Daviess County Courthouse News (2-23-2011)

The following cases were heard by Judge James Valbracht on Feb. 18:

Adam M. Morrell, Gallatin, plead guilty to DWI, persistent offender, and was sentenced to four years in the Department of Corrections, execution of sentence suspended. He was placed on five years probation, and ordered to serve 30 days shock time in the regional jail.

Morrell also plead guilty on a plea agreement to misdemeanor domestic assault, amended from a felony. Six felony charges, one of domestic assault and five of endangering welfare of a child, were dismissed in the agreement. On this charge he received a suspended imposition of sentence and two years probation. These charges stem from an incident on Dec. 14, 2009, when Morrell chased his wife, Candice Morrell, in his pickup and attempted to run her off of the road while five children were in a truck with her.

Due to probation violations, the suspended imposition of sentence for Robin Bryson on possession of controlled substance was revoked, and she was sentenced to five years in the Department of Corrections. The court retains jurisdiction and recommends institutional treatment.

Cases bound over from Associate Division to Circuit Court: State vs. Tyler Montana Gibson, Chillicothe, change of venue from Livingston County, statutory rape first degree.

Civil cases filed: Elizabeth Rumsower, Hamilton, vs. Michael S. Rumsower, Cameron, dissolution of marriage; Director of Revenue vs. Patrick P. And Lisa J. Eastman, Gallatin, certificate of lien, Department of Revenue, taxes.

Associate Division

Mark Koenig, Coffey, was charged Feb. 15 with fraudulently stopping payment of an instrument.

Defendants found guilty in the Associate Division of the Circuit Court of Daviess County are listed below with the offense and fine assessed. Additionally, court costs collected for the State of Missouri amount to $68.50 for moving traffic violations and $116.50 in most criminal cases. Judge Daren L. Adkins presided over the following cases:

Darrell L. Price, Altamont, driving while intoxicated, $350, one day jail, board bill paid by defendant.

Branon A. Powell, Smithville, failed to tag deer, $98.

Richard E. Sweat, Pattonsburg, minor in possession of alcohol, suspended imposition of sentence, two years probation, 30 hours community service; careless and imprudent driving amended to defective equipment, $141.50.

Andrew L. Belger, Des Moines, Iowa, speeding 109 in 70 mph zone, two days jail, board bill paid by defendant, $250; failure to drive in right lane, $103.50.

Elias A. Gonzalez, Kansas City, no valid license, $150; speeding, $58.50.

Demetric A. Jackson, Kansas City, Kan., no valid license, 10 days jail, $25; possession of marijuana, 120 days jail, $25; possession of paraphernalia, 10 days jail, $25.

Isaac T. Smith, Bethany, peace disturbance, suspended imposition of sentence, two years probation.

Jeannie Griffin, Trenton, passing bad checks, $100.

Kenzie S. McClain, Plattsburg, taking over limit of antlered deer, $116.

Aaron W. Moody, Winston, hunting geese without small game hunting, $28.

Raven R. Williams, Des Moines, Iowa, speeding 100 mph in 70 mph zone, two days jail, $250.

Willie C. Tunnell, Trenton, driving while intoxicated, drug intoxication, $350; possession of drug paraphernalia, two days jail, board bill paid by defendant; no insurance, $103.50.

Devin B. Altinkaya, Lincolnshire, Ill., possession of marijuana, two days jail, board bill paid by defendant; possession of paraphernalia, $150; speeding, $28.50.

Attempt to take waterfowl from public roadway: Moriah B. Strein, Gallatin, $237.50; Kyle S. Buis, Lincoln, Neb., $237.50.

Jay R. Struck, Ackley, Iowa, operated motor carrier without wearing seat belt, $10; operated as an interstate motor fuel user without being licensed, $66.50.

Cartier R. Mason, Kansas City, no valid license, $150; speeding, $118.50.

Edgar E. Vargas, Olathe, Kan., no valid license, $150; speeding, $58.50.

Christopher W. Evans, Chillicothe, possession of marijuana, five days jail; possession of drug paraphernalia, two days jail, board bill paid by defendant.

Passing bad checks: Christopher C. Eason, Jamesport, $25; Stacey C. Lewis, Coffey, $25.

Jack B . Bowman, Pattonsburg, take antlered deer without permit, $98.

Civil Court

Breach of contract: Capital One Bank vs. Shelly Sandridge was dismissed by the parties.

Sheriff’s Office

Jay Fitzsimmons, 46, Albany, was charged Feb. 16 with DWI, aggravated offender. He is being held on $35,000 bond.

Matthew Lohman, 24, Breckenridge, was charged Feb. 20 with no valid license. He is being held on $15,000 bond.

Scotty Twenter, 33, Sedalia, was arrested Feb. 20 for misdemeanor DWI. He posted $750 bond.

Donald Baker, 66, Hamilton, was arrested Feb. 19 for misdemeanor DWI. He posted $750 bond.

