A Miller County woman is going to jail for 22 years in connection with the death of a baby in 2008.  On Tuesday, Judge Kenneth Hayden sentenced 37-year old Roshell Johnson to 10 years for manslaughter and 12 years for child abuse.  In April, Johnson had plead guilty to charges of voluntary manslaughter and child abuse resulting in the death of 20 month old Ocean McCoy.  The infant girl died in January of 2008 at a Columbia hospital, from severe brain injuries due to shaking and head trauma inflicted by Johnson at the family’s residence in Brumley.  The case had been transferred to Camden County on a change of venue.   

Guilty.  That is the verdict given in Camden County Court by Judge Kenneth Hayden for Morris McCabe on three counts of first degree murder and three counts of armed criminal action.  Camden County Prosecuting Attorney Brian Keedy says he is happy that McCabe is staying behind bars for shooting and killing Sally Amos, Don Meyers and Don Young to death inside a mobile home in December of 2010.  McCabe will be sentenced on November 12^th.  The only sentence he could receive on the three murder charges is life without the possibility of parole.  Judge Hayden could give more time to McCabe for the three armed criminal action charges.

A verdict is expected this afternoon at the Camden County courthouse in the Morris McCabe triple-murder trial.  The case is being decided by Circuit Court Judge Kenneth Hayden.  McCabe is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of armed criminal action in the December, 2010 shooting deaths of Donald Myers, Donald Young and Sally Amos inside a mobile home in Stoutland.  McCabe, 53,  waived his right to a jury trial in exchange for the death penalty being taken off the table as a punishment option.  Camden County Prosecuting Attorney Brian Keedy has asked Judge Hayden to give McCabe life in prison without the possibility of parole, the maximum sentence possible, if he is found guilty.  The judge is expected to announce his verdict at 1 p.m.

CAMDEN COUNTY

Route 5 bridge over the Lake of the Ozarks at Hurricane Deck – Bridge replacement continues. Much of the work currently taking place will not affect traffic. However, traffic could be stopped briefly to allow equipment to be moved. The entire project is scheduled for completion in spring 2014.

Route 7 east of Bollinger Creek Road – Culvert pipe replacement will take place today and Tuesday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route 54 at Route 5 – Roadside maintenance will take place through Thursday, July 11th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route V between Route 54 and Route 7 – Roadway maintenance will take place Wednesday and Thursday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route Y at Route 54 – Roadway maintenance will take place Wednesday and Thursday. ,

Route Z between Route 7 and the end of state maintenance – Roadway maintenance will take place today and tomorrow. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

MILLER COUNTY

Route 42 between Route 17 and Route 134 – Shoulder widening work is complete.

Route V between Route 54 and the end of state maintenance – Roadway maintenance will take place through Thursday, July 11. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route FF between Route 54 and Route A in Cole County – Roadway maintenance will take place through Thursday, July 18th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

MORGAN COUNTY

Route 50 at the Lamine River Bridge west of Syracuse and Route 50 at the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge west of Syracuse – Bridge deck replacement continues. Traffic over the Lamine River bridge is controlled by temporary traffic signals and a temporary concrete barrier has been placed along the bridge between the work location and the active lane. The railroad bridge is closed to complete the overlay work in the eastbound lanes. Periodic lane closures can be expected through the work area. The entire project is scheduled for completion in the fall.

Route P between Route 5 and the end of state maintenance – Roadway maintenance will take place today through Thursday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route MM between Route 5 and the end of state maintenance – Roadway maintenance will take place through Thursday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

The trial of a former Macks Creek teacher charged with statutory rape of a student has been delayed until next January. Jenner Shaffer left the district long before charges were filed, and Macks Creek school officials had no knowledge of the alleged relationship between the 41-year-old English teacher and one of his students prior to being contacted by law enforcement. Shaffer was arrested last September after a teenage girl told sheriff’s deputies that he was the father of her one-year-old daughter.  Shaffer was scheduled to go on trial last week in Camden County court, but the case has been continued to January 6th.

Two people have been injured in personal watercraft accidents on the Lake of the Ozarks over the 4th of July holiday weekend.  22-year-old Chandler Rinderer of Edwardsville, Illinois was hurt when he was thrown off a Seadoo when it hit a wake near the 4 mile marker on the Grand Glaize arm of the Lake.   22-year-old Courtney Thomas of Kansas City was injured when the Seadoo she was riding on hit a wake, went airborne and came down hard on the water at the 1.5 mile marker.

A man charged with murder in a head-on crash that killed a Camdenton woman is due in court this week.  29-year old Dennis Leporin of Columbia is charged with assault, DWI and driving while revoked in connection with the death of 19-year old Chelsea Fredrickson in March.  Police say Leporin was driving the wrong way on Highway 54 in Jefferson City when his pick-up hit Frederickson’s vehicle.  A hearing is set to take place on Wednesday in Cole County Court.

Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers made only one arrest for Boating While Intoxicated on the Lake of the Ozarks during last weekend’s “Operation Dry Water” campaign.   Two boaters received summonses for safety violations, and 46 warnings were issued.  Highway Patrol Sgt. Paul Reinsch says troopers conducted a BWI checkpoint on the Lake, in Camden County, Saturday:

Seven BWI arrests were made on the Lake of the Ozarks during a similar enforcement operation last year.

A weekend wreck in Miller County claimed the lives of a man and woman from Memphis, Missouri.   40-year-old Christopher Vanhoozen and his 38-year-old wife, Cynthia, were pronounced dead after their motorcycle collided with an SUV Sunday afternoon on Highway 54 at Route AA.  The Highway Patrol says 77-year-old Elva Farris of Olean failed to yield to the motorcycle. She wasn’t injured.

CAMDEN COUNTY

Route 5 bridge over the Lake of the Ozarks at Hurricane Deck – Bridge replacement continues. Much of the work currently taking place will not affect traffic. However, traffic could be stopped briefly to allow equipment to be moved. The entire project is scheduled for completion next spring.

Route 7 between Route J and Bollinger Creek Road – Roadside maintenance will take place today through Wednesday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route EE between Route 7 and the end of state maintenance – Roadway maintenance will take place Monday through Wednesday, July 3. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

MILLER COUNTY

Route 42 between Route 17 and Route 134 – Shoulder widening work is near completion – All lanes are currently open on the project. Crews are planning to stripe the new surface in the near future.

MORGAN COUNTY

Route 50 at the Lamine River Bridge west of Syracuse and Route 50 at the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge west of Syracuse – Bridge deck replacement continues. Periodic lane closures can be expected and temporary traffic signals will move traffic through the work area. The entire project is scheduled for completion in the fall.

A minivan swerved off the roadway, tore through two fences and overturned on Curry Road just east of Highway U in Miller County, and an Iberia teenager is dead.    15-year-old Collin Colvin was killed in crash Saturday morning.  Colvin, a passenger in van driven by another 15-year-old, was not wearing a seat belt, according to the Highway Patrol.  The driver, 15-year-old Jacob Ponder of Dixon, was not injured.

A Kansas man has drowned in Monarch Cove, near the 1.7-mile mark on the Lake of the Ozarks. 48-year-old Carl Migliazzo of Mission, Kansas, fell from a dock and did not come back to the surface Saturday.  Migliazzo was taken by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach where he was pronounced dead by the Camden County coroner.  It’s the third drowning this month and the fourth this year on the Lake.

A Morgan County woman charged with first degree murder in the death of her 3-year-old son last year has been granted a change of venue in her upcoming trial.  Jamie Litton is scheduled to appear in Leclede County court Monday for a case review.  Litton’s boyfriend, Thomas “T.J.” Presley, also charged with murder in the February, 2012 beating death of Blake Litton, has also requested his trial be moved from Morgan County.  The couple are accused ‘s of trying to cover up the beating by making it look like the little boy had been struck by a hit and run driver.

Funeral plans have been announced for the Iberia teenager found murdered last weekend. Visitation for Macala Shelton,will be next Tuesday, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Fancher-Rekus Funeral Home in Iberia. Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. with interment in Hawkins Cemetery.  The City of Iberia has set up a fund to help pay for Macala’s funeral. Donations can be made in-person or by mail to the Macala Shelton Memorial Fund at the Bank of Iberia, at 841 East Highway 42. 30-year-old Steven Henderson, Shelton’s step-uncle, is charged with first-degree murder in the 13-year-old’s death.

CAMDEN COUNTY

Route 5 bridge over the Lake of the Ozarks at Hurricane Deck – Bridge replacement continues. Much of the work currently taking place will not affect traffic. However, traffic could be stopped briefly to allow equipment to be moved.

MILLER COUNTY

Route 42 between Route 17 and Route 134 – Shoulder widening work is near completion.  All lanes are currently open on the project. Crews are planning to stripe the new surface in the near future.  The project is scheduled for completion by the end of June.

Route 52 between Route 54 and Route 17 – Roadway surface improvements will take place through Thursday, June 27th.  One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route V between Route 54 and the end of state maintenance – Roadway surface improvements will take place through Wednesday, July 3rd. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route HH between Route 52 and the end of state maintenance – Roadway surface improvements will take place through Thursday, June 27th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

MORGAN COUNTY
Route 50 at the Lamine River Bridge west of Syracuse and Route 50 at the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge west of Syracuse – Bridge deck replacement continues. Periodic lane closures can be expected and temporary traffic signals will move traffic through the work area. The entire project is scheduled for completion in the fall.

