New Haven Independent News

09/01/2026

08/31/2026

Franklin County Deputies Make Arrest In River Cabin Burglaries

On 8-27-2026 Deputies were dispatched to the area of River Otter Way outside of St. Clair Mo in reference to several river cabins being burglarized. During their investigation, deputies were able to identify Jacob Lashley as a suspect. The Sheriff's Office and deputies were familiar with Mr. Lashley and had been looking for him for several months due to his active warrants and him being wanted for questioning in other incidents. Deputies were told Mr. Lashley was on a blue inflatable kayak and that he was last seen floating past the Meramec River Bridge off Mill Hill Road.



At approximately 18:30 hours deputies spotted Mr. Lashley on a sand bar in the middle of the Meramec River approximately 300 yards upstream from their location. One of the victims gave two of the deputies a ride in his jet boat to the sand bar. While searching the sand bar Mr. Lashley attempted to elude law enforcement by swimming across the river. The deputies gave chase, entering the river and were able to apprehend Mr. Lashley in the river without incident. Jacob S. Lashley, a 35-year-old male from Catawissa was arrested on outstanding warrants and additional charges were applied for with the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. A warrant was issued by the Prosecuting Attorney's Office charging Mr. Lashley with 3 counts of burglary, 1 count of resisting arrest, and 1 count of possession of an illegal weapon. His bond was set at $50,000.00 cash only . All parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.



Steven M. Pelton

Franklin County Sheriff

08/31/2026

Franklin County Man Charged In Alleged Kidnapping

On August 30, 2026, at approximately 0249 hours, deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 500 block of Puetz Lane in Gray Summit in reference to a peace disturbance. Upon arrival, deputies heard a female victim yelling from inside a bedroom that she was unable to exit the room and needed help. Deputies located multiple items to include a motorized handicap chair, a large kitchen table, and a shelving unit stacked against her bedroom door preventing her from exiting. The victim stated the suspect had been beating on her door and breaking things inside the residence prior to barricading her door. The victim stated she felt trapped and was physically unable to climb out the window or move the items without assistance to escape her bedroom. Deputies searched the house and located the suspect under a bed inside the home. The suspect was taken into custody without any further incident. Charges were applied for with the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and a warrant was issued, charging Gage M. Thacker, a 22-year-old male from Gray Summit with Kidnapping 3rd Degree, Resisting Arrest, and Harassment 2nd Degree. His bond was set at $5000.00 cash only.



All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.







Steven M. Pelton

Franklin County Sheriff

08/31/2026

Gasconade County Saturation Saturday Results:

Law enforcement agencies across Gasconade County recently joined together for a countywide traffic-safety enforcement effort. Participating officers focused on impaired driving, hazardous traffic violations, and keeping our roadways safe.

During the event, officers conducted:

• 137 traffic stops
• 8 arrests
• 3 DWI arrests

Participating agencies included:

• Gasconade County Sheriff’s Office
• Owensville Police Department
• Bland Police Department
• Hermann Police Department
• Missouri State Highway Patrol

We appreciate every officer and agency that participated. We would also like to thank the Chief Mason Griffith Foundation for sponsoring the event and continuing to support law enforcement throughout our county.

Most importantly, thank you to the citizens of Gasconade County for driving safely, slowing down, wearing your seat belts, and choosing a sober driver.

This cooperative effort shows what can be accomplished when agencies work together toward one common goal—keeping Gasconade County safe.

Sheriff Scott A. Eiler

08/30/2026

Heat Advisory Issued By National Weather Service St. Louis

HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON MONDAY TO 8 PM CDT FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Heat index values of 100 to 105 expected, with morning low
temperatures of 70 to 78 degrees, for several consecutive days.

* WHERE...Portions of south central, southwest, and west central
Illinois and central, east central, northeast, and southeast
Missouri.

* WHEN...From noon Monday to 8 PM CDT Friday.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and moderate humidity may cause heat
illnesses.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of
the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in
shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat
should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an
emergency! Call 9 1 1.

08/29/2026

Don’t miss these two special events!

The City of New Haven is excited to announce not one, but TWO ribbon cuttings! The LWCF grant provided funds to build a new playground on the riverfront while our Capital Improvement Reserve Funds were instrumental in purchasing a building for our New Haven Police Department - Missouri. Both of these projects are vital for continued growth and investment in our community.

08/27/2026

Franklin County Man Caught with Over One-Half Pound of M**h Sentenced to 140 Months in Prison

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Wednesday sentenced a man caught with more than one-half pound of m**hamphetamine to 140 months in prison.



Nathan Hollis Price, 49, was caught on May 20, 2024, after investigators with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office learned that he was bringing the m**h from St. Charles to the motel in Sullivan where he was staying. They conducted a traffic stop and found three bags containing a total of 245.9 grams of pure m**h. They found two scales and a glass pipe in his motel room.



The amount of m**h was “clearly an amount that he intended to distribute further,” a sentencing memo written by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Rebar says.



Price pleaded guilty in May in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual m**hamphetamine.



The Franklin County Sheriff's Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Rebar is prosecuting the case.

08/26/2026

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08/25/2026

Dolly Parton passes at age 80.