A fugitive investigation in Livingston County resulted in an arrest and a seizure of a large amount of suspected methamphetamine.

According to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, on Saturday, during a fugitive investigation, Detective Ryan Ford stopped a vehicle driven by 36-year-old Randy Ray Campbell of Chillicothe. Campbell was then arrested on a Livingston County arrest warrant for alleged class E felony Assault-3rd degree with bond set at $7,500. This was a case originally investigated by the Chillicothe Police and an arrest warrant was issued on January 25th.

Further investigation resulted in the seizure of 11 bags of suspected methamphetamine, distribution equipment, nearly $4,200 in cash and a small amount of marijuana.

Campbell was arrested for alleged Distribution of Controlled Substance and transferred to the Daviess Dekalb County Regional Jail. A formal felony allegation has been filed in Associate Circuit Court charging Campbell with the alleged Distribution of Controlled Substance with bond set at $20,000.

A high percentage of adoptable animals were adopted from the St. Joseph Animal Shelter last year.

Animal Control and Rescue Humane Educator Jennifer Lockwood said 99-percent of adoptable dogs were adopted last year, down from 100-percent in 2017. Last year, 88-percent of cats were adopted, down from 95-percent in 2017.

Lockwood said dog intake has remained steady over the past few years and cat intake has increased.

“Being a municipal shelter we have to take everything that does come to our front door,” Lockwood said. “2015 compared to 2018, our dog intake has increased some, remained pretty steady in the 1300s. Cat intake has increased from around 1200 to about 1400.”

Lockwood said adoptions for cats have also increased over the past few years. Lockwood said things such as the “catio” at the shelter built within the past couple years have helped with giving the cats more space to roam and being a place for potential adopters to see the cats.

Lockwood said one of the reasons for the increase of animals coming into the animal shelter is overpopulation.

“Not spaying and neutering cats and dogs is a big thing, unwanted litters of puppies and kittens in the spring,” Lockwood said. “Last year, we took 197 cats in, just in the month of May. A lot of that comes from unwanted litters of kittens and puppies and there are programs out there to spay and neuter, so that is a really important thing you can do, for not only your pet, but the community as well.”

For more information about pet adoption or the fundraising effort for a new animal shelter, click here or visit the Friends of the Animal Shelter of St. Joseph Facebook page.

JEFFERSON CITY – For the third year in a row, more than 900 people were killed in Missouri traffic crashes.

Statewide, the preliminary numbers indicate 918 lives were lost in 2018, down slightly from 932 fatalities in 2017. In 2018, 62 people died in crashes on Northwest Missouri roadways, almost 15 percent more than the 54 fatalities in 2017.

According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, speed, distraction, impairment and fatigue continue to be top causes of fatal crashes. In particular, the number of cell phone related crashes has become increasingly prevalent in the state.

“Cellphone related crashes are up 35 percent since 2014,” said Jon Nelson, MoDOT assistant to the state highway safety and traffic engineer. “It’s one of the fastest growing causes of fatal crashes in Missouri, and like most other contributing factors, it’s completely preventable.”

MoDOT says nearly all fatal crashes are preventable if drivers would heed warnings of speed limits, traffic signs and laws. MoDOT adds, everyone can help improve safety by taking two simple actions: always buckle up and put down the phone when driving.

While a recent survey indicates more Missourians are buckling up than ever before, the impacts of not wearing a seat belt and using the phone are hard to ignore. Pickup truck drivers are especially overrepresented as they have the lowest seat belt usage rate in the state.

“Eighty-seven percent of Missourians are buckling up. However, the few who aren’t account for more than 60 percent of our traffic fatalities,” said Nelson. “When it comes to cell phones, nobody wants to be on the road with a driver constantly using their phone, but so many people find it acceptable to do themselves. We can do better.”

MoDOT encourages drivers to take the Buckle Up Phone Down Challenge at modot.org/BuckleUpPhoneDown as part of helping create a safer Missouri.