestock production operations,” continued Hartzler. “Such action would be in line with USDA’s past actions during natural disasters, including drought, in which CRP lands have been released for livestock haying and grazing. We support Governor Jay Nixon in his request that USDA’s Farm Service Agency begin assessing damage to crops and livestock in the entire state due to persistent drought.”

“In the meantime, I join my neighbors in the Fourth praying for rain and making the best of the situation until rain comes,” Hartzler added. “Missouri weather can reverse itself quickly and we can hope and pray it does so soon.”

Judge orders mediation in Kanakuk sex lawsuit

A federal judge ordered Kanakuk Ministries and its CEO Joe White and a Texas family whose son was sexually abused by former Kanakuk camp director Pete Newman to hold mediation hearings sometime in the next 30 days.

In the order, which was filed today in U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Judge A. Joe Fish said the mediation was mandatory, but non-binding. If the two sides are unable to reach a settlement, the case will go to trial as scheduled in August 2013.

The father of the child says White,a nationally known Christan motivational speaker, encouraged him to send his son to Kanakuk Kamp in Branson following a speech at a Promise Keepers meeting in Irving, Texas.

"Defendant Joe T. White appeared and lectured at a Promise Keepers event at Texas Stadium in Irvin, Texas. (The father) attended this event and heard (his) presentation advocating Christian values." White spoke of Kanakuk Kamp and distributed literature, and later sent letters and Internet messages to him, his wife, and other parents encouraging them to send their children to the Missouri camp.

When their son was sent to the camp, the lawsuit said, Pete Newman, the camp director, sexually molested him, "appearing nude with an erection in a hot tub for Bible studies with (the boy) as Newman masturbated himself, he masturbated (the boy) and had the boy masturbate him."

The abuse also included games of naked truth or dare, and having the boy spend the night in Newman's living quarters, where he was sexually abused.

"At other times, Defendant Newman's inappropriate behavior and sexual abuse of (the boy) occurred in the presence of other Kanakuk Kamp personnel." The child was in the camp during the summers of 2005-2007. The lawsuit also names Kanakuk Ministries, Kanakuk Kamp, and every other name by which Kanakuk has been called as defendants.

"Newman used his position at Kanakuk Kamps as a means to abuse children such as John Doe I (as the boy is referred to throughout the petition) by developing the children's trust and friendship. This, coupled with Newman's mantle of authority as a dircctor of Kanakuk Kamps, allowed Newman to sexually abuse and molest multiple boys through masturbation, oral sex, and sodomy."

The lawsuit charges that White and Kanakuk Ministries "had every reason to know Newman, a sexual predator, was operating freely in the Kanakuk Kamps and placing young boys at risk for sexual abuse and molestation and the lifelong burdens that childhood sexual abuse creates."

The petition goes into specifics about White's prior knowledge of Newman's perversions:

"At least as early as 1999, Defendant Joe T. White, Kanakuk Ministries and/or Kanakuk Heritage, Inc. knew that Newman, in the nude, was riding four-wheelers at the 'kamp' with nude 'kampers,' who were minor children entrusted to the care of Defendants. In response to this sexually inappropriate behavior, Newman was placed on probation."

That was not the last time Newman's perverted antics were known to White and Kanakuk officials, the lawsuit charges. "In or about 2003, a nude Defendant Newman was streaking through the 'kamp' property with nude minor 'kampers.' Although this conduct came to the attention of Defendants Joe T. White, Kanakuk Ministries, and/or Kanakuk, Heritage, Inc., again Newman remained on staff in easy reach of his future victims, including John Doe I."

The petition charges White and Kanakuk officials with negligence in allowing Newman anywhere near children. John Doe I "suffered injuries that have required and will continue to require medical and psychological care. The childhood sexual abuse of John Doe I in the context of what was purported to be Christian ministry further complicates his injuries and treatment.

White and Kanakuk are also charged with fraud, misrepresentation, and unfair and deceptive practices, negligent infliction of emotional distress. The parents are asking for medical expenses, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees and are requesting a jury trial.

The parents and son are being represented by the Turley Law Firm of Dallas.

Viewer: Michelle Kingsfield was fired because she was over 25 and has a brain

Viewers of WDTN, Dayton, Ohio, are fuming about last week's firing of evening anchor Michelle Kingsfield, who had been at the station for five years. Ms. Kingsfield was the 6 and 10 p.m. anchor at KODE in the late '90s.

The messages are beginning to pile up on the WDTN Facebook page, including the following:

We need to get a group of people of people and go protest outside the station, the GM and News Director should be fired, guess WDTN doesnt care about ratings, if they did, they would bring back Michelle and hire more reporters, Michelle was great


What happened to Michelle Kingsfield? The viewers of WDTN want answers including myself. It is time that Lisa Barhorst is fired from the station, since she has been GM of WDTN, it has went downhill, WDTN is losing some great news individuals, We all will miss her...


Isn't it obvious? She's over 25 and has a brain.


