A 21-year-old Cherryvale man has charged with sex crimes against minors.

Grant Nixon of Cherryvale was arrested early May 17 after the Cherryvale Police Department received a complaint against him, according to department’s report logs.  He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was released on bond.

He is charged with one count of aggravated sodomy and two counts of indecent liberties with a child.

The Montgomery County Chronicle learned Thursday (today) that Nixon was arrested again on Wednesday night, May 20, following a continued investigation into his arrest earlier in the week.  Although charges have not yet been filed against Nixon in his latest arrest, the Standard Offense Report that was obtained by the Montgomery County Chronicle indicated that Nixon had allegedly sexually exploiting a child through the use of computers. The location of the offense occurred at 420 Park Street between April 27 through May 20.

On a separate matter, the Cherryvale Police Department’s report logs show the arrest of a Matthew Laver, no address given, of Cherryvale.  Laver was arrested May 15 at Lake Tanko for aggravated indecent solicitation of a child. Laver also was arrested for driving a vehicle with a revoked license and other driver’s license violations.

In keeping with its reporting policy, the Montgomery County Chronicle is not reporting the names of the alleged victims.

The Caney Valley Antique Power Association will hold its annual Pioneer Days festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 29-31, at the association’s grounds 3.5 miles north of Caney on U.S. 7 highway.

The festival will feature numerous activities, crafts and skills that harken back to the days of vintage agricultural machinery.

Admission is by donation only.

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Caney’s annual Mayfest/Memorial Day festivities will take place Friday through Monday, May 22-25, and lots of family-style events will be held during those four days. Caney Mayfest chairman Nancy Moore said there will be something for every age. Most of the Mayfest activities will take place in Wark Memorial Park on Friday and Saturday plus the car show will be in downtown Caney on Saturday. Moore said there is one change in the line-up and that is there will be no carnival rides this year. However, there will be inflatable attractions available. “The carnival cancelled this week,” said Moore.

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PITTSBURG — Pittsburg State University assistant track and field coach Brian Mantooth, a Caney native, has been named the NCAA Division II South Central Region Men’s Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
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CHERRYVALE — Cherryvale city officials and employees are keeping their fingers crossed that the Logan Park Pool will be open for the public on Memorial Day next Monday.

Trey Cocking, city administrator, said a new federal law requires all municipal pools to have protective drain covers that prohibit swimmers from having fingers, toes, arms and legs caught in the drain. Because of the unique size and shape of Cherryvale’s drains, custom-made drain covers had to be ordered and are scheduled to arrive this week. Once the drain covers are installed, the pool can be filled and ready for swimmers to start the 2009 swimming season.

“We’re shooting for Memorial Day to be open, but it all depends on when the drain covers arrive,” said Cocking.

Cocking said patrons should check with the City of Cherryvale’s website (www.cherryvaleusa.com) or the Montgomery County Chronicle website (www.taylornews.org) later in the week or during the holiday weekend to see when the pool might be open.

Should the pool be ready for Memorial Day, then the doors will be open to the public beginning at 1 p.m.

Karla Cherico will serve as the manager for the 2009 pool season.

Montgomery County residents will now have instant access to finding the locations of convicted offenders in their neighborhoods.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department last Friday unveiled its new website — www.mgso.us — that includes a registry of sexual, drug and/or violent offenders.
“This information is being provided to the citizens in a form they can easily use any time day or night via the nation’s leading offender registration and notification solution, OffenderWatch,” said Sheriff Robert Dierks. “Citizens may enter any address of interest to them, and see a map and listing of offenders within a defined radius of that address.”
Dierks said the computer users can also register their personal address at the website, and the sheriff’s department will send an e-mail to the computer user alerting tem if any offender should register at an address within one mile or two miles of their registered address. Citizens may confidentially register as many addresses as they like, at no cost to them, he said.
“The purpose of the program is to lessen the anxiety of citizens by proactively alerting them should an offender move within proximity to them, and to enhance the security and safety of Montgomery County citizens,” said Dierks.
Any questions or concerns the public may contact Jennifer Shank, program administrator, at (620) 330-1000 or email at mgsorecords@mgso.us.