The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO - Carthage, Jasper County

Joplin man in custody on drug charges
A Joplin man was taken into custody Wednesday on drug charges, but not before his dog bit a detective who was helping to apprehend him, according to police.
Kansas resident arrested on charges of sexual misconduct
An Independence, Kan., man is facing Jasper County charges of sexual misconduct.
Jasper man indicted in child-pornography case
A Jasper man was indicted Monday by a federal grand jury in a child-pornography case.
Donald Lee Zaerr, 58, is accused in a two-count indictment handed up by the panel in Springfield of possessing and distributing child pornography.
The first count alleges that Zaerr distributed four images depicting sexual acts involving preteen or minor children over the Internet on Oct. 7.
Jo Ellis: Arts offer relief from holiday stress
CARTHAGE, Mo. — “They,” whoever “they” are, keep telling us to cut out the stress, do it the easy way — and just enjoy the holidays. I’ve never quite discovered how to cook a special meal, or prepare for company, or shop for gifts “the easy way.”
I do subscribe to taking the edge off the inevitable stress by adding in a bit of fun along the way. With Thanksgiving dinner looming this week, I’m thankful that the Carthage Council on the Arts is offering residents a free performance of what is described as a “one-of-a-kind rock ’n’ roll party.”
Kids' gift-giving party will be bigger
CARTHAGE, Mo. — The economic downturn is translating to a longer guest list of youngsters who are invited to an annual Christmas party for underprivileged children.
The event is sponsored each year by the Carthage Police Department. About 600 children were invited a year ago, and invitations are being sent to about 700 this year, said police Capt. Randee Kaiser.
Carthage council may drop parking fines
CARTHAGE, Mo. — The Carthage City Council will take another look this week at downtown parking. It will consider a proposal to temporarily rescind a two-hour parking limit on the square and in the surrounding area.
The change is proposed as a pilot project and will get first-round review during Tuesday’s council session. Under the plan, which was advanced by the council’s public safety committee, there would be no enforcement of a two-hour parking limit on the square and the surrounding area in January and February.
: Joplin considers FAG debt agreement for plant expansion w/ company info
A $33 million project to upgrade the Schaeffler Group USA Joplin FAG plant is nearing fruition.
The Joplin City Council has advanced a proposal to grant the company $33 million in industrial revenue bonds to buy and install new equipment that will allow it to manufacture large ring bearings for wind generators.
Chamber president resigns in Carthage
CARTHAGE, Mo. — A search will begin to select a new president of the Carthage Chamber of Commerce after John Bode submitted his resignation last week.
Laura Phelps, president of the chamber board, announced the decision and said Bode had agreed to serve until a replacement can be found.
Autopsy shows bludgeoning as cause of death
Preliminary results of an autopsy show that Ralph Ivy died of blunt-force trauma to his head and chest, according to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department.
Ivy, 50, died Wednesday night at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin a short time after a 7:15 p.m. fight in which authorities say he was struck with a baseball bat by another man at a home outside the city.
Rape, sodomy charges dismissed
Authorities: Ball-bat beating results in murder charge
A misunderstanding between two men Wednesday night at a home near Joplin may have escalated into a fatal bludgeoning with a baseball bat and a murder charge. Ralph Ivy, 50, died of injuries he suffered in a fight outside a former girlfriend’s home at 2805 N. Red Fox Road. Authorities charged Aaron Eugene Pilgrim, 37, on Thursday with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with Ivy’s death.
St. John's new owner seeks views fom public
The Sisters of Mercy Health System, the new owner of St. John’s Regional Medical Center, asked for views Thursday night about the future of local health care, and it got them — pages and pages of them.
More than 125 people from Joplin and across the region were asked to describe what health care in Joplin needs to look like. They were seated at 18 tables at the Joplin Holiday Inn, where they shared their opinions and observations.
Trucker to stand trial in sexual-abuse case
An Iowa truck driver was ordered Thursday to stand trial on a charge that he sexually abused a 10-year-old girl in 2006 while hauling a hazardous-materials load through Jasper County.
Charles R. Ragsdale, 41, of Waukee, Iowa, was ordered bound over for trial on a charge of first-degree statutory sodomy after a preliminary hearing in Jasper County Circuit Court in Joplin.
Two face charges in burglary case
Carthage health center opens Alzheimer’s unit w/ dementia diagnosis, treatment info
CARTHAGE, Mo. — An open house Wednesday marked the addition of specialized services for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia-related illnesses at the Carthage Health and Rehabilitation Center.
