Lawrence County

GRAYS POINT, Mo. - A farmer reports a calf was stolen in northwest Lawrence County on Tuesday morning.  The theft was along Lawrence 1040 road, about three miles south of the Lawrence/Dade County line between 8 and 11 a.m. The calf is described as a red bull calf that weighs about 75 pounds.  Anyone with information about it can contact the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department at (417) 466-2131 or anonymously at 1-888-635-TIPS (8477).

FREISTATT, Mo. --At least seven fire crews fought a large wildfire just northeast of Freistatt on Tuesday afternoon that charred hundreds of acres. Flames consumed both wooded areas and pasture land. The fire came within about 50 yards of Carlye Whitnell house; she was told to take the children she was watching -- and flee. "All I could think of was grabbing some things that belonged to my grandmother, that's all, after the kids were out and everybody," said Whitnell. The Department of Conservation bulldozed a firebreak around her house to keep the flames at bay. Throughout the day, the blaze would creep closer to her hom and then retreat.

MARIONVILLE, Mo. -- The Lawrence County Sheriff's Department is investigating the theft of 27 head of cattle from a farm near Marionville. The cattle rancher reported the theft January 18.  The thieves stole two white steers and 25 black steers.  The sheriff's department is warning farmers to lookout for strange or unusual activity in the area.

LA RUSSELL, Mo.  -- A man from Greenfield drowned in a pond north of La Russell.  The Missouri State Highway Patrol says Ricky Purdy, 61, crashed his SUV through a fence and into a shallow pond in western Lawrence County.  When he stepped out of the truck he lost his balance and fell into four feet of water and drowned.

A man from Pierce City is dead after a crash in Lawrence County. Troopers say 34-year-old Mark Torres lost control of his truck on Highway 97 early Saturday morning. The truck flipped several times and threw Torres and his passenger out of the cab. Torres was killed on impact, the passenger suffered serious injuries.

Drivers in Lawrence County should watch for detours on a busy stretch of Highway 60. Starting Monday, MoDot will start repairing the bridge over Spring River between Verona and Aurora.  Detours will be posted. The bridge, which was built in 1961, is having deck repairs, thanks to the state's Safe and Sound program. Work should be complete by mid-November.

AURORA, Mo. -- A one-car crash left a woman dead in Lawrence County. Highway Patrol troopers said Paula Thornton, 54, was killed when the vehicle she was riding in failed to negotiate a curve, ran off the road, and hit a tree.      The accident happened shortly after 10 o'clock Saturday night on route K, just north of Aurora.     Thornton died at the scene.

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. -- The Lawrence County Sheriff's Department on Sunday released more information about an inmate found dead Saturday inside its jail. The department says Thomas Plopper, 41, was found unresponsive in his cell by a jailer who was escorting another inmate into custody.  Medical personnel couldn't revive Plopper.  At this time, it appears Plopper died of an apparent suicide, however, an investigation is ongoing.  An official cause of death has not been released.

MT VERNON, Mo. -- The Missouri State Highway Patrol says a man lost control of his car in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 44 just after 7 p.m. Saturday.  The highway patrol says one man died in a crash on I-44, near mile marker 47 in Lawrence County. Troopers say the driver, Jacob Bearden from Myrtle, Missouri, was hit from behind by another vehicle, causing him to go into the median. Officers say Bearden's car then swerved back onto the highway, and struck a bridge rail.  He was ejected from the vehicle.  Bearden, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene.

STOTTS CITY, Mo. -- Two people died after their plane crashed on Sunday night about five miles west of  Stotts City.  The plane went down about 50 yards behind a home in a heavily wooded area.  The two victims have not yet been identified, said Lawrence County Sheriff Brad DeLay.  He added that it's not known yet where the plane was coming from or where it was headed. Sheriff DeLay said calls started pouring into the 911 center shortly before 6 p.m. As of 7:45 p.m., emergency crews were on the scene still trying to douse the flames.  DeLay said it appears to be a twin engine airplane.

AURORA, Mo. - Phone system problems in Aurora caused 911 calls intended for Aurora police to be rerouted to Lawrence County dispatchers for a time. Crews fixed the issue and service to all 911 lines and non-emergency numbers were restored shortly after 8 a.m. The service disruption caused no delays in response times.

