The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

(Updated July 11, 2018)

Attorney claims lawsuit was filed in good faith

CAMDEN COUNTY – Jerry Kirksey, personal attorney for Camden County Clerk Rowland Todd, has responded to the recent filing by the attorney for the County Commissioners asking the court to make Todd pay their legal fees.

Kirksey says that the “Defendants must show evidence to support their Motion” and that “Defendants fail to do so”.

Todd was claiming the commissioners violated his First Amendment rights of Freedom of Speech because he spoke out against what he felt was the county wasting money in the hiring of a new Human Resources Administrator and also claims that Presiding Commissioner Greg Hasty publicly called him a thief in that he “stole records” from the Human Resource Department.

Todd was suing as an individual against the individual commissioners and not Camden County Clerk vs Camden County Commission.

Federal Judge Brian C. Wimes issued a 16 page ruling earlier in June in favor of the commissioners due to the decision that elected officials’ speech is not protected by the First Amendment and Todd’s letter sent to the press was not from him as an individual but from him as County Clerk.

Click here for rest of the story

Lawyer: Both sides need to pay reporter’s legal fees

CAMDEN COUNTY - The attorney for Lake Sun reporter Joyce Miller has filed a request with the court asking the judge to make both sides pay her fees.

Attorney Jean Maneke filed a document with the court last week pointing the finger at the county commissioners for “bad acts” they made in court regarding Miller and that she supports the commissioners’ request that Rowland Todd (Plaintiff) pay their fees (and at least some of hers).

The filing mainly addresses the commissioners (Defendants) and their actions in regards to Miller (Movant).

“The Movant supports Defendants’ Motion for Attorneys’ Fees against Plaintiff but also believes it has a right to relief from a prior court order, and its attorneys’ fees awarded, due to the underlying frivolous and unreasonable bad acts of the Defendants in claims made before this Court in the subpoenaing of the Third Party Joyce Miller and taking her deposition. Defendants deposed the Plaintiff on February 12, 2018, prior to taking the deposition of this Movant. Click here for rest of the story

City embraces Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

OSAGE BEACH – The city is moving forward in participating in a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) started by St. Louis County.

The Board of Aldermen passed the first reading last week with four aldermen for the program and two against - Kevin Rucker and Phylliss Marose voted no.

Rucker had several concerns which he voiced to the board and one of them was regarding privacy. The privacy of an individual, in his opinion, could be compromised with this bill.

In addition, he said this should be a state run program and not something that a local city should do.

Alderman Gregory Massey said that when comparing health and safety to privacy, health and safety is more important than an individual’s privacy.

Click here for rest of the story

One fatality as child drowns on fourth of July holiday

LAKE OF THE OZARKS – An Illinois boy is the only fatality over the July 4 holiday – on the roads or the water – and that was due to drowning.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) On July 4 at 4:05 p.m. at the 21 Mile Marker of the Osage Arm in Salt Hollow Cove, Eric Dietrich, 13, of Genesco, Illinois, Jumped off a stationary boat into the water and did not resurface.

The MSHP believe the boy had a medical condition. The Mid-County Fire Protection District and Dive Team responded to the scene. Dietrich was recovered at 8:47 p.m. on July 4 and he was pronounced dead at the scene by Medical Examiner Crystal Lloyd.

In other lake area accidents during the holiday counting period:

Earlier that same day a collision involving two PWC’s left a man with minor injuries.

According to the MSHP, a 2016 Sea Doo GTI SE, operated by Kurt Foust, 21, of Des Moines, IA, was idling at the .8 Mile Marker on the main channel near Jennings Brach Cove when a second PWC struck the rear of the Sea Doo.

Click here for rest of the story

CADV annual brunch scheduled for Oct. 10

LAKE OF THE OZARKS - The 17th annual Citizens Against Domestic Violence (CADV) Brunch will be held October 10, 2018 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Lodge of Four Seasons Campana Hall in Lake Ozark.

The theme this year is “Favorite Pastime.”

Last year, about 400 people attended the event which includes a buffet of what the Lake-area restaurants have to offer.

Each year, attendees decorate tables according to the theme. The program includes victim testimonials and information about how CADV helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in the Lake of the Ozarks community.

Click here for rest of the story