Ryan Arnold, 27, Hamilton, was arrested Feb. 20 for misdemeanor DWI. He posted $750 bond.

Rusty Loucks, 45, Gallatin, was arrested Feb. 19 for DWI. He was held for 12-hour detoxification.

Jennifer Guffey, 22, St. Joseph, was arrested Feb. 20 for DWI. She was held for 12-hour detoxification.

County Commission

James Lewis, road and bridge supervisor, reported that they will be reinforcing culverts with rip rap and making repairs this week if conditions are favorable.

Bills were audited and paid.

Randy Sims will attend an informational meeting in Mercer County on Feb. 23 for information regarding SEMA assistance following the heavy snowfall this month.

Randy Railsback, Green Hills Regional Planning Commission, reported on their projects for the county. Randy Sims, Zac Johnson and Roy Pendleton represent Daviess County on that board. The representative for the Transportation Advisory Commission is Danny Heldenbrand. Randy Sims will serve on the Green Hills Rural Development Board. Randy Sims, with David Cox, alternate, was appointed to the North Missouri Solid Waste Management District Board.

The commission accepted a POW-MIA flag presented by a large delegation of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Presentations were made to Georgia Maxwell, Janie McKinsey and Tammy Huffman for their contributions to the VFW.

Lloyd Riley, Monroe Township, met with the commission concerning the amount of funds required by SEMA for snow removal.

Larry Peace, Meadowbrook Insurance, met with the commission reporting on liability insurance with the regional jail providing prisoner transports following release.

Mark Richards, Gallatin Police Chief, met with the commission regarding the position of the handicapped parking signs. James Lewis will be contacted to reposition them.

Susie Tull, administrator, and Linde Nelson, Daviess County Nursing and Rehab, met with the commission with a copy of the current nursing home ratings.

At 1:30 p.m., as advertised, annual bids for corrugated steel culvert pipe were opened. Only one bid was received. Danny Heldenbrand moved to accept the bid from Metal Culvert, Inc. for galvanized, coated and aluminized culverts. David Cox seconded. Cox – yes; Heldenbrand – yes; Sims – yes.

At 2:30 p.m., as advertised, annual bids for CART road rock were opened. Bids were received from Trager, APAC, and Norris quarries. Danny Heldenbrand moved to accept the 1- ¼" rock bids by township and the others countywide. APAC-KS will provide the rip-rap FOB; the chips FOB; and Colfax, Grand River, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Lincoln, Marion, Monroe, Salem, Sheridan, Union, Washington Townships, and Jamesport Special Road District. Trager Limestone will provide for Benton and Harrison Townships and Lock Springs Special Road. David Cox seconded. Cox – yes; Heldenbrand – yes; Sims – yes.

The commission discussed the personnel policy and the need for changes to section 12.3. Danny Heldenbrand moved to add the following: "If an employee requires extended care, due to a medical condition, sick leave may be transferred from one employee to another, upon written request signed by both employees and permission from the county commission. The allowance of the extended leave is at the discretion of the county commission. Permission from the county commission must be granted prior to the beginning of the extended leave." Randy Sims seconded. Cox – yes; Heldenbrand – yes; Sims – yes.

These are the unapproved minutes of Feb. 21, 2011. All commissioners were in attendance.

County Clerk

Absentee ballots for the April election are now available in the County Clerk’s office.

Assessor’s Office

If you were a Daviess County resident on Jan. 1, owned a vehicle or other personal property, and did not receive a personal property tax assessment sheet, contact the assessor at 660-663-3300. Assessment sheets must be submitted by March 1 to avoid penalty.

Land Transfers

Trustee’s Deed under Active Trust

Tract in Liberty Township from Charles Lewis Burke Jr., trustee of the Burke irrevocable trust, to Charles Jr. and Sharon Burke and Paul and Peggy Burke, an undivided one-half interest each, LDPS.

Warranty Deeds

Lake Viking lote #2430 from Joe M. Cox to Jason and Colleen May; tract in Jefferson Township from Judy M. Romine to Tonia R. Packard and Patrick Alan Romine as tenants in common; tract in Monroe Township from Loren and Betty Bassett to August and Rhonda Luther; tract in Grand River Township from Douglas Jr. Nalle to Jack R. Pinion revocable trust.

Beneficiary Deeds

Partial blocks in Jamesport from Leona E. Waterbury to Teresa Morris, Tammy Boguske, James Owings, Jimmy Lee Waterbury, Jamie Williams and Tracy Owings as joint tenants and not as tenants in common; lots in Jamesport from Marion and Shirley Hostetler to Lu Ann McFadden, Jeffrey J. Hostetler, Daniel L. Hostetler, and Marc E. Hostetler.

Successor Trustee’s Deed

Lot in Pattonsburg from James C. Jarrett as successor trustee for Charles Bryant to McKinley Rentals.