The Sullivan Independent News

Franklin County Deputy Pursuit Ends in Gasconade County

SiteAuthor — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:04:32 +0000

In the early morning hours of 03/17/10, a Franklin County Traffic Safety Deputy was patrolling in the area of Dissen Road when he observed suspicious activity at a residence known for past methamphetamine activity. At least two methamphetamine labs have been recovered from that residence in the past.

The deputy also observed a Blue Ford Mustang at the residence which he believed was possibly being driven by a subject known to have active warrants through Missouri Probation and Parole. The warrants were for possession of anhydrous ammonia and tampering with a motor vehicle.

The deputy passed the residence to turn around when he observed the Blue Ford Mustang travel up behind him at a high rate of speed. The driver of the vehicle was indecisive in his actions and pulled around the deputy. The deputy attempted a traffic stop however the driver failed to stop.

The deputy pursued the vehicle on county roadways in the northwestern section of Franklin County. Due to the close proximity of the county line the Gasconade County Sheriff’s Office along with additional Franklin County deputies were dispatched to assist in the pursuit which reached speeds of 70-80MPH.

The driver of the vehicle eventually stopped near Horstman Road and Hwy Z inside Gasconade County. The deputy held the two occupants at gunpoint until further assistance arrived.

Upon the arrival of Gasconade and Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputies, the driver and passenger were taken into custody without further incident.

The driver, identified as Joshua Scheible, a white male age 32 from New Haven, was taken into custody for an active warrant reference a parole violation (Possession of Anhydrous Ammonia and Tampering) along with charges stemming from the vehicle pursuit.

The passenger, identified as Robert Fregallete, a white male, age 44 from Dissen Road, was taken into custody on outstanding warrants through Franklin County. Drug paraphernalia was found on his person associated with methamphetamine.

Items were located inside the vehicle commonly used with the Manufacture of Methamphetamine.

Deputies with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office will be Conducting a Sobriety Checkpoint During the Weekend of March 19

SiteAuthor — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:07:06 +0000

In cooperation with the Missouri Department of Transportation, deputies will be working an overtime shift sometime during the weekend of Mar. 19 - 21st in an attempt to apprehend impaired drivers, thus making Franklin County roadway safer. Search warrants will be applied for regarding anyone that refuses a chemical test after being arrested for driving while intoxicated.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon Visited Sullivan on Saturday Wonder Why?

SiteAuthor — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:06:42 +0000

Read all about in the March 17, 2010 edition of the Sullivan Independent News.

Sullivan Firefighter One and Two Graduates

SiteAuthor — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:04:26 +0000

The Sullivan Fire Protection District held a graduation ceremony on Thursday evening for their 2009-10 Missouri State Firefighter One and Two graduates. The graduates were: Joshua Bell, Kory Borgmann, Matthew Bowen, Brendon Brewer, Megan Campbell, Jeremy Chappius, Rick Fongemie, Andrew Fortner, Sean Henning, Buddy Higgins, Kevin Isgriggs, Ryan Kenney, Mike Long, Ronald Martin, Timothy Mayer, John Miller, Teddi Reed, Clay Snodgrass, II, John Strothkamp, Jason Strubberg, Daniel Wegescheide, Brian Whitney, Brian Windle, Matthew Woodland, Adam Wymer and Mike Wymer.