Bond is set at $500,000 for a man charged with murder in the death of 13-year-old Macala Shelton of Iberia.  30-year-old Steven Henderson allegedly stabbed the girl to death with a large survival knife.  Shelton had been last seen alive on Friday night at her home in Iberia. She was reported missing Saturday afternoon. Her body was found in a wooded area at an unoccupied farm near Iberia.

Miller County Sheriff Bill Abbott held a news conference Monday afternoon.  His office issued this news release:

On June 22, the Miller County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a missing 13-year old girl. At that time, a door to door search of the area was conducted with the assistance of the Iberia Volunteer Fire Department and residents of Iberia.
Investigators then began conducting interviews with family and friends as to the possible whereabouts of the missing juvenile. During the course of the investigation, investigators were led to an occupied farm near Iberia. While searching the wooded area of the farm, the body of the missing juvenile was located. The juvenile was identified as Macala Shelton of Iberia.
During the investigation, investigators identified Steven Henderson as a person of interest. Steven Henderson, age 30 of Iberia, was brought to the Miller County Sheriff’s Office for questioning and subsequently placed on a 24-hour investigative hold while evidence was being collected.
A search warrant was later executed at the residence of the missing juvenile, 102 North St. Louis in Iberia. While executing the search warrant of the home, weapons possibly relating to the juveniles death were recovered.
Steven Henderson was interviewed during the course of the investigation and provided a statement concerning the juvenile’s disappearance and death.
On June 23, Miller County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Howard filed charges of 1st degree murder and Armed Criminal Action against Henderson. Henderson is currently being held in the Miller County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
Sheriff Bill Abbott notes that the investigation into the case and forensic testing will be ongoing. Authorities do not currently expect any other charges to be made in connection with the case.

Testimony has concluded in the Morris McCabe triple-murder trial at the Camden County courthouse.  The prosecution and defense both gave their closing arguments today.   McCabe is charged with the December, 2010 shooting deaths of Donald Meyer, Donald Young and Sally Amos inside a mobile home in Stoutland. McCabe waived his right to a jury trial, and the case is being decided by Judge Kennth Hayden.  He expects to announce his verdict when court resumes on Tuesday, July 9th.

Grand Glaize Beach in Lake of the Ozarks State Park has been closed again by the state Department of Natural Resources because of elevated E coli bacteria levels.  Results of water samples taken Monday indicated bacteria levels higher than those recommended for waters used for swimming.  This is the second time this year the beach has been closed due to water quality issues.  The other swimming beach in Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Public Beach No. 1, located in Kaiser, remains open.

Missouri State Park beaches at Harry S Truman located in Warsaw,  Pomme de Terre’s Pittsburg beach in Pittsburg, St. Joe’s Monsanto Lake beach in Park Hills and Wakonda located in La Grange are also closed.   Once tests indicate the bacteria levels are within the standard suitable for swimming, the beaches will reopen.

New highway signs are going up along the 54 Expressway through Osage Beach beginning today.  The new signs, designating Osage Beach Parkway as Business 54, are being installed during the day this week, and at night next week.  MoDOT hopes to have all of the new signs in place in time for the 4th of July weekend, to help direct tourists to the Osage Beach business district.  The signs were requested by Osage Beach city officials.

A Kansas man could face the death penalty after being convicted of murdering three of his relatives at their home in Cole Camp.   A jury in Clay County has recommended the sentence  for 47-year-old Robert Blurton, of Garnett, Kansas.  The jury found Blurton guilty of first-degree murder on Friday,  in the shootings of his aunt and uncle, Donnie and Sharon Luetjen,  and their 15-year-old granddaughter, Taron Luetjen at their  Cole Camp home in June, 2009.  Blurton’s attorney plans to file a motion for a new trial. Sentencing is scheduled for August 9th.

Divers have recovered the body of a  Camdenton man who was missing and presumed drowned in the Lake of the Ozarks.  51-year old Joe Bartholomew had last been seen shortly before noon Sunday,  fishing from a private dock near the 13.5 mile marker on the Big Niangua Arm.  His body was found floating on the water just after 2:30 this afternoon.  It’s the third drowning on the Lake of the Ozarks this year; the second in less than a week .

CAMDEN COUNTY

Route 5 bridge over the Lake of the Ozarks at Hurricane Deck – Bridge replacement continues. Much of the work currently taking place will not affect traffic. However, traffic could be stopped briefly to allow equipment to be moved.

Route TT between Route F and Route MM – Roadside maintenance will take place today through Thursday.  One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

CAMDEN AND MORGAN COUNTIES

Route 5 between Route 54 and Route O – Roadside maintenance will take place tiday through Thursday.  One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.
MILLER COUNTY

Route 42 between Route 17 and Route 134 – Shoulder widening work continues.  Crews are currently working to build dirt embankments along the roadway, causing one lane to be closed. A pilot car will guide traffic through the work area. Asphalt paving of the roadway and shoulders is under way.  A width restriction of 10 feet is in place between Route C and the city of Osage Beach.  The project is scheduled for completion by the end of the month.

Business Route 54 in Lake Ozark – Roadway maintenance will take place today through Thursday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route D between Columbia Avenue and the end of state maintenance – Roadside maintenance will take place today through Thursday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

MORGAN COUNTY

Route 50 at the Lamine River Bridge west of Syracuse and Route 50 at the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge west of Syracuse – Bridge deck replacement continues. One lane of each bridge is open, and temporary traffic signals will move traffic through the work area. The entire project is scheduled for completion this fall.

A Sunrise Beach man was seriously injured when his car struck a deer. According to the Highway Patrol, 19-year-old Cody Warnick was driving south on Fiery Fork Drive in Camden County early Saturday morning when his car hit the deer,  ran off the road and slammed into a tree.  He was taken by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital.

A trial date has been set for a former assistant girls basketball coach at Richland High School accused of having sexual contact with one of his players last fall.  26-year-old Trevor Franklin of Stoutland will go on trial August 19th in Phelps County, where the case has been moved on a change of venue. Franklin is charged with sexual contact with a student by a teacher. He allegedly arranged secret meetings with the girl, sent thousands of text messages and touched the teen inappropriately. He was arrested in March after an investigation by the Highway Patrol. Franklin, who stopped working for the school last November, remains free on a $50,000 bond.

The Morris McCabe triple-murder trial will continue Monday at the Camden County courthouse, after a four-and-a-half month long recess. McCabe is charged with the December, 2010 shooting deaths of Donald Meyer, Donald Young and Sally Amos inside a mobile home in Stoutland. McCabe waived his right to a jury trial, and the case is being heard and will be decided by Judge Kenneth Hayden.  On Monday morning, the proceedings will pick up exactly where they left off in February, when Hayden abruptly stopped the trial in the second day because of a dispute over DNA evidence in the case.

A 67-year-old Camdenton man is charged with sodomy and sexual abuse, allegedly involving an teenage employee. Dennis Lee Purdy, owner of the Dairy Queen on N. Hwy. 5, is accused of abusing the 14-year-old girl in the basement of the restaurant on June 4th.  Purdy was arrested by Camdenton Police Wednesday and booked into the Camden County Jail. He has since been released on $5,000 cash bail.

Grand Glaize Beach has been re-opened to swimming.  The beach, at Lake of the Ozarks State Park,  was ordered closed last Wednesday by the Department of Natural Resources due to high E. coli bacteria levels.  Water tests taken this week came back clean.

The day use public beach at Harry S. Truman State Park in Warsaw remains closed for water quality issues. Water samples taken Monday indicated bacteria levels higher than those recommended for waters used for swimming.

The pastor of a Stover church, already charged with multiple sex crimes, is facing even more.  Two new charges of statutory sodomy were filed this week against 43-year-old Travis Smith.  The alleged incidents date back to January, 1999 and December, 2000.  Smith is already facing statutory rape and sodomy charges from a 2005 incident,  and forcible rape, statutory rape and sexual abuse charges from incidents in 1998 and 1999.  Smith is the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Stover. He remains free on bond and is scheduled to appear in court in Moniteau County next Monday for a preliminary heraring.

A dive team from the Lake Ozark Fire Protection District has recovered the body of a man who drowned near the Isla del Sol condominiums on the north shore of the Lake of the Ozarks. Assistant Chief Matt Birdsley says divers were dispatched, with the department’s boat, just before noon today.   The body was located using the boat’s side-scanning sonar about 30 minutes after divers entered the water.  They retrieved the body from the bottom of the lake at 1:26 p.m.   The victim has been identified as 33-year-old Timothy Walter of Camdenton.  Witnesses saw him go under while he was in the water working around a boat dock and called for help when he failed to surface.

CAMDEN COUNTY

Route 5 bridge over the Lake of the Ozarks at Hurricane Deck – Bridge replacement continues. Much of the work currently taking place will not affect traffic. However, traffic could be stopped briefly to allow equipment to be moved. The entire project is scheduled for completion in spring 2014.

Route TT between Route 5 and Route MM – Roadside maintenance will take place Monday through Thursday, June 13th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route MM between Route TT and the toll bridge – Roadside maintenance will take place Monday,  through Thursday.  One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

MILLER COUNTY

Route 42 between Route 17 and Route 134 – Shoulder widening work continues.
Crews are currently working to build dirt embankments along the roadway, causing one lane to be closed. A pilot car will guide traffic through the work area.
Asphalt paving of the roadway and shoulders is under way.
A width restriction of 10 feet is in place between Route C and the city of Osage Beach.
The project is scheduled for completion by the end of the month.

