Federal jury convicts Joplin woman on felony weapons charge

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Joplin, Mo., woman was convicted by a federal trial jury today of illegally possessing a firearm.

Tracy Arlene Smith, 47, was found guilty of one count of being a felon and an unlawful user of cocaine and methamphetamine in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

According to evidence introduced during the trial, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Smith’s residence located in Joplin, on June 22, 2017. During the execution of the search warrant, members of the Ozark Drug Enforcement Team seized Smith’s purse, which contained a CDM Prod. Inc., .22-caliber pistol, loaded with six rounds of .22 caliber ammunition. Officers also seized drug paraphernalia.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is an unlawful user of controlled substances, or who has been convicted of a felony, to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Smith, who was on parole at the time she committed the offense, has five prior felony convictions for forgery, four prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, and prior felony convictions for sale of a controlled substance (on three separate occasions) and assault.

Under federal statutes, Smith is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., deliberated for approximately 30 minutes before returning the guilty verdict to U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool, ending a trial that began Monday, Sept. 24, 2018.

This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nhan D. Nguyen. It was investigated by the Ozark Drug Enforcement Team and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Cynthia Davis on Kavanaugh nomination: Democrats are cranking out false allegations like dime store novels

(The following column was written by former Rep. Cynthia Davis, R-O'Fallon, who is host of an internet radio show.)

The old expression is, "Give 'em enough rope to hang themselves." But what happens if you give them enough rope to hang you? The Democratic Party is cranking out false allegations like dime store novels. The sad truth is they can keep going as long as the Republican Party allows this to continue.

The Senate can easily fix this by enacting a rule that only allows allegations that are accompanied by an adjudicated case with a guilty finding or a current police report.

Without any legal finding, the Senate Committee acts like the law enforcement division. When I was in the House of Representatives, I had to frequently remind myself and others of the limits of our jurisdiction. The Senators need a job description to protect them from being turned into judge and jury of criminal cases, which is a mockery of a real court.

The Senators were elected to pass and repeal laws. They are not trained to judge these cases, nor should they. So we now have a farce! Judicial confirmations are now reduced to whichever side screams the loudest....and the left side is up to the challenge of winning an ideological contest with tantrums. The stakes are high if the Supreme Court becomes a non-elected law-making body.

A recent headline says, "What Democrats are doing Should Bother You". I say, "What Senate Republicans are doing Should Bother You." It's like we're in a storm and the pilot is allowing the vessel to turn and twist wherever the wind blows. As long as this technique is working, expect more of it.

Some of us might be mad at the Democrats, but we can't blame them for acting this way. They are not fighting Brett Kavanaugh. They are fighting for a National policy to legalize the destruction of the unborn. This is an ideological fight. The opposing side will do anything possible to fight for the anti-life philosophy. Sadly, these stall tactics are working. As long as it's throwing off the Republicans, why not continue until Trump is out of office?

The Constitution says the President nominates candidates to the Supreme Court and the Senate confirms, but what if the Senate stalls out every confirmation until Trump is out of office? I'm sure this is something the Democrats already considered behind closed doors. If the Democrats effectively block every nominee, it's possible to never have another justice confirmed! The biggest surprise is that they can be so effective while being the minority.

If it were the other way around and we had a Democrat President appointing justices who wanted to destroy the Constitution, would we disrupt, distract and dismantle every candidate? The Republicans didn't put up any memorable fight against Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor or Elena Kagan, but obviously, the two teams are playing with different sets of rules.

The Democrats are united in their positions on sexual perversion, illegal aliens, anti-life and welfare/Obamacare. Despite the Party platform, Republican leadership seems to be divided on core issues. "A house divided cannot stand". Will the Republicans come together and commit to making the values espoused in the platform a reality? Judging by actions, I'm not convinced the GOP wants to actualize its platform.

What's the answer? Both major political parties give great credibility to polls. The leadership cares more about getting votes than the issues behind the votes. This fiasco is about both sides trying to appeal to the mob and thereby gain political ground. It is our duty to communicate the values that are important to us.

