On January 19, 2022 Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver announced that he is running for re-election for a fourth term as Prosecuting Attorney.
Oliver said “we are so very proud of the work we have done over the last 12 years. When I took office, Stoddard County Law Enforcement had not won a jury trial in over 7 years. Since then we have secured guilty verdicts in 98% of all jury trials conducted. That’s child molesters, rapist, murders and drug dealers that are in prison and not on the streets with our families. There is not a single street that’s unsafe to walk at night in Stoddard County. Throughout every Major Case Squad investigation, I am sitting next the squad commander. Through the hard work and collaboration of our law enforcement officials and myself, there has not been one unsolved murder since I took office.”
While crime rates in surrounding counties have surged, Stoddard County has defied that trend and crime has went down significantly during Oliver’s tenure.
Oliver further explained “Having the experience, skill, and being able to win jury trials is essential to a successful prosecutor’s office. If you don’t know how to win jury trials, defendants don’t plead guilty. Because defendants know I can and will beat them at trial, we have secured numerous life sentences in child molestation and murder cases as a result of guilty pleas. That means child victims were not re-victimized by having to testify against their abuser and we still obtained life sentences.”
Over the past 12 years Oliver says that he has been executing his community based plan to fight drugs. “We send drug dealers to prison and work to get drug users freed from addiction. Through our partnerships with John 3:16 ministries and similar programs, we have been restoring men and women as productive citizens through the transformational power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” Oliver is currently leading a group that is building a 70-bed faith based recovery program here in Stoddard County.
In 2015, Oliver was named Arson Prosecutor of the Year for the entire State of Missouri by the Association of the State Fire Marshalls.
Oliver was the first area prosecutor ever to receive Commendation from the DEA for his work in combating bath salts and synthetic drugs.
In 2013, Oliver filed suit against the Missouri Department of Revenue to protect the second amendment rights of concealed carry permit holders whose information was being shared with the Obama Administration in violation of Missouri law. Oliver was appointed by the Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives to an investigative committee which discovered 167,000 concealed carry permit holder’s information had been shared with the Obama Administration. The practice of the DOR was immediately halted when Oliver subpoenaed sitting Democrat Governor Jay Nixon to testify at a deposition.
Oliver continued, “the prosecutor is the one man who stands between our families and criminals being released back on the streets. No one can try your cases for you. This is not a game. The safety of the 30,000 citizens of Stoddard County rests squarely on the prosecutor’s shoulders.”
During the last 12 years Oliver has secured convictions on some of the most dangerous criminals. When Steven Rendleman kidnapped a woman from an Advance bar and raped her in a remote graveyard, Oliver secured guilty verdicts after a week-long jury trial obtaining two life sentences plus 163 years. When Ed Lusk terrorized downtown Dexter for months, burning law offices and destroying business, Oliver obtained a sentence of 120 years in prison. The following are just a few of the convictions Oliver has obtained during his tenure in office:
Don Lafferty- 50 years- Attempted Murder/Arson
David Madsen- LIFE- Child Molestation
Steven McWhirter- 3 LIFE Sentences- Forcible Rape
Jimmy Sloan- LIFE- Statutory Sodomy 1st Degree
Donald Smittle- LIFE- Child Molestation
Matt Cook- Life- 1st Degree Murder
Chad Anderson- LIFE- Child Molestation
Glenn Evans- 25 years- Murder 2nd degree
Ed Lusk- 120 years- Arson/Burglary
Moses Grayson- 50 years- Forcible Rape
Charles Lebarre- LIFE Child Molestation
Chris Strickler- LIFE Child Molestation
Verl Cato- 23 years- Child Pornography
David Mangrum- 30 years- HIV Exposure
Aaron Aarrant- 18 years- Trafficking Meth
Rodney Bowen- 25 years- Armed Robbery
William Cook- 20 years- Armed Robbery
Victoria Isaac- LIFE plus 20 years- Murder
Oliver concluded, “to coin the phrase of Ronald Regan, "Its morning in Stoddard County, why would we want to go back to where we were just a few short years ago.”
Route D in Stoddard County will be reduced as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform shoulder repairs.
This section of roadway is located from U.S. Route 60 to Route D.
Weather permitting, work will take place Tuesday, Feb. 14 and Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The work zone will be marked with signs. Motorists are urged to use extreme caution while traveling near the area.
For additional information, contact MoDOT’s Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-ASK-MODOT
Bloomfield, MO - The Stoddard County Commission will meet in the Commission Chambers in the Government Building at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, February 14, 2022.
Tentative Agenda: Approve previous minutes if available, old business, new business.
Meeting is open to the everyone. Public encouraged to attend and ask questions.
City of Advance - Statement of Net Position - Modified Cash Basis
Stoddard County, MO - The Stoddard County Commissioners met at their regular time on Monday, February 7, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.
At 10:00 a.m. the Commission announced that they had four bids for a truck for the Stoddard County Emergency Management office had been received.
Courtney Ashley of Autry Morlan in Sikeston was present at the meeting. All four bids came from him and his company.
Here is a listing of the four bids:
Bid #1: 2022 Dodge Ram Tradesman Crew Cab 6.4-liter V8, 3/4-ton, four-wheel drive pickup, including delivery, side steps, four key fobs and a bumper-to-bumper warranty for $49,682.
Bid #2: 2022 Dodge Ram Tradesman Crew Cab 6.7-liter diesel V8, 3/4-ton, four-wheel drive pickup, including delivery, side steps, four key fobs and a bumper-to-bumper warranty for $58,565.
Bid #3: 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 6.6-liter V8, 3/4-ton, four-wheel drive pickup, including delivery, side steps, four key fobs and a bumper-to-bumper warranty for $40,630.60.
Bid #4: 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 6.6-liter turbo diesel V8, 3/4-ton, four-wheel drive pickup, including delivery, side steps, four key fobs and a bumper-to-bumper warranty for $50,046.50.
Ashley stated that the Chevrolet prices include a fleet discount. Dodge is not offering government pricing this year because of a backlog of orders.
EMA Director Andrew Bohnert expects around three months for the truck would be delivered.
The commissioners voted to table the discussion on which option to choose until a future meeting. They have training this week and would not be able to meet until after next Monday's meeting.
Railroad crossing on County Road 527: Associate Commissioner Carol Jarrell stated she had been in contact with Union Pacific Railroad Senior Director of Public Affairs in Missouri, Mr. Ben Jones about setting up an "open to the public style meeting" for county residents to discuss trains blocking a crossing in the county. Jarrell said Union Pacific and the county had reached an agreement in 2017 to keep that particular crossing open during their crew changes.
Jarrell said the railroad had been abiding by the agreement until last summer.
A time, date and place for the meeting will be announced soon according to Jarrell, perhaps as early as next week and the public will be invited to attend. An announcement will be made on the ShowMe Times.