Business Route 54 in Eldon – Roadway maintenance will take place Monday, June 10th through Thursday, June 13th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Business Route 54 in Lake Ozark – Roadway maintenance will take place Monday, June 10th, through Thursday, June 20th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route D between Columbia Road and the end of state maintenance – Roadside maintenance will take place Monday and Tuesday.  One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

MORGAN COUNTY

Route 50 at the Lamine River Bridge west of Syracuse and Route 50 at the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge west of Syracuse – Bridge deck replacement continues. One lane of each bridge will be open, and temporary traffic signals will move traffic through the work area. The entire project is scheduled for completion this fall.

One man was hurt when two PWCs collided on the Lake of the Ozarks Saturday. 42-year-old Reed Alfonzo of St. Louis was taken by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital.  The Water Patrol says Alfonzo was making a sharp left turn when jetski collided with another PWC driven by 32-year-old Andre Horton of St. Louis.  Horton wasn’t hurt.  The accident happened at the 2 mile marker on the Grand Glaize Arm.

Bagnell Dam Boulevard in Lake Ozark will remain closed to all vehicle traffic between Station Drive and Valley Road until Sunday evening, for Lake Race 2013.  The street will reopen at about 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, according to Lake Ozark Police Chief Mark Maples, depending on how long it takes for race teams to clear the area.  Barricades went up on Friday morning.

Bagnell Dam will be closed for vehicle traffic from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.  Traffic will be re-routed to Highway 54 and then to Route 242.

During non-race time, Chief Maples says the LOPD will work at maintaining traffic flow to the best of its ability.  Motorists should expect delays traveling in and around the event area.

One person was killed in a crash on Highway 17, just south of Route K in Miller County.  24-year-old Ryan Lekey of Dixon died when his SUV went off the road on a curve, hit a tree and overturned Thursday night.  According to the Highway Patrol, Lekey wasn’t wearing a seat belt.

Wet road conditions may have the cause of a crash on Highway 7 just east of La Point Road in Camden County last night.  According to the Highway Patrol, 33-year old Brian Groves of Linn Creek over-corrected when his SUV slid on the wet pavement.  It went off the road, hit an embankment and overturned. Groves was taken to Lake Regional Hospital.

Grand Glaize Beach at Lake of the Ozarks State Park  has been temporarily closed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources because of water quality issues.  The beach was ordered closed following results of water samples taken Monday that indicated bacteria levels higher than those recommended for waters used for swimming. Public Beach No.1 in Kaiser remains open.

Ameren Missouri is recommending federal regulators allow 215 non-conforming decks, patios, gazebos and boathouses to remain standing at the Lake of the Ozarks. Ameren calls the proposal announced today a final step toward addressing encroachments at the lake.  In its report filed today with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Ameren says it counted more than 4,400 individual structures within the project boundary of its Shoreline Management Plan, and most comply with allowed uses and permitting guidelines.  Shoreline Management supervisor Jeff Green says they determined the non-cinforming structures have no effect on Ameren’s ability to safely manage the Lake of the Ozarks.  FERC officials will now begin reviewing Ameren’s report and recommendations, and a 30-day public comment period is expected to begin soon.

A proposed use tax in the City of Laurie has been rejected again by voters.   There were 35 yes votes and 38 no in Tuesday’s  special election.  Turnout was about 12 percent, according to the Morgan County Clerk’s Office.  Laurie Mayor Herb Keck estimates the city will lose over $3,000 in needed revenue as a result of the outcome of yesterday’s voting.

The results of the recent “Click It or Ticket” campaign conducted by the Highway Patrol’s Troop F, which includes the Lake area, have been released.  During the two-week long enforcement effort,  troopers stopped 328 vehicles and issued 105 citations for seat belt violations. Dozens of tickets were also issued  for license, child restraint, speeding and insurance violations; and there were  eight arrests for misdemeanor warrant and drug offenses.

The Highway Patrol has also released the results of a DWI saturation patrol in Miller County on Saturday.  32 cars were stopped and three drivers were arrested for driving while intoxicated. Troopers also made five arrests for misdemeanor warrant and drug offenses and one person was arrested arrested for a felony warrant violation.

CAMDEN COUNTY

Route 5 bridge over the Lake of the Ozarks at Hurricane Deck – Bridge replacement continues. Much of the work currently taking place will not affect traffic. However, traffic could be stopped briefly to allow equipment to be moved. The entire project is scheduled for completion in spring 2014.

MILLER COUNTY

Route 42 between Route 17 and Route 134 – Shoulder widening work continues. Crews are currently working to build dirt embankments along the roadway, causing one lane to be closed. A pilot car will guide traffic through the work area. Asphalt paving of the roadway and shoulders is under way.  A width restriction of 10 feet is in place between Route C and the city of Osage Beach. The project is scheduled for completion in late June.

Business Route 54 in Eldon – Roadway maintenance will take place today through Thursday, June 13th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Business Route 54 in Lake Ozark – Roadway maintenance will take place today through Thursday, June 13th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route 52 over the Humphrey’s Creek – Bridge maintenance will take place Monday, June 3 through Friday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route 17 between Charcoal Kiln Road and Airport Road – Roadside maintenance will take place today through Thursday.  One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

MORGAN COUNTY

Route 50 at the Lamine River Bridge west of Syracuse and Route 50 at the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge west of Syracuse – Bridge deck replacement continues. One lane of each bridge will be open, and temporary traffic signals will move traffic through the work area. The entire project is scheduled for completion this fall.

Route 52 between Route 5 south and Route 5 north – Roadside maintenance will take place today through Thursday.  One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol marine operations division  says boating traffic will be restricted to no wake, idle speed from the Bagnell Dam to approximately the 3.5-mile mark of the main channel during next weekend’s Lake Race 2013.   The race course itself will stretch from the dam to approximately the 3-mile mark in the center of the main channel.  The no wake, idle speed restriction will begin 30 minutes prior to the event start time each day, and will continue up to 30 minutes after the last race each day. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and noon  to 4:00 p.m. next Sunday.

According to a news release, every attempt will be made to minimize the inconvenience to boaters navigating in the area. It is anticipated boaters will be able to idle along the north and south shores of the main channel during the event. Caution should be exercised by all boaters traveling through the area due to congestion. Anchoring will be allowed at the mouth of coves adjacent to the race event, so long as ingress and egress to the coves is not hindered.   Highway Patrol marine operation troopers will be monitoring boating traffic in the area, and will be available to assist the boating public, if necessary.

———————————————-

From MSHP:

EMPHASIS: Lake Of The Ozarks Boat Race
Captain Gregory D. Kindle, commanding officer, Troop F, Jefferson City, would like to remind boaters of the upcoming Lake of the Ozarks Invitational boat race event, near Bagnell Dam, on Lake of the Ozarks. The event will take place from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2013, and 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday June 9, 2013. Boating traffic will be restricted to no wake, idle speed from the Bagnell Dam to approximately the 3.5-mile mark of the main channel due to the event. The no wake, idle speed restriction will begin 30 minutes prior to the event start time each day, and will continue to be enforced up to 30 minutes after the last race each day. The race course itself will stretch from the dam to approximately the 3-mile mark in the center of the main channel.
Every attempt will be made to minimize the inconvenience to boaters navigating in the area. It is anticipated boaters will be able to idle along the north and south shores of the main channel during the event. Caution should be exercised by all boaters traveling through the area due to congestion. Anchoring will be allowed at the mouth of coves adjacent to the race event, so long as ingress and egress to the coves is not hindered.
Highway Patrol marine operation troopers will be monitoring boating traffic in the area, and will be available to assist the boating public, if necessary. Boaters are reminded to designate a sober boat operator, and if passengers are drinking alcohol while out on the water, make sure they do so responsibly.
The Patrol encourages motorists and watercraft operators to protect themselves by making sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint and everyone in the vessel is wearing an approved life jacket. Click It 4 Life and Wear It!! The public can contact the Highway Patrol toll-free at 1-800-525-5555 or on a cellular phone at *55.

For further information please contact: Sergeant Paul J. Reinsch
(573) 751-1000

The trial of a man accused of murdering his roommate in Osage Beach over two years ago has been delayed again. 21-year-old Adrianna Hyten was found stabbed to death in October, 2010 in the apartment on Mace Road she shared with Gregory George.  George was scheduled to go on trial Monday in Camdenton.  His attorneys filed a last-minute change-of-venue motion to move the trial to Morgan County.  The case is in the process of being transferred and a new trial date has not been set yet.

The body of a teenager who disappeared into a storm drain in Eldon Friday night has been recovered.  17-year-old Donald Parker was swept away by rising water and sucked into a drainage pipe. Heavy rain hindered the initial search efforts.  Dive teams and canines were called in.  The boy’s body was recovered Saturday morning.

