Joplin man sentenced for child porn

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Joplin, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for receiving and distributing child pornography over the Internet.

Vincent Hay, 24, of Joplin, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield. The indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Hay on Feb. 26, 2014.

Today’s indictment alleges that Hay received and distributed child pornography over the Internet between Jan. 10 and Feb. 25, 2014. Hay is also charged with possessing child pornography on Feb. 25, 2014.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, a law enforcement officer was conducting an undercover investigation concerning the distribution of child pornography by using peer-to-peer, file-sharing software. Hay’s computer allegedly was identified as sharing videos of child pornography over the Internet. Officers executed a search warrant at Hay’s residence, which is a block away from an elementary school, and seized two computer towers.

Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force and the FBI.

Missouri Southern to hold annual Foreign Language Field Day

(From Southern News Service)

Approximately 1,100 students from 40 different schools around the Four State Area will participate in the 40^thannual Foreign Language Field Day on Tuesday, April 8, at Missouri Southern State University.

Students will compete in French, German and Spanish competition categories that include Culture Bowl, Poetry Reading, Geography, Posters, Skits, Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension.

Check-in will begin at 8 a.m. in the lobby of Taylor Performing Arts Center. Competitions will be held throughout the day in Billingsly Student Center, Webster Hall, the Criminal Justice building and other campus locations. French, German and Latin dance lessons, trivia and other non-competitive activities will be offered from 8:40 a.m. to noon.

Recipients of Missouri Southern’s Foreign Language Performance Award will serve as staff members for the event, and will be available to assist participants at the different locations.

Culture Bowl finals will be held at 1:15 p.m. in Taylor Performing Arts Center, with trophy presentations to follow.

Dr. James Kilpatrick, coordinator of Foreign Language Field Day, said that the event serves not only to encourage students to enjoy learning about foreign languages and cultures, but also to introduce them to what Missouri Southern has to offer.

“We’ll have schools here from Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and even a school in Arkansas. It really involves the Four States,” he said. “When they come to this program, they become interested in the campus.”

Carl Junction FFA to receive $2,500 donation

(From Carl Junction Area Chamber of Commerce)

The Carl Junction High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) has been chosen to receive a $2,500 donation by Mike Garrett, through "America's Farmers Grow Communities", from the Monsanto Fund. The donation honors the Carl Junction FFA's dedication to the community.

A special check presentation will be made on Thursday, April 3, at 8:30 am. Presentation will be made at the Carl Junction Area Chamber of Commerce's monthly morning meeting. Presentation will be made in CJ City Council Chambers, located inside the Carl Junction Community Center, 303 N. Main. 

Southern Symphonic Chorus, Orchestra to present "Carmina Burana"

(From Southern News Service)

The Southern Symphonic Chorus and Orchestra will present composer Carl Orff’s epic cantata “Carmina Burana” at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 13, at Central Christian Center, 410 S. Virginia Ave.

The performance is a joint effort between the Southern Symphonic Chorus – which is comprised of both the MSSU Concert Chorale and volunteer singers (a mixture of choral music professionals and non-professional aficionados) from the Joplin community – and the orchestra, which is made up of Missouri Southern students, faculty and professionals from the community. They’ll be joined by Kansas City-area soloists Sarah Tannehill Anderson, soprano; David Adams, tenor; and Robert McNichols, baritone.

Even if the name of the piece doesn’t immediately ring a bell, the first movement – “O Fortuna” – has made its mark on popular culture over the years. Think King Arthur and his knights doing battle in “Excalibur,” or any number of movies, trailers and TV shows – from “The General’s Daughter” and “Jackass: The Movie” to “Glee” and “The Simpsons.”

“Most everyone knows the first movement,” said Dr. David L. Sharlow, who will conduct the performance. “It’s exciting, visceral and passionate.”

The MSSU Concert Chorale has 63 members, and the Community Chorus has more than 40. They have been rehearsing separately under Sharlow’s direction but will begin rehearsing together in the week before the performance.

“Together, we call it the Southern Symphonic Chorus and Orchestra,” said Sharlow. “The music itself (in regards to notes) is not that difficult, although there are a lot of changes in rhythm and meter that are demanding on the percussionists, orchestra and soloists.”

The most challenging aspect, he said, are the words. The work is a mix of medieval German Latin, and middle-high German and French, with medieval pronunciation.

The program will open with a performance by the Chamber Singers. It will be followed by the hour-long presentation of “Carmina Burana.”

Admission is free and open to the public.

Kappa Sigma members to raise funds for Military Heroes Campaign

(From Southern News Service)

The Kappa Sigma fraternity at Missouri Southern State University will conduct the No Sleep for Soldiers campaign beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, April 3.

Members of the fraternity will be seeking monetary donations for the Military Heroes Campaign for a 48-hour period at the corner of Seventh Street and Duquesne Road.

The Military Heroes Campaign was designed to assist wounded military veterans returning home from active duty. Funds raised go to housing at veterans administration centers throughout the country, treatment and to help their families throughout their recovery.

This is the second year for the campaign at Missouri Southern. The goal is to raise $2,500.

Former CIA analyst who met with Edward Snowden to speak at MSSU

(From Southern News Service)

A former CIA intelligence analyst will present “Edward Snowden: Patriot or Villain? Visiting Him in Russia” at 2:30 p.m. Friday, April 4, in Webster Hall’s Corley Auditorium on the campus of Missouri Southern State University.

Ray McGovern, a former analyst with the CIA, is currently touring Missouri and Arkansas to lecture on the NSA, civil liberties, security and the right to privacy. Drawing on his 27 years with the CIA, his advocacy in integrity in intelligence work and his visit with Edward Snowden in Russia last fall, he will discuss our Fourth Amendment rights post-9/11 and what it means for the security and civil liberty challenges facing Americans today.

The lecture is free and open to the public. It is the first to be sponsored by the new James R. Spradling Center for Law & Politics.

Jasper woman arrested for DWI, assault after 3 injured in two-car accident

A Jasper woman faces charges of driving while intoxicated, felony vehicle assault, no valid driver's license, and careless and imprudent driving following a two-car accident 5:02 p.m. Monday on I-49, one half mile west of Carthage.

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol report,  Emilee Neher, 26, Jasper, driving a 1995 Jeep Cherokee crossed the center line and struck a 2012 Ford Fusion driven by Edwin Grundy, 41, Carthage, causing both vehicles to run off the road and overturn.

Ms. Neher and a passenger, Jaden Neher, 5, were taken to Freeman West with moderate injuries. Grundy was taken to Freeman West with serious injuries.

Ms. Neher also did not have insurance, according to the report.