Authorities Investigate House Explosion, Home A Total Loss

SiteAuthor — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:52:14 +0000

By James B. Bartle
A neighbor heard a loud explosion prior to a home being engulfed in flames on Wednesday night at 11:30 p.m. at 321 Cash St., Sullivan. The home was reportedly vacant at the time and was allegedly previously owned by Amber Burt.
Sullivan firefighters and Sullivan police responded to the home which was fully involved when they arrived on the scene.
“Our firefighters arrived on the scene at 11:40 p.m. and found the home completely involved with fire,” said fire chief Rich White. “We brought the blaze under control at 12:17 a.m. and had assistance from the Bourbon Fire Department and St. Clair Fire Department.”
White stated that firefighters were not only to extinguish the blaze, but contain the fire from spreading to a wooded area where other structures were exposed.
It took 17 firefighters to bring the fire under control.
The Franklin County arson investigator, Jim Schumaker, was called to the fire scene along with Sullivan police detective, Dave Roche.
Authorities did not release a cause of the fire at this time; however, methamphetamine components were found in outbuildings around the home.
“The fire is under investigation and is highly suspicious,” said Schumaker. “There was no power to the home at the time of the fire.”
Authorities stated that they are trying to determine who was the rightful owner of the property at press time and would not speculate on anything further regarding the fire.

City Council Fields Discussions On Economic Developer, Utility Rates And Reserve Funds