The search resumed this morning for a teenager who disappeared into a storm drain in Eldon Friday night.  The 17-year-old was apparently swept away by rising water and sucked into a drainage pipe.  Heavy rain hindered the search efforts last night.   A dive team from the Highway Patrol and  Lake Ozark firefighters were assisting Eldon officials in the search effort

A house fire in the Cuptree Road area of Morgan County was started by a large tree falling on a power line during Thursday afternoon’s thunderstorms, according to Gravois Fire Protection District Chief Ed Hancock:

No one was injured in the fire, which was contained to the room of origin. Due to the design of the house, Hancock says the heat was held inside the building, so while only one room was involved in fire, the entire house suffered extensive heat and smoke damage:

The National Weather Service in Springfield has issued a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING for northwestern Camden County, northern Miller County and southern Morgan County, until 7:00 p.m.

At 6:12 p.m. a line of severe thunderstorms was located along a line extending from 7 miles east of Eldon to 10 miles west of Laurie… and moving northeast at 30 mph. producing quarter size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING is in effect until midnight for Morgan County, northwestern Camden County, northwestern Miller County, Benton County and extreme northeastern Hickory County until midnight.

At 6:12 p.m., National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated slow moving thunderstorms with very heavy rainfall across the warned area. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches have fallen with additional heavy rainfall expected this evening.  A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through Saturday morning.

A TORNADO WATCH  remains in effect until 10:00 p.m. for 20 counties in Missouri, including the Lake of the Ozarks area.

The results are in from the 22nd annual Shoreline Cleanup at the Lake of the Ozarks. 447 volunteers,  representing 50 Adopt-the-Shoreline member groups, removed 578 cubic yards of trash and debris, weighing more than 25 tons,  from over 325 miles of shoreline. Ameren Missouri, which sponsors the Adopt-the-Shoreline program, paid more than $9,000 to dispose of the trash and debris collected.

Weather conditions posed a challenge and prevented some groups from participating in this year’s cleanup, which began on March 16th.  Bryan Vance, coordinator of the annual event, says under the circumstances, this year’s effort proves the Adopt-the-Shoreline program has the most dedicated and committed volunteers at the Lake. Vance says those who weren’t able to make it out this spring have already started making plans for the fall cleanup.

A Tornado Watch  remains in effect until 9:00 tonight.  The Watch area includes 34 central Missouri counties, including all of the Lake of the Ozarks area.

In addition, Benton and Morgan counties are under a Flash Flood Warning until 10 p.m.

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for all of southwest Missouri through Saturday morning.

A July 1st trial date has been set for a former Macks Creek High School teacher charged with statutory rape of a student. 41-year-old Jenner Shaffer was arrested last September after a teenage girl told Sheriff’s investigators that he was the father of her one-year-old child.Jenner   Macks Creek school officials had no knowledge of the alleged relationship prior to being contacted by law enforcement, and   Shaffer left the district long before charges were filed.  Shaffer, who now lives in Hickory County, is free on a $3,000 bond.  The former English teacher is charged with second-degree statutory rape and will be tried by a jury in Camden County Circuit Court.

A Seadoo driven by an Iowa man collided with a dock at the 11 mile marker in Davey Hollow Cove Sunday night.  48-year old Steve Shoemaker of Council Bluffs was taken to Lake Regional Hospital.

A Kansas teenager was taken to Lake Regional after a personal watercraft accident in Linn Creek Cove.  The Water Patrol says 16-year old Mark Embree of Leawood, Kansas jumped a wake throwing him from his Kawasaki PWC.

No scheduled maintenance activities will not take place during the Memorial Day holiday.

CAMDEN COUNTY

Route 5 bridge over the Lake of the Ozarks at Hurricane Deck – Bridge replacement continues. Much of the work currently taking place will not affect traffic. However, traffic could be stopped briefly to allow equipment to be moved.

Route A at Calvert Lane – Culvert pipe repair will take place Tuesday, May 28th through Thursday, May 30th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

MILLER COUNTY

Route 42 between Route 17 and Route 134 – Shoulder widening work continues.
Crews are currently working to build dirt embankments along the roadway, causing one lane to be closed. A pilot car will guide traffic through the work area.   Asphalt paving of the roadway and shoulders is under way.  A width restriction of 10 feet is in place between Route C and the city of Osage Beach.   The project is scheduled for completion in late-June.

Business Route 54 in Eldon – Roadway maintenance will take place Tuesday, May 28th through Thursday, May 30. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route D between Columbia Road and the end of state maintenance – Roadside maintenance will take place Wednesday and Thursday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route K between Bethany Road and Cannor Ridge Road – Roadside maintenance will take place on Tuesday.

MORGAN COUNTY

Route 50 at the Lamine River Bridge west of Syracuse and Route 50 at the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge west of Syracuse – Bridge deck replacement will begin this week.  One lane of each bridge will be open, and temporary traffic signals will move traffic through the work area. The project is scheduled for completion in the fall.

Route 52 between Route 5 south and Route 5 north – Roadside maintenance will take place Thursday, May 30th through Thursday, June 6. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Camdenton ranks eighth in BoatUS magazine’s list of great places for those looking for a retirement community with boating amenities.  In the just-released June/July issue, the magazine from the nation’s largest recreational boat owners group, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), describes Camdenton as an affordable community with a low cost of living.

Two people were taken to the hospital after a crash involving a motorcycle and a pickup truck in Morgan County Saturday.  The accident happened on Highway 52 near Big Rock Road when the biker tried to pass two vehicles.  He was hit when one of them made a left turn into a driveway.  The Highway Patrol says 27-year-old Thomas Eslahi of Tipton was airlifted to University Hospital in Columbia with serious injuries.  26-year-old Jessica Sallin of Tipton, a passenger in the pickup driven by 33-year-old Jackson Hart of Eldon, was also injured and taken by ambulance to Capital Region Hospital in Jefferson City.

Two people are dead in the crash of a helicopter that took off from Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland Friday night.  The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the wreckage was found Saturday in a heavily wooded area near Cross Timbers, west of Highway 65 in Hickory County.  Elizabeth Isham Cory, regional spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration, says the helicopter was registered to Lucas Oil.  A pilot and once passenger were on board.  The identity of the victims has not yet been released.  The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the crash.

A Camdenton woman is behind bars in Kirksville for allegedly failing to return a rental car.  27-year-old Mandi Dear is charged with stealing leased or rented property.  According to court papers, she  rented a car from Enterprise in Kirksville, through her insurance company February 25th.  The insurance stopped paying on March 15th, and when Enterprise attempted to charge her credit card, it was declined.  The car was later recovered in Camdenton.  Dear is being held on $25,000 bail in the Adair County Jail.

MoDOT has reopened the Route 54 bridge over the Osage River in Miller County. One westbound lane on the bridge has been closed since work to replace the bridge deck and paint the structure began in March. MoDOT says they worked hard to make sure the $835,000 project was finished before the start of the busy holiday weekend.

Kiwanians wearing bright orange vests will be out at  the intersection of Horseshoe Bend Parkway (HH) and Bagnell Dam Boulevard all day Friday, raising money for needy kids in exchange for a bag of fresh Kiwanis Peanuts:

Dave Creel, with the Kiwanis Club of Ozark Coast, says contributors can give any amount, and receive a bag of peanuts in return:

All proceeds will stay in the Lake area to benefit needy children and families. Last year, the Kiwanis Club donated more than $30,000 to various local programs.

Both of the beaches at Lake of the Ozarks State Park will be open for the Memorial Day weekend. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources says water samples taken Monday came back clean. Public Beach No.1 in Kaiser and Grand Glaize Beach will both open Friday,  along with 14 other designated swimming beaches in state parks around Missouri.  The department collects  samples the water samples from all beaches in the state park system weekly during the recreational season to determine suitability for swimming.

All lanes of Route 54 between the Osage River Bridge and the Route 242 interchange will be closed for one hour beginning at midnight tonight to allow Ameren Missouri crews to repair power lines damaged by Monday night’s storm. Motorists will be detoured along Route 242 and Business 54 across the Bagnell Dam during the closure.  Local law enforcement and MoDOT are working with Ameren to coordinate the closure. Electronic message boards and other traffic control tools will be put in place to help direct traffic around the work zone.

The speed limit on that same stretch of Route 54 will be reduced to 40 mph from 6:30 a.m. – noon on Thursday to enable Ameren Missouri to work on overhead power lines.

The National Weather Service confirms a tornado touched down Monday night in Morgan County,  three miles west-northwest of Gravois Mills.  Meteorologist Doug Cramer at the National Weather Service in Springfield says the EF-0 tornado touched down briefly at 8:46 p.m., uprooting numerous trees and causing minor structural damage:

The path of the tornado was 100 yards wide.

Co-Mo Electric crews have restored power to nearly 5,000 members affected by last night’s storm. 6,400 Co-Mo members were left in the dark. Co-Mo says the hardest hit areas were Ivy Bend and Gravois Mills.

Laclede Electric Cooperative reports their crews were able to restore power to all of their members in the Camdenton area Monday night and early this  morning.

As of mid-afternoon, Ameren Missouri was still reporting a couple dozen outages in the Rocky Mount area and near Tuscumbia, with less than 1,000 customers still without power statewide.

The trial of an Osage Beach police officer accused of molesting an underage babysitter more than 20 years ago has been delayed…again.  59-year-old Lt. Richard Calvino was scheduled to go on trial next week in Morgan County Circuit Court, on charges of felony sexual abuse and sodomy.  A woman who came forward four years ago claims the incidents took place starting in 1984, when she was 11 years old.   Calvino denies the allegation and continues to work for the Osage Beach Police Department.  This is the seventh continuance in the case. A new trial date has not been set yet.

