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Lewis County
Serving the communities of Lewis County, Mo. since 1862 (USPS 088-820) Vol. XL New Series, No. 17 Canton, Mo. 63435 • 20 Pages • 2 Sections • 55 cents
BREAKING NEWS UPDATES AT
Thursday, April 26, 2012
LaGrange family loses everything in fire
CANTON ANNOUNCES AFTER PROM PARTY Canton R-V National Honor Society realizes that some high school students may choose to participate in underage drinking. It is the hope of these students to provide an alcohol-free alternative by sponsoring an After Prom Party on May 4. This year’s After Prom party will be held in the gym and cafeteria areas of the high school. Activities will include video games, inflatables, and casino games. Students who attend have the opportunity to win various prizes. National Honor Society is in need of donations to fund these activities. For more information or to provide a monetary donation, please contact National Honor at the high school. (288-5216).
Photo by Rita Cox The home of Brittney Daggs and John Hager at Henderson Lake Drive in LaGrange was destroyed by fire on April 18. No one was home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries. The cause has not been determined. The family has two small children.
HIGHLAND E-WASTE DAY SCHEDULED FOR MAY 5 On Saturday, May 5 they will have a chance to drop off e-waste at the Highland High School parking lot. In addition to the usual computers, monitors, and computer peripherals, the Midwest Recycling Center will be accepting many other appliances. Even larger appliances such as water heaters, air conditioners, and furnaces will be accepted. MRC will accept “anything that has a cord or battery” regardless of its condition. Refrigerants do not need to be removed, but oil and gas do need to be drained from lawn equipment. There is a fee per television but the rest is free. They will not accept smoke detectors, glass lamps, light bulbs, or fluorescent tubes. The Highland High School Future Farmers of America will be sponsoring a plant sale on May 5. They have an extensive variety of plant starts that they have grown in their new greenhouse. These include flowers, ornamental plants, herbs, and vegetables for the garden. The event raises funds for FFA, but also provides student experience, propagates plant species, and serves the community. For further information contact Mark Lueckenhoff, Media Specialist, Lewis County C-1 Schools: Work 573209-3215, Home 573-209-3646, Cell: 573-406-8153, Fax 573-209-3370
WEEKLY ROAD WORK SCHEDULED FOR LEWIS COUNTY Route D - April 26 road closed for culvert replacements from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. between Steffenville and Lewis County Road 272; alternate routes must be used during this time. Routes DD, J, H &Y - April 23- May 4 pavement repair; traffic reduced to one lane Various Routes - April 23- May 4 pavement repair, spraying roadsides for weed control, shoulder work and partial overlays with cold mix.
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BY RITA COX REPORTER dan@lewispnj.com
LaGrange Fire Department responded to a house fire at Henderson Lake Drive in LaGrange on April 18. According to LaGrange Fire Chief Henry Gunsauls, the fire was reported by neighbors at 4:02 p.m. and firemen were on the scene at 4:08 p.m. and reported a fully involved
fire and fire showing through the roof. The fire was under control in about 30 minutes. Firemen were on the scene until after 7 p.m. The home was completely destroyed and the family lost all their possessions in the blaze. The fire is currently under investigation by the State Fire Marshall’s office, with no cause determined at this time. Canton Fire Department and Lewis County Ambulance all responded as part of
the department’s automatic mutual aid agreement. LaGrange had 12 firefighters respond including two engines, one tanker and first response vehicle. Canton responded with six firefighters including one engine and one tanker. Owner John Hager and Brittney Daggs and their two small children were not home at the time of the fire. The family’s pets were not in the house at the time of the fire.
C-1 SCHOOL BOARD HOLDS COMMUNITY AWARENESS NIGHT ON BULLYING BY BRIANNA BARTLETT REPORTER brianna@lewispnj.com
On Wednesday, Apr. 18, C-1 School Board presented a Community Awareness Night on the subject of bullying in Highland High School’s commons area. The event showed a large attendance from both parents and students expressing their concerns about bullying in Lewis Co. schools.
The event was orchestrated by Sarah Adams, Highland counselor. Speakers during the event were Judy Edmonson, Director of Avenues in Hannibal, Sheriff David Parrish, Sheriff Depute Jared Eisenburger, and Alicia Reichert. Edmonson gave the definition of bullying and also addressed ways for parents to discern if their child is being bullied or even being a bully. Edmonson gave examples of verbal, social, physical
and cyber-bullying. “The difference in bullying now than while I was in school is that kids these days never get a break. Once I came home from school, my bullying was done. These days, kids have cell phones and Facebook which only continues the process,” Edmonson said. She also stressed to parents to look See complete story on page 2A
Piersee back in Court seeking to vacate murder conviction Christopher Piersee returned to Monticello April 19 to face the same judge who sentenced him in November 2009 PIERSEE to life in prison. Piersee, 27, was present for an evidentiary hearing. He is seeking to have his conviction overturned for the murder of two family members in Feb. 2009. He had pled guilty in August 2009 for shooting of his wife Tish in the forehead and hitting his five-month old son Landon in the head with a blunt object. Second Judicial Circuit Judge Russell Steele sentenced Piersee in November 2009 to life in prison without parole. “It’s not unusual for people who get a
prison sentence to file a motion claiming ineffective counsel,” said Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney Jules DeCoster. Piersee’s new attorney Stephen Harris of the Missouri Public Defenders Office, said the hearing falls under Rule 24.035, and questions whether Piersee was mentally competent to enter a guilty plea. Harris said part of that issue is whether or not Piersee received effective counsel from former public defender David Clayton. “There was never a finding on the point of his mental health” Harris said. The defense presented a psychiatrist to make their case. But DeCoster said a forensic psychologist had offered evidence before the plea saying Piersee was competent. At the April 19 hearing, DeCoster said a psychiatrist for the defense claimed Piersee was under the effects of excessive medication, which may have affected his reasoning. Judge Steele gave Harris and DeCoster 30 days to prepare proposed findings of
fact and make recommendations to the motion and a decision will be made sometime after that. Neither legal party would venture a guess as to how Steele would rule. Harris said it is possible, if Judge Steele, finds a remedy is appropriate, he could vacate the judgment and go back to a criminal case where “the whole gamet of options are available.” He said Steele could uphold the convictions, or the judge could deny the motion and nothing would happen. “We still have work to be done in the case,” Harris said. DeCoster said even if the judge upholds the ruling, Piersee can appeal it. Lewis County Sheriff David Parrish, Deputy Rob Power, two members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, former defender Clayton, a grandmother of Piersee and the psychiatrist all testified at the hearing. It is not immediately known when Steele will rule in the case.
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