SiteAuthor — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:23:18 +0000

By James B. Bartle
The Sullivan Board of Aldermen participated in more than an hour of discussions during the requests and petitions portion of their regular meeting on Tuesday night, Mar. 2.
Three different people addressed the council during this portion of the meeting all expressing concerns of the city utility rates, hiring of an economic developer in the city and the city’s reserve funding.
Jim Turntine, town of West Sullivan president and a property owner in Sullivan, addressed the council regarding a number of issues.
Turntine began his discussions with the council by stating that he was opposed to the city hiring an economic developer and felt that, with the city’s reserve funding and funding for the economic developer, these funds would be better spent to pay down the city’s debt on utilities such as the new wastewater treatment plant and lower utility rates.
Turntine asked city officials what the city had in reserve funding and what they loaned the Elmont overpass project from reserve funds.
City administrator Mark Falloon reported that the city loaned around $4 million to the overpass project.
Mayor J.T. Hardy stated that a previous city council entered into an agreement with the Missouri Department of Transportation to conduct a 50/50 cost share on the overpass project, with the city having to pay their portion upfront for the project. He added that the city receives about $730,000 a year in sales tax for the overpass. He added that Oak Grove Village receives a portion of the transportation tax in Sullivan.
Turntine then asked how much money the city had coming back from MoDOT on the overpass project that will be placed back into reserves.
The council estimated about $6 million, of which a portion is being used to pay on the new wastewater treatment plant. Specifically, Mayor Hardy indicated that, of the $40,000 treatment plant payment, $20,000 is being paid by the city through the reserves fund; thus, the city lowered water and sewer rates accordingly.
Turntine then asked again what the city had in reserve funding.
Falloon reported that, as of January 2010, the city had $9.8 million in reserve funds.
Mayor Hardy stated, of that, there are some restricted MoDAG and UDAG funds of $600,000.
Turntine then stated the new treatment plant cost about $7.2 million and the city had paid some $400,000 off, thus far, and still owed some $6.8 million. He asked what other debts were out there to the water and sewer departments.
Falloon reported that there are several bond issues, including $1.2 million in revenue sewer bonds, dates 1999 series; $700,000 in water revenue bonds, 2000 series; and an additional $600,000 in sewer bonds.
“So, the city has generally $15 million in reserves if you include the $6 million coming back from the overpass and the $10 million in reserves now,” said Turntine.
Turntine then suggested once again that the council lower utility rates by using their reserve funds to pay down the city debts.
Discussions then turned to water rates and the city water usage being down some 25 percent last year.
Turntine suggested that the usage was down because rental homes are vacant in Sullivan and people have moved out of the city.
The council suggested that this was, in part, due to a wet year and residents did not water their yards as much and other contributing factors.
Turntine stated why not lower the utility rates and bring folks back into town. He also stated that, with the upcoming census, a lower count in the city could result in less tax revenue for the city through fuel sales tax.
The meeting then turned to electric rates, with the council explaining that they have absorbed the last two rate increases the city has received and not passed them along to city customers. The funds to cover this are from reserve funding.
Turntine explained that the city has a large amount of electric reserve funds from money they have made from the utility service and that the funds are deemed for an emergency. He felt the funds would be better spent paying down the loans the city has to lower rates.
Turntine asked the city, in recent years, what is the most they have spent on an emergency in the electric department.
Falloon replied about $300,000.
Turntine stated that, in most cases of a disaster or emergency, the state and federal government disaster assistance, SEMA and FEMA, would come in and provide aid of 75 percent to 100 percent of the incident. He also commented that, like Crawford Electric, the city could have a line of credit established for emergency incidents and use their reserve funds to lower utility rates.
Mayor Hardy agreed with Turntine that the city may not need $10 million in reserve funds, but stated how much was enough to have and that the city is no longer building reserve funds in the electric department as they have absorbed the last rate increases.
“We’re all here to do the best we can for the citizens,” said Hardy.
Turntine stated that he believed that there are grants out there that could have helped the city in the past and present and that sometimes having too much money, as the city may have in reserves, can prevent them from receiving these types of grants.
Some discussions then centered on the city rates in Sullivan versus West Sullivan.
Turntine was asked what the water rates were in West Sullivan.
He replied that the base rate was $36 and that included the first 3,000 gallons for a homeowner. It was an additional $5 for every thousand gallons.
Alderman Jarrett Dace then stated that, in West Sullivan, if you use 4,430 gallons of water your water bill would be $46 and in Sullivan that same rate would be $26.04.
The discussions then turned to electric rates for another time, with Mayor Hardy stating that St. Clair residents are seeing an increase coming from Ameren for their electric and, at the present time, the city is in limbo not knowing which direction they are going to go for electric suppliers and may have to purchase the substations currently owned by Sho-Me Power.
Turntine also questioned the city GASB 34 accounting system and stated that he cannot find anywhere in the state of Missouri that you can’t use reserve funds to pay for capital improvements. The GASB 34 system is a computer program for municipalities for various departments. The program, according to Turntine, does not require each service to be self-sufficient.
Turntine concluded his presentation stating, “Pay down your debts. I hope you all hear this. Pay down the debts and lower the utility bills. If I can help, I’ll be here. I just don’t think you need $10 million in reserves.”
David Thexton and John Thexton each addressed the council stating that they agreed with Turntine and wanted to see the utility rates lower and didn’t feel an economic developer was needed.
John Thexton stated that he was raised in Sullivan and moved away for work, but came back to Sullivan to start his business after being encouraged by alderman Mike Ryan.
Thexton stated that he is a bachelor and lives in a small apartment with an electric bill last month of $253.
“I kept my thermostat at 68 degrees. I’m never home,” said John Thexton. “You people are Sullivan’s best selling point. You don’t need an economic developer. My electric bill is half the cost of my total rent bill.”
Following some discussions, this portion of the meeting concluded.
The City of Sullivan submitted a response to several items discussed by Jim Turntine in a recent editorial that appeared in the Sullivan Independent News on Feb. 24, and to items discussed at the meeting on Tuesday. The editorial from the Feb. 24 issue is also available at www.mysullivannews.com.
The city response is located on this week’s editorial page.

Inmate Found Dead In County Jail

SiteAuthor — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:22:28 +0000

A 35-year-old St. Clair man was found dead in his Franklin County jail cell at 12 a.m. on Monday morning, Mar. 8.
Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke reported Monday that a deputy was conducting a bed check at the county jail when he discovered inmate, Joseph Pena, suspended with a cloth around his neck that was tied to an air vent in his cell. Union Ambulance was called to the county jail, but were unable to find any signs of life in Pena.
Toelke stated that a suicide note was found on the body of Pena.
Pena was serving a one-year sentence on traffic-related charges. He was scheduled to be released in July and was housed in an area consisting of 12 individual cells.
“Inmates are allowed in and out of their cells during the day and locked down around midnight,” said Toelke. “Periodic checks are conducted of the cells at random times during the evening. Pena was discovered during one of those checks.”
According to Toelke, the suicide note indicated that Pena was depressed over circumstances in his life.