A Stover man accused of killing his girlfriend’s 3-year-old son has asked the court for a change of venue.  Thomas “T.J.” Presley has requested his case be moved from Morgan County. Presley is charged with First-degree murder in the February, 2012 beating death of Blake Litton. The little boy’s mother, Jamie Litton, is also charged with Murder One. The couple’s accused ‘s of trying to cover up the beating by making it look like the little boy had been struck by a hit and run driver.

The Tornado Watch issued Sunday evening expired at 1 a.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for portions of southeast Kansas and Missouri, including the Lake of the Ozarks area.  The  Watch area includes the following Missouri counties:

BARRY… BARTON… BENTON… CAMDEN… CEDAR… CHRISTIAN… DADE… DALLAS… GREENE… HICKORY… JASPER… LACLEDE… LAWRENCE… MARIES… MCDONALD… MILLER… MORGAN… NEWTON… POLK… PULASKI… ST. CLAIR… STONE… VERNON… WEBSTER AND WRIGHT.

The Flash Flood Watch is in effect until 10 a.m. CDT.

Mowing of right of way and striping of roadways are under way in various locations. Motorists should travel with care and be alert to slow-moving equipment along the roadside.

CAMDEN COUNTY

Route 5 bridge over the Lake of the Ozarks at Hurricane Deck – Bridge replacement continues. Much of the work currently taking place will not affect traffic. However, traffic could be stopped briefly to allow equipment to be moved.

MILLER COUNTY

Route 54 bridge over the Osage River east of Wood River Road – Bridge rehabilitation in the westbound lanes continues. One lane will be open through the work area. The entire project is scheduled for completion by the end of May.

Route 42 between Route 17 and Route 134 – Shoulder widening work continues.  Crews are currently working to build dirt embankments along the roadway, causing one lane to be closed. A pilot car will guide traffic through the work area. Asphalt paving of the roadway and shoulders is under way. A width restriction of 10 feet is in place between Route C and the city of Osage Beach.
The project is scheduled for completion in late June.

Route H between Sele Road and Jim Henry Road – Culvert pipe repair will take place today and tomorrow — Monday, May 20th and Tuesday, May 21st. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route K between Bethany Road and Condor Road – Roadside maintenance will take place Wednesday and Thursday, May 22nd and 23rd. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

MORGAN COUNTY

Route 50 at the Lamine River Bridge west of Syracuse and Route 50 at the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge west of Syracuse – Bridge deck replacement will begin the week of May 27th. One lane of each bridge will be open, and temporary traffic signals will move traffic through the work area. The entire project is scheduled for completion this fall.

Four people were injured  Saturday in an accident on Highway 5 at Route HH in Morgan County.  According to the Highway Patrol, a sport utility vehicle driven by 28-year-old Erin Nies of Latham failed to yield and crossed into the path of another SUV driven by 28-year-old Jenna Mortenson of Jefferson City.  Both vehicles were totaled and both drivers were taken by ambulance to University Hospital.  Passengers in both vehicles were more seriously hurt and were flown to the hospital by Staff for Life helicopter.

Two people were hospitalized following a collision on Highway 54 Saturday afternoon.   The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the accident happened at the intersection with Route MM when a pickup attempting to turn left from the driving lane was struck by a sedan traveling in the passing lane, driven by 49-year-old Sherry Lewis of Henley, Missouri. Two passengers in Henley’s car were hurt. 65-year-old Harriet Bryan was taken by Miller County Ambulance to Capital Regional Medical Center; and 50-year-old Linda Walters was transported to St. Marys Hospital in Jefferson City.

Ha Ha Tonka State Park holds an open house Saturday, from 1-3 p.m., at the park visitor center. Park superintendent Nancy Masterson says the open house is being held in conjunction with a Kids to Parks program at Ha Ha Tonka, aimed at encouraging children to pursue recreational opportunities in state parks and gain a better understanding of the outdoor environment. Park staff will be available to answer questions and discuss the success of the State Park Youth Corps at Ha Ha Tonka.  Ha Ha Tonka State Park is located five miles southwest of Camdenton off U.S. Highway 54 on Highway D.

Friday is the final day for the annual Lake Area white goods recycling event hosted by the City of Osage Beach as a free public service.  The public is invited to drop off refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, stoves, air conditioners, water heaters and dish washers in the parking lot of the Osage Beach Public Works Facility at 5757 Chapel Drive. Public Works employees will be on hand from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. to assist with unloading large items. The two-week event is conducted through a grant from the Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with Lake Ozarks Solid Waste Management.

The Camden County Planning and Zoning Commission has turned down a request from the owners of the Paradise Restaurant & Bar, off Route TT in Sunrise Beach for a conditional use permit for the operation of an outdoor music venue with an acoustic privacy wall for noise abatement. The Lakefront establishment has been cited for code violations, and neighboring residents have filed suit in Circuit Court, seeking an injunction to stop the outdoor music. The conditional use permit request could be reconsidered if additional information is presented, or a new application is made for some other option.

Mowing of right of way and striping of roadways are under way in various locations. Motorists should travel with care and be alert to slow-moving equipment along the roadside.

CAMDEN COUNTY

Route 5 bridge over the Lake of the Ozarks at Hurricane Deck – Bridge replacement continues. Much of the work currently taking place will not affect traffic. However, traffic could be stopped briefly to allow equipment to be moved.

MILLER COUNTY

Ameren UE will temporarily close Bagnell Dam on Business Route 54 today to perform survey work, weather permitting. The dam will be closed to traffic between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Motorists are asked to use alternate routes during the closure.

Route 54 bridge over the Osage River east of Wood River Road – Bridge rehabilitation in the westbound lanes continues. One lane will be open through the work area. The entire project is scheduled for completion in late May.

Route 42 between Route 17 and Route 134 – Shoulder widening work continues.
* Crews are currently working to build dirt embankments along the roadway, causing one lane to be closed. A pilot car will guide traffic through the work area.
Asphalt paving of the roadway and shoulders is scheduled to begin this week.
A width restriction of 10 feet will be in place between Route C and the city of Osage Beach beginning the week of this week. The project is scheduled for completion in late June.

Route 52 between Route E and Brushy Creek Road – Roadside maintenance will take place today. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route C between Route JJ and Keyes School Road – Roadside maintenance will take place today. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

MORGAN COUNTY

Route 52 between the north Route 5 junction and the south Route 5 junction – Roadside maintenance will take place today through May 23rd.  One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Construction will begin this week on Phase One of Co-Mo Electric Cooperative’s new Co-Mo Connect network, bringing fiber-to-the-home high-speed Internet, television and telephone to its members.

Co-Mo spokesman John Agliata says Phase One of the Co-Mo Connect network covers much of the cooperative’s Lake District, as well as its service territory from Tipton to just west of Jefferson City.  Members in the areas that had the highest percentage of signups during a pre-sales period that ended last month will be the first to get the service, and should be online by the end of the summer.

Co-Mo Connect will eventually be available to Co-Mo’s entire service area:

Agliata says Phase One construction is expected to take about a year.   The entire network is expected to be completed at the end of four years.

Mother’s Day is also be Graduation Day for Eldon High School seniors. For the first time, graduation ceremonies are being held at Mustang Memorial Park. The facility features more than 1,700 bleacher seats, and the hillside will be available to view the graduation for those who bring their own lawn chairs. With a large crowd expected for the event, special parking provisions have been announced. School officials are advising visitors to use the overflow parking on the east side of the field. They’ll also be using the Bethany Lutheran Church and Oak Street Church of Christ lots for overflow parking, with shuttle service starting at 1:15 p.m. on Sunday.

Eldon’s high school seniors are the first in the Lake area to graduate this year.  Other area districts, including Camdenton and School of the Osage, will hold graduation ceremonies this week.

A woman was rescued by firefighters this afternoon after falling nearly 75 feet from an embankment into a wooded area near the Bagnell Dam Strip.  The extent of her injuries is not known.  The woman was flown to a hospital by Staff for Life helicopter.  She was reportedly with a group of friends who were trespassing and “horsing around” when she fell. A man with the group was seen being led away in handcuffs.

The final public meeting for the Miller County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2013 is scheduled for this afternoon.  The meeting, sponsored by the Lake of the Ozarks Council of Local Governments, will focus on the final review of all goals, objectives and action items proposed for the updated plan, aimed at reducing or eliminating the long-term risk to human life and property from natural hazards.  The comprehensive plan includes numerous mitigation action items that can be implemented to reduce the long-term risk within Miller County.  The public workshop will take place at 2:00 p.m., at the Miller County Courthouse in Tuscumbia.

A fire at a cabin in Sunrise Beach Wednesday could’ve been much worse. Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District Chief Dennis Reilly says crews encountered a significant fire when they arrived on scene, on Barberton Drive off  Beachwood Drive and Indian Hill Road.  An attached garage was destroyed, but the fire was brought under control as flames started to extend into the interior of the cabin, preventing further loss:

The cabin was unoccupied.  The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.