Those in leadership will lead when they believe they have a groundswell of support. It's important to let them know we're tired of their cop-outs, rationalizations, and hand-wringing. They were elected to represent us, not to represent the leadership of the Party.

Area music teacher facing felony statutory rape, sodomy charges free on $100,000 bond

An area music teacher facing felony charges of statutory rape and statutory sodomy is free after posting $100,000 bond, according to Newton County Circuit Court records.

Robert Andrew Pommert, 60, who has worked as an instructor at Ozark Christian College and Crowder College, and who taught guitar at Palen Music in Joplin for more than 20 years, was arrested by the Newton County Sheriff's Department on the basis of information provided to investigators by the clinical child therapist at the Children's Center in Joplin, who reported receiving disturbing information from a three-year-old girl that indicated to her that the child had been "exposed to inappropriate sexual behavior."


According to the probable cause statement, when a deputy asked Pommert about the allegation, "stated that he wanted his attorney."

A bond appearance hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. October 2, with Judge Gregory Stremel presiding.

Newton County Memories available at Newtonia Fall Festival Saturday

The Newtonia Fall Festival, though it holds many memories for me, is not featured in my book Newton County Memories, but the book will be available at the annual Newtonia Fall Festval Saturday.

The festival is scheduled to last from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Newtonia Community Center and I will be there from 12:30 p.m.to 3 p.m.

This is the 43rd annual festival. I was not at the first one in 1976, but I served as master of ceremonies for the second and third festivals the following two years.

In 1977, in addition to announcing winners and upcoming events, I took photos for the Newton County News.

The following year I was no longer at that newspaper, but got the day off from the Lamar Democrat, where I had been hired as sports editor to repeat my emcee duties.


For several years in the early 2000s, our band Natural Disaster entertained the audiences, often serving as the closing act. The only time I ever sold books at the event was in 2006 with my novel Small Town News.

So it will be great to be back at the festival with Newton County Memories, which includes many memories of growing up in Newtonia, attending East Newton Schools, spending much time in Granby and Neosho and meeting many wonderful and fascinating people in the process.

(Photos- Top photo- The East Newton High School Choir performs beside Gum's Store in September 1977. The festival was held around the store until the community building was finished. Bottom photo, I announce Mag Landreth as the queen of the Fall Festival in 1978. The octogenarian was the last person to live in the house I grew up in before my parents bought it in 1952.. Doris Yost was crowned Miss Newtonia.)

Trump to Josh Hawley: McCaskill and Schumer are desperate, they'll do anything to win

(From the Josh Hawley campaign)

Backstage at the rally on Friday, I had a few minutes to talk to the President about how the campaign is going.

I told him all of the good news. Everywhere we go, we can feel a real momentum and excitement with everyone we talk to.

He listened carefully and then gave me his advice: "You cannot let up. No matter how well you think it is going, you have to remember how desperate Claire McCaskill and Chuck Schumer are to win this race - they will do anything."

Mr. President, you are right again. We cannot let up in this race. We need to keep fighting.

Governor appoints Carthage Chamber president to Missouri Housing Development Commission

(From Gov. Mike Parson)

Governor Mike Parson today announced two new appointments to the Missouri Housing Development Commission: Mark Elliff of Carthage and Rick McDowell of Parkville. The Governor also called upon the Missouri General Assembly to assemble working groups to prioritize tax credit reform legislation for the next legislative session.

“We are confident in the legislature’s ability to develop tax credit reforms that address housing needs, while ensuring greater accountability and an increased return on the investment of taxpayer dollars,” said Governor Mike Parson. “As a member of the Commission, I am committed to considering current federal tax credit applications, but until substantial reforms are enacted, state tax credits will not be issued.”

Mark Elliff, of Carthage, is the President/CEO and Director of Economic Development at Carthage Chamber of Commerce. Elliff holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Missouri Southern State University. He is a member of the Carthage Rotary Club, Community Support Services, and the McCune Brooks Health Care Foundation.

