SW Mo. town clerk charged with taking over $8,000

NIANGUA, Mo. (AP) -- A small-town city clerk in southwest Missouri is charged with forgery and fraud for allegedly taking more than $8,000 from the town.

Webster county prosecutors charged 58-year-old Joyce Thornhill with multiple felony counts of check and credit card fraud.

Niangua is about 30 miles northeast of Springfield in Webster County.

Thornhill had been clerk since 2002. Niangua Mayor Roger Mepham said the charges were a complete surprise and called Thornhill the nicest lady you'd ever meet.

Thornhill bonded out of the Webster County jail on Monday afternoon.