Students were shaken up but not injured when an SUV crashed into their school bus Wednesday morning in Lake Ozark.  Eleven School of the Osage students were on board when Assistant Superintendent Tony Hermann says the bus was struck by an SUV that had been hit from behind. by another car:

As a precaution, the students were taken to Lake Regional Hospital:

The accident happened on Bagnell Dam Boulevard, between Paul’s supermarket and Baxter’s Bar and Grill.  The bus was damaged and had to be towed from the scene. Business 54 was closed for about an hour-and-a-half.

It was the second school bus accident in less than a week in the Lake area. Six students sustained minor injuries last Friday when a Climax Springs R-IV bus that ran off the road and overturned on Route FF in northwest Camden County after hitting a patch of black ice.  The students all returned to class on Monday.

Camden County Sheriff’s deputies, Camdenton Police, and officers from the Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group executed a search warrant at a home in the 100 block of Dogwood Drive in Camdenton yesterday. They seized seized 5 ounces of marijuana and various drug paraphernalia. 43-year-old Andrea R. Ulrich was arrested for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. Ulrich is currently being held in the Camden County Adult Detention Facility on $5,000 bail.

Mowing of right of way and striping of roadways are under way in various locations. Motorists should travel with care and be alert to slow-moving equipment along the roadside.

CAMDEN COUNTY

Route 5 bridge over the Lake of the Ozarks at Hurricane Deck – Bridge replacement continues. Much of the work currently taking place will not affect traffic. However, traffic could be stopped briefly to allow equipment to be moved.

MILLER COUNTY

Route 54 bridge over the Osage River east of Wood River Road – Bridge rehabilitation in the westbound lanes continues. One lane will be open through the work area. The entire project is scheduled for completion later this month.

Route 42 between Route 17 and Route 134 – Shoulder widening work continues.
Crews are currently working to build dirt embankments along the roadway, causing one lane to be closed. A pilot car will guide traffic through the work area.

Route 52 at Pace Road – Culvert pipe replacement will take place Tuesday through Thursday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route 52 between Route E and Klin Road – Roadside maintenance will take place today. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route 54 between Route M and Route V – Roadside maintenance in the eastbound and westbound lanes will take place today through Thursday, May 16th. One eastbound and one westbound lane will be open through the work area.

Route C between Route JJ and Keyes School Road – Roadside maintenance will take place today. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

According to the Highway Patrol accident report, five students were treated for minor injuries after Friday’s accident involving a Climax Springs R-IV school bus.  The injured students were identified as 7-year-old Troy Ethington and his 9-year-old sister Kaitlyn, 8-year-old Maycee and 9-year-old Trinity Phillips, and 16-year-old Charles Emmons, all of Edwards.  Seven students were on their way to school when the bus ran off the road and overturned on Route FF. The driver says the bus hit a patch of black ice.

Hundreds of classic cars are lining up on the Bagnell Dam Strip and thousands of people will be showing up to see them this weekend. The 25th anniversary Magic Dragon Street Meet is underway in Lake Ozark. Magic Dragon chairman Alan Sullivan says over 800 classic cars are on display:

10,000 people attended last year’s show, from as far away as California.

A Climax Springs School District bus carrying students to school slid off a road and came to rest on its side against a tree on Route FF this morning. All seven students on the bus were taken to Lake Regional Hospital to be checked out; none of them were seriously injured according to Superintendent Michael Diekmann:

In addition to the driver and students, a substitute driver in training was also on the bus. Diekmann says there were some communication issues reporting the incident.  The antenna for the two-way radio on the bus broke off in the accident and there was cellphone signals are weak in that area:

The driver says the accident happened when the bus hit a patch of black ice.  The Highway Patrol is investigating.

The Missouri Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of a Miller County man convicted of killing his girlfriend.  45-year-old Kelly Simono was found guilty of murder in the death of 23-year-old Brandi Mathews.  The dancer at an Osage Beach strip club disappeared in 2006. Her remains were found by hikers under a bridge in Eldon in January, 2009.  The 22-page appellate opinion rejected Simino’s arguments that he denied a speedy trial, the judge gave the jury improper instructions, and court records from an abuse case were improperly shown to the jury.  Simino is serving a 31 year prison sentence.

Iberia Elementary School is getting a new principal.  The school board has announced that Shannon Shelton will replace George Bunger, who is retiring at the end of this school year.  Shelton is currently on staff at the Joel E. Barbor School in Lebanon.

One person is dead in an accident an Highway 52 in Morgan County. 38-year-old Amy Schnelting of Stover lost control of her car on and crashed into a utility pole on Highway 52 three miles west of Versailles. She was pronounced dead at the scene Tuesday afternoon.  According to the Highway Patrol, Schnelting was not wearing a seat belt.

CAMDEN COUNTY

Route 5 bridge over the Lake of the Ozarks at Hurricane Deck – Bridge replacement continues. Much of the work currently taking place will not affect traffic. The entire project is scheduled for completion in spring 2014.

Business Route 54 between Bagnell Dam Blvd. and Route 42 – Roadway resurfacing is under way. One lane will be open through the work area. The project is scheduled for completion in May.

Route MM between Route TT and the toll bridge – Roadside maintenance will take place today through Thursday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

MILLER COUNTY

Route 42 between Route 17 and Route 134 – Shoulder widening work continues. One lane will be open, and a pilot car will guide traffic through the work area. The entire project is scheduled for completion in July.

Route 52 between Route 17 and Woods Road – Culvert pipe replacement will take place today through next Thursday, May 9th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route 52 between Route PP and Twin Creek Road – Roadside maintenance will take place today through Wednesday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route 54 between Route FF and River Road – Roadside maintenance in the eastbound and westbound lanes will take place today through next Thursday, May 9th. One eastbound and one westbound lane will be open through the work area.

MORGAN COUNTY

Route N between Route BB and Rattlesnake Road – Culvert pipe replacement will take place today.  One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route HH between Route E and Route 5 – Culvert pipe replacement will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, April 30th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

The Osage Beach Farmers Market is getting ready for its second season, and they’ll be at a new location this year.  Opening Day will be next Saturday, 8 a.m. – noon, at Stone Crest Mall.  The first 100 customers on will receive a free fruit or nut-bearing sapling.

A man from Kaiser has been injured in a car crash. 25-year-old Dylan Luttrell lost control of his SUV on a curve on Highway U in Washington County Saturday afternoon. The vehicle went off the road and overturned. According to the Highway Patrol, Luttreell wasn’t wearing a seat belt.  Neither was his passenger, Mindy Marler of Potosi.  Both were taken to Washington County Memorial Hospital.

A Laurie woman has been charged with murder in the stabbing death of a Camdenton man nearly nine years ago.  36-year-old Clara Rector, arrested  by Camden County deputies Sunday for stalking a pastor at  Camdenton Bible Baptist Church, confessed to the April 2004 homicide of 48-year-old Tommy Hope.  Rector was a person of interest during the original investigation, but authorities were never able to to connect her directly to the murder.  Yesterday, deputies arrested 46-year-old Jason Rector and charged him with felony evidence tampering.  Both are being held without bail in the Camden County jail.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Wednesday morning to mark the grand opening  of the new Dierbergs Market in Osage Beach.  Store Director Jeff Gloss says the festivities get underway at 8:30 a.m.:

The store is located at Lakeview Pointe, across from the outlet mall:

The 77,000-square-foot store is Dierbergs’ first outside the St. Louis metro area.

Investigators say Saturday night’s fire at the Lakewood Condominiums was caused by propane gas fireplace logs:

Osage Beach Fire Protection District Chief Jeffrey Dorhauer says the fire marshal working with insurance investigators have determined that “new gas log sets in the fireplace boxes had been set too close to combustible material. The subsequent lighting of the fireplace by the occupants in unit 401 caused the combustible material to heat to its ignition temperature.”  Dorhauer says it’s still too early to provide a final damage estimate:

There were six people in the building when the fire started. Everybody got out safely.

A fire at Hurricane Deck Elementary School this afternoon was caused by an apparent short circuit in an electrical outlet, according to Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District Chief Dennis Reilly:

Reilly says power was quickly turned off to the building and the school was evacuated:

Classes resumed a short time later.

CAMDEN COUNTY

New Route 5 bridge over the Lake of the Ozarks at Hurricane Deck – Bridge replacement continues. Much of the work currently taking place will not affect traffic.

Current Route 5 bridge over the Lake of the Ozarks at Hurricane Deck – Bridge inspection will take place this week. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route TT between Route 5 and the end of state maintenance – Roadside maintenance will take place today through Thursday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Business Route 54 between Bagnell Dam Blvd. and Route 42 – Roadway resurfacing will begin this week. One lane will be open through the work area. The project is scheduled for completion in May.

MILLER COUNTY

Route 54 bridge over the Osage River east of Wood River Road – Bridge rehabilitation in the westbound lanes continues. One lane will be open through the work area. The entire project is scheduled for completion in May.

Route 52 at Pace Road – Culvert pipe replacement will take place through Thursday, May 2nd. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route 52 between Route 17 and Woods Road – Culvert pipe replacement will take place through Thursday, April 25th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route 52 between Route 17 and Route PP – Roadside maintenance will take place Wednesday through next Monday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route 54 between Route FF and River Road – Roadside maintenance in the eastbound and westbound lanes will take place through Thursday, May 2nd. One eastbound and one westbound lane will be open through the work area.