Kelsey Strothkamp Looks To Journalism As Future Career

SiteAuthor — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:21:28 +0000

Thursday, March 4, the Sullivan Independent News was honored to have Owensville High School sophomore and journalism student, Kelsey Strothkamp, job shadow Editor James Bartle.
Strothkamp participated in the OHS journalism class her freshman year and is a staff writer for the high school publication in 2009-10.
“I hope to become Assistant Editor in my junior year and Editor in my senior year at OHS,” said Strothkamp.
Strothkamp is being taught by former Sullivan Independent News Bourbon Editor, Jennifer MacDonald. MacDonald has recently received her tenure at OHS.
Strothkamp stated that she has always enjoyed reading and writing, along with having a love for English.
“I’ve always enjoyed English and it’s something that I’m good at, along with writing,” said Strothkamp. “I also enjoy staying current with events going on in the world and I also like being able to interview people and write stories about things people normally don’t pay attention to.”
Strothkamp got excited about journalism and writing early in life when she completed an essay that won her a local award.
“My problem, right now, in school is when I write an essay my teachers sometimes tell me it sounds more like a news article,” laughed Strothkamp. “I really like being able to tell people a story that they will enjoy and be interested in.”
Owensville High School journalism instructor, Jennifer MacDonald, commented to the Independent News that Strothkamp is a very bright student that excels very well in her journalism class. She is very proud of what Strothkamp has accomplished, thus far.
Strothkamp was treated to an event-filled day with the Independent News as she was able to attend the Sullivan Fire District Open House on Thursday, see an interview with Sullivan Fire Chief Rich White and Franklin County Arson Investigator Jim Schumaker regarding a large fire on Wed., Mar. 10, attend the Sullivan Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon and visit the Sullivan Police Department for a tour and learn how article information is gathered from law enforcement.
“Strothkamp was a pleasure to have on Thursday as a job shadow,” said Bartle. “It’s always exciting to see a young person have such a strong desire to pursue journalism as a career. There is no doubt in my mind that she will have a promising career in journalism.”

Tacony Manufacturing Participating In ‘Dislocated Worker Internship Services’

SiteAuthor — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:21:18 +0000

Tacony Manufacturing is participating in the “Dislocated Worker Internship Services” by sponsoring Connie DeWitt who lost her position when Briggs and Stratton closed. After the shock of losing her job, DeWitt enrolled at Metro Business College in Rolla to learn a new profession as an Administrative Assistant.
Part of DeWitt’s recovery is “On the Job Training” to enhance her skill set proficiency. Tacony willingly participates in these programs, in what they feel is a community service to those unemployed due to extenuating circumstances.
DeWitt worked in the manufacturing sector of Briggs and Stratton. Having limited exposure to an office environment restricts DeWitt’s job opportunities. Once her time with Tacony is complete and should there not be a position available with their company, at least DeWitt will have expanded her knowledge base and be better prepared to seek an office position.
For more information about this program, contact Central Ozarks Private Industry Council (COPIC) at 573-364-7030 or 1-800-638-1401.
The Workforce Investment Act is a federally-funded program designed to increase the employment, retention, earnings and occupational skill attainment of the adult and dislocated worker participants who receive service, and at no cost to the employer.
Pictured are Nancy Montgomery, Human Resource director at Tacony Manufacturing (left), Connie DeWitt (center) and COPIC specialist, Sherry Lister, (right).

Officer of the Year and Junior Firefighter of the Year

SiteAuthor — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:20:48 +0000

The Sullivan Fire Department held their annual banquet on Saturday evening at the Northside Reception Hall. Pictured are: Officer of the Year, firefighter Captain Dave Konys, left, and Junior Firefighter of the Year, Chief Kyle Arnold, right.