Month: May 2021

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department has told the Springfield City Council they would support the repeal of the city’s COVID restrictions near the end of the month.

Springfield-Greene County Health Department Acting Director Katie Towns told the Council that keeping the masking in place until May 27 would keep the masking in place through the end of the school year for Springfield Public Schools.

The health department also is recommending the immediate removal of all restrictions on outdoor activities.

“[COVID-19] is moving from a pandemic to endemic, meaning it will be a regular part of our lives,” Towns said. “Much of our staff is shifting back to their regular duties.”

Towns said that local health officials have seen spikes in cases but that they have been handled quickly and within current structures.

“We have seen short-lived increases…likely due to the variants,” Towns said. “The fact the peaks have been small and short lived, gives us confidence to deal with them.”

Even though the repeal of the ordinance would be done by Council, individual businesses and organizations could continue to require masking.

“This is a momentous day,” Mayor Ken McClure said about the placement of the repeal ordinance on Monday night’s Council meeting agenda.

Members of the Council praised the decisions made by the Health Department and others during the pandemic as focusing on the science.

“Our paths were guided by science, and we follow science,” McGull said. “We took judicious measures that needed to be taken…as elected officials, our job is to follow science and do what’s in the best interest of our city, not be lead by prevailing winds.”

The Springfield City Charter states that public health measures like the repeal will qualify as emergency bills that can be heard and passed in one meeting..

Here is today’s health department presentation to Council:

SGCHD-Presentation-May-13

You could see the Springfield Cardinals for free and protect yourself against COVID-19 at the same time next week.

The Cardinals are teaming up with the Springfield-Greene County Health Department for vaccination clinics during the team’s next homestand. Any resident who signs up for a vaccination during the event will get a ticket to use the day of the game where they get a shot or a voucher for a future Cards game.

You can register for the event on the Springfield-Greene County Health Department website.

Those who receive a vaccine during the game will be able to spend their 15 minutes recovery period in the stadium’s Party Decks, so that you won’t miss any of the game.

You can walk up and get a vaccination and ticket for the game, but these will be limited. Check-in at Gate 2 to see if any vaccination times are available for that evening’s game.

Only the first 100 walk-ins or sign-ups will get a general admission ticket to the game.

A local mortgage lending company has announced they will be doubling their workforce.

Paddio, which launched in Springfield in August 2020, is a full-service lender that focuses on conventional and FHA home loans. They’re located at 1930 West Bennett.

“Springfield offers a vibrant community full of opportunity. We’re excited to recruit passionate, hard-working people into our work family and to help the community thrive,” said Ryan Kluttz, Director of Production with Paddio.

The parent company of Paddio, Mortgage Research Center LLC, has been running Veterans United Home Loans to serve our military veterans. Paddio was formed to give non-veterans the same opportunities as the company had provided to veterans.

Anyone interested in the new jobs can apply through the Paddio website.

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department is giving us a glimpse of how effective COVID-19 vaccinations are at the local level.

Health leaders say local data indicates just 2% of Greene County residents who have tested positive for the virus since January were fully vaccinated.

The health department also says there were no new deaths reported in the county for the week of May 5-11, 2021.

This is the third time in 42 weeks the health department has had zero new deaths for a one week period.

Deaths have gone from a high of 98 in December to 66 in January, 14 in February, seven in March, and four in April.

A new project from City Utilities will cause traffic delays and problems for commuters.

The “long-term gas and water renewal project” will take place along the outside, eastbound lane of Sunshine through October, causing the closure of one lane in different phases, and the blocking of side streets from entering Sunshine.

The first phase of the project will be between Robberson and Jefferson Avenues and will last at least three weeks. Construction will move eastward as each phase of the project is completed.

Drivers traveling east on Sunshine should expect delays and stoppages. Drivers should find an alternate route and avoid the area of Sunshine that is under construction. Cross-street traffic will need to follow detours as there will be no entry to Sunshine.

The Stone County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in finding a man who has been charged in connection with a stabbing.

Deputies say a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Matthew C. Hembree, 36. Hembree is facing charges of assault and armed criminal action for a reported stabbing on Tuesday near Reeds Spring.

The 37-year-old victim was treated and released from an area hospital.

Deputies say if you know of the location of Hembree, to please call the Stone County Sheriff’s Office at 417-357-6116, message them through Facebook, or call 911. Do not approach him.

A Springfield woman is hospitalized after being shot Wednesday morning.

Police were called to the Timbers at Southwinds apartment complex with reports of a shooting. They found a woman suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

Police have not released information on the shooter other than to say they are not in custody.

This is a breaking story and we will update when we have more information.

The exclusive provider of blood for patients at 44 area healthcare facilities says reserves of A and O blood types are alarmingly low, with less than a one-day supply available.

The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks has issued an emergency appeal for donors with those blood types, asking them to give immediately at a CBCO blood drive or donor center.

CBCO Media Relations Representative Chris Pilgrim says the shortage is the result of an unfortunate combination of a downturn in donations and an increase in blood transfusions at area hospitals.

“April’s transfusion numbers were the highest we have seen since 2015” Pilgrim said. “Donations are still lower than normal due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When combined, those two factors make for a potentially dangerous situation.”

People who have received a COVID-19 vaccine may donate blood with no waiting period. They must meet the basic eligibility requirements of being at least 16 years old, weighing at least 110 pounds, and feeling well and healthy at the time of donation.

Donors can give at one of four CBCO donor centers located in Springfield, Joplin, Springdale, Arkansas or Bentonville, Arkansas.

There are also opportunities to give at mobile blood drives across the Ozarks.

To find a blood drive coming to your area, or to make an appointment to give, click here.

The man accused of killing Calvin Allen, Jr. at the Ozark Inn in 2019 has been found guilty of murder.

Seth A. Gomez, 21, was found guilty of murder in the first degree and armed criminal action by Judge Jason Brown Monday following a bench trial in April.

The prosecution showed that Gomez attacked Allen while the victim was lying on a bed, stabbing him in the head and neck. When Allen tried to flee, Gomez shot him in the back.

The coroner’s report said the shot to the back was the fatal wound.

Prosecutors also introduced statements made by Gomez prior to the killing that he was planning to find a getaway driver, and statements after the slaying where he admitted the murder to a friend. The knife used in the initial attack was also found on Gomez when police took him into custody.

Gomez also repeatedly tried to talk a witness out of coming into court.

Gomez is scheduled for sentencing on July 29. The conviction on first degree murder brings a mandatory sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

If Governor Parson signs it into law, Missouri will have its first gasoline tax in decades.

The GOP-led Missouri House voted 104-52 on Tuesday to gradually raise the state’s 17 cent gas tax to pay for road and bridge maintenance.

The tax would go up by 2.5 cents per year until it hits 29.5 cents per gallon in 2025.

The increase would go into effect in October.

Missouri’s fuel tax has not increased since 1996, despite the state having the seventh largest highway system in the nation.

Alaska is the only state with a lower gas tax, at eight cents per gallon.

The legislation also includes a rebate program, where drivers can save their gas receipts and apply for compensation once per year.