Route 42 between Route 17 and Route 134 – Shoulder widening work continues. One lane will be open, and a pilot car will guide traffic through the work area. The entire project is scheduled for completion in July.

Route BB between Route 42 and Route 133 – Roadside maintenance will take place today through Wednesday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

MORGAN COUNTY

Route N between Route BB and Rattlesnake Road – Culvert pipe replacement will take place today. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route 135 between Webb Road and Peter Pan Drive – Culvert pipe replacement will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, April 23rd. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

The Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District has been dispatched to the Hurricane Deck Elementary School.  Students have been safely evacuated. School Secretary Cindy Campbell says it may be faulty wiring.  Details to follow.

From Osage Beach Fire Protection District Chief Jeff Dorhauer:

On April 20 at 7:31pm the Osage Beach Fire Protection District was called to a 2nd Alarm Commercial
Structure Fire at building 400 of Lakewood Condominiums off of Jeffries Road in Osage Beach. Upon
arrival crews found heavy fire venting through the roof with buildings on both sides in danger.

All occupants were evacuated and crews began an aggressive attack to contain the fire to the building of
origin. Fire Department utilized aerial trucks from Osage Beach and Lake Ozark and a Fire Boat on the
lake side of the condo to bring the fire under control.

Minor smoke and exterior siding damage was sustained to buildings on either side of building 400. Fire
was brought under control at approximately 9pm and units remained on the scene until shortly after
11pm. No injuries to occupants or firefighters were reported.

After initial investigation the fire is believed to have started on the second floor of building 400 in the
fireplace and/or flue. Investigation also has shown that the fireplaces possibly had recently been
upgraded or had work completed on them, however no permit for this work was issued by the Fire
District, investigation to continue.

A large fire broke out Saturday night at the Lakewood Resort condominium complex in Osage Beach.  Authorities say the fire apparently started in a unit in Building 400. The building sustained extensive damage and as many as  seven condo units were reportedly destroyed.  Two other buildings sustained smoke and water damage. No injuries were reported. Lakewood Resort is located off Jeffries Road on the west side of the Grand Glaize Bridge.

Camden County Sheriff’s deputies and Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement agents seized 3/4-pound of marijuana, pain pills and $700 in cash during a drug raid in the 600 block of Sportsman Lodge Circle in Sunrise Beach.  18-year-old Mason Johnson was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.  He’s being held in the Camden County jail on $5,000 cash bail.

The longest continuously running annual festival in the Lake of the Ozarks area is underway in Camdenton.   The 63rd annual Dogwood Festival features  food, rides, and entertainment.   There’s a carnival, live music, arts, crafts, beauty pageants, a hog roast, a fish fry, a parade and more.  Camdenton-Area Chamber of Commerce officials expect as many a 12,000 people to turn out for the various events this weekend. The Dogwood Parade will wind its way through downtown Camdenton starting ay 10 a.m. on Saturday. Just-retired Camdenton Mayor Dennis North is Grand Marshal of this year’s  Dogwood Festival.

A Stover man was taken to the hospital after his pick up went off the road and crashed in Pettis County.  21-year old Dale Viebrock told the Highway Patrol two deer walked into the road; he swerved to avoid them, hit a ditch and overturned.

As Dierbergs Markets prepares to open its new store in Osage Beach next week, plans have been announced for two national retailers to also set up shop in the Lakeview Pointe Shopping Center.  DICK’S Sporting Goods plans to open a 34,000-square-foot store in November. Bed Bath & Beyond,will open a 20,000-square-foot store in next March.

MoDOT reports the heavy rainfall is causing flooding on Route K south of Iberia Miller County.  Water has also been over the road on Highway 17 at Coon Creek, and on Highway HH at Tuscumbia.

The Flood Warning issued by the National Weather Service for small streams in several counties in southwest and central Missouri,  including southeastern Camden County and southeastern Miller County, was allowed to expire at 6 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch until 10 p.m. for 28 counties in central and southwest Missouri, including the Lake of the Ozarks area.

The Watch area includes the following counties in central Missouri:
Benton, Camden, Hickory, Maries, Miller, Morgan, Phelps, Pulaski, St. Clair

This Watch area includes the cities of  Bolivar, Branson, Buffalo, Camdenton, Cole Camp, Eldon, Fort Leonard Wood, Lake Ozark, Lebanon, Osage Beach, Rolla, Springfield, Versailles, Warsaw and Waynesville.

Tara Grantham and her husband Steven were in Boston to watch their son run in the Marathon.  She says she’s grateful Frazier is a fast runner; 40 minutes later and they would have been standing near the finish line when the bombs exploded Monday:

The Granthams, owners of Versailles Total Fitness, were at the airport, waiting for their flight home to Missouri, when they saw the news on TV:

Grantham frantically tried to call her son. After several tries, she finally managed to reach her daughter-in-law. They had already left the finish line area and were on their way back to their hotel when the bombs exploded.

207 runners from Missouri were registered to compete in the Boston Marathon.  There were no reports of any Missourians injured in Monday’s bombings.

A June 4th special election has been scheduled to break the tie vote on a use tax that was proposed on the April 2nd ballot in Laurie. The vote in Laurie tied at 92. On the Morgan County side of the city, 92 voted for the use tax and 90 against. On the Camden County side, only two voters cast ballots, both against the tax.  The tax measure was overwhelmingly rejected in the August 2012 election.

Last week’s fatal fire near Eldon is believed to have been started by the victim.  Investigators with the Miller County sheriff’s office say 23-year-old Brent Comer apparently got caught in the fire he started while burglarizing a vacant rental home on Eldon Road last Monday night.  Miller County Sheriff Bill Abbott says investigators believe Comer was acting alone, and autopsy results indicate his death was due to smoke inhalation.

A Gravois Mills firefighter and his wife were killed when their motorcycle collided head-on with an SUV. The Highway Patrol says the accident happened Sunday afternoon on Highway 87 at Boulder Road in Miller County. A Harley driven by 57-year old Terry Jones crossed the center line as it was going around a curve and hit a vehicle driven by 58-year old Donna Medlin of Springfield. Jones and his 56-year-old wife, Susan, were both pronounced dead at the scene.

CAMDEN COUNTY

New Route 5 bridge over the Lake of the Ozarks at Hurricane Deck – Bridge replacement continues. Much of the work currently taking place will not affect traffic. The entire project is scheduled for completion in spring 2014.

Route TT between Route F and the end of state maintenance – Roadside maintenance will take place today through Thursday, April 18th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

MILLER COUNTY

Route 54 bridge over the Osage River east of Wood River Road – Bridge rehabilitation in the westbound lanes continues. One lane will be open through the work area. The entire project is scheduled for completion in May.

Route 42 between Route 17 and Route 134 – Shoulder widening work continues. One lane will be open, and a pilot car will guide traffic through the work area. The entire project is scheduled for completion in July.

Route 52 at Pace Road – Culvert pipe replacement will take place today through Thursday, April 18th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route 52 between Route 17 and Woods Road – Culvert pipe replacement will take place today through Thursday, April 25th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route 54 between Route FF and River Road – Roadside maintenance in the eastbound and westbound lanes will take place today through Thursday, April 25th. One eastbound and one westbound lane will be open through the work area.

Route MM between Route 54 and Biddle Road – Culvert pipe replacement will take place today through Thursday, April 18th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

MILLER AND MARIES COUNTIES

Route BB between Route 42 and Route 133 – Roadside maintenance will take place today through Thursday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Four Stover residents have been seriously injured in a crash in Benton County.  The Highway Patrol says the accident happened Saturday afternoon at Route U and Cheese Creek Road when a car driven by 21-year-old Andrew Moesch skidded off the road on a curve, hit a sign and came to rest in a ditch.  Moesch and one of his  passengers, 20-year-old  Veronica Poort, were taken by air ambulance to University Hospital in Columbia.  19-year-old Cody Hill and 39-year-old Glenda Holmes were airlifted to Research Medical Center in Kansas City.

The new Lake of the Ozarks welcome sign is turning orange in recognition of National Work Zone Awareness Week. The Lake-Area Chamber of Commerce will turn the lights on its Hollywood-style sign along Route 54 orange this week to remind motorists to drive safely in work zones. Work Zone Awareness Week, which coincides with the start of the busy highway maintenance and construction season, is designed to alert motorists to the need to slow down, eliminate distractions, and pay attention in work zones.

Concerns of Police Survivors was set to host two screenings of the documentary “Heroes Behind the Badge” for the Lake of the Ozarks area on Monday at the School of the Osage High School Auditorium. The screenings have been CANCELLED due to conflicting events.  A new date has not yet been announced.  “Heroes Behind the Badge” recounts the harrowing stories of law enforcement officers who were caught in the line of fire and survived, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.  Concerns of Police Survivors — C.O.P.S. — is a nationwide not-for-profit organization, based in Candenton,  that assists surviving families of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol will hold an informational public meeting later this month about Lake Race 2013, set to take place June 8th and 9th on the Lake of the Ozarks. An aerial view of the race course diagram will be on display at the meeting, April 27th from 10 a.m. – noon at the Willmore Lodge in Lake Ozark.

Miller County Sheriff Bill Abbott says the investigation into the discovery of a body following a fire in a vacant rental home near Eldon earlier this week should be wrapped up on Friday:

The body of 23-year-old Brent Comer was discovered after a fire in a home on Eldon Road Monday night.  Comer’s car with his driver’s license inside was parked nearby.  No information has been released to indicate what Comer was doing there.  Investigators are still conducting interviews and following up on leads:

The state fire marshal’s office is assisting in the investigation.