Michelle Kingsfield was the reason we watched wdtn news. will have to switch to another channel. Maybe she will go to the competition!!!!!!


Ms. Kingsfield said she was let go Thursday and no reason was given.

Spirit of Hope available from Newton County News

Our book, Spirit of Hope: The Year After the Joplin Tornado, is available from the Newton County News, beginning today.

Anyone from Newton County who would like to buy a book can call 417-455-9390.

Dempsey addresses education measures

In his latest report, Sen. Tom Dempsey, R-St. Peters, talks about education legislation that was passed by the legislature during the 2012 session.

Ensuring a quality education for kids in Missouri is one of my top priorities. This year, my colleagues and I sent several education-related measures to the governor for his approval. Two of those bills were addressed this week, albeit with very different results. 

Senate Bill 576, signed by the governor on June 27, brings greater accountability to charter schools in our state. Charter schools are public schools that receive state funding, but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations and statutes that apply to other public schools. However, these educational institutions are held accountable for producing certain, specified results that are defined in each school’s charter. The measure signed into law this week modifies the charter school law, allowing these particular educational institutions to operate in unaccredited districts throughout the state, in addition to the Kansas City and St. Louis City public school districts where they have already been established.

One of the important elements for all of Missouri’s public schools is accountability. The legislation passed this week helps ensure that charter schools have more oversight by directing the state education department to develop an application and approval process for potential sponsors. It also allows them to have greater access to the financial records of charter schools and to report back to the governor and the legislature if it appears such schools are in financial trouble.

After the St. Louis Public School District lost its accreditation in 2007, education and government entities alike have been searching for ways to provide Missouri’s students with a world-class education that will lead them down a bright path for the future. Passage of SB 576 helps provide these kinds of alternatives. 

Our kids will be graduating into a competitive, global environment. For the sake of their future and for the future of our country, it is vital that all of Missouri’s public schools, including charter schools, properly prepare students and give them the tools they will need to succeed.

Another bill passed by the Legislature this session attempted to lessen the undue hardship for certain students who are required to endure long bus rides each day on their commute to and from public schools. House Bill 1789 would have required a transfer to a closer district if the parent or guardian of a child residing in certain communities applied for reassignment, if certain conditions were met. This bill was vetoed by the governor.

Providing an excellent education for Missouri’s students is one of the legislature’s most important responsibilities. We will continue to promote reforms that make this promise a reality for all children in the Show-Me State.

Hartzler: Health care law one of largest tax increases in American history

In her weekly report, Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler addresses the Supreme Court decisions on the federal health care law and immigration and the House's decision to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt.

The big story throughout the country this week was the U.S. Supreme Court’s disappointing decision allowing President Obama’s health care law to stand. Unfortunately, the decision allows for the full implementation of the 2010 law, despite its flawed design and questionable constitutional basis. The law still fails to address the issue of adequate funding, and will drive up health care costs, making it harder for small businesses to hire workers.

It’s bad enough that this oppressive law is allowed to stand, but it is even more disappointing that the Supreme Court bought into the argument that the penalty for failure to comply with the law’s individual mandate is actually a tax which is legal under the Constitution. When this statute was passed, President Obama and Democrats were very specific; they claimed this was NOT a tax. The premise upon which the Affordable Care Act was sold is false. This is one of the largest tax increases in American history.

My House colleagues and I remain committed to repealing this troublesome law in its entirety. This ruling highlights the critical need for a Congress and White House committed to refocusing attention on health care legislation that provides affordability, increased accessibility, choice for patients and doctors, and protection of individual rights. I pledge to continue to work to fully repeal this law and replace it with common sense reforms that promote individual control of health care, portability, and flexibility.

The U.S. Supreme Court handed down its ruling on another case of great interest to Missouri and our country. It struck down most of Arizona’s law addressing the problem of illegal immigration, leaving intact the provision allowing law enforcement to question the immigration status of those who are detained for non-immigration reasons. Allowing police officers to enforce laws is certainly positive, but this “mixed signal” ruling is a clear indication that the federal government must act to enforce America’s immigration laws.

The State of Arizona’s law was passed as a result of the failure of the federal government to enforce existing immigration laws. This decision should serve as a wake-up call to all Americans who believe in respect for and adherence to the law that the federal government is not performing its constitutional obligation to protect this nation’s borders and must put politics aside to enforce our laws.

On another matter, the U.S. House found Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for blocking its efforts to get the facts about Operation Fast and Furious – a flawed Justice Department sting operation that allowed 2,000 weapons to fall into the hands of Mexican drug cartels. Tragically, this covert operation was responsible for the death of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. For sixteen months the Department of Justice, headed by Attorney General Holder, has failed to cooperate meaningfully with a congressional investigation. In October of last year, a subpoena was issued requiring the Justice Department to provide documents relating to Fast and Furious. But the Department has failed to comply completely, providing only documents which contain little, if any, useful information. The family of Officer Terry and the American people deserve answers to their questions about this botched operation. I will keep you informed of this effort to end the cover-up and learn the truth.