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Attorney General Chris Koster announced that Reynolds County Judge Kelly Parker has sentenced 31-year old Billie Jo Guerra, to five years in prison after finding her guilty of 1^st degree endangering the welfare of a child.  Koster said evidence presented at the trial established that Guerra was present when her boyfriend, Timmy Lynn Chandler, shook her 15-month-old daughter, causing permanent brain damage to the child. Guerra failed to stop Chandler from shaking the baby, nor did she report the incident to authorities or seek prompt medical attention for her daughter. Chandler is serving a seven-year sentence after pleading guilty to child abuse in the case. Koster said Assistant Attorney General Sue Boresi represented the state at trial and at the sentencing. 

An accident occurred at 11:25 Wednesday morning, May 11^th in Dent County on Highway 32 about a half mile east of Boss. According to the highway patrol report, a 2003 Dodge pickup driven by 34-year old Daniel Nienkamp of Viburnum, was traveling westbound on Highway 32. The pickup ran off the right side of the roadway, struck a dirt embankment and overturned, coming to rest in the roadway. Nienkamp suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Salem Memorial District Hospital by private vehicle. He was wearing a seat restraint at the time of the accident. The Dodge pickup sustained extensive damage and was towed from the scene by Abney’s Towing of Viburnum.

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that 41-year old Patrick Zaritz was indicted on multiple drug and weapons charges. Zaritz of St. James was indicted by a federal grand jury on two felony counts of manufacturing methamphetamine, one felony count of possession of a short-barreled shotgun in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one felony count of possession of a sawed-off shotgun, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, these charges carry a mandatory minimum of 35 years in prison and fines up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges. The South Central Drug Task Force, Rolla Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney Michael Bert is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

A 9.3-percent dip in the 2011 spring turkey harvest confirms what Missourians already knew, it has been a stormy three weeks in the Show-Me State. Resource Scientist Jason Isabelle, the Conservation Department’s turkey specialist, announced that hunters checked 38,328 turkeys during the regular spring turkey season April 18^th through May 8^th. That is down 3,926 from last year. Adding the harvest from the youth turkey season April 9^th and 10^th brings Missouri’s 2011 spring turkey harvest to 42,226. That is down 8.6 percent from last year. Spring turkey permit sales were down 4,885, or 3.3 percent, from last year. Top harvest counties were Franklin, with 840 turkeys checked, Texas with 699 and Bollinger with 675. Juvenile gobblers, known as “jakes,” made up 19.6 percent of the harvest. That is virtually identical to last year, when jakes comprised 20 percent of the harvest. The Conservation Department recorded three firearms-related hunting incidents during the regular turkey season. None was fatal. Two incidents, including a fatal self-inflicted gunshot, occurred during the youth season. Last year, the agency recorded four incidents during the regular season and two during the youth season. None of last year’s incidents was fatal. County-by-county spring turkey harvest totals are available at the MDC website, www.missouriconservation.org.

The Salem R-80 Planning Committee is holding its second planning workshop tonight at 7:00 in the junior high library. This is an important step in the process of creating a five-year plan for the district. This meeting is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend. Salem R-80 would like to get as much input as possible as they plan for the future of the Salem R-80 school district. 

Sports [TOP]

The Salem Sports Athletic Banquet was held Wednesday night at the Salem High School Cafeteria. A number of awards were presented by Athletic Director Bill Schuchardt at the event. He presented the Old Spice Football Player of the Year Award for Ryan Smith. He also presented the MSHSAA Awards for integrity, sportsmanship, and ethics to Kevin Presley and Ashley Crocker. Schuchardt then presented the Tiger Award to Jonathan Hambacker and the Lady Tiger Award to Kristy Bermudez before presenting retiring Baseball Coach Don Smith with a plaque for 25 years of coaching in Salem. Following the general awards in the cafeteria, the track teams, golf team, tennis team and baseball team presented their own awards at different locations on campus.

St. Louis Cardinal Manager Tony LaRussa has been diagnosed with shingles that have caused discomfort to his face and eye, and he will miss about a week before returning to the team. LaRussa is being treated at the Mayo Clinic and has turned the managing duties over to bench coach Joe Pettini in his absence.

Starlin Castro had four hits, drove in three runs and scored three times, and the Chicago Cubs used a big third inning following a rain delay to rout the Cardinals, 11-4, in the middle contest of a three-game series. Albert Pujols singled in a pair for St. Louis. Jake Westbrook (2-3) was tagged for six hits and five runs in 2 1/3 innings to suffer the loss. The Cards and Cubs play again this afternoon at 12:45 on KSMO.

Eric Hosmer's sacrifice fly in the 11th inning was the difference as Kansas City got by the New York Yankees, 4-3, in the middle test of a three-game set at Yankee Stadium. Hosmer also hit a solo homer and Wilson Betemit added a game-tying double in the eighth for the Royals, who snapped a seven-game road-losing streak. Joakim Soria (3-0) allowed an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th to Curtis Granderson but still picked up the win. Louis Coleman retired the side in order in the bottom of the 11th for his first save. The Royals and Yankees play again tonight.

Obituaries   [TOP]