Local News – Thursday, September 26th, 2019
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is issuing a consumer alert to warn Missouri citizens about a potential scam targeting elderly and vulnerable citizens. Recently, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri has reported hundreds of calls from citizens across Missouri and the country who claim to have received calls from the court’s number asking for money, indicating that the number has been spoofed by scammers. Scammers have made the number look like it is coming from “US Government” or even “US District Court” lending credibility to the callers claims. The caller sounds like a child, pretending to be their grandchild and is currently being held in jail and has gotten in trouble. The scammer goes on to say in order to get out of jail, they need money. This is known as a grandparent scam and it primarily targets the elderly. The Missouri Attorney General’s Office offers these tips to avoid falling victim to this scam and others. If you get a call or email from someone claiming to know you and asking for help, check to confirm that it’s legitimate before you send any money. Ask some questions that would be hard for a scammer to answer correctly – the name of the person’s pet, their mother’s birthday, etc. Contact the person who they claim to be directly. If you can’t reach the person, contact someone else – a friend or relative of the person. Don’t send money unless you are absolutely sure it’s the real person you know. According to Attorney General Schmitt, “There are scammers who consistently think of new ways to take Missourians’ money – this scam is just another example. I urge Missourians and citizens across the country to follow the tips listed by my Consumer Protection Section to avoid falling victim to these scams and to report these scams to our office – we will take action wherever possible.” The Missouri Attorney General’s Office urges citizens to report these scams to the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222 or online at https://ago.mo.gov/app/consumercomplaint.
An accident involving a vehicle and a deer happened in Shannon County on Highway 106 about eight miles east of Summersville early Wednesday morning at near 12:40. The highway patrol reports that a 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan being driven by 22-year old Hunter Warren of Eminence was westbound on Highway 106 when he struck the deer in the roadway. Warren suffered minor injuries and was transported by Summerville EMS to Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains. The Dodge sustained moderate damage and was removed from the scene by Sartans Towing of Winona.
The Salem Memorial District Hospital board of directors will hold their rescheduled September monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 1st at 6:00 in the hospital library. The board will hear a department director presentation before getting the summary of operations for the month of August from Monica Stogsdill. Debbie Hines will present the CNO report followed by a report on the Hospital Foundation. Hospital Administrator Kasey Lucas will present a marketing and community perception report along with a Chief of Staff Report. In old business, the board will get updated on the hospital expansion and renovation projects, plus conduct the annual bylaw review before new business. In new business the board will hear about purchases for the hospital. The rescheduled meeting of the Salem Memorial District Hospital will be held October 1st at 6:00 at the hospital library and the meeting is open to the public.
A three vehicle accident occurred Tuesday morning at 6:45 in Maries County on Highway 63 south of Highway 28. According to the Highway Patrol Report a northbound 2005 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by 26 year-old Megan Strain of Rolla, struck a northbound 2003 Chevrolet Impala that was stopped in traffic and driven by 30 year-old Damien Montgomery of St. James. The Impala was in turn pushed into the opposing lane and struck by the towed unit of a southbound 2019 Volvo, driven by 34 year-old Daniel McCoy of Tonganoxie, Kansas. Strain suffered minor injuries, while Montgomery suffered moderate injuries. Both Strain and Montgomery were transported to Phelps Health by Maries-Osage Ambulance. The report state that Strain and McCoy were wearing safety restraints at the time of the accident, while Montgomery was not. There was extensive damage to the Impala, while the Malibu sustained moderate damage. Both were removed from the scene by Plaza Towing. There was no damage to the Volvo and it was driven from the scene. The Highway Patrol was assisted by the Vienna Police Department and the Vienna Fire Department.