Rick McDowell, of Parkville, is the President and CEO of Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council. McDowell was previously the Executive Director at the Liberty Economic Development Corporation and has more than 27 years of experience working in economic development. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business and finance from Missouri State University and is a licensed realtor. He is a member of the Missouri Economic Development Council, Rotary Club, International Economic Development Council, and the Eastern Jackson County Alliance.

Remembering Ken Cope

For those who love the newspaper business, there is no sound that brings more joy than the press printing hundreds of copies in a few minutes.

The press was the vehicle through which the work of reporters, editors and advertising sales people landed on our doorsteps each day, detailing the day-to-day lives of our community and those who lived in it.

That was the way it was when Ken Cope entered the newspaper business more than six decades ago.

The press that Ken Cope helped operate as he began a long career in newspapers was not the state-of-the-art press that shoots out thousands of papers in minutes. Cope's career began in the days of the linotype, a much slower process involving the use of hot metal . At the time, the Neosho Daily, which was owned by Cope's father-in-law, Howard Bush, also ran a job printing shop, where Cope worked.



Cope, who had attended one year at Joplin Junior College, continued his education at the University of Texas and though he received his degree in editorial journalism when he returned to the family business, it was not on the editorial side. There were no jobs available in that department.

So Ken Cope resumed his journalism career as an advertising salesman.

Over the next three decades, Cope and his wife Anne eventually bought out Anne's brothers, Channing and Richard Bush, and became the sole owners of the Daily. Cope also spent time serving his community as mayor.

When Kenneth and Anne Cope sold the Neosho Daily News to American Publishing, they did so with the firm belief that they were selling to a company that had the same love for community journalism that they had held their entire adult lives.

And that was the way it was for many years. Through the tenures of numerous editors, beginning with Anne Cope herself, Bill Ball, Rob Viehman, Buzz Ball and John Ford, the Daily continued to offer coverage of Neosho, Newton County and McDonald County.

Its pages featured the words of Harlan Stark, Mary Alice Campbell, Dean Keeling and others who helped keep the community informed six days a week, every week, year after year. During much of that time, Ken and Anne Cope's son Randy served as publisher.

"The purpose of the local newspaper is to cover local news," Mr. Cope said in a 1997 interview. Putting in canned items sent out by ownership would defeat that purpose, he added. "They'd be cutting their own throats."

In her editor's column Anne Cope often wrote about "The Runner" her nickname for her husband because of his love of running, a love that was so fervent that he qualified for and ran in the Boston Marathon.

It was only a few weeks ago that it was announced that the Neosho Daily News, the newspaper the Cope and Bush families operated successfully for decades, would only be published once a week and the printing press, the press that was the pride and joy of the newspaper's operation, was being silenced forever, as printing would be transferred to a plant in Columbia, a decision that was made by GateHouse Media, the type of owners that Ken Cope never envisioned would ever own the newspaper that had been a labor of love for his family.

The newspaper that Ken and Anne Cope ran no longer exists, its marathon run stilled by greedy ownership that seems intent on ending its marathon run with a whimper.

Sadly, Ken Cope's climb from the linotype to the upper rungs of journalism, including induction into the Missouri Press Hall of Fame in 2004, has also come to an end with his death Saturday at age 83.

It is truly the end of an era when not only the printing presses, but the giants who kept them operating, are no longer running.

***

Visitation for former Neosho Daily News Publisher Kenneth Cope, who died Saturday at age 83, will be held 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Clark Funeral Home in Neosho.

Funeral services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday at Rocketdyne Church of God, 1111 Rocketdyne Road, Neosho.

A complete obituary will be printed later on Inside Joplin Obituaries

Nancy Hughes: Eavesdropping on God

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God
may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
II Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

Many years ago teaching hospitals had an area designated the "operating theater." It was an elevated amphitheater that surrounded the operating room where surgeries took place. The theater was created so that interns and other spectators could observe a surgery beginning to end from above the operating table.

