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James Tebeau, the former owner of Camp Zoe in Shannon County, pled guilty to one felony count of maintaining a drug-involved premises.  He has also agreed to forfeit to the United States the approximately 350 acres of land known as Camp Zoe. Tebeau appeared before United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr., in Cape Girardeau to enter his plea. According to the plea and court documents from 2004 until October 2010, Tebeau managed Camp Zoe and used it as a location to hold various weekend music festivals known as "Schwagstock" or "Spookstock" festivals. Those festivals would normally be held from April through October on a monthly basis, and would last for three days. He would arrange for various bands to come to Camp Zoe and Tebeau would also perform with his band, "The Schwag Band." Tebeau advertised these festivals in various publications, and was aware that the term "schwag" was a slang term for low-grade marijuana and he purposely adopted that name for his music festivals and band. Tebeau charged each person who attended a music festival $60 admission for entrance to Camp Zoe for the three-day festival. The number of people who attended each festival ranged from a low of 3,600 campers during April festivals to a high of nearly 8,000 campers for the festivals in May, for an average 5,000. In August of 2006, the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested two individuals who had been selling illegal mushrooms at Camp Zoe. In the ensuing investigation over the next four years, officers made over 150 undercover purchases of illegal drugs that included marijuana, psychedelic mushrooms, ecstacy, cocaine, LSD, MDMA, opium, moonshine liquor, and products such as homemade cookies and cakes containing hashish oil. Officers observed 100 to 200 drug sellers at each festival, and estimated that the total amount of illegal drugs sold in the camp during a typical Schwagstock festival was approximately $500,000 per event. Tebeau admitted that he was responsible for the operation of the camp. While Tebeau did not participate in any drug sales, he admitted that he was aware of the drug use and had instructed his employees that certain types of drugs were permissible in the campground, like marijuana, LSD and mushrooms, but had instructed them to eject persons who sold crack cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin or nitrous oxide gas. Tebeau did not participate in any drug sales nor did he receive any funds from the sale of any controlled substances. Pursuant to the plea agreement, the parties agreed that the defendant’s sentence should be 30 months imprisonment but the agreement also allows Tebeau to appeal the District Court’s denial of his Motion to Dismiss the Indictment. As part of that agreement, the government conceded that Tebeau did not himself have the intent to sell or use controlled substances but Tebeau admits that he intended that Camp Zoe be made available for sellers and users of controlled substances. The Plea Agreement must still be approved by the District Court after the Pre-sentence Report has been completed and sentencing has been set for September 4, 2012. This case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Shannon County Sheriff's Department, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Keith D. Sorrell is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

On Monday, June 11^th, a Dent County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to Highway 68 in reference to items stolen from around a commercial building. The victim stated that a light green/rust colored wooden lathe, log splitter, and wooden scroll saw were stolen. The total value of all the items stolen was $1,100.  Dent County Sheriff Rick Stallings is requesting that if anyone is able to provide any information in reference to this incident to please contact the Dent County Sheriff's Office by calling 729-3241.

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO) invites donors to honor the sacrifices of our Armed Forces Veterans by participating in the 17^th annual “Salute a Veteran” Blood Drive. The drive is being held June 18^th thru July 8^th at CBCO blood drives and donor centers in the region. The “Salute a Veteran” Blood Drive is scheduled when blood is often in short supply, and this year is no exception. The CBCO is currently on a CODE YELLOW ALERT for all Rh-negative blood types. During this event, participants in any CBCO blood drive will receive a patriotic T-shirt and will also have the opportunity to write a note of thanks to a Veteran they know. Donors may complete a special card provided at the blood drive and CBCO will send it to the Veteran they choose. If they do not have the veteran’s address with them, a supply of cards will be available at the drive to complete at a later time. It takes around 275 blood donations each day to meet the needs of local patients. To find out how easy it is to save lives in the Ozarks, call 1-800-280-5337 or visit www.cbco.org.

Dent County Coroner Gina White released a report involving the death of a 12-year old boy from Bunker. On Saturday, June 9^th the Dent County Sheriff’s Office notified White of the death of a young male from Bunker. Dr. Samuel pronounced Zachary Hurd Tredway dead at 10:03 pm at the Advanced Health Care in Ellington. Dr. Adelstien performed an autopsy on Monday, June 11^th in Columbia. Conclusion as to the cause of death is still pending. The body of Zachary Hurd Tredway was then released to the Wilson Mortuary in Salem.

The South Central Missouri 2012 Cattlemen’s Tour brought to you by Maries and Dent County and the MU Extension and will run from July 16^th to July 19^th. The tour departs on the 16^th at 7:00 am from the SC Regional Stockyards in Vienna. The first stop will be to the Southwest Research Center in Mount Vernon. Throughout their tour they will also make other stops to the Pasture Based Dairy Farm Tour in Monett, the Ratcliff Ranches in Vinita, Oklahoma, the Gray G Bar Ranch in Grainola, Oklahoma, the Stockyard City and National Stockyards in Oklahoma City, the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation in Ardmore, Oklahoma, the Oklahoma City National Memorial/Bricktown and the last and final stop on July 19^th will be at the Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Missouri. Registration forms can be obtained at the MU Extension. For more information contact Ted Cunningham at 729-3196 or the MU Extension in Maries County at 573-422-3359.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Salem invites businesses, organizations, and individuals to participate in the community’s 2012 4^th of July parade on Wednesday, July 4^th.  This year’s theme is “America’s Past, Present and Future” and it will start at 6:00 PM. The Grand Marshall this year is Ed Gill, a lifelong Salem resident and businessman, who achieved the rank of Lieutenant Senior Grade in the United States Navy. Gill served aboard a minesweeper during the Invasion of Normandy in WWII. A one hundred dollar prize will be awarded to the best “Commercial” and “Non-Commercial” float. Get your entry form at www.salemmo.com; request a form from chamber@salemmo.com or stop by 200 South Main. Parade entry forms are due by June 26^th.  The parade route runs from the old fairgrounds to the Dent County Courthouse. No ATV’s will be allowed. Your line up position will be ready on June 29^th. For more information call 729-6900.

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