Week in Review 8-7 to 8-13

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Body found in Norfork Lake Friday morning

     A body was reported floating in Norfork Lake near Point 6B at 6:32 Friday morning.     
     According to Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery, 76 year old Samuel A. Balsano, Jr., a resident of the Gamaliel area, was found clinging to a life jacket.
     Balsano's wife said he left their residence around 7:30 Thursday evening to go fishing. Balsano was also seen leaving a private boat dock where his boat was stored around the same time.
     Balsano's body was sent to the Arkansas State Medical Examiners Office in Little Rock to determine the cause of death. There were no signs of trauma to the body and he was said to have health issues. The incident remains under investigation.
     Agencies assisting in the investigation are the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas Game and Fish, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Baxter County Coroner’s Office, and the Gamaliel-101 Fire Department.

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Mountain Home man arrested for Missouri homicide

     A Mountain Home man is accused of killing and robbing a man last week in Pulaski County, Missouri. According to Springfield television station KSPR, 47-year-old Michael Talley was charged Friday with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, robbery and burglary.
     Talley tells authorities he went to the home Keith Bridwell August 5th in Big Piney with the intention of beating Bridwell to death with a baseball bat, but another man was in the residence at the time. Talley went back to the residence the next day and shot Bridwell. Talley says he shot Bridwell again the side as he was trying to get away. As Bridwell stumbled into the bathroom and fell, Talley says he followed him, put a towel over his head and shot him a third time at close range.
     According to a news release from Pulaski County Sheriff Ron Long, Talley and a woman were arrested by the Springfield Police Department Wednesday after they were called to the Home Depot where the duo were allegedly attempting to steal merchandise. The woman, 26-year-old Lindsay Debault, had an outstanding warrant out of Pulaski County. After Talley and Debault were arrested, an explosive device was discovered in their vehicle.
     Sheriff Long says detectives traveled to Springfield from Waynesville and obtained additional evidence and statements. An arrest warrant was issued for Talley after he was charged by Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Hillman. During Thursday's execution of a search warrant, additional explosive devices were located in the vehicle, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were called in to assist in the investigation.
     Debault is in custody for outstanding warrants in Pulaski and Webster Counties for other offenses. Sheriff Long says he's anticipating she and Talley will both face additional charges for offenses they are accused of committing in multiple jurisdictions pertaining to the Bridwell homicide investigation.
     A third person of interest, 31-year-old Travis Melton, was arrested Friday in Phelps County for multiple outstanding felony warrants. In one of the warrants, Melton was accused of threatening to shoot Bridwell with a firearm last year, and he is being questioned about last week's homicide.
     Sheriff Long adds a fourth individual is in the Pulaski County Jail after being arrested at the murder scene August 6th. Twenty-three-year-old Lunden Davis is charged with second-degree burglary and tampering with evidence. His bond is at $100,000.
     Talley is currently incarcerated with bond set at $2 million. Sheriff Long says the investigation is continuing, and he expects additional charges to be filed in the near future.

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Eaton intends to rely on defense of mental defect

     Shawn Douglas Eaton of Mountain Home, who is charged with sexual indecency with a child and sexual assault in the second degree, intends to rely on a defense of mental disease or defect, according to filings made in his case late last week.
     The 20-year-old Eaton was arrested in mid-July after Mountain Home Police were called to the Donald W. Reynolds Library for a reported sexual assault.
     According to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case, an 11-year-old female told police that Eaton had touched her inappropriately. She said she pushed his arm away and he stepped back a short distance and then exposed himself.
     The affidavit further alleges that when he was interviewed, Eaton admitted to approaching the girl in the library and touching her “mid-section”. He also said he had exposed himself. He further admitted he frequently engages in inappropriate sexual activity in public.
     In another incident, an 11-year-old girl reported she had been “groped in her private area” at a store on Highway 5 South. According to the probable cause affidavit, Eaton also admitted to officers he had been the one who inappropriately touched the young girl in the store.
     According to records in a probate case filed in 2013, Eaton is bipolar and a guardian was appointed for him.
     Eaton’s current attorney, John Russo with the Public Defender’s office, has also filed motions asking the court to order an examination to determine if Eaton is fit to proceed in the case filed against him.
     He entered a not guilty plea to the charges against him during an appearance in Baxter County Circuit Court on August 4th. Circuit Judge Gordon Webb ordered Eaton to re-appear in court on January 26th.
     Eaton is being held in the Baxter County jail with bond set at $50,000.

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MHPS College and Careers Coordinator position to remain vacant

     The Mountain Home School Board met in special session this week accepting resignations from Brigette Shipman, College and Careeners Coordinator, and Special Education teacher Mike Cully.
     Due to the school year being right around the corner, Superintendent Dr. Jake Long said they won't hire a replacement for the position of College and Careers Coordinator.
Listen: right-click to download mp3    
     Special Education teacher Mike Cully also resigned at Tuesday's meeting. He will be replaced by Sandra VanMatre.
Listen: right-click to download mp3    
     Superintendent Long did not comment on the reason behind the resignations.

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Boone County voters approve jail tax

     Boone County voters went to the polls Tuesday and said yes to continue the jail sales tax. According to a spokesperson with the Boone County Election Center, the quarter-percent tax used to operate and maintain the county jail was approved in a landslide.
     The official numbers show 1,784 Boone County citizens voted in favor of the tax for 72 percent of the tally. The number of votes against the measure was 683 for 28 percent.
     The sales tax will continue for another ten years beginning New Year's Day.

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Fire destroys factory in Forsyth

     A fire destroyed a factory in Taney County Tuesday evening. According to Springfield television station KSPR, nearly 150 employees are out of work after a fire burned down the National Enzyme Company's manufacturing plant on Highway 76 in Forsyth.
     A portion of the building was torn down midday Wednesday in an effort to determine the cause. A hot spot in the factory continued to burn after crews put water on it, and fire crews are unable to get in and look at it until the remainder of the facility was torn down.
     The National Enzyme Company is a supplement company, and its Forsyth plant was used to make vitamins.

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Structure fire destroys home near Isabella; no injuries reported

     Emergency personnel are on the scene of a structure fire near Isabella. Theodosia Area Volunteer Fire Chief Norman Jarrett says there were no injuries, but the house on Highway 160 was a total loss.
     Jarrett says the fire started in one of the bedrooms of the Evans' residence Wednesday morning. Crews continue to investigate as they look to determine the cause of the fire.
     The Theodosia Area Volunteer Fire Department was assisted by the Pontiac-Price Place Volunteer Fire Department, Ozark County deputies and local ambulance personnel.

   

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