Many times the physicians would explain to those watching exactly what they were doing. But often the interns simply listened to comments the physicians made to each other as they discussed what they found as well as what might be done to contribute to the positive healing and welfare of the patient.

The interns in effect were eavesdropping on the conversations between the doctors as they faced each new patient and surgery. They listened and observed situations in surgery that they would face as future surgeons . . . and they learned.

That is exactly what God, the Creator, has allowed us to do today. The Bible is full of conversations and situations with real people and real drama and real outcomes. God has determined that one of the best ways for us to learn how to make decisions in our lives is for us to be able to eavesdrop on similar conversations and situations throughout Bible times.

For example, when we are afraid and anxious because of a huge uncertainty we are facing, we need only to turn to the first chapter in Joshua and eavesdrop on the conversation God has with His servant as He encourages that warrior to "be strong and courageous because I (God) will never leave you."

When a child decides that home and rules do not apply to him and he decides to find his own way in the world, we can turn to Matthew 15 to experience a father whose son also left home and the father's joy at his son's return.

As we struggle with forgiving a friend who has hurt us, we listen as Jesus instructs his disciples in Luke 17 about forgiveness.

My encouragement to each of you today is to eavesdrop...eavesdrop on conversations that God has left for us in His Word. Nothing will ever happen in your life that you cannot find an answer to or encouragement for in the Bible. But you will never know the answers if you don't eavesdrop.

Father, I want more than anything to know your answers to my problems. My desire is to know more clearly what you would have me do in my life. Thank you for your Word. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

Do you ever wonder if anyone truly understands what you are going through in your life?

Have you ever felt like you faced a situation that Scripture did not address? Why or why not?

Application

Journal situations that you are facing this week.

Eavesdrop on God's Word and write at least two Scriptures that apply to those situations and the encouragement God has for you.

Power Verses

II Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Psalm 143:8 (NIV) ". . . Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."

Proverbs 15:33 (NIV) "The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor."

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

KIm Frencken: Broken kids

I'm beginning to get it. We have broken kids because we have broken parents. We have children crying out for love and attention. Nothing they've done seems to work. They have plenty of toys and gadgets, but not one person who seems to care enough to spend time with them. Here's a news flash parents: Putting your child in front of a TV or handing them a device to play games on ... IS... NOT... LOVE!

What does love look like? Time. Giving them the time of day. It doesn't take money or devices or candy. It takes Time. Time to give them a smile or a hug. Time to see them. Really see them. Watch them. How many times have we heard, "Hey watch me ______!" You fill in the blanks.

Kids want attention. They are starved for it. They want structure. They want someone to care enough about them to discipline them, set boundaries, reinforce learning, look at them, talk to them. They don't want to be someone's after-thought or intrusion. They want to be a part of someone's life. They want to fit in. They want to feel needed.

Why do we have broken kids? Because too many selfish people are giving birth, but not raising them. People who would rather send text messages than give their kid 10 minutes to tell them about their day at school. People who don't care if their kid stays up too late playing video games as long as they don't bother them. People who are too lazy to fix a meal and sit down with their kids. It doesn't have to be fancy. It might be fish sticks and macaroni and cheese or sandwiches. Kids don't care what they are eating if they are eating with someone who loves them.

I'm finally beginning to understand that the kid who loves driving me crazy, or screams, or yells at other kids is just trying to be heard. They are tired of being invisible. They want someone to see them and love them. Maybe I can't fix the brokenness, but I can love them and give them a safe, structured environment while they are with me. And, I can pray for them and their broken families.

(For more of Kim Frencken's writing and informational about her educational products, check out her blog, Chocolate For the Teacher.)

The Joplin Globe's practical joke on the Turner Report and the top posts for the Turner Report/Inside Joplin this week

Several months ago, someone sent me a message telling me I would not believe what I would see if I typed http://www.turnerreport.com.

I tested it out, expecting to come across some horrible porn site or something of that nature, but what I discovered was something much more horrific. Anyone who types that web address is automatically redirected to the Joplin Globe.

I had checked a few times to see if that domain name was available and it had not been, but rather than get angry I thought it was funny. Someone had played a practical joke.

I never believed for one moment that it was someone at the Globe.



I knew there were people who work at the Globe who are capable of such things. I remember a few years ago when a couple of the people who work there and who consider themselves to be the arbiters of everything cultural in Joplin wrote a blog post and comments about the 2007 YouTube video showing the band I was with, Natural Disaster, performing Johnny Rivers' Secret Agent Men, with me on the vocals.

They thought it was hilarious to make fun of me. Of course, if they had been paying attention they would have realized that they couldn't say anything negative about my singing or my stage movements or my appearance that I had not already said many times. I have never taken myself as seriously (though I am sure some of you will disagree) as those folks at the Globe who consider themselves to be the arbiter of what people should like.


So as more people have told me that it was indeed someone at the Globe who thought it would be hilarious to take the domain name www.turnerreport.com I did not find it hard to believe.

Apparently, there are people at the Globe who take me seriously.

Or not, depending on how you look at it.

One thing is for sure, they read the Turner Report.

I appreciate the opportunity to help the people at our area's newspaper of record find out what is going on in Joplin and the surrounding area.

The lists of the top 10 most visited posts for this week on the Turner Report, Inside Joplin and Inside Joplin Obituaries are featured below with links to each post.

Thanks again to those of you who have subscribed or made contributions to the Turner Report/Inside Joplin this week. If you have not done so, please consider subscribing or making a donation at the PayPal buttons below the links or by sending your contributions to Randy Turner, 2306 E. 8th, Apt. G, Joplin, MO.

Thanks for your readership and for your support.

The Turner Report

1. Children's Division Documents: Grandfather trying to manipulate Jayda Kyle murder investigation

2. Explosive court documents claim Jayda Kyle's mother turned her death into a social media event

3. Joplin City Finance Director: Why's everybody always picking on me?

4. Jason Vieselmeyer hired as North Middle School assistant principal

5. Joplin Police Department among agencies helping prepare for President Trump's visit to Springfield

6. Former crack baby whose mother was murdered, father died from heroin, wants lesser sentence for child sex crime

7. In jailhouse letter, accused Jayda Kyle killer says, "I've never been a part of anything so corrupt"

8. Bond reduction motion for man charged with using church youth group connection to molest underage boys denied

9. Galena man sentenced to life in prison for multiple child sex crimes

10. Federal  grand jury indicts Joplin man on drug trafficking, weapons charges

Inside Joplin

1. Another missing woman reported in Joplin: Kristina Backes last seen seven weeks ago

2. Granby Police Department offers to test your meth to see if it's real or fake

3. Three injured in accident near Racine, Joplin woman charged with DWI, felony child endangerment

4. Joplin Police Department Weekend Arrests

5. Carl Junction man arrested in stolen vehicle

6. Cause of Joplin recycling center building fire under investigation, building is total loss

7. Jasper County Dissolution of Marriage Petitions

8. Joplin Police Department Arrests September 20-21

9. Jasper County Sheriff's Office Arrests

10. Pineville, Springfield residents injured in five-car chain reaction accident on I-44

Inside Joplin Obituaries

1. Mark Brewer 

2. Jayden Korner

3. Donald Webb

4. Rhonda Hignite

5. Devin Hunt

6. Sharon Kimbrough

7. Bill Camp

8. Charlotte Miller

9. Sherrie Manuel

10. Kenneth Stewart

Help support the Turner Report/Inside Joplin news operation with a subscription or contribution. Help keep this alternative news source continue to provide news and commentary for the Joplin area. You can subscribe or make a contribution at the PayPal buttons below or you can mail a contribution, large or small, to Randy Turner, 2306 E. 8th, Apt. G, Joplin, MO

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