County 911 panel endorses spending cuts for next year
CARTHAGE, Mo. — A committee of the Jasper County Emergency Services Board has advanced a proposed budget that trims spending by nearly $100,000 because of a downturn in sales tax revenues and plans by the Jasper County sheriff’s office to end a contract for services.
Feds close out prosecution of drug ring cases
The federal prosecution of two high-profile cases of drug trafficking in Southwest Missouri appeared to come to a close Tuesday with a federal judge’s sentencing of a Joplin man to more than 10 years in prison and a California man to more than 22 years.
Draft budget includes no funding to boost county workers’ wages
CARTHAGE, Mo. — For the second year in a row, the Jasper County Commission appears headed toward adoption of a budget that does not hold any pay boosts for most county workers.
Area schools impress upon students the importance of graduation
Four local school districts will use this week to emphasize to students that graduation matters.
The campaign by the Joplin, Webb City, Carthage and Carl Junction districts targets all students, said Webb City Superintendent Ron Lankford.
“Something we’re really trying to embed is the idea that just as kids are ready to start school at age 5 ... (we’re) all sharing the same expectation that just as we start school, we need to stay in school,” he said.
Jo Ellis: Square becomes flea market heaven
CARTHAGE, Mo. — With the recent openings of McBride’s Antiques and the Pandelirium, the number of antique and flea market stores on the square has grown to a half-dozen, making Carthage a go-to destination for people looking for antiques, collectibles and bargains.
Owner Keith McBride opened the doors to his new shop at 112 E. Fourth St. on Nov. 1.
Jasper County residents can use debit cards for tax payments
CARTHAGE, Mo. — If all tax bills are paid, nearly $65 million will pass through the Jasper County collector’s office this year, according to Steve Holt, county collector.
His office has mailed tax bills for 2009. The taxes must be paid by Dec. 31.
For the first time this year, the office will accept payments via debit card, but not for the $2 charge announced in the tax bill mailing, Holt said.
Parole board denies release of Carthage man
former Carthage man convicted of killings in Carthage and Rolla must stay in prison for at least three more years.
Family members of the victims were notified last week of the results of a parole hearing held in August for John Steven Martin, who was convicted more than 30 years ago of two murders.
Patricia Brigman, Carl Junction, said she was told by state officials on Friday that Martin’s next parole hearing will be in August 2012. Parole board officials could not be reached for comment.
Sheriff reviewing dispatching options
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Despite board authorization on how the arrangement might work, no decision has been made on whether the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department will place two of its own dispatchers at the communications center run by the Jasper County Emergency Services Board.
$250,000 grant OK'd for mental health court
A new court program aimed at reducing the number of people with mental health problems who end up in jail will start next year in Jasper County.
The program will be funded by a federal grant, and will involve officials from the mental health and court systems, according to Del Camp, vice president of clinical operations for the Ozark Center.
Camp prepared the application for the $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. Jasper County sponsored the grant and will be the conduit for the funding, he said.
MSSU history professors get nearly $1 million grant to teach area teachers
The history faculty at Missouri Southern State University will receive part of a nearly $1 million federal grant to improve the quality of teaching at elementary and secondary schools in Southwest Missouri.
Mike Pound: Not taking sides in dueling chili and soup feeds
It’s going to be a long day.
There are some days when you’re faced with a seemingly impossible array of tasks that need to be accomplished. Days when the list of to-dos seems to far outweigh the list of to-don’ts.
Area communities holding Veterans Day ceremonies w/ Veterans Day history & traditions info
Hundreds of area schoolchildren will be guests today for Pittsburg (Kan.) State University’s annual Veterans Day ceremony, while a retired four-star general will speak in Rocky Comfort.
Other communities have events planned to honor veterans.
911 board endorses sheriff’s plan to install department dispatchers
CARTHAGE, Mo. — The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department would take back dispatching responsibilities — but leave its dispatchers at the center run by the Jasper County Emergency Services Board — under a plan endorsed Tuesday night by the county board.
Carthage man, 36, pleads guilty in sexual-abuse case
A Carthage man pleaded guilty Monday in Jasper County Circuit Court to sexual abuse of a girl younger than 14.
James Dustin Galbraith, 36, changed his plea to guilty on one count of first-degree statutory sodomy in a plea agreement with the county prosecutor’s office. The plea bargain would dismiss a second count of first-degree statutory sodomy and would limit the prison time Galbraith might be assessed to 10 years.

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