The state/region in brief

City repeals law to ease up on ‘pot’

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.

  • The Springfield City Council has repealed a resident-driven ordinance that lowered punishments for small amounts of marijuana.

The council voted Monday night to repeal the ordinance, which reduced the penalty for possession of up to 35 grams (1.2 ounces) of marijuana to a small fine, community service or counseling. It also prevented law enforcement officials from arresting people only for marijuana possession or sending such cases to state court.

The council followed city charter two weeks ago by adopting the marijuana petition, but several members said at the time they wanted to repeal it. Those opposed to the ordinance said it violated state and federal laws.

Supporters of the petition said they would consider a lawsuit or another petition drive to force a public vote to overturn the council’s action.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ex-club’s owners sued in fatal crash

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.

  • The owners of a defunct Springfield nightclub are being sued for serving alcohol to a 19-year-old who was driving a car that crashed, killing two Missouri Southern football players.

The mother of one of the victims also is suing the driver in the December 2011 accident on Interstate 44 east of Sarcoxie, which killed Diondre Johnson and Michael McCrimmons, both 19.

Dionne Johnson, mother of Diondre Johnson, alleges that the owners of Icon Nightclub in Springfield should not have served Jeremy Johnson of Harrison, who was driving the car.

The Springfield News-Leader reported criminal charges and several other lawsuits have been filed over the crash, but this is the first lawsuit to make a claim against the nightclub owners.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESSJudge vacates robbery conviction

TULSA - A judge in Tulsa has vacated the robbery conviction of a man who spent 16 years behind bars.

District Judge William Kellough vacated Sedrick Courtney’s conviction Thursday, ruling that a reasonable jury would not find Courtney guilty beyond a reasonable doubt if presented with the DNA evidence now available.

Courtney was paroled last year after serving time for a 1995 robbery and burglary at a Tulsa woman’s apartment. Authorities said two masked men committed the crime, but new DNA tests revealed that hairs found inside the ski masks excluded Courtney as a possible donor.

The Tulsa World reported the judge stopped short of declaring Courtney innocent of the crime. Attorneys said a finding of actual innocence is necessary for Courtney to recover damages for his wrongful conviction.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hot Springs bar

shut after 6 shot

HOT SPRINGS - A judge has ordered the temporary closure of a Hot Springs pool hall after six people were injured in a shooting Sept. 22.

Garland County Circuit Judge Marcia Hearnsberger issued the order Wednesday that declared Pocket’s Full Bar a “public and common nuisance.” The Sentinel-Record reported that the pool hall is to remain closed pending a hearing set for Nov. 8.

Authorities said six people were taken to the hospital early Sept. 22 after the shooting. Authorities said no one suffered lifethreatening injuries and the incident remains under investigation.

Officials said the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board suspended the pool hall’s alcohol permit after the shooting.

City Attorney Brian Albright said the bar’s owners agreed to the temporary closure until the November hearing.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gun-range death deemed accident

TAHLEQUAH, Okla.

  • Authorities in Cherokee County said a Tahlequah man has died in an apparent accidental shooting at a gun range.

Sheriff’s investigator James Brown said James Woolard, 44, died Tuesday at a gun range near Camp Gruber, southeast of Muskogee.

Brown told the Muskogee Phoenix that authorities believe Woolard accidentally shot himself, and the investigation into his death continues. Authorities said Woolard went to the gun range for target practice.

His body was found after his wife called neighbors to check on him after Woolard failed to pick up the family’s children.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESSWoman lost 5 days in forest is located

ST. JOE - An Oklahoma woman was rescued after being lost in the woods of northern Arkansas for five days.

Searcy County Sheriff Kenny Cassell said Thursday that Linda Kay Arteaga, 53, of Blackwell, Okla., was in overall good condition after the ordeal.

Cassell told the Harrison Daily Times that Arteaga had cuts and bruises and was taken to a hospital for observation.

The sheriff said a searcher on an all-terrain vehicle found Arteaga.

Cassell said Arteaga was visiting relatives in the St.

Joe area when her brother took her into the woods to teach her survival skills during a short hike. The pair became separated and Arteaga became lost.

More than 100 people joined the search.

Arteaga told the sheriff that she ate watercress plants and nuts while she was lost.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 8 on 09/29/2012

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