Sheriff Backs Branding Law To Thwart Cattle Theft

Tougher state laws are about to go into effect to punish cattle rustlers, but some already say more needs to be done to thwart a growing problem.

Christian County Sheriff Joey Kyle says lawmakers should consider a branding law to help aid law enforcement in finding the rustlers. But branding would not come without a cost to both farmers, and most likely the state.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

A new state law going into place on Friday will require prior cattle offenders to serve at least 80 percent of their sentences -- but Kyle said that provision most likely won't do much to stop the next rustler.

"If the crime itself doesn't deter them from committing the crime, I don't think it's going to make any difference," Kyle said.

Over The Line

"POOR JUDGEMENT"

UPDATED: CHRISTIAN COUNTY CHAIR PULLS FLIERS

"IN AHLA WE TRUST"

Above is the Republican flier being distributed at Christian County G.O.P. Headquarters

It infers Barack Obama is socialist, communist and Muslim.

The $100 dollar bill also has the words "Food Stamps" on it.
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WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

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MO. DEMOCRATIC PARTY REACTS:

"With the economy in crisis and Missouri families struggling to make ends meet, it's too bad that some would rather launch false attacks and distractions instead of focusing on the issues that really matter in this election. While John McCain will offer nothing more than four more years of the same failed policies of the Bush Administration, Senator Obama will offer 95 percent of working families a tax cut, keep jobs from going overseas, and turn our economy around," says Missouri Democratic Party spokesperson Jack Cardetti.

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CHRISTIAN COUNTY G.O.P. CHAIR EXPLAINS:

"Yes, I was aware of the fliers," says Christian County Republican Chair Ed Merritt. "The party is not distributing those. Some voter asked us if he could leave them here, and we agreed. It was poor judgement on my part," Merritt adds. Asked why the party allowed the fliers to be distributed, Merritt says, "There's no excuse. They are now gone."

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MISSOURI G.O.P. RESPONDS:

"The Missouri GOP condemns the offensive and divisive nature of this flier," says Missouri Republican Party spokesperson Tina Hervey. "We were unaware of the flier, and we were highly disappointed to learn of its existence," she adds. "The sentiments in this flier are not tolerated by Missourians looking to create a brighter future for their children, nor do they reflect the Missouri of the 21st Century," Hervey says.

***WATCH ONE NIXA VOTER RESPOND TO THE FLIER BELOW***

MORE OF MY CONVERSATION WITH REPUBLICAN DAN BOYD, AND WHY HE BELIEVES OBAMA IS A SOCIALIST AND COMMUNIST BELOW

FINALLY, AN INTERVIEW WITH SHAWN OBSBORNE, A NIXA REPUBLICAN WHO SAYS HE'S "TOTALLY AGAINST" THE FLIERS, AND CALLED ON THE G.O.P. TO REMOVE THEM.

***WATCH IT BELOW***

"It's Doing Nothing But Hurting."

Incumbent Huff Survives Christian County Commission Race

RECOUNT

A judge ordered hand recount cut the Eastern District County Commissioner's slim lead by two, but incumbent Tom Huff survived, edging challenger Jim Bowles by 11 votes in a grueling, daylong recount of more than 4-thousand ballots.

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WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

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Huff now faces Democrat Robert Snook in November

Building Codes Pass in Christian County

61 votes was the razor-thin margin.

But voters in Christian County did narrowly approve the adoption of building codes for new construction in unincorporated parts of the county Tuesday night.

Building Codes

YES 51%

NO 49%

You can watch my KY3 News @ 10 report HERE.

**Click HERE for all the Decision 2007 Election Results around the Ozarks.**

On a separate issue, restaurants in Ozark will also be allowed to sell liquor by the drink without limitations. In Christian County, with 21 of 21 precincts reporting, voters narrowly approved the adoption of countywide building codes to help shape growth the area. The margin separating the Yes/No votes grew closer as the night went on. The final numbers show just 61 more "Yes" votes, a 2% margin. People in Ozark also approved a proposal to allow restaurants to serve more alcoholic beverages. Previously, restaurants had been limited on the amount of alcohol they could sell by the drink, because food sales had to account for a certain percentage.

Scenes From A Watch Party

The following are snapshots from a Christian County Coalition watch party, the group that worked to place a building codes law on the ballot. The measure passed narrowly by 2 percent countywide. Building code supporters brought out about two dozen people to watch the results come in. The Coalition held a significant lead early in the night, but the margin narrowed as more outlying and eastern precincts came in. For more, scroll up to the next post.

People Who Want to Vote on Building Codes Can't

*DECISION 2007*

Christian County voters will decide whether to have building codes today, but the county clerk tells the KY3 Political Notebook that some voters showing up to vote -- aren't allowed to help make that decision.

"We're having a lot of people show up from unincorporated areas of the county who want to vote on the building codes, but they can't, because they are people who live outside of the city limits," said Clerk Kay Brown. "People are unhappy about it," she said.

Overall, Brown reports light turnout so far. She is estimating around 10% countywide.

"It's an off-election year and it's August, so it's not heavy by any means," Brown said.

Decision '07: What We're Watching

Tax hikes for fire and school districts, building codes and liquor laws all top ballots around the Ozarks today.

Go to KY3.com for a list of the issues and check back around 7 p.m. tonight as the votes tally up.

I'll have live coverage from Christian County tonight on KY3 News @ 10.

Oh, and get out there and vote, if you want.

Decision 2007: Liquor & Building Codes in Christian County

Should Christian County have building codes?

Should restaurants in the city of Ozark be allowed to sell as much liquor as they want?

Those are two of the issues facing voters on the Aug. 7th ballot.

In case you missed it, you can catch up on the issues below:

HERE is Ky3's Michelle Sherwood on the debate over building codes in Christian County.

HERE is my story over alcohol in Ozark.