The calendar says spring, but the National Weather Service says a Frost Advisory is posted from midnight tonight until to 8 a.m. Friday.

The Flood Warning for Camden, Miller, Morgan and Benton counties expires at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Flooding was reported this morning on Tunnel Dam Road along the Niangua river east of Macks Creek in Camden County.

A Lake Ozark man is among 34 individuals – and 23 businesses – accused of operating an illegal online sports gaming business. Legendz Sports solicited more than $1 billion in illegal bets, according to a federal prosecutors.  70-year-old Terry “Top Cat” Campbell of Lake Ozark faces up to 20 years in prison for racketeering, money laundering, and operating an illegal gambling business, if convicted.

Miller County authorities are investigating a fatal fire just outside of Eldon. The body of 23-year-old Brent Comer was found in a burned-out home on Eldon Road last night.  Sheriff Bill Abbott said the State Fire Marshall’s Office and the Highway Patrol are working with his department in the ongoing investigation.

Police are investigating the death of a baby in Eldon.  Authorities responded to reports of a 2-month-old who was unresponsive last Thursday.  The child was taken to Lake Regional Hospital, and pronounced dead. Eldon police called the Highway Patrol to investigate and they found drugs while searching the home.  32-year-old Graham Bond and 25-year-old Elizabeth Burnett were arrested and charged with felony counts of endangering the welfare of a child and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.  Bond and Burnett are each being held on a $100,000 bond.  The investigation into the death of the baby continues.

CAMDEN COUNTY

Route 5 bridge over the Lake of the Ozarks at Hurricane Deck – Bridge replacement continues. Much of the work currently taking place will not affect traffic.

Route KK between Route 54 and Osage Beach Parkway – Roadway maintenance will take place today through Thursday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route TT between Route F and the end of state maintenance – Roadside maintenance will take place today through Thursday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

MILLER COUNTY

Route 54 bridge over the Osage River east of Wood River Road – Bridge rehabilitation in the westbound lanes continues. One lane will be open through the work area.

Route 42 between Route 17 and Route 134 – Shoulder widening work continues. One lane will be open, and a pilot car will guide traffic through the work area.

Route 54 between Route FF and River Road – Roadside maintenance in the eastbound and westbound lanes will take place today through next Thursday, April 18th. One eastbound and one westbound lane will be open through the work area.

Route 52 at Pace Road – Culvert pipe replacement will take place today through  April 18th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route 52 between Route 17 and Woods Road – Culvert pipe replacement will take place today through  April 18th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route BB between Route 42 and Route 133 – Roadside maintenance will take place Thursday, April 11th through Wednesday, April 17th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

MORGAN COUNTY

Route 52 between Newton Street and Fairground Road in Versailles – Roadside maintenance will take place today and tomorrow. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route 5 between Route 52 and Jefferson Road in Versailles – Roadside maintenance will take place Wednesday and Thursday.  One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

An investigation is underway into the cause of Sunday’s fire that damaged the historic Ozark Opry building in Osage Beach.  The fire was first reported shortly after 11 a.m. by an Osage police officer   When firefighters arrived, they found flames had burned through the front part of the roof, damaging the iconic Ozark Opry sign.  Osage Beach Fire Protection District, Lake Ozark Fire Protection District, Eldon Fire Department and Mid County Fire Protection District all responded to the scene.  It took them about two hours to get the fire in the attic under control.  Firefighters cut through part of the metal roof to release smoke trapped inside the building.  Despite heavy smoke and water damage, the building remains structurally sound, according to authorities.  The Ozark Opry, a popular live entertainment venue for over 50 years, has been closed since 2005.

A fire in Miller County has left  one person homeless.  The fire happened Friday at a home on Brushy Fork Road in Iberia.  According to a spokesman for the Heart of Missouri Chapter of the American Red Cross, the agency is assisting the victim with financial resources to purchase food and clothing.

Lake Ozark’s firefighters beat the Police Department 53-23 in the third annual  “Guns and Hoses” charity basketball game Friday night. Proceeds go to the Fire Protection District’s “Shop with a Fireman” program and the police department’s Kids Academy.  It’s the third year in a row the firefighters beat the cops.

Three people were taken to the hospital after a head-on crash on Hwy 5 just north of Santa Fe Road in Morgan County Friday afternoon.  According to the Highway Patrol,  a pickup driven by 44-year-old Eric Stringer of Gravois Mills crossed the center line and struck an SUV driven by 42-year-old Lisa Van Lerberg of Shawnee, Kansas.   Both drivers were seriously injured.  Stringer was airlifted to University Hospital in Columbia. The Highway Patrol says he wasn’t wearing a seat belt.   Van Lerberg and her husband, who sustained minor injuries, were taken by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital.  Both vehicles were totaled and highway was closed while the wreckage was cleared.

The president of the National Rifle Association, David Keene, will be the keynote speaker at tomorrow night’s Lincoln Days Dinner hosted by Camden County Republicans:

The dinner takes place Saturday night at the Lodge of Four Seasons.

Lake Ozark police officers are gunning for revenge … hoping to hose the firefighters … in tonight’s third annual ‘Guns and Hoses’ charity basketball game:

Lake Ozark police officer Shane Pierce says the game takes place tonight, tip time 7 p.m., at the Heritage Building gym at the School of the Osage:

Last year’s game raised $7,500 for local charities; they’re hoping to top that tonight.

Laurie voters will return to the polls to decide the use tax ballot issue.  Voting in Tuesday’s election ended in a tie.  Laurie Mayor Herb Keck says state law requires another vote to decide the issue.  The ballot language is already being prepared by the Morgan County Clerk’s Office and a special election may take place in June.  The use tax question failed by a wide margin the first time it was on the ballot, last August.

Voters turned out for Tuesday’s elections in the Lake area in greater numbers than expected. In Camden County, turnout was 23 percent::

County Clerk Rowland Todd attributes the higher numbers to some hotly contested ballot issues:

Turnout in Miller County was just under 18 percent.

A Miller County woman has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and child abuse charges in the death of her fiance’s daughter.  37-year-old Roshell Dawn Johnson of Brumley was arrested in 2008 after the 20-month-old child suffered serious brain injuries while in her care.  The toddler was flown to University Hospital in Columbia where she died the next day.  Johnson will return to court in Camdenton July 9th for sentencing.  Under the terms of the plea agreement, the sentence could range from a minimum of 10 up to 25 years in prison.

A man wanted by authorities in Florida for an alleged sexual assault on a minor was spotted in the Lake area last week, but apparently has left the area. 35-year-old James Stovall was seen around the Country Club Hotel and Spa on Horseshoe Bend Parkway and is believed to have family living in the area. Lake Ozark Police Chief Mark Maples says Stovall apparently left when he learned that local law enforcement agencies were looking for him.

CAMDEN COUNTY

Route 5 bridge over the Lake of the Ozarks at Hurricane Deck – Bridge replacement continues. Much of the work currently taking place will not affect traffic. The entire project is scheduled for completion in spring 2014.

Route TT between Route F and the end of state maintenance – Roadside maintenance will take place today through Thursday, April 11th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

MILLER COUNTY

Route 54 bridge over the Osage River east of Wood River Road – Bridge rehabilitation in the westbound lanes is under way. One lane will be open through the work area. The entire project is scheduled for completion in May.

Route 42 between Route 17 and Route 134 – Shoulder widening work resumes today.  One lane will be open, and a pilot car will guide traffic through the work area. The entire project is scheduled for completion in July.

Route 42 between Route 17 and Route TT – Roadside maintenance will take place Wednesday and Thursday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route 52 between Route 17 and Route PP – Roadside maintenance will take place today through Thursday, April 11th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route 52 between Route 17 and Woods Road – Culvert pipe replacement will take place today through Friday, April 12th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route K between Bethany Road and Cannor Ridge Road – Roadside maintenance will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, April 2nd. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route Y between Route 52 and Hackler Road – Culvert pipe replacement will take place today through Friday, April 12th. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Route BB between Route 42 and Route 133 – Roadside maintenance will take place today through Thursday. One lane will be open, and crews will flag traffic through the work area.

Three groups from Morgan County have been awarded grants from the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s 2013 Building Our American Communities grant program. The Radiant Rascals 4-H Club, the Versailles Future Farmers of America Chapter and the Stover FFA Chapter will use the money to make improvements to the Morgan County Youth Fair Barn. Funding will go toward several projects, including new gates, paint and drain pipes.

A 15 percent drop in blood transfusions this year is being blamed for an 18 percent staff reduction at Community Blood Center of the Ozarks.  CBCO, which supplies blood products to 38 area hospitals, is laying off 39 employees.  27 full-time and 12 part-time positions are being eliminated.  A CBCO spokesman says the layoffs are necessary because of a decline in the number of requests that it gets from hospitals for blood products.  Better technology and changes in medical  has reduced the need for some transfusions.

The lakefront home that caught fire yesterday in Osage Beach is a total loss. Flames were shooting through the roof of the two-story structure on Shawn Road when firefighters arrived. Osage Beach Fire Protection District Chief Jeff Dorhauer says the fire was caused by a bar-b-que pit: