Joplin sources pour big money into Gibbons campaign

Republican attorney general candidate Michael Gibbons received a $60,000 cash injection from two Joplin sources, according to a 48-hour report filed today with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

The report indicates Gibbons received $50,000 from David Humphreys of TAMKO and $10,000 from MOARK's Jerry Wells Monday.

Humphreys has now contributed $100,000 to Gibbons, while his family has contributed more than $200,000.

Lamar Democrat: Sexual harassment suit filed against Dade County sheriff

Lamar Democrat Editor Rayma Bekebrock Davis has the scoop on sexual harassment allegations leveled against Dade County Sheriff Steve Stapp by a former employee:

Amanda Keck-Ryan filed charges against Dade County Sheriff Steve Stapp on October 14 alleging that he committed unlawful employment practices, discriminated against her in regard to her compensation and terms and conditions and privileges of her employment with the sheriff's department. Ryan claims the sheriff made sexual comments to her and displayed sexually explicit photos of himself both in person and on her cell phone.

Palin headed for Springfield

More information has been released about Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's stop Friday at Missouri State University Springfield:

The Alaska governor will hold a "Road to Victory" rally in McDonald Arena and discuss John McCain's plans for protecting the economy and country abroad, campaign officials say.

Doors open at 9 a.m. The rally will begin at 11 a.m. Tickets are free and will be available starting this morning at the Greene County GOP headquarters, 2951 E. Sunshine in Springfield, or Christian County headquarters, 809 N. Main St. in Nixa. Both offices will be open 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

The arena at 850 S. Kings St. officially seats 3,255. Add in the floor space, and the rally may hold up to 4,000 supporters.

Stevenson: Proposition A another way for casinos to dig into Missourians' pockets

Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, has made it clear how he feels about Proposition A. In an article just posted on the Buffalo Reflex website, Stevenson makes the following observation:

“We have seen this before,” said state Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Joplin. “They will tout education and economic development, but in reality it is just a way to dig deeper into Missourians’ pockets for their own profits. In this economy I have some real problems with this ballot language.”

Proposition A, of course, is paying for millions for advertising that claims it will put millions into education. The advertising fails to mention that the measure also eliminates future competition for existing casinos, eliminates loss limits, and eliminates the requirement that gamblers provide identification.

VanGilder offers tribute to Jack Harshaw

Columnist Marvin VanGilder, who worked for decades with the late Jack Harshaw, offers a tribute to the former Carthage Press city editor:

His recent death represents a serious loss to me and leaves a vacant place in my fondest memories of the finest days of The Carthage Press. He believed sincerely -- and practiced accordingly every day -- that journalism was a service calling and should be used to inform honestly and fully and always truthfully. He was able to reduce the most complex developments in public life to terms that were clear and understandable to readers of all ages and all levels of education. He never finished a report without making certain that it told the truth. Calm, quiet and unassuming at all times, he could always be relied upon to do what he said he would do, to diligently adhere to the highest of journalistic styles and conduct. He was concerned with the challenge of getting all the news, describing it thoroughly and accurately and always telling it the way it was rather than the way some readers could be relied upon to insist it should have been.

I was lucky enough to work alongside Jack Harshaw for four years and Marvin VanGilder for three. Both provided a solid education in what journalism was all about, as well as a wealth of knowledge about Carthage and the area.

Nexstar Broadcasting stock drops below $1

Nexstar Broadcasting stock fell 18 cents Tuesday to 89 cents per share, only four cents away from an all-time low.

Nexstar Broadcasting owns KSNF in Joplin and KSFX in Springfield, and is de facto owner of KODE in Joplin and KOLR in Springfield.

U. S. Supreme Court will not hear Skillicorn case

The United States Supreme Court will not hear the death row appeal of convicted killer Dennis Skillicorn.

Skillicorn, barring any further action by a lower court is set to be the first person executed in Missouri since 2005. In order for a case to be heard by the nation's highest court, four justices have to agree to hear it, or what is calling granting certiorari.

Previous Turner Report postings about the Skillicorn case can be found at this link.

Houston Chronicle details capture of death row inmate's mother in smuggling case

The capture of Texas death row inmate Richard Lee Tabler, mother, Lorraine, who provided a cell phone used by her son and other prison inmates, is detailed in an article posted tonight on the Houston Chronicle website.

Tabler, along with 2004 East Newton High School graduate Timothy Doan Payne of Granby, were responsible for the deaths of four people connected with the Teazers strip club in Killeen, Texas. Payne was convicted earlier this year by a Bell County, Texas, jury, but was not facing the death penalty:

During the phone calls, Whitmire said he tried not to ruffle Tabler or arouse his suspicion. "I said, 'How did you get a phone?'" Whitmire recalled of his first conversation. "He said, '$2,100.' I said, 'How are you charging it?' He said, 'I have a charger.' "

Moriarty traced the cell phone to within the Livingston prison where Tabler is awaiting the death penalty.

The inspector also found that Tabler's mother, Lorraine Tabler, was paying for the phone's minutes from her home in Georgia. And he discovered that the same phone had been used by as many as nine other inmates, all of them known gang members, to place 2,800 calls.

Their relatives sent payments to Tabler's mother to offset the phone bill. Many of their calls went to fellow gang members outside of prison, Whitmire said. They also called relatives and anti-death penalty advocates, he said.

Monday's crackdown was hatched after Whitmire learned Tabler's mother would be landing in Austin around 9 a.m. to visit her son. While police staked out the airport, Ward got Tabler on the phone so investigators could catch him with it, Whitmire said. A random search of Tabler's cell last week had come up short. Tabler told Whitmire he had handed the phone off to a guard in advance.

As police arrested his mother in Austin on Monday, investigators surprised Tabler in his cell. Before they snatched the phone, Whitmire said, Tabler made a final threat to the reporter: "I will Google you. I can find out what you drive."

AP article offers more information on Texas prison crackdown

A lockdown on Texas prisons following the discovery that contraband items have been smuggled in, including a cell phone used by death row killer Richard Lee Tabler to threaten a legislator, is detailed in an Associated Press article:

The security measures were prompted by the arrest of a death row inmate's mother who is accused of buying minutes for a cell phone, which was given to Richard Tabler and used by him and nine other inmates in his cell block.

Gov. Rick Perry's office said the phone was smuggled into the prison by a bribed corrections officer. The officer's name and whether he or she had been apprehended were not disclosed.

Authorities learned about the phone after Tabler called Whitmire and told him he knew the names of the legislator's daughters and where they lived, said John Moriarty, the prison system's inspector general.

Texas prison crackdown demanded after cell phone smuggled in to strip club killer used in threatening phone calls

Texas media sources are reporting Texas officials are demanding a crackdown on the smuggling of items into state prisons after a cellphone sneaked into death row inmate Richard Tabler by his mother was used to threaten a legislator:

Sen. John Whitmire of Houston received calls this month from death row inmate Richard Tabler, who used a smuggled cell phone.

Whitmire, who chairs the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, said the inmate described the lawmaker's daughters by name and where they live.

The phone was seized this week and Tabler's mother was arrested in Austin on charges she bought minutes for the device.

Whitmire, during the hearing in Austin, told prison officials he wants "zero tolerance" for contraband smuggling.

Gov. Rick Perry has ordered a system-wide prison lockdown and search.

Tabler was convicted of first degree murder and is awaiting execution in connection with the 2004 slayings of four people connected with a Killeen, Texas, strip club.

Previous Turner Report items about Tabler and his accomplice, 2004 East Newton High School graduate Timothy Doan Payne can be found at this link.