Gayla Crisp found a photo of her grandmother that she believes was taken the last time it snowed in the Ozarks in May.  The photo shows Rosa May Florence Woods in the Dry Valley community, a rural area in Lawrence County northwest of Pierce City. Crisp remembers her parents talking about the snowstorm in May when they were teenagers.   The National Weather Service in Springfield says the last time there was measurable snow in the Ozarks this late in the spring was on May 2, 1929.

JASPER COUNTY, Mo -- When Larry Mallory isn't working at the Joplin Regional Stockyards, he's raising his own cattle. "Everything I make or lose in my life is going to be connected to a cow," said Mallory. When his livestock is ready, he takes the cattle to the stockyard to sell.  The next time he brings them in, though, he'll have fewer to unload than he expected. "The whole fence was out. I knew they probably stole them," said Mallory.  Over the weekend, thieves swiped 17 of his calves and 1 cow; it's a huge financial hit. "Averaged close to $900 a head, right now, the way the market is," said Mallory.

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. -- The 157th District in Missouri seat stays Republican. Mike Moon defeated democratic challenger Charlie "Doc" Dake Tuesday night in a special election for a soon-to-be open legislative seat.  Moon won more than 59% of the vote in a district that has leaned Republican in the past. "Republican state-level policies of less government, lower taxes and reducing spending work, and time and again the voters of Missouri recognize it," said Republican State Leadership Committee President Chris Jankowski.  "We are proud to congratulate Mike Moon on his election tonight in Missouri District 157. " Dake served in the legislature in 2006.  The Lawrence County veterinarian lost his seat later that year.  Represenative Don Ruzicka of Mount Vernon was appointed by Governor Nixon to serve on the State's Parole and Probation Board.

SARCOXIE, Mo. - Authorities say a number of cattle were stolen recently in Jasper County. Jasper County deputies say 18 head of cattle were stolen between March 28 and 31 from the area of 2182 County Road 10 in Sarcoxie. Seventeen of the cattle were calves with an average weight of 550 pounds, authorities said. The adult cow had an "LM" brand on its left hip, according to deputies. Anyone with information on the theft is asked to call Detective Paul Ayers at the Jasper County Sheriff's Office at (417)

MT. VERNON, Mo. -- Saying he is "grateful for all the support," Republican Mike Moon has won a seat in the Missouri General Assembly. "We were okay with the election going either way," Moon said after learning of his victory Tuesday night in the special election for the 157th District seat.  "But if we had lost, I would've felt bad for all of our volunteers who worked so hard.  I'm happy for them that we won. " Moon defeated former state representative...

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. -- In an effort to curb cattle rustling, several agencies in Lawrence County aim to show farmers how to identify their cattle.  The Lawrence County Sheriff's Department, Southwest Missouri Cattlemen's Association, University of Missouri Extension, and Moore Ranch will hold a cattle branding demonstration at the Jackie Moore Ranch north of Mount Vernon. The demonstration takes place at 1:30 p.m. on March 26.  Discussions will focus on branding laws, choosing a brand and the location of the brand.  Demonstrations will be done with hot iron and freeze brands.

GRAYS POINT, Mo. - A farmer reports a calf was stolen in northwest Lawrence County on Tuesday morning.  The theft was along Lawrence 1040 road, about three miles south of the Lawrence/Dade County line between 8 and 11 a.m. The calf is described as a red bull calf that weighs about 75 pounds.  Anyone with information about it can contact the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department at (417) 466-2131 or anonymously at 1-888-635-TIPS (8477).

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. -- Law enforcement officers arrested a man who was wanted for the murder of his father in Ohio last week.   Brandon Lawrence was sleeping at the Interstate 44 rest area near Mount Vernon when he was arrested about 7:30 a.m. Saturday by a Lawrence County sheriff's deputy and a state trooper. Lawrence, 29, is charged with murder and theft of a motor vehicle.  Detectives think he killed his father, Michael Lawrence, 48, at his father's home in Shiloh, Ohio.   Richland County (Ohio)

CAVE SPRINGS, Mo. -- The Greene County Sheriff's Department received a report about the theft of seven calves early Wednesday.  The cattle were on a farm near Farm Road 54 at Highway Z north of Willard.  The calves are black and each weigh about 500 pounds. Sheriff Jim Arnott asks ranchers to check their herds frequently and promptly report missing livestock.  He says people should call 911 if they see suspicious activity. Last month, a rancher east of Halltown near Highway PP at Farm Road 156 reported would-be thieves used feed to try to lure his cattle close to a road where they could have been herded into a trailer.  Earlier, ranchers in eastern Lawrence County around Aurora and Marionville reported cattle thefts.