ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP HOLDS FIRST QUARTERLY MEETING

The Greater Montgomery County Economic Development Council (GMCEDC) held the first quarterly meeting of their contributors and partners on Thursday, February 16. The event was held at the new Porta-King Building Systems expansion facility and included over forty local leaders in business, government, education and civic organizations.  Following a networking reception, GMCEDC President, Brent Speight, and Vice President, Mike Lichtenberg, provided welcoming remarks and recognized the twenty-three businesses and organizations that have financially contributed to the effort thus far. Each of the forty-plus attendees then introduced themselves to the group by saying the business or organization they represented and one thing they love about the Montgomery County area.  Josh Beck then provided the attendees an overview of the purpose, mission and structure of the GMCEDC and the goals of the restructuring of the organization in 2011. These goals included uniting area communities and encouraging more wide-spread participation from the many businesses, organizations and individuals that call Montgomery County “home.” Beck reviewed early success of the new structure, which included a rapidly increasing number of prospective employer projects and a record-breaking 2011 of job-creating projects the organization was involved with.  One of the job-creating projects GMCEDC supported in 2011 was the next topic on the agenda. Steve Schulte, President & CEO of Porta-King Building Systems provided a presentation to attendees on the reason their business first chose to locate in Montgomery County, expand in the late 1990s and then expand again in 2011.  Schulte indicated that in all three cases, Montgomery County was competing with other locations but the support from the economic development organization and community, as well as the quality of the local workforce, led to their decision.  Attendees were then given the unique opportunity to tour the two Porta-King facilities in Montgomery County.  Schulte spoke about their manufacturing process and products currently being assembled for the United States government, professional athletic organizations, Fortune 500 businesses and more.  For more information about the Greater Montgomery County Economic Development Council or to learn how to become a contributor, please e-mail Josh Beck at josh@communityedgellc.com or call at 573-289-8050.

AUDRAIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT

On February 17 the Sheriff’s Office:

Investigated:

1.      Animal abuse along Main Street in Laddonia.

2.      Property damage along Highway C and Audrain Road 913.

3.      Burglary along Audrain Road 9832.

4.      Suspicious activity along Audrain Roads 557 and 351; and Highway 54.

5.      Injured animal along Audrain Road 945.

6.      Road hazard along Highway BB.

7.      Harassment along Highway 54.

8.      911 call along Third Street in Laddonia.

9.      Careless drivers along Highways 54 and 22.

Assisted:

1.      Motorists along Highways 22 and 15.

On February 17 the Highway Patrol:

Arrested:

1.      Gary Christopher Smith Sr. age 29 of Fulton for possession of drug paraphernalia.  Smith posted a $1,000 bond.

On February 18 the Sheriff’s Office:

Investigated:

1.      911 call along Audrain Road 9913.

2.      Road hazard along Highway J.

3.      Property damage along Audrain Road 912.

4.      Trespass along Highway J and Audrain Road 832.

5.      Careless driver along Highway 54.

6.      Suspicious activity along Audrain Road 351.

7.      Road hazard along Highway a54.

Issued:

1.      Warnings for traffic offenses along Highways 54, 19, and N.

Assisted:

1.      Motorist along Highway 15.

On February 18 the Highway Patrol:

Arrested:

1.      Caleb Brents Crabtree age 17 of Mexico for possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of tobacco by a person less than 18 years of age.  Crabtree posted a $2,000 bond.

2.      Michael Edward Sizemore age 44 of Profits, Illinois on an Adair County warrant for driving without a valid license.  Sizemore posted a $222.50 bond.

3.      Amanda Suzanne Swanson age 22 of Davenport, Iowa on a Callaway County warrant for passing a bad check.  Swanson posted a $393 bond.

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person (s) responsible for this and any other incident.  If you have information that would help the Sheriff solve this or other crimes, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-392-TIPS.

February 20, 2012

SUNDAY NIGHT ROBBERY IN COLUMBIA                       

Columbia Police are on the lookout for a suspect who robbed a Columbia convenience store at knifepoint, Sunday night.  The robbery occurred at around 11:15pm, at the BreakTime Store on Nebraska Avenue.  Witnesses say the suspect entered the store, held an employee at knifepoint and then fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.  Police are examining security video to develop suspect information.  He is described as a white male in his 40’s with a medium build. 

SHOTS FIRED OUTSIDE COLUMBIA RESTAURANT                 

Police are also investigating a shots fired incident outside the Columbia Chuck E. Cheese’s Restaurant, which occurred at around 7 o’clock Sunday evening.  No one was injured, but investigators say several shell casings and three bullet holes were found outside the restaurant, located on West Worley in Columbia.  Police believe Sunday evening’s incident is connected to several other recent ‘shots fired’ incidents in the area.   Those investigations are ongoing.     

MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF’S NEWS – LAST WEEK

A message from Sheriff Bob Davis

On February 15^th a 1996 Case 580L backhoe was stolen from the Big Spring Rock Quarry.  A reward is being offered by the owner for any information leading to an arrest. 

