MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
a division of the
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Troop B - 308 Pine Crest Drive - Macon, Missouri 63552

NEWS RELEASE

For further information please contact: Sergeant Eric F. Brown
(660) 385-2132
January 15, 2019
B19001

EMPHASIS: Capt. Wilt Presents Honorary Trooper Certificate To Monroe City Resident

On January 14, 2019, Captain James E. Wilt, commanding officer of Troop B, Macon, presented Monroe City resident Ollie “Butch” Pennewell with a Missouri State Highway Patrol Honorary Trooper Certificate. The certificate was presented to Mr. Pennewell in Monroe City with his family and friends present. The Honorary Trooper Certificate is presented to citizens who are nominated by a trooper for performing in an exemplary manner, and under dangerous conditions, to aid another person, or when they unselfishly give of themselves to assist troopers in the performance of their duties.
On November 13, 2018, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, along with multiple agencies and volunteers, began searching for a missing person, Raffaella M. Stroik, near the Missouri Highway 107 boat ramp at Mark Twain Lake. Ms. Stroik’s vehicle had been located abandoned in the Highway 107 boat ramp parking lot. A search for Stroik by ground, water, and air on November 13, 2018, was not successful. On November 14, 2018, a large contingency of emergency responders and volunteers resumed the search for Ms. Stroik. Mr. Pennewell, a private pilot, dedicated his time and private aircraft to assist with searching for Ms. Stroik. Just after the ground search began, Mr. Pennewell located what he believed to be a person floating in Mark Twain Lake, near the bank, south of the Highway 107 boat ramp. With Mr. Pennewell’s assistance, marine enforcement troopers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to the location and recovered Ms. Stroik’s body. Mr. Pennewell acted selflessly by volunteering his time and skills. The Honorary Trooper Certificate is a way for the Patrol to express appreciation to Mr. Pennewell for his dedication to his community and helping people in need.
The only 100 percent survivable traffic crash is the one that never happens. Make sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint. Every day as we travel on Missouri’s roadways, we trust that every driver on the road is going to obey the speed limit, pay attention, and drive sober. “Don’t Violate The Trust.”
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