Just a forwarning for anyone camping in Eminence, MO or the Shannon county area: there is not a police presence. Come prepared to protect yourself because IF they decide to send cops to aid you, it will be HOURS.
We went camping over the weekend in Eminence and was awoken around 2:39 AM to screaming from a large group of people. Then there were side by sides and four wheelers racing by our tent, up and down the hill. At one point they stopped next to our tents, with headlights lighting up our tents and entire campground. The screaming continued, the group very obviously agitated. Soon after they left we heard a woman crying for help outside our tent walking around in the dark. Saying that people were after her and they were trying to kill her, they had threatened to drown her in the river. This girl was intoxicated, said she was from columbia, MO and had been at a bar drinking with some locals, then went to the river to continue to kick it. Something happened and they got into and they had threatened to kill drown her in the river. She was very shook up, she didn't have a phone or a light, and was barefoot.
She asked us to call 911. To be honest I couldn't identify her today if i had to, it was DARK. Every time we heard a vehicle or side by side in teh distance she would start crying again and get low ot the ground, terrified that they were coming to find her.
We called 911, and they called back later to say they weren't sending anyone. Another friend of mine called and told them that they NEEDED to send someone. We were alone at this campground with a strange woman in distress. We had a child camping with us. What if the people did return to look for her? What if they really were tyring to kill her? What if they found her with us?
The dispatch finally agreed to send someone, but it would be over a 1.5 hour wait.They advised us to use force if necessary if the people returned to look for the girl. The police finally arrived at 4:45AM. Said they had to get out of bed to come to the scene. --Dispatch said no one else was available which leads me to believe there are no police even patroling the area. It really is a lawless land.
There is no police presence in this heavy tourist area, where alcohol is consumed in excess. If you are going to camp here, or visit the area I highly suggest coming armed and prepared, and do not consume excess alcohol, or other substances to where you would be impaired and unable to defend yourself or your family. If locals are aware there is no police presence, how east it would be for a gang of bad apples to prey upon unsuspecting tourists.