 We received a lot of reports from people in the county getting repeated scam calls purportedly from Card Member’s Services.  The caller wants to lower your rate on credit cards or your mortgage.  Ironically, there is a real company by the same name that protects you from credit card fraud.  If you return the call to get taken off of their list you get even more calls. The Attorney General’s Office is aware of the calls and is working on getting it stopped.

A deputy was dispatched to a gas station parking lot to check for a suspicious vehicle that had been setting there for several hours.  The station attendant was nervous because she was there alone and no customers had been in for a while. The deputy found the vehicle and learned the driver was there because he didn’t have cell phone service where he lived so was there setting up a Facebook account on his new cell phone.    When the station attendant learned the reason, the driver was allowed to remain.  I will simply list this as another reason for me not to like Facebook.

Deputies located a missing juvenile from Pike County at a residence in Middletown. The juvenile was transported by deputies to the custody of a Pike County deputy at the request of the Juvenile office.

FREE HUNTER EDUCATION CLASS TO BE OFFERED
Friday, March 9, 2012 from 6-10 PM & Saturday March 10, 2012 from 8-6 (or completion) at the Montgomery City Lions Club Building located at 1120 Farnen Rd., Montgomery City, MO. 

 ***Students must attend both dates****

Certification is limited to students 11 years of age or older.
Class size is limited to 50 students.  Pre-registration is required and must be done online at: www.mdc.mo.gov/8821   or by calling 573-884-6861.

Class will be cancelled if less than 10 students are pre-registered.

For further information or registration details you can call:

The Montgomery Co. Sheriff’s Department from 8-4 PM-F 573-564-8084

Ken Claspille—573-864-1803

Roger See—573-220-1736

Calls this week:

Civil stand by - Rhineland

Animal cruelty - Montgomery

911 hang up - High Hill

Domestic - Jonesburg

Disturbance - Jonesburg

Suspicious vehicle - Jonesburg

Property damage - Rhineland

Speeding - New Florence

Suspicious person - Jonesburg

Assist Missouri State Highway Patrol - High Hill

Fraud - Rhineland

Motor vehicle accident - High Hill

Property damage - Mineola

Phone scam - Middletown

Stranded motorist - New Florence

Sonic boom - High Hill

Cows loose - Wellsville

Stranded motorist - New Florence

Assault - McKittrick

Trespassing - Montgomery City

Stealing - New Florence

Animal neglect - Rhineland

Assist Pike County - Middletown

Weekend Report – February 18-19, 2012

MINOR INJURY ACCIDENT IN BOONE COUNTY

2 people sustained minor injuries in an accident that occurred at 6:20pm Friday in Boone County.  56 year old Timothy Sutton of Columbia failed to yield as he was crossing Route B and his vehicle was struck by another vehicle being driven by 16 year old Tonia Bartlett of Hallsville.  Tonia Bartlett was taken to University Hospital while Timothy Sutton refused medical treatment.

TEENAGER HURT IN SATURDAY MORNING CRASH

A teenager from Gravois Mills, MO was hurt in a one-vehicle accident early Saturday morning in Morgan County.  18 year old Maurice Moyer was driving on Route P when he failed to negotiate a curve and the car traveled off the right side of the road and hit a tree.  He was transported to Lake Regional Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. 

February 17, 2012

STATE WEBSITE DEFACED BY HACKERS                   

The State of Missouri’s official website was hacked and defaced Thursday morning.  Officials say uploaded images of graphic war scenes appeared on the website, shortly before 10am.  The site was immediately taken off line for about 30 minutes and the images removed.  Authorities say no data was accessed and the state’s network remained secure. The hacking incident is under investigation.  

COLUMBIA WOMAN SERIOUSLY INJURED IN CRASH              

A Columbia driver was seriously injured in a one-vehicle accident on Audrain County Route U, Thursday night.  48 year old Wendy A. Angel, of Columbia, was taken to University Hospital after the accident, which occurred just after 9pm.  The patrol says she was seriously injured when her eastbound vehicle ran off the highway and overturned. 

TEENS ARRESTED AFTER POINTING GUN AT STUDENTS              

Three Columbia teenagers were arrested Thursday for allegedly pointing a pellet gun at Hickman High School students.  Police say students reported a car driving by the Hickman campus with a gun pointed at them, at around 11:40am.  Officers located the vehicle and found a semiautomatic pellet gun inside.  18 year old Andrew Barnette-Kruger, 18 year old Julian Chase and 17 year old Gustin Jackson were arrested and charged. 

TROY WOMAN HURT IN THURSDAY MORNING ACCIDENT

A Troy woman was hurt in an accident that occurred at 9am Thursday in St. Charles County.  38 year old Lori Preston was driving on Route P west of Mette Road when she ran off the right side of the roadway and struck an embankment.  She was transported by ambulance to St. Joseph Health Center for treatment of minor injuries. 

TRUCK FIRE IN MEXICO

On Thursday at approximately 6:48pm, Mexico Public Safety responded to Windsor Ct in reference to a vehicle on fire.  Responding personnel found a 2007 Chevrolet truck, parked in a private driveway with flames under the hood.  The fire was contained and extinguished in the engine compartment of the truck with that area suffering significant damage.  The owner stated he had parked the vehicle and was inside when he was alerted about the fire by family members.  The cause was possibly related to the electrical system.  There were no injuries from the incident.