Jasper, Mo., mayor sent to hospital after city council brawl

JASPER, Mo. -- Five people face assault charges after a city council brawl sent the mayor of this southwest Missouri town and the former mayor's wife to the hospital.

The fight, which broke out shortly after the city council meeting ended Thursday, is the latest development in a feud between Mayor John Rodebush and former mayor Jim McCorkle.

Relations are so tense that Rodebush has obtained a restraining order. It bars McCorkle from any interaction with Rodebush other than while he's acting as mayor.

McCorkle, who led the city from 1999 to 2001, decorates his yard and truck with signs reading "Impeach the Mayor." He also has circulated more than a dozen fliers criticizing the current administration since Rodebush took office in April 2005.

The brawl came after a meeting in which the audience had taunted Rodebush for casting the tie-breaking vote in favor of increasing the reimbursement rate for use of private vehicles for city business.

"There's been bad blood there for quite a while," councilman Jim Ulmer said.

The altercation "was bound to happen sometime, and it did. I'm sorry that the whole silly thing happened. My opinion is the entire thing could have been avoided with just a little bit of restraint on both sides."

Witnesses offered varied accounts of what happened after the meeting adjourned. When the fighting ended, Rodebush and Marie McCorkle, the wife of the former mayor, were taken to McCune-Brooks Hospital in Carthage for treatment.

Four others were taken to jail: Jim McCorkle; Jerry Ogle, suspended chief of the Jasper Volunteer Fire Department; Jacob J.R. Good, assistant chief with the Jasper Volunteer Fire Department; and Rick Good, Jacob Good's son. Marie McCorkle was arrested later.

All five were charged with assault.

"There's been bad blood there for quite a while," councilman Jim Ulmer said. The altercation "was bound to happen sometime, and it did. I'm sorry that the whole silly thing happened. My opinion is the entire thing could have been avoided with just a little bit of restraint on both sides."