Three Individuals Face Multiple Charges by the Jefferson Police Department

Three Jefferson suspects face multiple charges from an ongoing investigation by the police department.

As Raccoon Valley Radio previously reported, on March 4th officers executed a search warrant at a home in the 200 block of South Oak Street.  Items that were recovered included marijuana, drug paraphernalia, guns, cash and prescription drugs.  51 year-old Jerry Dean Barker was then arrested and charged with a felony for allegedly being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Police Chief Dave Morlan says their investigation has lead to additional charges on Barker and more charges against two additional suspects.  Barker is also facing 18 counts of possession firearms by a felon, which is a Class D Felony, along with a Class B Felony for possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver and misdemeanors for unlawful possession of prescription medicine and drug paraphernalia.

42 year-old Tamara Kay Arnold has been charged with a Class B Felony for possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver, 19 counts of aiding and abetting a known felon in possession of firearms and a misdemeanor for possession of drug paraphernalia.

19 year-old Stephen Arthur Molle has been charged with misdemeanors for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

All three were booked and released from the Greene County Jail on Monday.
Deadline to Pay Second-Half Property Taxes is Approaching

Second-half of property taxes are due by the end of March.

Greene County Treasurer Donna Lawson says there are two payment installments for property taxes that are done on a fiscal year basis.  The first installment is in September and the second installment is due by Tuesday, March 31st to avoid paying a 1.5 percent penalty starting on April 1st.  The penalty then increases by 1.5 percent every month.

She says there is an elderly credit that can help reduce payment on your property taxes.  To qualify, you must be at least 65 years-old and have an income of $22,011 or less.

Lawson notes that if you can’t pay the entire amount by the deadline, you can make smaller payments.

Call the Greene County Treasurer’s office at 386-5675 with any questions.

Payments must be made to your local County Treasurer’s office.
No Injuries and Minimal Damage From an Incident at West Central Cooperative in Jefferson

Minimal damage was the result a smoldering incident at the West Central Cooperative in Jefferson on Tuesday.

Fire Chief Randy Love told Raccoon Valley Radio the fire department responded to a report of a conveyor belt smoldering inside a grain shoot at 10:06am.

Two firefighters and two West Central employees took panels off the shoot to access the hot spots and were able to put them out with fire extinguishers.  The situation was contained without any flames or explosions.  No one was hurt in the incident.  Chief Love believes the smoldering was the result of a bearing malfunction inside a motor on the conveyor belt, as it made contact with the grain.

The fire department went back out later that day to West Central with their thermal cameras to verify that all the hot spots are extinguished.  The cameras can look inside walls and other materials to find hot spots.  Love notes that they use their thermal cameras not only at businesses but at residential houses too.

The Greene County Sheriff’s office, Greene County Emergency Medical Services and the Jefferson Police Department also assisted at the scene.
Cemetery Clean Up Reminders for Jefferson

Jefferson residents are reminded that by the end of this week, all non-permanent decorations on gravesites must be removed.

Jefferson Parks and Recreation Director Vicky Lautner says anything left that is not in a permanent vase on the graveside will be discarded by city crews.  Residents are also reminded that there are not to be any permanent flower plantings at any of the gravesites at the Jefferson City Cemetery or St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.

City crews will clean up the two cemeteries from March 30th through April 3rd.

Anyone with questions may call City Hall at 386-3111.

A Grand Junction Man Faces Felony Sexual Abuse Charge

A Grand Junction man is charged with a felony for alleged sexual abuse of a minor.

Jefferson Police Chief Dave Morlan says an investigation was initiated on March 10th after a report of sexual abuse that was thought to have occurred in Jefferson.  During the investigation, officers found out that the incident actually happened in Grand Junction.  Morlan notes that a search warrant was prepared by the police department and executed by the Greene County Sheriff’s office.

The search led to evidence that the accused sexually abused a 13 year-old female.

Police then issued a warrant for the arrest of 18 year-old Lance Michael Ross of Grand Junction, charging him with a Class C Felony for third degree sexual abuse.  Ross was booked and released from the Greene County Jail on Thursday.

Morlan adds that the investigation is ongoing at this time.

Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.