Jeffco This Week 2020 V1.4

 January 26th – February 1st, 2020.

Cop Shop🚔

A minor was arrested after a shooting in Fenton. Deputies with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department arrested 17-year-old Gavin Ross in connection to a shooting at Borgetti’s Bar & Grill on Old Highway 141 in Fenton.  Investigators believe Ross helped orchestrate a plan to rob another individual during an arranged drug deal in the parking lot of the business plaza of Old Highway 141.  A 40-year-old woman was shot in the leg during the incident. She was treated at a local hospital and has since been released. Ross is being held at the Jefferson County Jail with no bond.

A man died in a fire at Bob’s Disposal Services in Imperial. Police say 51-year-old Ivan Johnson, an employee of Bob’s Disposal Services, perished in the fire. His remains were located and positively identified as part of the ongoing investigation of the case. The cause of the fire has still yet to be determined. Arson is not suspected.

Investigators suspect arson after a vehicle burst into flames at a business in DeSoto last weekend.  Grant Bissell with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says there have been other car fires lately in Jefferson County but detectives don’t believe the cases are related.

Two guns stolen from a DeSoto Police vehicle have been recovered. The window of the squad car, parked outside an officer’s home, was smashed and a rifle and shotgun were taken. Police say there were three suspects in all.

Roadwork🚧

The city of DeSoto is making road improvements. Sidewalk and lighting projects are slated for Rock Road this Spring and on Main Street from Valley to Skyline in 2021. Other sidewalks on Main Street, that are not ADA approved, could be improved upon sometime in 2022, if grant funding is secured.

The Highway 61-67 bridge in Herculaneum is scheduled to be replaced next year. With it being a state roadway, MODOT is paying for the replacement which will begin in the late winter or early spring of 2021. Herculaneum City Administrator Jim Kasten says MODOT is planning on replacing the bridge without shutting down the roadway.

Awards🏆

The Jefferson County Health Department has been recognized by the National Association of County and City Health Officials, otherwise known as NACCHO, for its ability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies.  The Health Department demonstrated these capabilities by meeting the comprehensive preparedness benchmarks required by Project Public Health Ready.  About 520 local health departments across the country that have been distinguished for excellence by the same standard.

Hillsboro R-3 Schools Superintendent Dr. Jon Issacson received the KJFF/J98 110 Percent Award during the annual awards and installation dinner by the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce.

Business💼

All the Rage Comics and Games will be closing its doors at the end of March. The comic book shop on Festus Main Street has been in operation for seven years. Nearly every fixture in the store is going to be up for sale. They will be liquidating the entire store as well. This is the second business to announce it’s closing this year on Main Street in Festus. The other being Shelly’s Kindred Fare.

Weather🌡️

Get out your shorts and t-shirts!  The high for Sunday Feb. 2nd is expected to reach 68 degrees.  Get the seven day forecast from the National Weather Service here.

Side Note📝

Today is National Freedom Day.  President Lincoln signed the Amendment outlawing slavery on February 1, 1865.  This is fitting for me right now because I’m over 150 pages in on a book titled Freedom by William Safire.  I got my copy at Books Galore in Festus.  I highly recommend it.  Keep your dictionary handy.  Safire is a genius of the English language.

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Jeffco This Week is written, produced, and voiced by Stuart McMillian.  All news is gathered by the KJFF newsroom.  Get more Jefferson County news on mymoinfo.com.  Send newstips here.